A bad day won’t ruin your efforts, just jump back in as soon as you can (now is better than tomorrow…)

I hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

So here are my 3 from today (these are not all my favourites but it’s how today went !)The breakfast is my go to fav – easy and you can switch the fruit and have no prep before work.

Breakfast 160 cals
2 tbsp/10g nice cut porridge oats, 2 tsp 8g chia seed (I buy on Amazon Sevenhills 1kg / £6.49), 2 tbsp goats milk yoghurt, 1/2 tsp good (Ceylon) cinammom (Amazon 250g/£4.67). Add water until quite sloppy, cut up 3 apricots or a peach, cut up to pieces and stir in to mix. I stic it in a wide necked jam jar in the fridge overnight and it’s ready for the morning. PS I have to have about 2 tsp chia each day to keep me “regular” tmi I know – but someone has to share this stuff – especially when my volume of food goes down …

Snack 1 – 60 cals – 6 whole raw cashews or 10/10g almonds (raw) – both from Aldi.
Snack 2 – 45 cals – 78g strawberries + 45g blueberries

Lunch – 200 cals – This was a frozen leftover from supper, measured out and out for the freezer for work. 1/6 of the recipe of http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/healthy-recipes/11396452/Deliciously-Ella-butternut-squash-bean-and-quinoa-stew-recipe.html. I cut out the oil and use a spray of oil then kinda dry fry – it works. I used 100g Quinoa (bought online of course in larger. cheaper quantities), 1 tin coconut milk and 300g of cannelini …

Supper – 300 cals – cauliflower mash and portion of http://www.lavenderandlovage.com/2013/10/low-calorie-comfort-food-harvest-festival-minced-beef-vegetable-casserole-52-diet.html. I use quorn for this which reduces the cals further – or you can have more !!

And then I had 2 slices of wholemeal toast and marmite – thank goodness tomorrow is a new day … and I should stick to a marmite drink when I have apang for salt.

I will definitely check back in Lidl, I did see the J.D.Gross chocolate so maybe they were out of stock!

Hello Mags. Do you like other berries/fruit as well as strawberries? Can add blueberries/blackberries to your yoghurt also. Or a small bit of cream to the berries!
I am not really a fan of veg either but you could try putting any veg into a soup. It masks the taste awfully well and I have to admit I enjoy it! You can add a vegetable and chicken stock cube and it’s really tasty, tastes a lot of the chicken, and hot and filling.
Another thing I enjoy is smoked salmon, this is nice with a poached egg in the morning, or a bacon rasher if you aren’t into fish.

I love snacking on cheese and nuts, babybels, soft cheese, any slices of cheese, pine nuts, pistachios, almonds, raw cashews. Have you tried the ploughmans lunch recipe? You can substitute it with different things.

hope some of this helps 🙂 but I am going largely on my own tastes!

Dear Gayn55 – well done you for starting ! It really will make you feel better but it is effort ! Ihave once been told that some people find it harder than others – I was once told that if calories are on target and it is still slow, try eliminating wheat … although this diet should strip that out anyway … I’m going to post my favourites shortly – then get ready for tomorrow ! Best Wishes

Well done Systema – I foud the 800 a day easier than 5:2 fasting – although my bidy did adjust to 5:2 … 4 weeks in and 12 lb gone – I need to keep on track as things have slowed down – it’s the wholemeal bread again … ! I’m going to post a couple of my favourites whilst I remember …

I’m not doing quite as well as you Bill, but am doing much better than expected. Wine is taking it’s toll, but am restricting myself to 1 ‘naughty’ a day. Know I will put weight on but it’s being tempered by some common sense; my husband is finding the temptations of Italy more challenging!

Enjoy Turkey, you deserve a lovely time!

