My positives for today are:
A replacement blind finally fitted today having been ordered 1st June!
Have organised for 30 day free Amazon Prime to USA so I can send gifts to our son and his family for Christmas.
Another Christmas without seeing them as last year we couldn’t get travel insurance as we were waiting for a diagnosis for hubby. Never mind, I’m SURE 2021 will be better!!!!!!!!!!
X B

Reading the thread has been a breath of fresh air. It’s raining here so my exercise was going shopping.

We have had to clear two rooms to get decorating, something that we have avoided for years.
I bought curtains online and they are even better than I hoped. Heavy cotton with a muted red stripe, contrasting with blue grey wallpaper.
The wallpaper is on the wall and soon we will finish decorating.
We discovered damp, and resolved it with an airbrick (had we known about it before taking off the wallpaper it would have major stress!)

It’s a yes from me too for an award for JQwen -her knowledge is amazing and she explains things in a clear way which suits my old brain!
As for tea candles, they are lit every weekend along with the mantlepiece fairy lights, starting on the day the clocks go back until the clocks go forward. I just love them!
The bus is slowly filling up as the old passengers buy another ticket. I hasten to add that by old I mean those of us who have been around BSD for a long time, not that we are old!
Back on track O.D.A.A.T.
X B

Yes DD seems to be rather enjoying the time off school again,doing school work online and relaxing🙂 Hopefully she will get through the 2 weeks without any COVID symptoms🤞Dawn X

Ps I got a late birthday card today..it says..
Theres a runner inside all of us screaming to get out,but we can usually shut her up with a biscuit! 😀

Yes I agree DAWN the rule book has been well and truly thrown out this year!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Got my clementine tealights lit,tomorrow night its mistletoe tealights! And yes my cards are written and parcels all wrapped. Just one last one for SIL left to wrap,its only just arrived in the post. Any other year none of that wd be done til December but this year is like no other!
Hope yr DD will be ok in isolation and I bet she’ll enjoy decorating her bedroom for Christmas,what a lovely idea! X
Ps I got a late birthday card today..it says..
Theres a runner inside all of us screaming to get out,but we can usually shut her up with a biscuit! 😀

Hi V! Well done on the ironing. Do you enjoy it or is it a chore? I dislike ironing as Im not good at it,I seem to create more creases than i iron out! 😀
I cant stand the adverts on tv so in the course of an evening I get up and move round each time they come on. Your idea takes it a very useful step further incorporating day time activity..I can get immersed in reading or browsing online,so I’ll give that a go,and slurp some water every 20 mins too. Im getting better at drinking water,since yr previous water drinking tip,but it means I need to go to the bathroom time and time again,which gets exhausting! Does this eventually settle down into less visits!
For dog lovers,just seen this beautiful quote…xx
Hi V! Well done on the ironing. Do you enjoy it or is it a chore? I dislike ironing as Im not good at it,I seem to create more creases than i iron out! 😀
I cant stand the adverts on tv so in the course of an evening I get up and move round each time they come on. Your idea takes it a very useful step further incorporating day time activity..I can get immersed in reading or browsing online,so I’ll give that a go,and slurp some water every 20 mins too. Im getting better at drinking water,since yr previous water drinking tip,but it means I need to go to the bathroom time and time again,which gets exhausting! Does this eventually settle down into less visits!
For dog lovers,just seen this beautiful quote…xx
Hi V! Well done on the ironing. Do you enjoy it or is it a chore? I dislike ironing as Im not good at it,I seem to create more creases than i iron out! 😀
I cant stand the adverts on tv so in the course of an evening I get up and move round each time they come on. Your idea takes it a very useful step further incorporating day time activity..I can get immersed in reading or browsing online,so I’ll give that a go,and slurp some water every 20 mins too. Im getting better at drinking water,since yr previous water drinking tip,but it means I need to go to the bathroom time and time again,which gets exhausting! Does this eventually settle down into less visits!
For dog lovers,just seen this beautiful quote…xx
“Dogs are not our whole life,but they make our lives whole “ (Roger Caras)
🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶

