Hi everyone just a quick check in to wish you all a Happy Easter. I hope you’ve had a good week?

I’ve been a bit off piste this week as I’ve had various events and family gatherings, which has impacted not just what I’ve been eating and drinking but also being out so much has played havoc with the whole routine of food planning etc. So still haven’t made it to 150 but am maintaining between 151-152 and aim to get to 150 or below by then end of next week 🤞

Hope that others have done better and seen some loss😊

ARCTICFOX I hope you managed to get your prescription sorted and that it makes a difference. Hopefully you can delay your blood test by at least a few weeks without any issue.

Right, I’m off to prepare a Fast 800 recipe for later (fish cakes) then off for a swim. That, I can do!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend X

I think one of the easiest ways to ‘change’ your meals is actually to cook the same meals but just swap out the carbs. For example with bolognese instead of spaghetti make courgette spaghetti, spiralized courgettes. I use sliced greens beans or tenderstem broccoli as a base for Thai curry. You can use cauliflower rice instead of rice and I use mashed cauliflower a lot. I also eat a lot more green vegetables now.

I don’t know what ‘normal’ or ‘tasty’ meals are for you but really it’s just a case of leaving out the bread etc. Instead of root vegetables, potatoes, carrots parsnips etc. have green vegetables and salads. Sorry if that’s all a bit vague but it’s just a case of adapting what you enjoy, although not everything can be adapted!

So I know this is a cauliflower recipe thread, but I’m new to the whole diabetes thing, can anyone recommend tasty slow cooker dinners that will last for a couple of meals a week, we are trying to mix up our meals a little bit so I dont get bored of eating the same thing, but we need a few specific recipes good for the slow cooker, thank you in advance, ps there are some tasty cauliflower recipes I’m going to try from this thread 😋

Hello & I have finally been able to log on after four tries during the last two days & messaging to the Tech team it’s sooo frustrating!!!
Anyway thank you for setting up this thread Verano & I am also trying to follow a modified reverse 2:5 with eating less during weekdays & doing daily TRE because I don’t eat breakfast then fasting after supper until lunch the following day plus relaxing my calorie intake at weekends to include some wine & a pudding. However I will relax over Easter & eat an Easter egg 😀🫣
I hope that I will be able to continue posting & not prevented by the Tech team.🤞🤞
Keep on going everyone & if I cant post before Easter & I hope everyone has an enjoyable Easter holiday 🐥🐇🥂
Margaret xx

Becca- I’ve been eating more than 800 generally, but on plan with type of food and loving it. I’ve lost 1 stone out of the 3 I need to lose 🙂

Good afternoon.
I’ve finally found the replies to the threads in my spam folder! At least I’m now getting them .
So the first day of a new month which I always find uplifting. New start. Clean slate etc. etc.

My year so far has been a case of paddling like mad just to stand still. But hey I guess that’s better than gaining. I really do feel in the need of a new regime. I think sometimes we get so bogged down with advice from here, there and everywhere that we then start taking a bit of this one and a bit of that one and end up just confused. My goal over the next couple of days is just to make a clear ‘plan’. I know it has to be realistic, and it has to fit my lifestyle as it is. We can’t put ‘life’ on hold until we have reached that ‘perfect goal’, we will miss too much ‘living’ and that can never be recaptured.

So here’s to an ‘Astounding’ April that reaches and exceeds all our goals…. make them achievable and we will all do this!

Thanks for the kind reply, Tulip! I’ll be interested to see how you get on, too. Did you have success with your weeks on Fast 800?
Also thanks to you, Verano, for your reply to me in the previous thread, and thanks for setting up April and monitoring things.
Becca

Ahh I see we’ve jumped over to yet another new page!

Good afternoon.
Sunny I was looking at hydroponic methods for growing orchids and just wondering if you have done that with orchids in bloom? I have one that I would like to change to hydroponic but it’s in bloom. I have another hydroponic plant that my daughter bought for Mother’s Day. I just find them so much easier to look after. All my other plants are in self watering pots!

Pootle how lovely to have a new puppy and new wipers and chocolate!