Peoples advice is to follow the book for recipes and the recipes on this site but struggling as a very fussy eater.. At the moment Living on Greek yogurt & strawberries, chicken salad and turkey stir fry along with omelette and beans eight weeks is a long time to eat the same thing has anyone any basic food ideas, not a fan on veg just the standard carrots, onions etc.. tried the shepherds pie recipe with oat/gram flour but left awful taste in mouth all day the mushroom soup was quite nice please any basic food ideas would be most welcome.. 🙂

Thanks so much! This is a great help

Definitely don’t give up! Unless you are superhuman, these slip ups happen. I’m in week 3 and went to a party at the weekend. Having planned to have a glass, maybe two, I ended up having about six throughout the course of the day. Which led to not having willpower to resist a (v small!) ice cream……main thing is to get back on track. I did the next day and the focus returned. It helps me to accept that, over the next five weeks, I might have the odd ‘over’ day but that’s life. Others on here have an admirable willpower of steel but I’m not there quite yet. Maybe I’ll just add on an extra week to the 8 weeks, a bit like injury time in a football match!
Sx

do not do not do not give up! don’t throw in the towel, don’t drink the other 1/2 of the bottle because you think ‘sod it, i messed up’. just like bissell said – you are only human. 15 days – you’ve done AMAZING. one little blip in this journey doesn’t mean everything you’ve worked for doesn’t count. it DOES. keep going.

Hi Flower55. You won’t have gone back to square one with this blip, so don’t beat yourself up about it. The most important thing to NOT do is think ” sod it, I’ve messed up, I may as well quit”. Put it down to experience and get back on track tomorrow. And make it into a positive by reflecting on why it happened and what you could do next time to avoid it. But do that tomorrow, not today.
We all have the odd slip up, you are only human. There is lots of support here, so you are not alone. For me, the changes I make need to be lifelong, not just temporary, so I needed to find strategies that would get me through hard times as well as th easier times. You can find what works for you, I’m sure you can.

Good luck!

So hello everyone. How are you all? I have made good numbers and gone a little crazy but 8 weeks up and I have lost so far 19lbs, nearly 10% of start weight and lots of inches all over! I have had good days and bad days, carb flu, toast munchies and still have another 10 days before hols where I would like to be at 1st 7lbs down! This is a way of life now with all the usual stuff like going out for dinner and really bloody enjoying it, dessert and all! When I get to just before hols I’ll post my stats. I do get bored of finding a sweet thing to eat. That’s never going to go and I can usually placate it with yog and fruit but any ideas of helping with that would be ace. I haven’t calorie counted just full fat, as low carb as I can go and portion control which is sometime out! But big yay!

I’ve had a really, sorry for swearing “shitty” day & have drunk 1/2 bottle of 70cl rum. I’m so so so annoyed & peed off that after 15 days of sticking to this BSD i’ve crumbled. Hope I can get back on track 2moro 😯

Hi to all the aussies on this thread, how are you all going? I’m trying to bring in mindfulness/meditation to my day, see if I can bring down stress levels. I do struggle with emotional eating and with health problems newly arisen for 2 close family members and ongoing support needed for poor, confused, forgetful 93 yo mother, I’m reasonably pleased that I’ve managed to hold at 1000-1200cals over last few days. I’m still below start weight but not impressively. I’m hanging in and the forums are great. Thanks to you all xx

hi everyone!

stephie63 it’s definitely not just you! the thing is to keep coming back – we’ll both get there like you said!! good luck!

day one (again!):

weight: 203.8 (diff: – 6.2)
calories: 953
carbs: 60
breakfast: black coffee & green tea
lunch: roasted broccoli with chicken and tzatziki
dinner: cheese, prosciutto, olives
snacks: one beer, 3 cups popcorn
exercise: 3.5km run, 30min weightlifting

well back on the wagon. i went for a run at lunch then hit the gym with the fiancee after work – didn’t feel hungry at all. went out for a beautiful beer & charcuterie to celebrate the solstice – i avoided the bread entirely! i think last time i wasn’t exercising quite enough – i find exercise really helps me stay focused and motivated! this time i will not make that mistake.

day one out of seventy days completed!

celeste x

Hi Sooshie22, I’m in WA, Sorrento, one of Perth’s northern beaches. You?