Warning,do not read any further if you think it’s too early to get Christmassy!!!!!
Thanks for your kind words Yowser.You enjoy those tea lights,as you say,we need things to keep our spirits up,and Christmassy smells and glowing candles are a good way to do that😀I’m hanging fire til 1st weekend in Dec to put the Christmas tree up but my daughter is decorating her bedroom this weekend so DH will b making a trip up into the loft to find what’s needed.I would normally suggest she waits til Dec but the Christmas rule book has been thrown out of the window this year🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️ and she is having to self isolate at the moment as one of her school friends has tested positive for Covid so a bit of light relief will be nice for her. I think you said you had your presents wrapped🎁🎁🎁I have most of them bought but not wrapped yet,I have written most of my cards though,must get some stamps! Dawn X

Hello ….. ‘choose-day’ what a great idea!
Well it’s been a strange day for me but I do have some positives……

🧺🧺 Loads of ironing done this morning….. washing will be my treat for tomorrow!
⏰⏰Read an interesting idea this morning…… if you are sitting down set your timer for 20 minutes and each time it buzzes move for 20 seconds. Any sort of movement will do. It never fails to amaze me that when I get engrossed in a book or something I can go for hours without moving. This sounds like a positive strategy to me.
🍽🐓🥕🧅 And so to dinner …. pot roast chicken thighs with vegetables and chickpeas. This is the first real ‘winter’ dish I’ve made in a while ….. just 33 days before the days start to get longer again! Roll on the spring!
Hope Tuesday had been good for you and that Wednesday will be even better!

Hi All…..I need some motivation to stay strong because I really want to get my last 11 pounds off and reach my target…..anyone got any good tips on keeping going, especially getting nearer to goal (where I have been for a little while now!)?

Love to all xxx

Hi and thanks Wendy.
Last week wasn’t the best for me but at least I know why. So it’s back to my notebook where I log the foods I don’t want to eat each and tick each one that I’ve succeeded in resisting at the end of the day. The notebook system works really well for me especially when I have a full row of ticks!
I also use the timer on my phone to remind me to drink water and move around a bit. That also works.
Anyway, hope everyone had a successful week.

I too have got my fingers crossed for these trial visits DAWN and I hope the family get to see yr Dad many many times in the months to come. I think this has been one of the hardest aspects of this year,the fact people in care homes and their families are separated. No matter how great the staff are,family time is so precious. Both my parents were eventually in a care home and we could pop in any time we wanted. It makes such a difference,visits were so enjoyable and so reassuring,and I want yr Dad and yr family to have that too.x
Well thank you Dawn,you have given me permission to light my Christmassy tealights..i was keeping them til beginning of December but no,as soon as its dark this evening Im lighting a few clementine tealights!..we need everything we can think of thats not food and drink related to keep our spirits up! X💘

Hi all,
I’m in for the week. Had a good week last week and for once managed to stay on track over the weekend as well so weighed in on 72.5 kg Monday morning – down 2,5 kg from last week (but I had a bit of a bump up last week so the loss is not that big in reality).
Was pleased about the weekend as I tried to focus on not having carbs and only had some wine on Saturday night.
Like you WindyJulz, I’m enjoying the fasting. I normally do 16:8 on a daily basis just by pushing breakfast back to a late morning yogurt treat instead (keeping a sharp eye on those raisins that try to jump in…). Over the last two weeks I have tried to do Mon, Wed, Fri with 24 hour fast – so I only eat dinner. I find that the Monday fast corrects me from the weekend and puts me right back in ketosis and that is motivation to stay clear of carbs when I’m eating as the ketosis will keep going. The Friday fast is good to set me up in the right mood for the weekend and to make sure I don’t overindulge on Friday night.
I’m only 0,5 kg away from 20 kg loss (since January) and 3,5 kg away from being in the healthy weight BMI. I was hoping to get there my Christmas. Like you say Sunshine Girl, I know there will be some weight gain over Christmas, so the better position I am in before the better! And I would like to make it only Christmas indulgence rather than December indulgence which has been the case for me in the past.
Hoping you are all well and lovely to read about the progress for everyone!

