Hi Baristagirls,
Yes I did. I lost weight in the first couple of weeks and weight was coming off of my hips and bust, but proportionally not moving from my waist. I was sticking to the 800 cals but not checking my carbs. I decided to try using shakes for a couple of weeks and as we cannot get the ones the Newcastle team use in the shops, I bought one from Boots. That was made with skimmed milk and each portion was 200 cals – so 3 a day plus soup or salad to get up to the 800. I was getting 100-120g carbs a day – and to lost the fat around your waist you need to be half that – it varies per person – I moved to real food, my own recipes – (I am veggie) and stuck at 60g carbs per day targeting 800 cals – but if I was too low of carbs to get my carbs up, I would go over the 800 and likewise if my carbs were going to go over 60g, then I changed my later meal to under 800 cals. For me that level worked – for others they go to 50g. You will need to find your own level.
Once I did that the inches started to come off of my waist.
Check what you are eating for ‘hidden’ carbs. Also – it is important not to vary too much the carbs per day – the body responds best to consistency.
Hope that helps

Hello, from a fellow food lover, serial dieter and lurker ☺
Did you boil the chickpeas before roasting them or just soak them or use canned?
I keep meaning to try the chickpea wraps, and have just bought some gram flour to have a go. I still eat bought gluten free wraps in strict moderation at the moment but low carb must be easier to fit in the limits.
I am looking forward to following the rest of your journey to a healthier you.
Hello to everyone else as well, I echo Lucky Maneki’s appreciation of the forum residents, I have also been moved to laughter or tears by some of the stories in here.
I am also new to the forum, and the principles of the BSD, which was recently introduced to me by a colleague who is type 2.
I reached my heaviest ever weight January last year after successfully losing around 3 1/2 stone a couple of years earlier. It just went on so gradually I didn’t notice at the time and I ended up almost a stone heavier than I was before that previous diet.
Later this week I hope to be able to say the last two pounds of my first 4 1/2 stone loss have gone thanks to the BSD. I am down from an in denial (I only buy big sizes because I like looser clothes only works while they are still loose) size 22 to fitting in size 18 trousers and jeans and needing a belt for anything bigger. I even bought a couple of pairs of size 16 jeans last week for added motivation.
I have realised with hindsight that the other diets that were successful for me were very similar in their initial phases to the BSD, and the wheels always came off when the ‘white carbs’ were allowed back in. Moderation is clearly not my strong point when I am not paying attention to my diet.
Since I found the forum I have been reading everyone’s stories with interest and quietly modifying my current diet to be more BSD like. I’d forgotten how wonderful full fat dairy tasted I’d been on the tasteless stuff so long. I never joined any diet clubs or did anything really organised, just made my own mistakes over the years.
I am currently doing a slightly modified version of the 5:2 with three fast days instead of two. I also try to use Sirt foods like buckwheat, strawberries and carrots when I eat carbs and am not controlling the quantity of net carbs as strictly as many here, and I have ‘weekends off’ when I still try to generally eat healthily and control portions but allow alcohol and some treats. I am averaging 1350 carbs a day and 75g carbs at the moment and the weight loss, which had slowed quite dramatically before BSD, is now back up to 2-3 lbs a week.
Exercise is mainly badminton 2-3 times a week now (I took it up very soon after deciding to lose weight Feb 2015) but I have also just bought a new bike and started cycling to work and back sometimes. I also like walking and went for a six mile hike in the lakes last weekend. I have ordered a Withings Go as a birthday present for myself to track my activity more accurately.
I am toying with the idea of accelerating the weight loss with a Fast 800 8 weeks in October / November if my current rate of loss slows by then as I still have around 4 stone to lose, and for the first time I am starting to believe I can not only get there but stay there as well and I am keen to get to a ‘healthy weight’ as soon as possible.
I am 50 at the end of this month, and will be wearing the fitted size 18 dress I bought as a target in the January sales this year when I go out for a celebratory meal 😀 I tried it on this weekend and it fits!
Best of luck with the new lifestyle, how I wish I could persuade my OH to have a go at the diet too. It would make it much easier to plan meals.