Aw, now I feel like a guru, which I’m really not! I’m just a bit further down the carb reduction path than you two!!

Hi all, thanks for all the advice offered, it’s very much appreciated. I’m not diabetic or pre-diabetic, thankfully, but I know my weight and visceral fat isn’t going to end well so I really want to shift it. Got started today anyway! Feel very motivated by everyone’s shared experiences, it’s v generous of you all to put up such detailed posts about the difficulties that besiege every diet, the plateaux etc. Cheers, will let you know how it goes.

Thank you Igorasusual, No, I do believe you that my tastes will change and am more than willing to try something different like spinach with feta, or mushrooms sounds a good lunch alternative. I do find I’m my own worst enemy and have absolutely no control whatsoever, so am avoiding things like pkts of ham, cheese etc as will eat the lot. Will go to butchers tomorrow and buy 1 slice of ham for lunch and give the doggies the fat rind with their supper. I use cron-o-meter for toting up calories, fats, carbs etc and everything seems to have heaps of carbs. Oh dear. Need to read the guidelines for this way of eating again, methinks.

Huge well done Ms Bloody Minded, 2 kg is a fab weight loss. We’re at the start of a long journey, you are spot on in that it’s a re-education, and like learning anything, some times we don’t always pull in a 100% mark. Sometimes we have to get things wrong in order to get them right. I was in a foul mood this morning but some lovely ladies like Janey have put me back on the straight and narrow (promise, no chocolate today Janey 😉 ). Onwards it is!

Hi Winifred

I’m not trying to change your mind re salads, but once you have been doing the BSD a bit, it might be worthwhile trying a few things because honestly your taste does change……I know you don’t believe me!

I have been really enjoying a few leaves of baby spinach with feta cheese on, plus some baby plum tomatoes.

Also, if you’re yearning for toast with your eggs in the morning, strangely enough baby spinach as a base (perhaps with some mushrooms also) is a great alternative. Yes I KNOW that doesn’t sound right – spinach for TOAST??? But do give a few things a try, you may be surprised.

Did I mention some chicory wrapped with ham or sliced cheese (like Leerdammer) as a lunch snack?

I’m sure many people here are finding they are thoroughly enjoying things they never dreamed they would.

Awwwwwwwwwww ladies, thank you 🙂 Just come back from shopping (nightmare…) and picking stuff up from my son’s Halls to find your lovely motivational messages. I haven’t eaten all day *cries* so I am hangry too. I did buy some of the chocolate Janey, but I promise I will use it wisely, only if needed. I’m not one of these who can’t have anything in the house (thankfully) so they will be safe. And they’re dark chocolate so the children won’t touch them. I won’t give up. Once I keep the chilled stuff I am going to crack on making some cauliflower rice for my smoked mackerel Kedgeree for tea. Hubby has promised he will try it but… I need to make a standby tea just in case he doesn’t like it. I found a recipe for pork meatballs in a Spanish cookbook that are simple, and daughter will also eat with pasta, and I can freeze if they don’t all go. He lost another pound today. Git.

Hello Big Sister, oh that made me titter, I bet that was so much fun. Unfortunately I recycle mine the moment they arrive so I would have to slam my iPad against my son’s laptop while both set to BT.com unfortunately. And you have no idea how appealing that sounds to me right now hahaha. I think I will leave the weighing until Saturday for this week (my proper weigh in day) 🙂

Thanks Baristagirls, I won’t give up, promise. I’ve got a determination about me this time that I’ve never had before. If you haven’t been back to Lidl yet, I can tell you that the chocolate is bloody lovely… (no just kidding!) It’s a white packaging with black and gold writing, and the brand is J.D Gross – Chocolate Mousse Dark. When I’m in week 5 I’ll look back at this and laugh in a non-maniacal way 😀