Hi Yowser, your Christmassy tea lights sound lovely,I love candles and wax melts and started burning a Christmas spice one at the weekend,bit early I know🙂 My dad has been a bit up and down,I think when I last mentioned him the nurse had told my sister his body was starting to shut down but then a few days later he was up and about!She spoke to him on the phone yesterday and he sounded quite weak again bless him.We are hoping that the care home visiting trials the government are talking about will be successful and that my dad will still b around for when they come into force so that my mum can visit as normally as possible (though wearing ppe) even once.If there was any way we could have brought him home we would,as never thought when he went into a care home a month into lockdown that we would have only been able to see him twice.I know lots of families are in the same situation so am keeping everything crossed that the trial visits work.
That’s a good idea about doing a To Do List at night,I might try that.Dawn X

Hi everyone, another week. It is okay you are on meal replacements Gattina as that is what you are being recommended. In order to see if their plan works you have to stick with it. You are doing great so it is working for you. I am assuming your BG is being monitored as you can go down very quickly with such a diet. Me personally on BSD went from 180/190 to 150 in less than a week and then down to 130 a few days later. I am now regularly around 80 to 100 which is perfection to me. Gives me a HbA1c of around 6.0 when I have my 3 monthly checks. I have reduced insulin from 40 units daily to around 26.

Not totally on plan over the weekend and dithering around the 77 kg mark again. Ever the optomist I look back to August when I was 79.9 kg and even further to when I started the diet when I was 84 kg. Could really do to lose another 5 to 10 kgs but not really bothered as long as I dont go up and I keep my BG’s low. I guess I really should say I am on maintenance but with hope of being slimmer. I will keep going with the hope of losing a bit more for Christmas – so I can put it back on – yes, I know that makes no sense but we all do it. No good saying I am sticking to my diet at Xmas although one year when I was super strict, me and my daughter decided Christmas was just one day and had a blow out and then straight back on plan the next day. I don’t think there will be too much indulgence as we are not buying loads of food ‘just in case’ as it will be just the two of us. Hubby wants a Christmas pudding but I hate anything with candid peel so I will probably have a much lighter dessert. We will see. Have a good week and stay at home if you can, if you cant then go out. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Hi friends xx
My pozzys today..
.*~ Having a good week so far, Im writing a To Do list every night for the next day,and its really helping me to focus and stay on track,keep moving and watch the carbs!
*~ Have bought some Christmassy tealights…one is clementine fragrance,the other mistletoe..can’t wait to start using them!
*~ Loving Sky Arts,lots of good documentaries for old hippies like me,stuck in a 60s/ 70s timewarp!
Have a Terrific Tuesday or Choose- Day..Choose to be happy,Choose to be kind,Choose to smile,Choose to be YOU x 🌸

Well done DAWN! Keep up yr good week O.D.A.A.T. and soon you’ll need 😎 to look at yr sparkly chart!
Im writing a To Do list every night for the next day,and its really helping me to focus and stay on track
Hows yr Dad..I think of him and the tartan blanket every time I cuddleupon the couch with my blanket..its stripey not tartan! They can be very comforting ❤️

Hi everyone,yes I agree JGwen should definitely get an award for her wise words🏆 I’ve been reading this forum since early last year (though only posting from this year) and have often found her posts really helpful.
I’m having a good week so far,I found my old food plan on MFP from last year when I had great success on Fast800 (oh how I wish I had continued with it! ) so I’m trying to follow that.Am sitting comfortably in a seat on the bus for the first time in a good few weeks so let’s hope I don’t slide off it any time soon😃 Dawn

I second your motion CCATHY
An award for JGWEN and her always wise advice 🏆🥇🏆🥇🏆🥇🏆🥇🏆🥇XX And also for living amongst carb eaters on a daily basis. I can resist pasta,rice and potatoes fairly easily,but the smell of toast…its sthing I think about every day.
And I heartily agree with BUTTERLOVER, one slice and I want the loaf..shows how addictive it is….
Have a Terrific Tuesday,Countdowners,as the bus continues to roll along! 🚌xx

Hi JGwen and thank you for taking the time to post your wise advice. I am really grateful for your suggestion and I am going to get the white jeans that were too tight in the summer to wear and a top which is tight and use these weekly to see where I am losing fat from my body. I agree with you that because I’ve been low carb for a number of years the fat is more than likely subcutaneous fat and most likely that 10lb of fat I am trying to lose is on my belly. My arms and shoulders look good so it’s more than likely tops of legs and stomach fat to go. The scales are now redundant because I decided that I don’t need insulting daily when I know I am doing the right thing and am in ketosis so I don’t need to rely on the scales to applaud or deny me on my journey. I hope that you will soon be sitting beside me on the battle bus instead of clinging to the bumper. It’s great that you’ve not had to undo your belt so that is a positive. My husband eats a carb heavy diet and I’ve just got used to living with it and I guess you will too in time. He made bread whilst I was fasting for 40 hours last week! “Dieting” is a mind game and so I reckon you will easily overcome the temptations once you are in the right zone and I’ve saved you a seat on the battle bus next to me so we can have a good chat.

