Hi Liv,

I will start by saying that I have no medical background but I do have some thoughts about the sodium issue.
In a normal western diet we eat a lot of sodium without even knowing it. Every thing from bread to breakfast cereal and any other processed food we eat is full of sodium. Milk and cheese, especially hard cheese and things like haloumi are very high in sodium. Then there is the snack foods and takeaway foods that we eat for treats, again all loaded with sodium.
In your life pre BSD you may have had toast and cereal with coffee for breakfast, maybe a salad with cheese, ham or salami for lunch and some takeaway for dinner. You would never have even given the sodium a thought unless you were on a low sodium diet for medical reasons.
I am finding that some days I am eating foods with a lot of sodium but that is balanced by days when I eat foods with very little sodium.
Like you most of the sodium I ingest is coming from vegetables. The days that I have lots are the days that I eat cheese as I am not eating any processed foods.
I think that unless you have a medical condition that requires a low sodium diet don’t worry too much and look for balance across the week.
I hope this helps.

HI FeltWicked
in the UK Tesco sell no added sugar chocolate – the brand is Chocologic, but I’ve only found it in Tesco
It’s OK, but still 1/5 sugar – and 1/3 carbs
it wasn’t particularly rich (or good) so easy to eat a lot of it – you’re probably better with a good quality dark chocolate where you’ll feel sated by a couple of squares.
I find cocoa powder made to a drink with sweetener – I use 1/4 teaspoon of Stevia – and a dash of milk is a good way of getting an occasional low sugar low carb chocolate shot.

nutrition for the milk Chocologic (100g)
Energy 484kcal
Carbohydrate 33.7g
sugars 20.9g
Fibre 17.0g
Protein 7.9g

Hi Tallyhoo,

I love Eumundi, and I used to work near Auchenflower. I’m in Woodridge (it’s a lot better now than back in the ’90s).

As for the doctor, no I haven’t told him yet. He is one of those “If it isn’t recommended by the Diabetic association (NDSS) then don’t do fad diets” types. I am visiting him for the full blood test very soon as I am interested in the results. I am carefully monitoring my BS and BP. I am amazed that the readings have barely increased without the medications. I am not a person who likes to take pills without good cause – admittedly I would not advise anyone to do what I did, this is my body and health and I, alone, am responsible for it, every one else must do what they feel is the right way for them.

Keep in touch,

FeltWicked.

Hi Feltwicked……………..have you told your doc you’ve dropped your meds? Makes me nervous……………..! I’ve lost 45 lbs now which is 20.4 kilos I think, in 16 weeks. My bs has pretty much halved and I have just dropped half of my metformin – will see doc next week after having had hb1ac tests so we’ll see what he says. It is amazing though isn’t it! I’m just too scared to drop all meds without being told – generally a sadly obedient perso!!

We lived in Oz for 10 years – had a house in Eumundi and also in Auchenflower so know Brisbane quite well, kids went to UQ and lived in St Lucia – returned home to the UK in 2013.

Hi everyone,

My partner and I just remembered seeing no-sugar chocolates (and other sweets) in our local chemist. We’ve had them before we discovered the BSD and they are very nice. My query is, how do they rate for this diet? I won’t have the opportunity to check out the ingredients and nutrition info on the packet until tomorrow as it’s Sunday afternoon here Down Under.

Any heads up warnings or positives I can glean?

Thanks
FeltWicked.

Morning gang,
It’s warm here already.
Are you all ready for another day of challenges and goals.

Do something crazy, do something wild, do something fun, something light hearted
But just…. Do something!

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi. Day 2 for me and as its a sunday im researching meals for the week and checking i am getting all i need nutritionally. I thought i was doing well, making everything from scratch, this being breakfast: x2 eggs with spinach and mushrooms, lunch: pea and ham soup, dinner: chicken breast with carrots, broccolli and chard. However when I have added it into my food calculator it says I am way over my healthy sodium levels. More research has told me that carrots, chard and spinach has a huge amount of sodium. This really upsets me actually, as I thought I was doing so well only to find that I am not doing my body any good if my sodium is high. What do others think? Is having high sodium levels from natural raw or slightly cooked veggies bad? Thanks 🙂

Hi LindaA,
8 kms around Narrabeen Lakes is a great effort. I used to do the bay run (but I’d walk it) around Iron Cove years ago when I lived in the inner west and from memory that was 8 kms.
So pleased to read that there was no smoke. It has cleared here now, so we can get out and about. I hope the charity raised a lot funds.