Wow Lynne, 64 lbs now, amazing!!
😍😍😍😍😍

Hi Christi1948,
I’m pleased to read that somebody liked your chicken goujons! I don’t want to be intrusive and ask about the age of your granddaughters, but much of the literature says that children need to try a new food up to 6 times before they like it. (That’s a lot of chicken goujons).
I’m sorry to read that you’ve been unwell and I sincerely hope you’ve been able to get help.
If you need to post something to me, you could do it on ‘….my eight weeks’ – I’m sure Lucia won’t mind.

Hi Slimmingmayya,
I hope your strategy is working. Best wishes.

B – smoothie from the book (full fat yoghurt, almonds, spinach, blueberries). Mustn’t have out enough blueberries in as it was better than yesterday but still verging on slurry. Done the hatch it went nonetheless.

L – working in a primary school all day, had school dinner with the kids. Difficult but a good test of mashed potato resistance. Opted for vegetable soup (probably had potatoes in it but not much to be done about that) and then a bit of custard but left the apple pie untouched.

Mad cravings for bread in the afternoon especially as had hour to kill between work and sign language class, spent in costa coffee and resisted the m and s shop by reading these forums.

D – spinach, tomato, avocado and radish salad with olive oil and balsamic dressing. Nectarine.

Cals about 950, carbs just over 60. Should have left that custard!!

Christine,
SO sorry to hear you’ve been poorly. Do hope you’re on the mend.
John

Hi Josie, nice to meet you. I am still learning something new everyday, I must admit, Google and this site have become my new best friends for finding out if it’s something I can eat. I also knew that I would need a ‘bread’ alternative, so the chickpea wraps were ideal for me, I feel a lot better knowing I can have those. It’s like everything else, you learn as you go along, don’t you? There seem to be plenty of knowledgeable people on the site who know their stuff. I just love food, not always unhealthy food either, just… food. I was a grazer. Pastry is going to be my downfall, I know that ahead of time. I passed Greggs today and nearly cried.
That’s one thing I don’t like – cheese! Thankfully, because if I did, I’d probably checking in double the size I am now as I’ve no restraint, or should I say I had no restraint. Small mercies. Avocado is another matter, and this is the first ‘diet’ I’ve been on that I can eat them without having to starve for the rest of the week 😉 Good luck to you too 🙂

Hi stringbreaker,
Welcome back, although I haven’t been posting much over the last couple of weeks, been ill and therefore down in the dumps too, so it was good to come on the forum and find your name there!
Christine

Thanks John.

As of last Saturday total loss 64lbs, including the 2lbs I lost on holiday. About another 28lbs to go.

Lucia,
Just done 10 mins indoor cycling.
Where does one find the blogs?
John

Hello i am also new and have tried most diets. Recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes am 63 and weigh 16st 6lbs and am 5ft 5 . Also enjoying reading the forum hoping that this way of eating works for me . Jacket potato and pasta have always been fall back foods clearly this has not been any good for me. although i do not feel particularly hungry i don’t feel like i am completely in the swing of the diet but hopefully as i move further things will become easier.

Am not sure of the calories but i did use a split wholemeal pitta bread covered it in some tomato puree put some avocado covered it in mushrooms and put some feta and anchovy on the top am not sure of the calorie value but it was lush.

Good luck on your change of diet

HI Switzerland,
Thanks so much for sharing how you are doing the plan now. It’s nice to see you are successful adding in some carbs on the 5:2 and adding calories.
I am far from my main goal but your sharing helps me know where I might be able to head.
I miss rye and Swiss cheese sandwiches 🌷 Ha

Hi Lucia,

That really is a great idea about exercising minute/age.
But……I can’t help but ponder that this is part of your world domination plan….to sneakily find out the ages of your readers……
So, I’m off for a 55 minute walk (oops, now you know).
Very sneaky Lucia….very sneaky indeed.