I’ve been a bit low lately and one result is a mountain, growing by the day, of ironing. So my first positive today is that I have made a dent in the ‘mountain’!
My blossom tree is in full bloom now.
I have an option on a late autumn cruise, just not sure about the weather in the Med in November but anyway something positive to think about.

Hope you day was full of positives.

Becca- I’ve posted a reply to your 5:2 questions, but I’ve put it on the new April thread 🙂

Hi Verano, thank you for setting up 🙂

1lb per week sounds good.

Reply to Becca re 5:2 in the March thread.

From what I understand, the goal for the non-fasting days is uncounted but portion controlled and still same type of healthy food but you can add more plus some complex carbohydrates. I’m using the fast 800 app and about to switch from the very fast 800 to the 3:4 transition (4 weeks) (4 days fasting and 3 not)- I was interested to know about the non-fasting days on the 3:4, 5:2 and way of life plans, and they told me they work out around 1500 calories- so I think what you are proposing is actually pretty close to the 5:2 as they advise. Anyhow, most of my days are more like 1500 already, but still with great nutrition as specified by this WOE, as I’ve been kind of listening to what my body is asking for and thinking about enough protein, fibre etc as a whole. I’m also doing a lot of exercise so I want to make sure my body has enough fuel. I’ll be aiming to do some days as fasting (and they describe that as 800-1000 cals) and some not, as per 3:4 or 5:2, so I think we’ll both be doing something similar. So, please keep posting! 🙂

Hi, just jumping in with a couple of positives:

New puppy obeyed ‘wait’ command three times this morning! 🐩🐩🐩

Husband produced 2 wonderful presents for my birthday:- new wipers for my car 🚗🚗🚗 and a big box of hotel chocolat‘ seriously dark chocolates.

I’m a fan of both cauli and broccoli, but recently I’ve been eating a lot of roasted cabbage, either in wedges or rounds, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with seasoning, herbs or spices. Have also been mixing chopped cabbage into minced meat, with other veggies, to make a one pot meal.

Positives for today …
🌹🌹 three more orchids put into hydroponics, only six more to do
🌹🌹 bagged a bargain pretty photo frame in a charity shop
🌹🌹 last of the birthday gifts bought and wrapped for those happening whilst we’re away

Hopeful that somebody will join in here again soon.

Charw2 posts reported.

Newbie, there is a recipe on this site somewhere for broccoli bread, which can also be made with cauliflower. I think posted by luv2cook. I have used it extensively for a base for packed lunches. I copied it into my recipe book. Will look it out and post here for you. (Great provided you don’t have a nut allergy!)! 😄

Thanks for this Verano and Pootle, I need more inspiration, will have a look at all the recipes 👍

Thanks for this new thread V.
I see you worked it out Newbie! 😂🫣
Great to be on the site, it helps me to keep on the straight and narrow… as far as possible! 😂🤞

Thanks V and Newbie!
N if you look at ‘recent topics’, you will find the new monthly topic.. open it, post something and click on ‘notify me’ at the bottom! See you there!
K xx

Hello all, I am also aiming at a 1lb per week, and aiming to fit more strength work in to my weekly exercise plan where I currently run at least 3 times a week. I’ve found loosing the weight has left me with slightly loose skin so hope the strength work will tone me up a little.

Here’s to April – lets hope it’s a good one and don’t beat ourselves up if we have a wobble

So do we just add ourselves to the new thread?

Happy birthday Pootle – have a great day and good luck with your appointment.

I shall have a look at the cauliflower thread and hopefully get some inspiration for some variations on the veg, its low calorie and a good filler but a bit samey so new ideas will be great 👍

Pootle I’ve just posted the new April thread “Astounding April: One Month at a Time”, sorry I’ve only just seen your post!

🎉🥂🎈HAPPY BIRTHDAY🎊🪅🎉 for tomorrow Pootle🎈🎈

Welcome to April everyone.

This month we are going to return to ‘One Month at a Time’ again to see if that helps. Personally, I lost my way on the three month challenge as I think it was just a bit too long for my short concentration span.

So to oldies, newbies and everyone else tuning in let’s make April an ‘astounding’ month. It’s a short month just 30 days so let’s try and settle into our own routines and really make some headway with our individual goals this month. Mine is just 1lb per week!