Hi Christi1948,
I was reading your question about chicken gujons and the egg/cauliflower rice. I haven’t tried it but it sounds like it would work.
The other thing that’s good instead of bread crumbs is LSA mix. Is it available where you live? It’s ground linseeds, sunflowers and almonds. I haven’t got a carb count to hand. I know it’s really nice on fish.
Happy cooking.

Week 4 – day 2
718 cal. 23 carbs

B 1/2 egg, 1 oz cheese, 8 grapes
L lettuce, 2 oz cheese, 1/3 avocado, 1 T dressing
D lettuce, 3 oz crab, 1 egg, 1 T dressing

Huge congrats to you Bill – you give
Us all hope if we keep doing this we will also get to our goals and be healthier!
Round of applause for you!!
😍

Thanks Izzy!

Today was exceptional and so much better than I could have hoped for as my husband’s family took us to an American restaurant instead of Chinese so there would be good I could eat!! I got a Louie salad and am actually under 800 cal today and only 23 carbs.
On top of that great news someone posted on another forum about their tummy troubles and how taking calcium stopped them. So yesterday we bought some and I took one and voila today life is normal again. I guess I have IBS or it’s the bile issue from no gallbladder some
get. The lady who posted started taking it 1998 and has not had any problem since. What an easy resolution and I can’t wait to tell my doctor when I get home!!
I even added lettuce, eggs, and cheese back to my diet today which will greatly improve my variety!
We spent an awesome day with our 10year old grandson.
Other good things I am noticing and so did my hubby:
I am walking straight up!! I used to bend over slightly all the time (guess the weight was pulling me forward and it’s gone).
I am walking fast! I used to slow him down and now fast is my normal. It’s so weird. In just 3.2 weeks.
Life is changing for the good and forever. I couldn’t ask for more. It’s like getting a new life already and I can’t wait to see what more weight loss will bring.

Hugs for a happy day to you and watch out for too many crackers. Even without the total carbs just “needing” them can set you up for cravings.
💜

Hi Switzerland
I’m back from my walk and it seems 8kms is around 12,000 steps and it took just shy of 2 hours. There’s a smoke haze around now but it wasn’t too bad around Narrabeen Lakes, probably the sea breeze keeping it at bay.

How lucky you are to have the bush on your doorstep! We’ve got bush nearby, but not that close so I mainly walk through the suburbs and check out people’s houses and gardens.

I’m off now to take my 85 yo mother to visit my 88 yo uncle, both of them as fit as a fiddle and going very strong.
Hope you’re not housebound for too long.
Linda

Sweet dreams Lucia,
I have a lilac tree in my back yard that’s getting towards the end of it’s life. So……I also have 2 very small lilacs that I’m nurturing in pots. I’m hoping to plant them out and get them established before the other one succumbs to old age. I love the fragrance of their flowers.

Like you my walks are often social….even down in the bush. You’re so right in saying a smile is a gift. When I’m out walking it’s rare that a smile is not returned……..then there’s the guy from 7 houses down the street that jogs regularly. He’s always wary of scaring me so shouts out ‘behind’ on his approach, then is always apologising because I jump when he calls out…….There’s also a man who runs and is so fast that he can lap me 3 times when I’m on an eighty minute walk (it’s a big loop)! It’s a great way of meeting people. There are some locals that I only ever see down there.

We’ve got some wonderful bird life. Kookaburras (always laughing at me), magpies, white cockatoos, black cockatoos, eastern rosellas, king parrots, wattle birds and on the rare occasion galahs and butcher birds. In the warmer seasons blue wrens and Gouldian finches. I talk to all of the birds – some of them sing back.