Lynne,
60lbs off is terrific – very well done. Any more off this week?
Good luck with the rest.
John

Hi Switzerland,
I just thought I would let you know I did the chicken goujons tonight for our evening meal and used the mix, ( you recommended the linseed, almond and sunflower seed mix) flaxseeds, almonds, Brazil’s, walnuts, it was a success for the adults, although the granddaughters didn’t like it!
I have found out that my mix is high in carbs for coating the chicken so I might have to re-work the recipe a bit, however a partial success I would say, thank you for recommending the mix, I am still on the lookout for the mix you told me about so I will let you know if I find it.
I have been having real cravings for toast and marmalade this week! I haven’t succumbed yet though and hopefully won’t!
Sorry to post this to you on this forum post, this was the first place that I saw your name, I haven’t been on the forums for a while, have been having health problems that have kept me feeling very low, physically and mentally!
Christine

Hi science monkey,

I’ve been eating low carb med style 5:2 BSD since transitioning from BSD 800 at the end of May. I basically stick to the same foods but don’t count calories on the 5 days. I’ve introduced more complex carbohydrates in the form of 100% rye bread and organic oats but these are not everyday foods – just a couple of times a week.
The thing I find most flexible about this way of life is that I can always find 2 days a week when I don’t have to eat out, whereas that was not the case for 7 days. The scales continue to go down – just slower than before – this is my way of life and now I’m off the training wheels of BSD 800, I have the knowledge to live it.
I’ve been focusing on overnight fasting – 12, 14, 16 hours overnight until I break the fast at breakfast, brunch or lunch. It makes me more disciplined after dinner at night and satisfied with a no calorie drink before bed (on the 800 days I find I need a piece of cheese or hot milk and cocoa before bedtime).
Anyway, following BSD 800 it’s easy to choose which form of BSD suits you – we’re all different and have different end goals. The BSD gives us the 3 choices as well as exercise and mindfulness – a powerful combination.

I’m a very busy nurse. I work full time travelling and teaching. I work on a very busy unit at weekend nursing patients with dementia. I noticed after every shift I would eat every carbohydrate in sight as lack of breaks make my blood sugars low. (I am not diabetic but I suffer pulmonary artery hypertension so I need to control my weight) my husband is insulin dependent type 2. He’s lost 3 stone and has been left with the “diabetic tyre” around his middle. He also needs to lose at least another 2 stone. I started the 800 calories with no carbs on the morning of my busy shift expecting to be hungry. 6.00hrs breakfast strawberries and a banana……..not hungry till 13.00hrs. Pear and a banana then chicken and small salad for tea. I was amazed. I felt great! Have continued for 3 days and even in such a short space of time I have noticed a reduction in fat around my tummy and thighs already. I’m 4ft 10″ and 8 stone 10 so obviously only a few pounds to go. My Dr is aware I’m doing this (always get Dr’s consent). I have never felt so good and I’m not in the least bit tired because I’m sleeping better. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved the science mainly. I’m teaching diabetes next week and it will offer a great topic for debate. Thanks again xx

Thank you all for your greetings.
Lynne – I’ll go and check out your 23 week forum.
Lucia – good thought.
I’m up to 36 minutes most days so that would mean another 30 minutes. I’d have to work up to that (don’t suppose you’d let me average my weekend cycling over the weekdays 😉 ?
I promise to make a start.
Bill – you been poorly?
John

Glad you kept your promise and came back Stringbreaker, good to hear you are back with the routine, and only 14 pounds to go …amazing … so close.