It’s good to see you back posting again and I know you have a wealth of knowledge which we all appreciate. Thank you again and I think you should receive one of our awards for the help and support you offer to us all. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

See you on the bus!!

Good morning all
Thank you Wendleg for such a lovely welcome and Sunshinegirl and Verano for your stories. I’m in for another week – hope it’s OK with everyone as I’m doing the meal replacements rather than using food.
My father had T2 diabetes and I watched him take more and more medications, then insulin and a long list of diabetes related complications. I don’t want to get there just yet – maybe when I’m in my 80s when it may be inevitable but I’m not ready for it yet. I didn’t get on with Metformin so I refused to take it and insisted the GP prescribe something else – I’m taking Sitagliptin. Not sure how effective it is, like all diabetes medication you do have to make good lifestyle choices to help them along.
I’m getting used to the meal replacements – 4 a day and 250g of non-starchy veg. I’ve made the veg into a minestrone so that I can eat something delicious. I’m getting around 75g of protein a day which is way more than I did using food – as a vegetarian I always struggled getting enough protein on 800 calories. The carbs add up to 90g a day.
I’m down 8.5lbs in my first week taking me to 16st 6lbs. My weight in January was16st 5lbs and I would really like to end this year with a weight loss. My next session with the weight management clinic is in 2 weeks time – not sure how this will pan out but I appreciate all the support on this forum.
Good luck everyone, have a fabulous week and stay well.
X

Thanks Wendy for these threads.

I’m still here, very much a newbie but into our 4th week and doing well.
The scales and clothes are showing the difference and keeping the motivation levels up, but still a long way to go for both of us.

Keep at it everyone!

Keeping this thread going as a diary and to keep myself accountable 🙂

Weigh-in today:
He was 20st 4lb – down 4lb from last Tuesday
I was 13st 2lb – down 2.2lb from last Tuesday

We are both happy with that, the rate has slowed down as expected, but it’s still going in the right direction.

As someone mentioned on another thread, I have a few tops and trousers that I try on every week at the moment, and each week they fit better, I CBA with taking measurements 😉

Supper last night was Cajun calamari with sauteed peppers, onion and garlic – YUM!

Breakfast today was some of the peppers topped with poached egg (1 for me, 2 for him). We are finding that an egg-based breakfast keeps the hunger at bay much better than yoghurt or similar. I can skip breakfast and extend the fast, but he can’t stretch that far, so we do have breakfast together.

Supper tonight is a mutton curry made on Sunday (so nicely matured now), small portion with cauliflower rice, but that leaves me 140 cals for lunch – veggie soup here we come!

Week 4 and still going strong!

HI Gwen.I totally get what you are going thru with the smell of toast and the biscuits everywhere. I made a rule” no carbs on view in the kitchen”.they must be in a container or a cupboard.During toast events .I go out to a patio or my room then headphones on and listen to utube something on carb addiction or keto or type2 diabetes. On occasion I’ve had a slice of toast but then I want a whole loaf It has taken months for me to develop my resistance.My new routine to keep salad ready in the fridge for snacking has also helped. Good luck

Hi Everyone.Im still persisting.I was really pleased that my pants have been loose lately and today a favourite pair in a size smaller fitted comfortablely.On the scale I’m 85kg exact. Some of it may be dehydration as I’ve been forgetting to drink when Im busy. Overall I’m discarding 1kg every 10 days which is ok if I can maintain consistent results.Especialy as I’m not exercising much.I hope to get back to the gym next week.Thank you Wendy for always setting up the week.I hope everyone is staying well and coping with lock downs .

I’m in for the week. Thank Wendy for keeping us motivated. I so so appreciate it.
I’ve had a decent couple of weeks, definite drop of 3.5lbs last week which got be back to 11st 3 (best I’ve ever been thought this is 11st2 with an ultimate goal of seeing 10sts something) but every time i get to this point i seem to ease up and plonk 4lbs back on instantly! So I am digging deep and really pushing for those 3.5lbs over the next 2 weeks. I’ve sworn off the wine though november (not that a drank a lot of it but a glass or 2 on a saturday had a tendency to lead me astray!!) and it seems to be helping along with much after dark walking and a tightening up on ‘after dinner yogurt’! Oh and 1 x 24hr fast and 1 x 36hr fast a week – fasting makes me feel good and at peace as there are no decisions to make!
Really hope i can push through this milestone……..