For the new thread what about:
One month at a time: 2026 April Appetite Assuaged??
Sorry, not brilliant..
k x

Good morning on the last day of this thread!
I have posted on the 101 ways with cauliflower thread, so it now appears in the recents.

S-G and Verano might remember that I had a major battle with the practice diabetes nurse at my first appointment with her after my diagnosis in the summer of 2024. I have not been recalled for a check up since, until this week, when I received a letter asking me to make an appointment with her for a review!
I swear that my BS goes up when I am stressed… the finger prick reading after receiving this letter was the highest I have had in over 6 months..🫣!
Looking forward to reading the new thread tomorrow ( my birthday… yes I am an April Fool! 😂). Sorry I am not posting much, but I do still find these threads inspirational!

I just hope that I am able to hold my temper at the appointment! 🤞🤞🤞🤞
My HbA1c was 42 in December, compared with 40 the previous December, but then I had been very strictly low carb for 6 months. I have had ‘treats’ over the last 18 months, but have treated myself less in the last couple of weeks!

I noticed Verano was looking to get this thread back to the top.. (recents)
I have found Cauliflower to be brilliant in keeping carbs and calories down ! I use it mashed as a cottage pie topping, roasted with a Sunday lunch, and mixed the mashed cauliflower with a little cooked chopped onion, bacon and mushroom as a sort of potato cake for lunch! Along with many of the other ideas on this thread!

I can’t get the cauliflower thread back up but just search in the box above for
“101 ways with cauliflower’ and it should come up.

Newbie2026 you’re losing weight…. great that’s what it’s all about, as well as being healthier!

As I’ve just said above 800 calories is really restrictive and I think unattainable for most. I think we each have to work out what feels most comfortable.

Cauliflower, the low carb saviour! There is an old thread somewhere that lots of us posted our favourite cauliflower recipes on. I have cauliflower most day usually steamed and mashed sometimes with some broccoli added. Add seasoning like horseradish, garlic,, steamed with the cauliflower for example. I usually mash mine with a little butter but mainly I use Greek yogurt which gives a creamy consistency like mashed potatoes without the calories of butter. Now that the winter is drawing to a close I’ll probably move more towards salads although I do love my green vegetables!

Anyway whatever you’re doing it’s obviously working so just keep going!

Becca personally I think that 800 calories is unattainable for most people. You say you have a lot of weight to lose and you have great motivation with your granddaughter. You don’t mention if you have diabetes or not. You are aiming for 5lbs a month which is achievable.

Can I make a couple of suggestions? Firstly, it doesn’t matter which method you use to shed unwanted weight we are all here to support each other so keep posting. I’m not certain that your reliance on calorie counting is necessarily the best way to move forward. I don’t know if you have actually read the Fast 800 diet book but the diet was designed really to help reverse pre diabetes and T2 but the offshoot was weight loss. For those of us who have/had T2 the diet works well to reduce blood sugar. The secret is ‘low carb’ not low calorie per se. When you become low carb you almost always automatically reduce calories without having to count. There is a very good website called Diet Doctor which is basically low carb/keto. No calorie counting just restricting certain kinds of foods.

In essence if you cut out, for want of a better word, the ‘bad’ carbs, like bread, rice, pasta ( of all colours), potatoes root vegetables and breakfast cereals, you are automatically restricting your calories. Sodas, even with artificial sweeteners, fruit juices, some fruits like mango, banana, pineapple even apples which are high in carbs, should be restricted. Be careful with mayonnaise but have good fats like olive oil. So I guess this sounds really restrictive because you also need to cut out the obvious cakes, biscuits, crackers, crisps etc. but you can have berries and dark chocolate, 70%, and drink plenty of water.

Michael Mosley first published the Fast 800 diet in 2016, although I think the 5:2 came before that. So 10 years on and research had moved forward in leaps and bounds. I like Ben Bikman’s work but there are so many others like Jason Fung but it’s very easy to become bogged down. YouTube has some good podcasts which may be of help although I find some a bit too scientific.

Let’s be honest here we all know when we have the odd ‘cheat’ but still think we can get away with it! I know I certainly do. I guess we just have to be really honest with ourselves. In fact I think losing the weight initially is the easiest part it’s keeping it off that’s difficult! Certain I’ve not be able to maintain my initial loss. But I do think that I’d be much worse off if I hadn’t kept posting on these threads.