Hi Ashri I also loved bread as I used to eat so much toast but have not missed it once. When I got a craving at the start I used to have a diet fizzy drink, which used to help. I can’t remember when the Cravings went away but it was around the end of the first week. I still get the odd craving of wanting something sweet but I have a small fizzy diet drink, make myself busy and it’s gone.
I have no digestive issues, there was one day when I drank hardly anything where I felt a bit like that. I just make sure that I drink plenty now. I have found foods to replace the carbs and sweet foods. I enjoy the new foods more as with the carbs and sweet things I would eat them feel good and twenty minutes later be down and hungry needing more. It was one big bad cycle.
Once I started to exercise I started sleeping better. You can do it. If you do get cravings just tackle them one by one and think of the healthier, happier you. Take it day by day and you will get there. I think the first week was the hardest and then it gets easier. Good luck.

I’m a North Walian mum of four children, and I love food. I bought the BSD diet book for my Kindle on Friday after meeting with a friend who had lost a staggering amount of weight in the last two to three months. She let me in on her secret, and hubby and I started on Saturday. It shouldn’t have surprised me that by this morning, three days later, I had already lost 9lb. Hubby has lost 5lb. The last time I lost 9lb in such a short space of time, I had to go through a 16 hour labour…

Cards on the table, I am 5 foot 1 and a half (although the half is disputable) and my start weight is (was!) 17 stone 9lb (now 17 stone!). I know what I should be for my height, but I am not setting any goals that are too far in the distance, I am aiming for manageable goals, and will break through one at a time.

I’ve thrown myself into the plan, I’m embracing the unknown. I’ve roasted salt and vinegar chickpeas. Today I made Chickpea Wraps – which are the future, according to my husband, they were so simple, tasty and as we were big tortilla and pitta/naan type bread eaters predominantly, they will fill that missing gap. Really versatile. I even bought full fat Fage. I’m using calories on Olive Oil even though it goes against everything I’ve been conditioned to do after nearly 24 years in slimming clubs. I haven’t had any adverse effects in the way of withdrawals, headaches, bad moods or… erm… needing prunes, which is a bonus. I’m feeling really positive about this. I’ve loved reading the forum, it hasn’t half made me chuckle in parts, and it’s lovely to see people who are so friendly and supportive. Figured I’d stop lurking and say ‘Hello’ to you all.

I’ve just turned 40 and I so wanted to be fab at 40 and not fat. Maybe I still will be fab, before I turn 41 anyway! My hope is that I can break free of this vicious dieting cycle once and for all. It doesn’t work. I want my confidence back, proper confidence, not what I have learned to fake for years now.

Much love 🙂

Not sure about the consommé, but you could try Miso soup? The best is in sachets by Itsu. Yummy

I am going to go through it again over weekend and make some notes. Sorry I have picked your brains so much. For tea tonight I had fresh tuna that I marinaded in olive oil with garlic then some kidney beans and haricots beans with some mushrooms that I put in the pan with the tuna. Then for dessert I had a spoon of Greek yoghurt and a few blueberries and a couple of strawberries. Still feeling full lol

Stil love the pickles comic by Brian crane
It’s a good one today about not being ‘with it’ and forgetting your texts

They make me laugh.
I read one a day, like medicine, it does me just fine

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi jilly b,
Nope, we don’t need me exploding. Thanks for the tip.
We can all read it, do our research and make our own minds up.
So all you quorn lovers, please note this is all friendly advice.

Anyway, I wondered through the blogs to see an old pal is back, called string breaker.

I suggested to him and that blog string the following…..

You know your age, well, give yourself the gift of it.
Eh?