Have a good week folks, let us know how its going and what your plans are. Hope you are all keeping well and making what you can out of current challenges.

Hi CC,
I am so glad that you shared with us that you don’t like monitoring with the aid of a tape measure because its difficult to be consistent. – It was a light bulb moment for me, as I have a solution for you.

There are some basic mechanics to this way of eating. – If you are in ketosis, and your calorie intake is less than calorie output you will be burning body fat for fuel, which should result in loosing weight.

At the same time if you are in ketosis, your growth hormone will be able to trigger body healing, so your body composition can improve resulting in denser bones, stronger muscles, which will increase weight.

So, the scales are not a reliable method of monitoring progress. – But equally the tape measure isn’t, because our bodies are difficult and don’t always burn the fat from our waist or hips, but instead expose collar bones, and drop shoe sizes. So I have noticed times when there has been no change in the scales but clothes fit differently.

So here is my suggestion.

1. Its basic science, if you are burning more calories than you are eating AND – the AND bit is very important – you are in ketosis. your body will be using body fat for fuel.

2. As you have been on this way of eating for some time, its likely that you have low levels of body fat around your organs, so that body fat is coming from somewhere under the skin.

3. Therefore sort out for yourself a full set of clothes that you can use to measure progress. – You may be inconsistent on where you put your tape measure, but your bra will fasten in the same location each time, as will your jeans, or even if you are like me with chunky calves your socks will end at the same location on your legs.

Use that set of clothes to monitor progress each month. – It may only be small changes you are looking for. The ring on your calf from your socks at the end of the day doesn’t look so pronounced. Your ring on your finger may feel a little looser. But there are lots of different small changes you will be able to notice in time if you have one set of clothes that you use as your measuring stick.

Hi there, still awaiting the return of my desktop, and I hate using a phone for this. Nevertheless, here goes:
On the 16th November I weighed in at 95.4 kgs, which is a loss of just 1 kg over the previous week. Pleasingly though, I note that I am now no longer listed as being ‘Obese’ but ‘Overweight’ instead!

So, from a starting weight of 118.6 kgs on 17th August, I have now lost a total of 22.2 kgs, which is 3.48 Stones or 47.72 lbs. I shall keep going until Christmas Eve, although I do have my first scheduled day off the diet on 14th December as it is the birthday of a very good friend of mine, who will have by then, been deprived of his drinking partner for nearly four months.

Hi,

I have to confess that I have been holding on to the bumper of the bus at present. – I am living with 4 other people who have carb heavy diets. – There are 8 packets of biscuits consumed every week, with the packets on the worktop by the side of the kettle.

Each morning there is the smell of toast, and pancakes, and the noises of cereal hitting the bowl. Then the same again for scrambled egg on toast mid morning or lunch time, and evening snacks which always involve toast. – I have got to the stage where I know who is making toast by the smell, as they all like it slightly different levels of cooked, (from toasted only on one side to bordering on cremated.)

Once a week I come back from the shopping trip with all the food ordered by everyone, including pizza’s. and pasta and quick cook rice.

Its not easy to stick to plan. My belt hole challenge hasn’t been effected, yet, but its only a matter of time at this rate. I really do want to get back on track. I don’t get a huge kick out of sneaking a biscuit. So I guess I am realising that the “treat” of eating carbs doesn’t = a high. So I may as well get back whole heartedly onto the bus.

It is so much more difficult to stick to low carb with all that temptation in front of me every day.

Glad your dental work went well, CC. I love the idea of planning a Christmas ‘break’ from this WOE, I like to have an iced coffee on Christmas Eve when I do my shopping ( it’s often warm here in Melbourne!). I’ll KOKO and look forward to this. Keep going BB, I’m sure you’ll look great at Christmas, from your posts you already seem to have a lovely sparkly personality so wear that on Christmas Day!! Still time for us all to edge a little closer to our goals even if we don’t actually hit the target.

Hi,
Just popping in to say yes, when you are in ketosis there is a difference in your breath.