Hi all, here’s my details taken from my Profile too.

Residing in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, male, age 54, Type 2 Diabetic for 10 years, on 2x tablets of Galvumet (Diaformin won’t dissolve in my innards for some obscure reason), High Blood Pressure on 1x tablet Exforge.
Abbreviations: Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS); Blood Pressure (BP); Weight (W)
Started BSD 28 April 2016 – W 98.4kg; FBS 4.8 mmol; BP 130/75.
Week 1: W 96.1kg (-2.3 kg to date); FBS 4.9; BP 126/70
All medication ran out on 20160506 so stopped using it.
Week 2: W 95.1kg (-1kg (-3.3kg to date)); FBS 4.6; BP 142/76
Week 3: W 94.1kg (-1kg (-4.3kg to date)); FBS 5.6; BP 131/82

Now in Week 4 … my partner, Jeanette, is also on this diet and has lost more weight than I – our girths are trimming down too. Thank goodness … Okay … thank Michael!

Hi everyone,

Its been 4 weeks since I started the BSD. Feeling great!! I don’t have diabetes, I just wanted to lose weight for myself.
I was starting to get concerned about my rate of weight loss but reading everyone’s responses here has given me great encouragement so I thought I would share my experience so far.

My initial weight was 69kg, and now I am at 65 after 4 weeks of no carbs. Today I am on day 3 of week 5. I took up fast walk again from today. I lost 2kg in first week, 1 each in 2nd and 3rd weeks, but nothing in week 4. It seems that this pattern is quite common so I should not give up and keep at it. Because of my slow weight loss I am intending to keep going till the end of week 10 instead of 8. I have read in Michael’s book that some people take it upto 10-12 weeks, depending on what the ideal wight is that they are trying to achieve.
I have to say this is an amazing community with so much positivity!! Well done to everyone! Take pride in what you have achieved!!

Hi everyone,

Its been 4 weeks since I started the BSD. Feeling great!! I don’t have diabetes, I just wanted to lose weight for myself. My son was diagnosed with autism about 5 years ago, and since then I let myself go. Things are so much better now and he is great, I have a 2 year old girls as well and my husband and I are in a really good place again. I thought now is the time to bring back the body that I have lost over time. My initial weight was 69kg, and now I am at 65 after 4 weeks of no carbs. Today I am on day 3 of week 5. I took up fast walk again from today. My concern is that my weight has started to plateau. I lost 2kg in first week, 1 each in 2nd and 3rd weeks, but nothing in week 4. I don’t want to lose steam and I have a long way to go, I ideally wish to bring my weight down to 58-59 kilos. Any advice?

Day 7. Have felt very blah the last 2 days, but I’m not giving up. Sitting on 3kg down. Bad knees have been playing up, but this is just one of the reasons I’m doing this. No surgery until BMI is well under 35.

hi Isabel

I don’t normally weigh myself normally – only when I’m trying to loose weight.
I read something the other day – not sure if on here, the BSD book or somewhere unrelated, and it suggested that when you’ve reached a target weight, that you continue to weigh yourself regularly and ensuring that you stay within a kilo of your target weight.
I know it sounds incredibly obvious, but as someone who clearly hasn’t done very well in 50+ years of not weighing myself regularly (or being at an ideal weight), it was a real light bulb moment!

I looked back at a recipe that I had created on myfitnesspal – it attempts to find the ingredients and match them – the nutrients looked a bit out to what I’d calculated. On checking, they’d added banana chips instead of courgettes, found canned tomatoes but added 1 gram instead of a 400g can, baby sweetcorn instead of yellow peppers – some very odd choices.
At least I know to check now if continue that instead of my spreadsheet!

Hi, I’ve been wondering about carbs/calories as well. I sometimes use My Fitness Pal and it seems to be OK.
I don’t weight myself, had a book called Throw Away The Scales, and tend to go by how my clothes feel. Almost finished week 2 and feeling lighter.

Half past midnight,
Up at 6am to have another go.
Night night
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi Switzerland.

I am not a Tree hugger.