Just never give in or give up and you will reach your goal. I’m very sorry if I’ve spoken out of turn here please just ignore me if I have. But as sunshine-girl always says … you just have to keep on keeping on………….

A postscript to my post above: I’m considering using these calorie allowances I’ve calculated on 5 days of the week, and then doing 2 very low calorie lunch-only days– basically a 5:2 plan, but not really 5:2, since I’d also be counting and tracking on the 5 days instead of free eating as the book suggests. I want the health benefits of partial fasting two days a week.

Have any of you tried or heard of a more controlled version of 5:2?

Hi, all! Home now from Arizona trip, which was nice, lots of lovely scenery (and also lots of flat boring dessert.. ha ha).

As these first three months of the year draw to a close, I find myself right where I was the first week of January. It’s not that I didn’t lose any weight… I did… I just didn’t stay consistent enough to keep it off. For a person of my extreme weight, 800 calories is just very hard to sustain, and it resulted in a lot of up-and-down on the scale.

As we begin a new month and spring is blossoming all around, I am ready for a fresh start. My aim will be to lose 5 pounds a month. If I can do that consistently, it will add up quickly. After inputting my height, age, weight, and activity level (less than sedentary) into a seemingly reliable calculator, I’ve worked out the calories required to lose 5 pounds each month, with calorie allowance moving downward as I lose weight. At present, it looks like I’ll be able to lose 5 pounds in April on 1350 calories, so that’s where I’ll begin.

Because regular calorie counting is NOT what this forum is for, I will not be posting much or at all, but will still be popping in to read and may say hello, applaud your successes, and support your efforts and frustrations along the way. You are all such lovely people, and I do want to stay in touch!

Happy Spring, everyone, and all the best to all of you.

Becca

Good evening all, please no-one made me feel like an outsider, just a personal feeling that I didnt want to butt in and intrude, but will try to contribute more and get to know you all. I had a bit of a rough day Friday and felt sorry for myself for lack of food choices, 3 months of cauliflower rice almost every day was taking it’s toll, but I had a word with myself that at least I have food, and I shouldn’t be so ungrateful, so much so that that nights dinner did infact consist of cauliflower rice! I’m not sure if I’m doing the right thing, but I’ve done 8 weeks of 800 calories and found it not sustainable with the running that I do, so I have increased it to a max of 1200 meaning I have more energy and enjoy my runs and i’m not tempted by the naughty things, i’m still losing weight slowly and i’m happy with that, for me its got to be about balance. Please tell me if i’m doing the wrong things, I try on a couple of the days to have lower calories a bit like the 5:2.
A small dark chocolate egg sounds like a good idea, i’m quite restrained if it means I get a treat over more days.
I’m sorry but I’m not very good with “catchy” titles for the new group, but I like just “one month at a time”.
Anyway another day tomorrow to give it a go, night all

Quick check in with some positives for today ….
🌻🌻 lots of tulips in bloom in my garden snd a sunny day
🌻🌻 brief visit from youngest DD and we’ve arranged for her and her son to come for lunch on Sunday
🌻🌻 have started packing for our road trip, it’s a complex exercise with three overnight bags, plus general packing, so I’m doing it in bite size chunks

Hope your day has brought positives your way too.

Good evening.

Tomorrow is the last day of this three month thread. I think the general consensus is a monthly thread might be better next. Please speak up if you disagree or have any other thoughts.

So based on that assumption I’m proposing a one month thread, if that’s acceptable to everyone else, to start on Wednesday. My thoughts for a title are ……

One Month at a time: meet your goal.
: exceed your goal.
: excel!!
April: our spring into summer with gusto month.
…???

Sorry out of ideas at this moment …. please add all your motivational ideas!
I’ll set up a new thread tomorrow to run through April

Hi Newbie2026 never ever, ever feel that you are an ‘outsider’. I’m sorry if you have felt like that. We all have something to contribute to each other and newcomers often the most. You have you ‘new enthusiasm’ to share which rubs of on all of us. You can also remind us of things we may well have forgotten that are really useful. Please comment whenever you feel like and please feel welcome. We all share a common goal.