Keto breath produces a distinct taste or odour in the mouth that’s different from ordinary halitosis or bad breath. Some people describe keto breath as having a metallic taste. In addition to a funny taste in the mouth, keto breath can be fruity-smelling or have a strong odour that’s similar to nail polish remover.

One of the ways for testing if you are in ketosis is by using one of the cheap breathalysers

Hi Dawn ! Good to see you ! Yes, we still have time to make a difference before we see the end of 2020 and all the best for this week xx

Hi everyone and thank you for including me on another weekly thread Wendy.I’m mainly posting on the Countdown to Christmas thread but still read this one most days.I have been losing and regaining then same few pounds for ages now but feel I’m finally in the right frame of mind to keep losing😀 I found my old food diaries on MFP from early last year when I did really well on Fast800 so using those to help plan.Hope everyone has a good week.Dawn

It was lovely to see Gattina responding to our shoutout last week and I never lose hope that others will return !

SunnyB
Merrymelba
Niamh and Dean ( Neegan)
EC
Caronl
Clarinet cathy
Bryla
Windyjulz
Georgiejeorge
Olive 1
Puddy
Dreamscometrue
Gattina
melH
rosyapple
LovesGroodles
timetochange
Patricia
Articfox
Double Dutch
PTR
Britta
Film24
Rebeccakershaw
JGwen (of course !!)
PlumpGoose
Russianroulade
DebbieDarko
weebleswobble
nicoles212
Steviep
Zuzuvela
Frog
GreenGal
EachPeach
SusieMac1957
Limes254
Butterlover
PhoenixBurns
Quetzal
Waitaminute
Riccoh
Tulip1 (Clare)
ADD6605(Dawn)
Gyllb
EllieAllegra
Roheryn
AuroraB
Sweetgirl
BlueSkyz
Karenwm
SusieMac1957
Jeremy Fisher
ClemFlo
LR800
Eowyn
Kevlondon and Mrs Kev
Scubado
Lulu16
Shammy
sunshine-girl !!!
Beattie66
2eviltwins
Violinist ( Catherine)
Sarah 1968
Angelsand
Lecurie
Choccybuttons
Sonz
AnnieW
Sixturkeys
Urchin
Delabodge( Clive)
Calliope Swan
O2BSkinny
Ghudugi
PSL68
EclecticRajistani !!!
Lily
Luella
Mumof4in France
GardeningChef
Gill33UKS
Squidge !!
No more banquets
Weightykaty
Petiteketo
Humphrey1
The other me
AMZ !!!!!!!
Gooner
Justjudy
mumofStig
Missamd9
Peanutbutty
Sunnysideup
Stephen J
Fattystar
1960smp
Nhatha 3432 (Nick)
Happyseaswimmer
TJ
Reuby 19
Zoelazer
Rainey
Gordosh
Mifoz
Energisedby800
James3891
SamG67
SusieQ102
Rainydays 42
RubyG
Shally
LA

Hi everyone ! I hope I can inspire you to keep going for another week . I was so pleased to see Gattina returning last week and to welcome some new members .
How are you getting on ?
It’s mid November , let’s look forward to brighter days and happy celebrations. I was just thinking yesterday that Thanksgiving is beckoning . I wonder how celebrations will pan out this year ? . We are hoping for an easing of restrictions early December ‘(in France) and wishing for a brighter end of year for you all .
There is still time to make a difference so please come and join me . I am still imposing a lockdown on choc and almonds !!

Let’s just do our best , together
Wendy x

Hi everyone.
I have been tootling on the computer putting together a photobook of our last trip abroad. That was Valencia in February and it seems an age ago but there will be other trips.

Time to set up the new weekly thread !

CCATHY im glad all went well with yr extraction!👍🏻
Im not sure yet about Crimbo..Ive had Christmases where Ive eaten what I fancied,Ive had other Christmases where I havent wanted to come out of ketosis,and really didnt miss the goodies
Im on quite shaky ground these days,resolve not as strong as it might be, so I prob WILL eat the goodies! But at same time,not go wild and only for a few days! X

Busybee- I reckon you could get half a stone off by Christmas and you wont need to wear a Christmas sack!

I chose not to weigh this morning following my 40 hour fast and I am going to keep away from the scales until my weigh In on a Christmas Eve. I hope I can keep my resolve to stay away from the scales!

Had my tooth out this morning by a lovely oral surgeon who was so kind to me. I’ll be eating light today so another good day under my belt.