But as I walk, I may stop and smell the lilac trees, syringa.
I will walk a bit and find a pink carpet of cherry blossom petals under the tree.

I walk a bit and stop and say hello to someone who looks lonely, who may not have spoken to another soul all day. Talk about the weather, the garden, the view, anything.

Then I give them a gift but they give it back to me bigger and better….. The gift…. A smile
. I give a smile and they respond automatically by giving me a biggest smile right back.

Then I may see a plant in someone’s garden. I love the blue flowers on a bush called ceanothus.

Walk a bit and look at the shapes of the clouds, trying to find a funny shape.
Walk a bit and sing,
Walk a bit and splash
Walk a bit and nose I someone’s front living room window as I walk past.
Walk a bit and whistle.
Walk a bit and find where the beautiful song of the blackbirds coming from.
Walk a bit and laugh at starlings, they remind me of slicked back teddy boys.

Then realise I need to come right back and off we go again.

Yes, I am no tree hunger, but as other bloggers will Confirm I have been out and shouted at my cheery blossom tree as it never blossoms before next doors tree.

Love Lucia
🌲🌳🌴🌱🌿🎄🌵🌳🌲🌴🐲🎍🎄🌱🌴🌳🌴🌱🎄🌴🌴🌳🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌳🌳🌳🌲🌴🌱
Xxxx

Thankyou Switzerland, and no the coat won’t fit for a long time yet! it’s one of the smallest sized items. I’ve kept it though. You never know maybe this winter will be the year I get to wear it! I started my 40’s 4 stone overweight, hopefully by the time I turn 41, I won’t be.

I have spent the evening going through everything again, I’ve added more to the charity pile and the rest is sectioned into piles of things that will fit soonish, then things that should fit in 6-8 weeks, and then the smallest things that should fit when I’m done.

The ‘fit soonish’ stuff is in my wardrobe. The rest is piled into a tower in between two chests of drawers where I can see them. The smallest is at the bottom, my aim now being to get to the bottom of that pile adding the things that fit to my wardrobe as it happens 🙂

I’m about 3 stone away from those smallest clothes… but 5 weeks ago, I was almost 4 stone away. That’s a big step nearer!

Glad it went well Celeste – I went to Prezzo, and had a steak and rocket salad – its excellent, just thin slices of rare steak on top of rocket, a few olives, peppers, cherry tomatoes – and rocket. Under 400 calories, one site said it has 25 carbs – I assume most is from the balsamic dressing – I must remember to ask for it on the side next time, and just for olive oil.

Omg.
I have it.
Here it is.

I can’t be the best , but I can be better than last week!

I love it,simple , honest and it gives you something to build on.
Must keep being better than the previous week.

I have done my task of searching. This is one that hits home for me.

I need to be mindful of this.
Love luciaXxxx

I’ve had a really grazy /nibbling day to day (day 5) – I haven’t gone over 800 calories, a bit on carbs (65 in total)
Snacking on raw cabbage spread with marmite (13 cal, 1.5 carbs) may be weird, but has to be better than going out to buy chocolate!

hope you feel better tomorrow

I had a bit of a bad day today and I think it’s because I am pre menstrual too. I ate an entire bag of mini poppadums ( 500 cals) and 2 glasses of wine… On the plus side I went to the gym and swimming and have the kit packed for after work tomorrow! I’m not going to beat myself up about my slip. It’s a long term goal and like you tomorrow I will just get back on track 🤗

Hi Leeanne,

As Izzy wrote most of the food was lower carb and not rubbish.

I want to highlight 2 things for you. 1. You write about a major fall off the wagon which proves you are now aware of what food you eat. If you had eaten this food prior to the BSD would you have even known you’d consumed 2115 calories in a day? (I know I wouldn’t have)
2. You know how to get back on the wagon.

Think of all of the things you’ve learned over the last 11 weeks. Every one of them have equipped you with the knowledge of how to get back on the wagon.
I can’t finish this post without a plug for mindfulness meditation. Have you explored this BSD principle yet?

Best wishes for a better day tomorrow.