As to Easter I guess that’s very much a personal thing. I see you have T2 so probably best to stay away from the ‘buns’ and all the other high carb foods but maybe a small dark chocolate egg, 70% plus, will be ok. Depends on whether you can just stay at one! If there is going to be too much temptation then could be best not to have any. We’re all different.

Look forward to hearing from you !

Hi Verano and everyone else, sorry I have not posted much, but I do read every message that is posted, I find them all very interesting, informative and encouraging, I feel a bit of an outsider as you have all been at this for so long that I feel if I suddenly post things and make comments on others posts that I’m intruding, if you know what I mean, but I do find the thread very useful and would love for it to continue in any shape or form, maybe I will be brave and contribute more, I just feel like you all know everything so I dont have much useful info to share. Anyway enjoying the start of spring with the extra hour today, got lots of jobs done, looking forward to family Easter time, speaking of which how do people get around Easter, do you allow yourself a little egg or a hot cross bun, just trying to plan my strategy 😉, hope you all have a good week

Hope you can persuade your OH to agree to your autumn cruise, Verano. Really like your floral positives, I’m loving all the blossom and spring flowers about at the moment.

Anyway, some positives from me for the end of the weekend …
🌷🌷 OH joined me at Dad’s yesterday and helped out with a few small DIY jobs
🌷🌷 met youngest son and GD for lunch today, lovely to see them and catch up on their news
🌷🌷 good journey home late afternoon, going to have a relaxing evening now

In the coming days, I’ll be starting prep for our road trip, sorting out gifts for upcoming birthdays (Inc. OH’s on Wednesday) and maybe starting a new project to upcycle some old photo frames with paint and decoupage and doing some watercolour painting too.

Whatever you have planned or indeed end up doing, hope there’ll be plenty of positives presenting themselves and that you’ll take a moment to share a few with us.

Very mixed day here today but at least we now have sunshine although it’s quite windy.

Had some friends here for lunch today all very BSD friendly except some tiny new potatoes, some pitta and a delicious Sicilian lemon tart … very tart! I did have a small slice of tart and a tiny pitta and even two very mini potatoes and thoroughly enjoyed them all. Life goes on!

My tree outside my bedroom window has finally ‘bloomed’. It only lasts a few days but it’s lovely while it lasts.

So to my last for today….I have managed to salvage a beautiful cymbidium white stem orchid from a Mother’s Day bouquet that was past its best, and it really is beautiful. Paired with a few green leaf stems I’m sure I’ll get at least another week out of it!

Hope you’ve had a good and positive weekend whatever you did.

Hi Margaret I feel a bit like you in that I’m not really finding the 3 month timescale very helpful.
Just thinking of maybe setting up a one month thread for April. I’m away in May so maybe sunshine-girl might feel like doing May. She has been left very much ‘holding the baby’ without a great deal of support really and has done an amazing job to keep this thread going.
Might be better if we can do some sort of rota with others too, all taking turns to host a month???

So for a title for April…. fourth month of the year, spring is here, summer just around the corner, just 30 days, holidays on the horizon, sunshine and summer clothes, looking better, feeling better, eating salads, lovely new fruits…. lots of things that could be incorporated in our new month.
I’m thinking , will be back soon, but all suggestions really welcome …. please post here !

Hello Verano & I also still enjoy posting on here & seeing how everyone is getting on but think that three monthly is demotivating for me with having less focus which has happened to me lately although I weighed this morning & have lost one pound in weight. I am also looking forward to brighter longer days & wouldn’t like to lose this thread. Thank you for your efforts in keeping it going.
With best wishes
Margaret xx

Clare thank you. All feedback is good and I too would hate for this thread to just disappear!

Hi Verano,

I love having a place to read/ post….I quite like the 3 month thread but also I was happy with monthly. Weekly seems a bit too choppy-changey?

It helps me with accountability and inspiration/ motivation.

Clare xx

Sunny looks like we are just two with sunshine-girl joining us when she can.
Hope you’re having a great holiday s-g!

So I have some positives….
Invited out to ‘lunch’ a few days ago and it was lovely to catch up with people I’d not seen in a while.
Garden is coming on well and new stones have arrived to replace some chippings that were way past their best.
Trying to book a cruise for the autumn but finding my OH is quite resistant despite wanting to holiday with friends who want to join us. Positive is … I think I can persuade him!