Let’s all keep positive and keep doing our very best every day. 37 days to go until Christmas Eve. I’ve got my eye on a Terry’s chocolate orange 🍊 as my Christmas Eve treat! I always go off plan for one week at a Christmas and it works for me but I know many don’t do what I do. Let’s make this work for us whatever we chose to do.

Well done Rob1n and Mrs Rob1n!

I think the breath is a sign of ketosis – someone with much more knowledge will come along and confirm or deny that.

My husband is missing his local beer too, but is focused on the goal at the moment and has managed 2 weekends with no beer, and we don’t have anyone else in the house to distract us, which does make life easier. My second week in I asked about dessert recipes too, but I really don’t like using artificial sweeteners so I have avoided any of those and to be honest the sweet craving has just about gone. We shared a single square of 95% Lidl chocolate on Saturday night (he didn’t want to exceed his calories so gave me half the square).

Good luck!

Hi Rob1n,

You and your wife are doing really well too.

The recipes mostly come from the scary place that is my head 🙂
We both like food generally, and big, bold flavours and spice, and food from many different cultures, so I have adapted many of my staples to be low-carb or to fit within the 800cal – I am using chicken breasts rather than thighs, venison rather than lamb, and white fish rather than salmon. We’ve also reduced portion sizes dramatically, which is no bad thing. The key change for us though is low-carb, and the plan once we finish the 8 weeks is to move to a 5:2 or 4:3, with the >800 cal days seeing the portions sizes the same, low carb the same, but the protein component being a higher fat and calorie option (as above), and we’ll see if that works.

Re. the calorie count of the burgers – I use MyFitnessPal and weigh and track absolutely everything. I work out the calorie count of the burgers by weighing everything that goes into them and inputting on MFP. I get my chicken from a butcher so the breast fillets weigh about 200g each, and I have found that 1 or 1.5 is sufficient for the 2 of us. So for one portion on MFP I had ~150g chicken, 2 spring onions, 1/2 clove garlic, 1/2 red chilli, half a handful of fresh coriander and some lemon zest, cooked at 200°C until just done and still moist. 1 portion (quantities above) worked out to ~180cals.

I have found my food processor and stick blender to be absolutely essential to this way of eating and keeping it interesting.

I’m always happy to share recipes too, cooking is my happy place 🙂

Well done both of you. Sounds really good with BP going down too. Where are you getting your recipe’s from. The burgers sound awesome. How many calories?
Keep up the good work.

Thanks Ruby. Well 2 weeks in and lost my 1st stone 🙂 My wife has lost 12 lbs too so we are both really happy. On the outside, I don’t look any different and my measurements remain the same, but clearly on the inside, things are happening. I am finding I do miss desserts and my lager and wine! It gets very desponding that one of my sons is drinking my beer and I can’t have one! Although yesterday I did have a small glass of wine with my Sunday roast dinner (minus Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes!) as ensured we were still in calories and carbs.
Am finding my breath smells a bit, so maybe need more water or spearmint tea?
So, roll on week 3.

Wow, week 4 begins!

Weigh-in tomorrow, so no updates since my last post on Friday. His BP seems to be stable at low 120’s /70-something, which is great, but not low enough to look to reduce the meds again just yet.

I did manage to include some homemade pork scratchings on Saturday as rugby snacks , still within the 800 cals, so that felt quite an achievement.

The biggest change in our behaviours has been the sudden and total stopping of between-meal snacking and an increase in the amount of water drunk (in addition to the general inflow of tea or coffee) .

We are both still motivated and actually coping well with the 800 cals, so week 4 here we come!

Morning fellow passengers, and thank you for your kind comments and support
I’ve come out of the ‘feeling sorry for myself’ corner and am ready to board the bus yet again.

In spite of a big fall from grace I actually haven’t gained any weight – interestingly I haven’t been drinking as I’m having my annual blood test today and perhaps that had helped?!!!
However, I am still near the top of my weight chart having been 2.5 stone less four years ago.
I’m disappointed that I can’t get into the clothes I had planned to wear over Christmas when hopefully we may be able to travel to see our daughter and SIL. 🤞🥴🌲
Never mind I could wear a big Christmas sack!!!
X B

Hi. My desktop is still away being fixed and I hate trying to do this on a phone, anyway here goes :

9th November at weigh-in I was 96.4 kgs, which was a loss of 2.3 kgs over the previous week. Total weight loss so far: = 22.2 kgs = 48.84 lbs or 3.48 Stones, (from a starting weight of 118.6 kgs – 96.6 kgs, today’s weight). I hope to be 90 kgs by Christmas. Clothes are becoming a problem!