Thanks Lucia
I’m lucky to have always played sport and although over 30 kilos overweight, I managed to stay reasonably fit. I enjoy walking, but won’t jog as I have a dodgy knee.
It’s a glorious day here today, but with just over a week to the start of winter, we know it won’t last. Although in saying that, our winters are pretty good so we don’t have much to complain about. I don’t think we’ve had rain in over 2 weeks so the gardens are getting very thirsty and we’re having to hand water every day.
Have a lovely Sunday when you wake up and thanks for helping keep us all on track with your humour 😀
Cheers
Linda

Hi Izzy,
Your post has really resonated with me. I’ve been doing similar with sorting through clothes. I have to ask – the lovely purple coat, does it fit? Did it end up in the charity bag?
It’s interesting what you say about the BSD. I feel the same. This time it is different. For me what’s different is that hunger and seeking out food are no longer driving my behavior. I feel so much more in control. eg. when I wake in the morning I’m content to have a cup of coffee and then consider what I’ll eat for breakfast. This is so different to my life before the BSD when I’d wake and HAVE to reach for some high simple carb low fat ‘breakfast’ immediately.
We live, we learn.
I enjoy reading your 8 week diary. Best wishes.

hi all –

day three:

weight: 201.9 (diff: -7.9)
calories: 790
carbs: 49
breakfast: black coffee
lunch: korean pork lettuce wrap
dinner: market salad, half
snacks: small glass red wine

so today was my first real ‘outing’ on the fast 800 – heading out for lunch with some of my new colleagues, as i’ve just begun a new position in a new city. i was a little worried that everyone would be drinking and wonder why i wasn’t eating much – a little self-centred of me i guess!!! the women were lovely & everyone ordered….whatever they wanted – some burgers & fries, some soups & me with lettuce wraps and water. it was totally fine. phew!

i have not been feeling hungry at all….actually been feeling bloated i think? i can’t really tell actually if it’s fullness or bloating. i don’t know why i would feel fullness at only 800 calories. weird, reactions are weird! i am certainly in a better mood today – thankfully!

it’s a long weekend up here in canada this weekend with monday off – really preparing so i can it up throughout the weekend! i find weekends tend to be more of a derailer than work days – what about you guys?

celeste x

hi everyone –

wow thanks for the tips! i really appreciate the feedback. i managed a a colleague lunch out – with no questions and had a great chat with some new people!

Epspecially – i have totally been ‘overthinking’ it too! just because people make funny comments & i’m not sure if it’s kind or concerning or judgement. but perhaps no one is really thinking much about what & how we eat haha!

Frog – I had a korean lettuce wrap for lunch! it was delicious and low cal & easily identifiable ingredients! & took your advice and picked it out beforehand from the online menu! preparation is key.

captainlynne – wow that’s inspiring!!! you’ve done so well! good luck in italy!

celeste x

Hi LindaA,

Still smoky here, but it’s good to read that your area is not affected. It’s a beautiful Autumn Day so your charity walk should be enjoyable. Let us all know how many steps you achieve today.

Despite being stuck inside I have a plan of chores to tackle today.

Thanks ay caramba, I’m looking forward to it. We’ve woken to a glorious Autumn day with not a cloud in the sky, currently it’s 15 deg C, but predicted to get to 23 deg C.
Yo go girl with your walk, just put one foot in front of the other and just keep going. If it’s flat land, you’ll find that once you get going its easy to keep going. What charity is it for?
Have a great Sunday and remember, every step counts towards a healthier you😀

Hi Lucia,
I used to play the same game when I was young, single ball though. I never even thought about progressing to more – but what an excellent idea. Your walks sound lovely. When you go for a long walk are you able to get in to nature? I am truly blessed in that I live beside a World Heritage listed National Park. When I walk into the bushland at the end of my street I have bush path access to 3 waterfalls – fortunate, I know.
No special plans for this week. Work, family, BSD and all that it involves and when the smoke subsides some clothes washing and gardening.
Enjoy your walk.

ho hum. All went well until nine o’clock…..I had an extra glass of wine…and then some chilli squid……
Turns out , I have had 1100 calories……grrrrrrrrrrr….xxx..kill me now – after a day of suffering…grrr.
On a happier note: spotted bats scooting around in the trees in the garden., and,……did not sample the chocolate toblerone cake made by my granddaughter Scarlett.x

Hi Switzerland
No, I didn’t see smoke at all yesterday and nothing today so far that I can see, although it was around earlier in the week. It’s got to be done and luckily I’ve got no health issues where it could worry me.
I’m looking forward to the walk today, I really like supporting a charity where the majority of the money raised goes to the recipients as opposed to the administration.
Have a great Sunday, hopefully you’re not stuck inside again today.
Linda

Hi Switzerland.