Hope you have a lovely weekend wherever you are and if in the UK don’t forget to PUT YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD TONIGHT! Longer days are here!

Good afternoon!

I’ve just looked back through this three month thread and we seem to be a group of 6 or 7 with the odd post from others here and there.

The first quarter of the year is coming to an end and I’m wondering who would like to continue with the three month thread ?
Would anybody like to go back to a monthly thread ?
Or even a weekly one?
Do these threads help at all ?
Do you find other people’s losses encouraging or demotivating?
Do you have any suggestions for making the thread more interesting/useful/encouraging?

All thoughts really appreciated.

In the meantime…. THE CLOCKS SPRING FORWARD tonight so let’s enjoy the longer days and let them help us enjoy ‘healthy’ food more!
Or indeed more healthy food!

Hi everyone,
A quick update as I had my appointment with my GP today. He thinks that based on my history, I likely have ADHD and thinks it worth trying a medication. He said if the medication works, I likely have it. He messed up the prescription though and when I tried to pick it up from the pharmacy, they said he only put 2 tablets down and was that correct? He was supposed to give me 2 weeks worth! So now I have to wait until next week so they can talk to his office and confirm. Not the first time he has messed up a prescription either. I think he goes too quickly when he is writing it or just thinks everybody will understand what he means. Very frustrating!
He also gave me a requisition for blood work seeing as I’m now over 50 and he wants to check things every year. I’m a bit miffed that he used this appointment to do that though. I’ve really only been eating super well for the last 10 days, so I don’t want to get my HbA1c done yet. He did say that I could just fit it in whenever. What are the chances I can put it off for 3 months? I guess I could blame the ADHD and say that I misplaced the requisition!
I had a takeaway last night as it was a busy day, but it was a salmon burger in a lettuce wrap with salad on the side instead of chips, so I felt pretty good about that. I also picked up some macadamia nuts and Comte cheese for a bit of variety in the nuts and cheese departments. Tonight I repeated the broccoli, cauliflower and tilapia for a quick and simple meal as it was so good 2 nights ago. So I’ve had a lot of fish this week, but hopefully it is doing me some good and I don’t have weeks like this very often.
Onwards and downwards everyone! In my case, hopefully my HbA1c as well!

Definitely overdue for posting here, so here goes ….
🌸🌸 currently visiting with my Dad, pleased to say he’s doing well
🌸🌸 two watercolours I submitted to a charity fund raiser have sold online …. no-one could be more surprised than me, but I’m very happy about it
🌸🌸 spent some time pottering in Dad’s garden, lots of colour in it, full of spring blooms and new growth.

Hope your weekend will be full of positives… lookkmg forward to read about some of them here.

Hello everyone.
I wanted to share my situation because I don’t know what to think anymore. My headache started on March 4, 2024 and it hasn’t gone away yet. The doctors said it’s a new daily persistent headache. I have tried various treatments: antidepressants, a psychologist, but I haven’t felt much change yet.

Sometimes this pain is very debilitating and affects my sleep and emotional state.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? What helped you?

Hi all, just checking in. I didn’t make my below 150lb target this week, but to be honest it was no surprise as “Fridgegate” set me back in terms of food planning and preparation etc. I’m now back up and running so will dust myself off and hopefully get below it next week : I’m currently hovering around 151lb.

CATHY well done for yet more loss! That’s amazing and I’m so pleased for you. I think you should definitely aim for 140lb by the end of the 12 weeks – you’re on a roll! And I hope you get your wretched tooth sorted soon 🤞

MARIET it’s interesting what you say about the online plan. I’m enjoying the food planning aspect, and swap things round a lot to work with my ingredients and tastes. But I get what you’re saying about feeling bloated. I’m on the New 5:2 and if I stuck to all the set meals I’d find them too heavy (though, interestingly, still within the low calorie & carb range). Three meals a day suits my lifestyle at the moment, but I need two of those to be light and sometimes there’s what I would call a “main” meal for at least two out of the three set meals. So I tend to have a yoghurt-based breakfast, some kind of salad for lunch then a main meal early evening.