So if you are 50 give yourself 50 minutes of exercise.
Eg
Zumba ing, dancing, wii ing, hoping, skipping, jumping, walking, bending, yoga ing, stretching, stepping,
Basically, moving.
It’s ok to break to down into sections.
But just give yourself a gift, you now know how long for each day.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

I thought it might be useful to have a conversation about fibre (fiber) since i seem to have discovered a couple of things which may affect others

since beginning bsd, i am eating more fibre – however i seem to have MORE trouble with being ‘blocked up’
indeed that has never been an issue in the past

and when i eat the new things i have discovered like coconut or chickpea flower – well it has been a real PAIN !!
(don’t want to be too graphic here)

everyone always says drink more and eat more fibre if you cant go or its painful
well unfortunately that is not necessarily true

for me, at least, i seem to react rather negatively to ‘soluble’ fibre – this is the sort that ABSORBS water
and in theory creates a ‘gel’ that helps keep things moving
(or in my case seems to create something very far from gel-like!!!!)
and the more i drink the more it seems to absorb

on the other hand – ‘insoluble’ fibre, provides bulk, but cannot absorb liquids, so it just passes on through 🙂

psyllium husk – is often recommended to help get things moving, for example – but it is a ‘soluble’ fibre and in me just blocks things up

you can google where to find each – although plants contain both they usually have more of one or the other

of course you may already know all this, or not be having any adverse effects
i think it is worse for me as i am no longer eating wheat – and that is a good source of insoluble fibre (probably why it causes so many of the opposite issues for me)

anyway
that is probably enough from my gut issues
hope it might help someone
or someone might help me
🙂

Hi string breaker.

We have all missed you.
Glad you are back into the fold.

Fancy another challenge to run alongside the original?
This is for everyone as well.

Take your age and give yourself a gift of it
Eeehhh?

So if you are 50 , give yourself 50 minutes every day of exercise.
Walking, dancing, zumbaing, wiiiing, jumping, hoping, splashing, basically moving.
It can be broken up into sections.

Go on, give yourself a gift.

Oh, and if you want the best blog on the website, look no further than Lucia.

We all need details, what have you been up to as we have all missed you

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Does anyone know where I can purchase consomme base for the ‘consomme with celeriac and spring onions’ recipe?

Hi John

Welcome back.

There is an ‘Over 23 weeks’ thread – I was in Italy when I reached week 24 so started the thread early.

Thanks, I just had some on courgetti with a chicken breast! Yummy

Yes – all those things are within BSD – even the partisan. Or Parmesan as you meant to say before your predictive text laid hands on it! 😉

If you use MyFitnessPal you can check the calories/nutritional breakdown.

Enjoy!

Hi Happy I will pop over in a minute!

Thanks Melb100, well done for staying away from the buns!

Science Monkey thanks, and don’t mind that target I’m sure you will get there just do it in your own time 🙂

Hi everyone!

Im really excited because Im going to this huge event next month here in Los Angeles.

“A global community that comprises all facets of fitness and wellness is converging to set the foundation for a stronger, fitter and healthier tomorrow. Join the more than 14,000 personal trainers, group fitness instructors, club and studio owners and managers, mind-body professionals and nutrition professionals from over 60 countries for an event that will transform you and those you serve.”

Who’s interested?

WOW your GP mentioned Dr Mosley – Very Impressed.

I was also shocked, as a vegetarian, thought I ate healthy. December I had a second test & told Hb1Ac was 69, after 3 months had a test now 38 and not labelled Diabetic. I got a machine to check my blood levels twice daily – I wanted to know if what I was doing was working and within the first week there was a major difference. I also got a Fitbit to track everything. I followed the book recipes to the letter, at first it felt like all I was doing was preparing food for the day and next day and spending loads of time in the kitchen. After a while you get the hang of it and you get used to the recipes you like (the cheese scone & muffin – is something to avoid though).

5 months on I have bought the 5:2 diet recipe book and doing the (500 calories once/twice a day – Now that’s hard), but still being a bit of a control freak as I don’t want to go back.

All the very best and ask questions or do a search in the top box of the page, because I can bet some one has already asked it and loads will have replied – all very supportive here.