When I was little , I used to throw a ball against the wall and sang little songs.
Then I progressed to two then three, I struggled with four and could that many only for a few goes.

Guess what I am going to do next weekend.
I have a plan.
It will help me with reaction, hand and eye coordination and fitness.

Hoping to go for a different walk tomorrow.
I live in a built up area, so love it when I can get away by a few miles or so.

What’s your plans over the coming week?
Love Lucia
Xxxx

Aside from the weetabix, your food although high is calories was still lower carb and not rubbish food. If you can put this in your past already it’s just one day, in the long run this will make little or no difference to your story.

Just get right back on that wagon 🙂 Good luck with week 12!

Hi Imogen,
Same here the pies are to die for, and if I had carried on eating things like the pies it probably would have killed me sooner than later!
I do have great problems with my ability to resist temptation!
Christine

Well gang, it is nearly dark here.
I have done all the things on my to do list that I posted earlier.
Hop scotch was weird, as I tried to pick up the stone whilst standing on one leg.
Hop hop hop hop, it was fun and light hearted.
Anyone else done this today?

I have also polished everything with brasso. It kept me busy as the washing was going, before I made the beds and just after one of my walks.
It took a huge HUGE effort to do all my steps.

Tomorrow is dusting day
Walking
And taking another look at the clothes in the wardrobe.
Sorting out etc.

Next weekend is the bank holiday weekend. I am hoping to go out for the day and walk somewhere different.

How are you all doing?

Love lucia
Xxxx

Just think about how well you have done in all the other weeks and don’t be disheartened. Get back on it tomorrow and you’ll move on and forget about today.

Hi Oceandiver

Happy to send a copy of my spreadsheet – but I can’t see a way of sending direct emails on this forum

I just spent some time loading my food log from the last week into myfitnesspal
it’s OK – not quite as flexible for reporting and doing comparisons and analysis
Several foods in their database are very far from common values that I found on a cross section of UK supermarkets – users can add to the database, not sure how much quality control there is – and it was with things like rhubarb and raw carrot where the carbs were wildly out, and then I had to search really long picklists to find an entry where the nutritional values looked correct or load a new variant of the food myself. Also lots of cups given as a serving measurement, and some truly weird ones – who on earth would measure raw carrot in millilitres!?

When I tried to log in, it turned out I’d already set up and account – just over three years ago. I was even more overweight at that point, and although I didn’t stick to my eating plan for more than a few months, I hadn’t put back much of the the weight I lost then – thank goodness!

I ditched the curry plans and had cheese, crackers and pickle for dinner lol. I’m over on calories as I expected today but my carbs are still only 35g and I’ve eaten nothing crappy so I’m still pleased enough with my day. Turns out the kids do not like the crackers, but that’s fine more for me! I have them in an airtight tub so I think they should last pretty well. Time will tell.

Quick Izzy history. 9 years ago I was the lightest I’ve ever been in my adult life having followed lighterlife. (food pack diet) I spent a lot of money and it *may* have been that diet that gave me gallstones but hey… we’ll never know. Anyways I had just got down to where I wanted to be, felt great and looked my best and BAM life threw me a trauma. I won’t bore you with the detail but I suffered a horrible bereavement which threw all my best intentions out of the window. For a time it seemed my weight stabilised at the new low level, but I suspect I just wasn’t eating much. I purchased lots of clothes and enjoyed the surprise I felt every time I saw the small me in a window reflection etc.