Congrats on yr well deserved loss SHOEGIRL!
CCATHY i agree ditching the scales can be a very good idea for some of us.
I had no scales the first time I lost so much on low carbs..I got weighed about once a fortnight at most,at my daughter’s house,and didnt worry too much day to day on what my weight was.
Then I found good scales going cheap in a charity shop and it was such a bargain,I bough them..but in some ways it was the worst thing I did,as I can be a slave to them, jumping on and off,and very often discouraged by what they tell me.
Ive found for me its much more helpful to just see how I feel,see how clothes feel, and only weigh occasionally. But its hard when the scales are there!….. Even when sometimes I put them away in a cupboard,,I know theyre there,shouting to me!
But for some people,weighing daily on their scales,recording the results,and working out the average over a week gives them an accurate result theyre happy with.Or theyre happy with a once a week weigh inDo whatever works best for you 💜 ….good luck with the fast! Im with you,sister! not fasting today but keeping to 800 cals and Im hungry on and off. Trying to keep busy to keep my mind off food! X

Hi Busybee- hope you’re doing ok and sorry to hear about your husband’s dementia. We really do need to keep things in perspective don’t we as we try to battle with our weight loss.
Dreamscometrue- good luck with your 10 day blitz, you’ve done so well to keep your weight steady and I am sure you will be under 140 by Christmas- exactly where I hope to be.
Yowser- thanks for keeping us all in check as we head towards Christmas.
Shoegirl- amazing weight loss in 10 days! Puts my 0.6 lbs loss in 11 days to shame! Hope I’m losing inches! I don’t measure myself because I can’t be accurate with the tape measure. I might use a tight pair of jeans as my guide. I might yet get into those pesky tight white jeans I wanted to fit into for the summer!
Sunshinegirl- I have every confidence that you will lose 6lb in the next six weeks and well done losing 3 kg. You’re right, we need to trust our bodies.

Today I am fasting again! I will do 42 hours. So far I am at 25 hours. I do feel hungry today but it comes in waves and I just have to keep drinking water and hope bedtime comes quickly!

Let’s keep strong together and do our best this week taking one day at a time. I am hoping for a whoosh of weight loss. I purposely didn’t weigh myself this morning. I am considering ditching the scales until Christmas Eve and just to keep going and hopefully seeing a weight loss surprise for Christmas. In fact – writing this has made me decide that is what I am going to do. So no weighing for me now until the morning of Christmas Eve. Feels daunting but quite liberating. Does anyone else not weigh?

Hi All,
The diet isn’t going too badly, altho not getting something quite right as weight loss barely happening really….I have some ideas tho whether I can make the changes I am not sure….on the plus side I managed to keep my red wine drinking just to the weekend which is progress (thank u for being here- I wrote it here so I would stick to it and must do the same this week!) and I have also introduced an occasional treat of a square of 85 or 90% quality chocolate and really enjoying that- I think it helps keep me off really naughty treats e.g. milk chocolate etc…I did try some 100% but bleugh, just like eating cocoa powder 😂🤣…

Love to all xxx

Howdy folks,just calling in to wish everyone a happy healthy eating,water drinking,keeping moving,week ahead!
Ive just filled our Christmas bus with petrol and its ready to go ….further and further up the hill towards the festive season….even if we all have to get off and give it a push! 😀
Thought for the Day…
‘ The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today’ ( H. Jackson Brown)
O🌸D🌼A🌷A🌻T🌺 xxxxx

Hi BSDers! Hope youre all feeling fine and dandy!
To use WINDYS word,I feel contented today. And also I resonate with Windys words about sadness in the supermarket,I can feel yearning looking at desserts and biscuits.. the advertising folks have always aimed at making us feel that way. When we let those feelings wash over us and then theyre gone,we get one up on the cynical scary Big Food business,which only cares about making money,not in our good health.
My positives…
*~ Its been a lovely wintery-sun Sunday afternoon here
*~ I love Sky Arts! Im watching Neil Diamonds story and singing along to his great songs! 💜
*~ Just had a late lunch,a big garlicky gingery stir fry,delicious!😊😊😊