Appreciate the pep talks, you lovely, lovely lot 🙂

Thank you Timmy and Lucia for your support and thoughts. Salad.. hmm… I was talking to a nutritionist a while back and she made the helpful comment ‘learn to like salads’ , at my advanced age I have no intention of changing my antipathy to salads to one of adulation. Simply cannot see the point of wasting time eating it. However, as you say there are plenty of other things to eat, fish being one. Curry, never tried cooking one yet, but there is always hope. Think I’ll save turning the oven on just yet, Lucia as temps 30-35 at the mo’. Breakfast a good lunch option. My doggies would adore plate cleaning, great idea, but then they’d get fat too. No worries, I’ll stick to the minimal wash up.
Actually I did peek at the scales and am not as heavy as I’d feared, must’ve been all that traipsing about in Prague and Vienna etc.
Just another query and I’ll stop wittering, seen quinoa in the shops but never known what to do with it. Buckwheat?where does one get that? and again what do you do with it? Many thanks.

Hi Janeycoughdrop

I can definitely see and feel the difference six weeks has made.

My grandson is doing well. We babysat him the other day and we had him all to ourselves which was a rare treat.

Hi there Janeycoughdrop. You are so right – it has taken me 20 years to get this way so I need to manage my expectations. If anyone out there is flirting with the idea of doing this – go for it. I have been analysing what has changed in me and it was reading Michael’s book before I started the diet. With every other diet I have been on there has not been that re-education or that science behind it. I think it makes such a huge difference on a cognitive level to your behaviour when you understand why something is necessary.
Seven weeks is so awesome Janeycoughdrop – and I love your honesty.

And reading Pinklady – have you tried a few things which are high fat, like avocados? 27 g of fat in an avocado, yummy and fills you up. And I love fatty fish too, so some smoked mackerel in a salad was also good. Cheese like Greek Feta and Halloumi (yes I know I’ve mentioned that before) is also good. And nuts!

If you balance it out with calories and fat, you can make it work – I promise you, I’m doing it myself.

Just to say, when talking about cheese, I mean HALLOUMI not helium (doh, predictive text)

Hi Christie

I started out the BSD and only afterwards started using MyFitnessPal to check on how many carbs I was eating.

As I have comparatively little to lose, and not Type 2 or pre diabetic, just wanting to get into control of my mild carb addiction, and eat better, I have restricted my carbs to 20gm per day. Many people here try and keep them under 50g.

I bought some Ketostix, which simply test whether you are burning fat, and even when weight stayed still, I could check I was burning fat, and understand it was going from my visceral fat, which was a great incentive.

There is evidence that restricting your carbs – you can experiment to see if you are best at 50g or can do less (don’t forget to keep yourself full with good fat – mmm feta cheese, helium etc – does produce good results in both losing weight and changing your body chemistry so that Type 2 can be reversed and you can get your blood sugars back in line.

I’ve lost 17 lbs and more than 11% of my body weight in my 6 completed weeks.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Igor ,
I will start walking / running tomorrow hoping to burn off more than im putting in. I tried this a week ago but my runners gave me terrible heal blisters. I bought a new pair of Hoka1 trainers today my Doctor revomended them .
Im going for another 10 kg loss in tne next 3 weeks. I have read that the body will burn loose ski if you go on a full water fast but thats a long way off yet.
Mike

Such great and inspiring results from everyone – not so much any weight losses, but lifestyle changes which will really make a difference. No wonder we all get a bit evangelical.

I was reading a book yesterday where the authors discussed why there was so much resistance from those in charge to change their diet recommendations – and they quoted the situation in the late ’80’s when the medical opinion refused to take on board the findings of researchers who started to say that stomach ulcers were caused by bacteria (Heliobacter Pylori), and that milk diets etc was not the way to cure them. In fact one of the researchers actually infected himself to prove the point (and then cured himself afterwards). It took years for medical advice to change, and 5 years for the researchers to win the Nobel Prize. I suppose there is similar resistance now – got very cross when reading a diabetes advice website yesterday which said that carbohydrates are necessary as they produce energy.