However over the months that followed my weight gradually went up again. I was a UK size 10, then a 12, then a 14, then a 16… you guys know how it goes. I was eventually an 18 again. I had clothes in every size and a heap went in bags in the loft, hopeful as I was that one day I’d be able to wear the smallest of them again.

Fast forward to now, when I dragged it all down tonight when my son was in the bath. It was weird looking through it all, with my daughter helping. A few of the larger items may fit soon, and the smallest ones look impossibly small lol, but I remember wearing them. I’ve had a good rummage through and given some stuff to my daughter, and a pile I know I won’t wear for the charity shop.

There was a lovely purple wool coat I remember paying about £150 for and it’s still got the tags on. By the time winter arrived it didn’t fit. I’ve kept it feeling hopeful!

I know I’m nowhere near my target, and I know that LOTS could go wrong along the way, but the past month I’ve really felt different about the BSD in a way that I can’t remember feeling about any other ‘diet’

I feel in control of my food in a way I can’t really remember. Even on a day like today when I know I’ve gone over I still feel in control, it hasn’t spiralled out of control, nor will it. Not today anyway. I’m enjoying the food, enjoying the experience. It’s different to my previous attempts at making changes. I can’t quite explain it.

I feel like if I just keep going I will get where I want to be. I don’t know when, it could take a while, but I really believe I can, and I will. I know the road may not be straight and I may fall along the way, but there is nothing to stop me getting back up.

Those impossibly small clothes will become my wardrobe again.

Hi Linda a
Your walk sounded wonderful, I am sure that everyone in the uk wants to be there with you.
We have had heavy rain today, dull and grey. I think we all would love to escape for a few hours.

You ar sounding so healthy and fit.
I take my hat off to you.

Keep going.

Love Lucia
Xxxx

Hi barbi,
I am so proud of you taking up little challenges.
You say you are walking up and down the stairs in your Home.
When I did it , don’t forget I had a chair at the bottom and the bathroom stool at the top.
I was cream crackered just after one way.
Just kept doing it until I needed to sit down, I sat down until i didn’t feel as if I was going to explode. Then off agin I went.
You just get better and better at it, and it is free and no one can see you do it
Also

Sing along to your wash board tunes. Just go for it!!!

I was singing my best version of phantom of the opera, this morning as I opened the curtains and straightened the bed room.
After half an hour I asked hubby if he liked my phantom of the opera, he said… Oh that’s what you were singing, I didn’t recognise it. What a compliment.
Then he started too as he grabbed my yoghurt.

Keep going Barbie. I am so happy for you.
Love Lucia
Xxxx

The food shop there is great….but way too tempting for me just now… my resistance to temptation not that strong.🌻

Hi Imogen,
I love going to the Tebay service station either up or down the M6, on the way up I get some stinking bishop cheese for our son in law, he loves the cheese, as we do, it’s our little treat for him, we have trouble getting it anywhere else around us.
Christine

Hi Lynne,
Yes you are correct Accrington Stanley, exactly! We haven’t lived there for 38 years but we did go back regularly to see my mum and hubbys parents, then it was morecambe to visit brother in law, his wife died at 60 seven years ago then Ken two years ago, it’s so sad that they were both so I’ll, one with lung cancer the other had vasculitus, when David doesn’t know what the inside of a doctors surgery looks like!
We have to be so thankful that what we do have wrong with us is nothing compared to some people.
We have got home today and again we hit the ground running, another week of intense activity, it’s never dull in my life!
You go on holiday soon, are you all ready? I am getting to the stage where I’m going to have to buy new underwear, it’s getting a bit scary but nice at the same time. It’s when you have to replace something that you really like that it gets me, I think what a shame I can’t get it in a smaller size!
Christine

Hi Christine, sorry I missed you waving – I am terribly short sighted! 🙋me waving back.

Hope your journey south was good. You seem to do a lot of travelling around. Killington is a stop off point for me whenever we travel that route 😊
We were so lucky with the weather, the rain seems to have passed us by today (at least for now). You know in Cumbria it tends to rain a lot…hence the lakes.

Keep on keeping on!

Imogen🌻