Hi All,

As threatened, I’m back.
Had a challenging few weeks and missed you all a lot.
Quite a few hotel stays and other temptations – some of which I succumbed to.
Discovered that all the old daemons are still lurking – I fell foul of my usual diet routine, which is to feel so smug and self-satisfied and consequently fell off the wagon.
I forget who it was who coined the term “food blackout” but I certainly had a few – however, the BSD drilling led me to binge on “better” food so that helped a lot – thanks Michael.
One thing I am extremely grateful for was Lucia’s challenge – if you “follow” me on Strava you will see that I have religiously gone for a power walk every possible morning. I’ve also persevered with the old “5BX” fitness course and done quite a bit of cycling.
Thanks again Lucia.
Overall result – up half a stone, but I’ve been back on the regime for about 10 days now and I’m already back to where I left off.
Haven’t had time to trawl through the forums – is there any significant news I’ve missed over the last month or two?
Which are the “hot” forums to subscribe to now? – Is there a “24 Weeks and over” yet?
Just 14 more lbs to go
Onward & downward
John

Congratulations Izzy,

It’s great to see that all your effort and hard work has paid off. I’ll be interested to see how the next few weeks go as you finish the reduction phase and get into the maintenance phase.

I’ll be six weeks in on Thursday and I dont think I’ll beat the 16kg target I set myself, but I’m already fitting in clothes I’ve had for 2 years and never been able to wear 🙂 I’m thinking about what I’ll do after the 8 weeks and I’m leaning towards the Med-style diet he talks about in the book and the 5:2 approach to help keep me on the straight and narrow. Has anyone got any experience on life after the 8 weeks they want to share?

Cheers ears,

Sciencemonkey

Fantastic! Well done!

Hi JPSCloud, all journeys begin with the first step and sometimes we have to start over. I find 800 calories too low and vary between 1000 and 1500 calories a day. I am only 10 days in and losing weight at a level I have never ever achieved before but then I am more than double what my ideal weight should be so I know initially I will lose a lot and then it will slow down. I am in for a very long haul – years to get to an ideal healthy weight so have to be sensible; I know I wont last a week on 800 daily so I do Med diet and weigh fats and carbs and it seems to be working for me. Good luck xx

Welcome back jpscloud!
You sound like you’ve got your approach sorted for this 2nd attempt. Being prepared – both mentally, and getting the right foods in, is so important.
I’ve been BSDing since January. I didn’t bother with 800cals, I just went for the Med-style approach. I cut back on portions, chose the recommended foods (and ditched most of the crap). Keeping hydrated works well. I have also tried to cut back on the late night eating, trying to ensure I have eaten my evening meal between 6pm and 7pm. And putting food away (not leaving it on the kitchen worktop) helps keep things out of sight, out of mind. I’ve not stuck to things religiously – there have been several pigouts along the way but generally I’ve been able to stick to things.
My weight loss hasn’t been as spectacular as others – I think the average is just over 1lb/week – but I am close to achieving 2stone lost.
Good luck this time round – I’m sure things will be easier as you know the pitfalls. Don’t be disheartened if things don’t appear to be working – scales are only one measure of how things are going. Any loss is a move in the right direction, but so are clothes feeling baggier, and just generally feeling better in yourself.

Thanks Flower – 9.5lbs is fantastic! I never lost that much in over a month on fat clubs. Well done. Wonderful to have support and somewhere to get answers or cheer up and motivate on the bad days xx

Hi I’m starting week 3 bit of a blip at the weekend as we had my daughters hen doo so over done it on the alcohol 😨 but still 10lbs down in just over 2 weeks .
I love reading all the posts and I am now getting into the routine of preparing and planning my meals for the week .
Here’s to another good week ( less the tequila shots this time )

Day 2…
Well I got down to 1100 calories today…need to get it lower.
Lower than last week though.

I lost 3 inches in the first week and nothing since but I have lost elsewhere. I wish I’d measured more parts but my trousers falling down is a big clue as to where it’s coming off.

Has anyone experienced weight loss but no shift at all in waist measurements? I’m in my fourth week.

Hi keep trying,

Yep, it’s a pain when that happens…I often get ‘timed out’ when replying to posts…😕

Be gentle on yourself, if you need to rest then rest and restore your energy!