Anyway, I am another pound down, more than 11% of my starting body weight lost, just started 7th week with 5 lbs to go to my target weight, so onwards and upwards/downwards!

And good luck to all, keep measuring, it’s not the weight that counts – that can fluctuate wildly day to day/hour to hour – it’s the clothes fitting, and the feeling of well being. Can’t quite believe how I wake up prompt at 5.30am, all bright eyed and bushy tailed……miracle or what??

Hi JK88,
It’s a bind when you feel obliged to buy ingredients you’ve not had before and they cost considerably more than the stuff we’ve been used to buying. I never wanted to fill my cupboards with loads of exotic ingredients so I picked a few things to try out. Yes, they might be expensive such as coconut oil/flour but they do last – you might not like the smell of frying coconut oil – I didn’t, but I found I can tolerate the smell when I’ve melted it in the microwave so I use it more often.
Coconut flour takes a bit of getting used to since you have to really up the liquids, I don’t think it’s suitable as a general flour substitute, just for certain things.
However, while a kilo bag of chickpea flour is far more expensive than a supermarket’s “value” flour, I’ve really enjoyed the chickpea crackers I make (recipe on this site). So I consider this a good buy.
Almond flour – expensive, but you could probably use ground almonds in baking.
Coconut milk – there seems to be several different brands available – if my Tesco is anything to go by, they have about 4 brands in different places at different prices, so worth burning a few calories to walk round and find one that suits.
You don’t have to buy super-duper expensive extra virgin olive oil – the bog basic olive oil is just as good for you.
Fish sauce – I tried it in a Thai chicken curry which I didn’t really like (possibly too much coconut oil/milk??). But I have used it in soups to give a bit of a savoury touch. When I’ve finished the bottle I won’t buy any more. Likewise, with cacao nibs – expensive and I didn’t like them unless they were roasted to remove the bitterness.

When it comes to fruit & veg, at least we in the UK are in summer (allegedly) so anything seasonal should be cheaper. I’m lucky in that I have a plot at the local allotment – if you have space at home, can you try growing yourself some cherry tomatoes, perhaps? Or grow some favourite herbs, perhaps (they do great on a windowsill). Herbs will add flavour to dishes and keep those taste buds interested.

I guess you have to try these things out but you certainly don’t have to try out everything. When you’ve found things that work for you shopping will become a bit more “streamlined”. But be careful of sticking to just a few recipes – I always find that boredom can have a major impact on whether I stick to a diet so give yourself as much variety as you can. If you try something new and you don’t like it, put it down to experience. I hit Google to see what else I can use these ingredients in to use them up, so they don’t go to waste.

Hi Mike – congratulations on the really great weight losses for you and your wife, and also really pleased to hear that you are enjoying it. I was saying to OH this morning as he tucked into two fried eggs and some bacon, with a smile on his face as he really enjoyed the flavour, that it’s a miracle to get your tastebuds firing on all cylinders, isn’t it!

In terms of the skin – well, it seems to be the luck of the draw, some people do have wrinkly bits after losing weight, and other people have more flexibility so their skin shrinks up. Michael in the book I think quotes someone as saying they’d rather be thin and healthy with a few wrinkly bits, than less healthy with more fat.

I think the thing to do is to get some cream to rub in on the bits you’re most worried about – the Palmer’s brand do a range of body creams (you can get them in Boots etc) which are recommended for pregnant ladies (!) but also for those losing weight. You can get ones which are unscented, so that you don’t smell like a coconut – although that’s quite pleasant!

Hope that helps!

Aha, I see! Excellent stuff with the 2 inches lost! Congratulations!

And I think it’s a great idea to keep going for the moment to see what happens in the rest of the 8 weeks.

I have just started my 7th week – I have lost 17lbs, which is over 11% of my initial body weight, and would ideally like to get to 9 stone, which is another 5 lbs. No issues with Type 2, just a wish to stop being moderately carb addicted, and to get back into control, which I feel I really have done.

I am very focused on keeping carbs low, am still in ketosis (as shown by Ketostix) and still have a chunky (or flobby) bit of belly wodge to go. Very interested to see if I can drop the remaining 5 lbs.

And I am already planning what to do after the 8 weeks (or however long I decide to continue). I am thinking that the 5:2 will be a good idea – following the general principles of lowish carbs, reasonable protein, and higher good fats, definitely no bread or root veg or other refined carbohydrates unless exceptional circumstances (e.g. roasties at Christmas). I will maintain that style all the time, and then have 2 days per week where I will have, say, 500/600 calories with a single meal.

I find that I can achieve the one meal a day, well planned and filling, if I continue to drink lots of water. This will fulfil my aim to keep up the fasting interval between meals if I can.

Hope this might help you!

Hi I’m new here . Ive been on the 800 calorie per day diet for 3 weeks & lost 9 kg to date. Im now finding it fairly easy. My wife is doing it with me & she has lost 6 kg . I never thought I would enjoy a cup a soup so much or find it so filling. I often go all day without anything more than a coffee or cup of tea in the morning. In fact i think Im often eating less than 800 per day. I want to lose 35 kg all up so I might be on this for more than 8 weeks.
So far my liver function had returned to normal ALT 27 so my fatty liver is under control. Im wondering about what to do with the lose skin when I get down or maybe there wont be any.
Mike

Hi Forkers

You’ll probably find that your tastes change and you won’t want to go back to eating the processed foods and carbs.

I used to eat just about anything that could go between two slices of bread, but haven’t eaten it since I started the BSD on 19th December. I’m now 26 weeks in and still managing to stick to low carb. On holiday a few weeks ago, the bread basket was put at the side of me (a group of us eating together) and it honestly didn’t bother me. A year ago I’d have been eating all of it😱

Hi Switzerland

I’ve been de-cluttering this morning. Dvd’s I’ll not watch again. And cookery books I’ve acquired, never used and now will not use in the future. All packed in the garage ready for the Christmas Fair😱

I’ve kept my Bero baking book and Mary Berry Baking Bible – ready to bake when needed. I’ve got a couple of boxed cake mixes, ready for when the twins come!

Oh, and moving things around in the kitchen to find homes for baking tins etc.

Hi Stephie

Slim-fast and similar products often contain large amounts of sugar. Please be careful.

Good to hear from you Bill. Enjoy the rest of your holiday 😃

When I started the BSD 26 weeks ago I’d been type 2 diabetic for 10 years. I’ve learned that I have to keep my carbohydrate intake low even while on the BSD. But the result is that all my blood tests now are within the normal range.

There are folk on here who are diabetic or pre-diabetic, as well as those who wish to avoid those conditions or to lose weight, so each of us will have different needs. Some can eat more carbs than others – as I said, my carb intake is low.

Christie, you don’t say if you’re diabetic. If you are, I would suggest monitoring your blood sugars to see how they respond and change your carb levels accordingly.

Wishing you well.

I think making a soup with the left over veg is the trick, but its then difficult to keep an eye on the calories involved. but i suppose if you dont put anything else in it, and then be strict with your portions, it cant be too bad.

Sounds like you are sorted…😊

Hi MsBM, Lucky and I already chat a lot, and I can reiterate that you’re doing all the right things! This isn’t a quick fix, its a change in the way you eat longterm and you’ll always have days where it doesn’t all go to plan. Just the fact that you’re eating better is a big step forward and as those carbs leave your system you will feel healthier AND less hungry. Take it from a lifelong purveyor of cake that snacking CAN become a thing of the past! I’m in week 7 and can’t believe how much my eating habits have changed for the better, although I have also NOT been a saint (in case you think I’m smug!). There has been a couple of glasses of (red) wine along the way, and a small glitch involving a day of McDonalds and a cupcake.. BUT.. you just get back on the wagon!