Hope the fibre issues resolve soon. A thread might be useful as I am sure others may be able to share their experiences and solutions – hopefully.

Take care,

Imogen🌻

Hi Janeycoughdrop. That’s great. Well done !
I had a busy weekend so have got a bit behind with things -but not too busy to weigh myself and find out I have hit my 2 stone off level ….yeehoo!
Week 5 going well. I managed to squeeze in a little bit of swimming and another 10,000 step walk recently so am pretty pleased with myself. The other half is doing really well too.
We have also dug out clothes we can now fit into again. I have got rid of so many I am having to wash & dry things more regularly. I’m not going to buy lots whilst still losing so will spend one day next week going on a charity shop spree and buy three pairs of jeans or bottoms and three sweatshirts/fleeces or tops to wear in the transition to a yet smaller size and then will take them and donate them back again when I am happy with my BMI.
I feel better in myself than I have for years and wake up earlier and brighter as well as having better skin texture. I have been taking one high dose fish oil tablet a day during the whole of the time we have been doing this but that was in response to new research that this MAY stave off Alzheimers/dementia for a while longer if & when either of us were to succumb to it. We plan to continue that long term even when we eventually bridge over to the 5:2 plan.
We are having a couple of days away next week but I am confident I know enough now to make wise choices and will do a bit of advance planning on which food shops etc are there and what we can expect to find to suit us. There is no way I am going to spoil things now….the cake incident a few posts back taught me a valuable lesson so won’t be making that mistake again.
I went on one of the machines in Boots and got a print out of my BMI and body fat percentage recently. I am going to repeat this in one month and two months to be able to compare them side by side. To be 12 stone something rather than 15 is great (even if it is the very high end lol !)
Onwards and downwards….

thank you Imogen

just wrote a long post about being so very tired
but just don’t have the energy to rewrite it again since it decided to vanish

I am also have big issues with fibre
which I am having way more of
but it is causing issues!!
might start a thread about it

Hi Sooz, I think the Med style low carb diet is one you can stay on indefinitely if you want. If long-term, you find you’re losing more weight than you want to or is healthy, you can adjust the amount that you eat rather than the things that you eat, if you see what I mean.

Monday was my last day of the course.
So over the last few weeks I have changed in appearance from Buddha-like thanks to BSD, and gained buddha-like awareness thanks to MBSR. Just call me Bodhisattva! I am about to send off my personal responses recorded on worksheets, so that hopefully I can ‘graduate’.

Here’s a reminder of the link.
http://palousemindfulness.com/index.html

As mentioned elsewhere, one or two of the experts can be a bit dull, so you might find alternatives; you can follow other leads via youtube until you reach a speaker that offers a more sympathetic explanation or approach.
E.g., in the ‘loving kindness’ meditation I didn’t like the one offered – too rushed, male and perfunctory, and found a gentler female version from Emma Seppala, Ph.D.

There is a great structure to the course, and the basic practices are covered very well, with plenty of resources listed in the 8 chapters – videos, articles and links for further study. It covers the practicalities of guided and sitting meditation, yoga, dealing with stress, difficult emotions and communication, through the importance of compassion and developing your own practice.

I tried the fast 800 and abandoned it in the third week. I went back into denial and have been completely off the rails since then.

My blood sugars have gone up, don’t know about cholesterol and blood pressure but fairly sure they have gone up too, as I haven’t been exercising and have gained 2 stones.

So time to try again – I’m going to ease in with the med style diet, not too strictly low carb (allowing myself brown rice, spelt and rye bread in low amounts) and restricting calories to around 1500 per day.

My main aim is to control my portion sizes (usually large enough for three people) and reduce snacking as much as possible. Three main meals, perhaps a small supper if it’s a long day.

I will have days when I’m not in control, and most days I will make a mistake or two. I will try to make these small mistakes, and not let them turn into a day. When they do turn into a day I will try to keep it as a day, not let it run on.