I’m
Still here.. Still battling.
The weight I lost and regained I have lost again!!!

Apparently some of the medication I’m taking may not be helping.

Still in agony so been referred to the pain clinic

Still drinking Pepsi max but lot less

the silly thing is, its not the ‘mega bucks’ ingredients that are costing, its buying so much veg, in so much quantity.

i think there are a few recipes that i can make that last a few days, the veg curry, veg frittata etc.
i reckon if i combine simple breakfasts, like the bircher or almond butter, with a batch of soup over a week, then vary my evening meals, i should be ok, and it should keep the cost right down.

Once i graduate form the 8 week club, then i can look to have the more expansive meals once finished to keep me in the lifestyle.

Hi JK,

I am also on a very restricted budget!

It can be hard to juggle particularly if you are cooking different meals for other family members. Do you have a freezer? Soups are reasonably cheap to make and if you can make a batch of two or three recipes it helps to keep some variety from day to day. As you mentioned it is ok to stick to simple meals meat/fish and ‘above ground’ veg…you do not have to follow the book recipes/menus.

I have been simply adjusting my regular food shop/menu in line with BSD principles, NO white carbs, low other carbs, 800 calories a day…works for me! I also take a daily vitamin just to ensure I am getting all minerals and vitamins (just in case). I am close to 10 weeks and all good!

Good luck🌻

Hi JK I made the mistake on first week of buying so much veg/salad that it had gone past its best before or use by date. Rather than throw it I made a delicious soup out of the leftovers added herbs etc. which was nice & filling when feeling a bit peckish 😊 Don’t know whether u have shopped at Aldi but they have a wide variety of food but a lot cheaper. Hope this helps x

I’ve lost 2 kilos, but I’ve gained a new lease on life! Feeling the happiest and most motivated that I’ve felt in a long time. Would have loved to have been 2.5kg lighter, but I’ll take that number thank you very much! I have had a shake for breakfast and lunch the last couple of days (quite easy to manage at work) and a hot smoked salmon salad for dinner last night.Tonight whilst everyone else is having lasagna I shall be enjoying another salad – with either some egg or a chicken fillet. I found some miso soup sachets in Coles today that are only 20 calories per serve, so I will have one of them too. A good little find to take to work to carry me through those long afternoons. Still hovering at 7000 steps, but I have a walk planned at lunchtime tomorrow and will continue to build the exercise into my days. Go me!

Hi Babs, the question is, do you FEEL better?? I’m guessing you will say yes because I certainly do! Your fatty liver will definitely be recovering as my previous boyfriend’s liver had a total fatty turnaround when I put him on a similar diet prior to his gastric band surgery; 3+ stone in 12 weeks and the healthier liver was the main benefit. I’m in this for the long haul; no 8 week ‘fix’ then a backslide into the cakeshop 🙂

Good luck with the treadmill – I think that heat would kill me if I exercised in it! I am increasing the walking and went to the roller disco with the kids last weekend. Add a bit of (reluctant) gardening and the calories are getting burned. I’m also chuffed to report that my M&S jeans FIT again! That was the benchmark I was aiming for initially so will have to find another one now!

By the way, how’s the grandson doing?

Hi JK, I know what you mean by the initial expense, but 7 weeks in, I am still eating the original ‘mega bucks’ ingredients.. so they do last! If you are happy eating the same thing then the weight will come off regardless. I started off with creative breakfasts but to be honest I don’t have the time on weekdays so its greek yoghurt with nuts and berries every day usually now. For bigger meals, a safety stock of chicken, eggs, cheese and chickpeas covers a multitude of recipes that you can adapt and add various veg etc to. Good luck!