ARCTICFOX I’m sorry to hear about your work situation. That must be very unsettling. But that’s great advice from your colleague about trying not to worry about it unless it actually happens. Meanwhile well done for sticking with healthy eating and also getting some good exercise in. It sounds as if you have already built up a good rapport with your new counsellor too.

SUE I love the sound of that travel pass! I now have a free bus pass which I can use anywhere in the UK but I’ve not taken advantage of that yet. And I do use my Senior Railcard for the train : you have to pay for that but then get 1/3 off pretty much every train fare so it soon pays for itself, particularly as I go up to London a lot. Hope that you are recovering from all your injuries? Thanks for asking about my hand. I did get an x-ray last week as it was beginning to trouble me more, but thankfully nothing broken. They said it was a sprain and could take at least a couple more weeks to heal, and this week there has definitely been some improvement. So I’ve been starting to do stuff around the house and garden again which in itself has made me feel much more positive.

Hello to everyone else too. Do let us know how you are getting on.

Hope that you all have a lovely weekend X

HI everyone
Mariet – I was interested to read your post about how the online BSD plan hadn’t helped your weight loss journey. I wonder if it was too much fibre. It’s good that you are so well tuned to your body that you realised something wasn’t right and I am glad you are feeling better and well done on your weight loss. I have found the structure to be just what I needed. I am enjoying the meals though they are getting rather samey and I haven’t eaten anything out of a packet for the last 8 weeks- everything fresh and cooked from scratch. I’ve been sending photos of my evening meals to my eldest son as I can’t believe this is “diet food”. I am not sure what happens at the end of the 12 weeks period. I assume I transition to 5:2 but so far this 800 keto is suiting me. I am down another 1lb this week and today I weigh 147.4 lb- am 19 lb down since January when I started at 166.4 lb. My initial thought was to get to a goal of 144 lb but I might try and be cheeky and go for 140 lb.

I am still waiting to hear from the dental practice that my dentist has referred me to. I didn’t choose to pay my practice £300 for her private dental colleague to extract my tooth. She said it was a complex extraction but it seemed only to be complex on the nhs! It wasn’t complex if I paid her colleague £300. After working in the NHS for over 40 years it goes against the grain for me to have to pay privately. I hope I don’t have to wait too long and regret my decision! My husband is away this week so we couldn’t have a chat and I hope he isn’t cross with me when he gets back.

I’ve got book club tomorrow and I am hoping I can navigate my way through evening without succumbing to crisps and naughty nibbles, I’ve bought things to share that I can eat like cheese, olives, hummus, peppers etc. I will avoid the crackers and crisps and hope that nobody notices or passes comment.. I am not going to have a drink but I’ve got some sparkling water and 🍋 and I’ll have it in a gin glass. I want to stay in Ketosis because it’s managing my appetite. Hopefully my friends won’t be too judgemental.

Looking forward to reading all your news and updates.

Have a lovely weekend everyone. Spring came and went away again this week in the North Weat of England. We had hail, snow, sleet, thunder and a rainbow 🌈 here on Wednesday!

Hi everyone, checking back after missing last week. So many posts, I can’t respond to them all but I do hope those hurt and injured are improving and congratulations on all the great results I’ve seen.

I am going to cancel my online BSD plan- I just couldn’t make it work for me, I was uncomfortably bloated and with quite distressing internal symptoms for the last few weeks until I decided to give it a rest. Within a week my tummy settled down to normal and I have dropped 700g this week after my weight bobbing around or increasing while I was so uncomfortable. I’m surprised I had such a reaction, the food wasn’t so very different to what I am used to but there we are and with only 3or 4 kilos still to lose I decided to just grind away my own way. I’m so pleased for those of you who are finding it so helpful though.
Today my weigh in was 67.1kg, about 148lb. I am aiming for 64-65 kg- the way I am going it will be several months away but oh well, slow and steady etc, etc.
e are heading into autumn and I am relishing the warm days and cool nights, so good to be able to sleep easily again. It has been lovely weather for walking although I have not been anywhere as active as SueBlue. I bet your South coast walk was spectacular! I was camping at Depot Beach earlier this year, so very beautiful.
Arctic Fox, I am also having incredibly vivid dreams, sometimes several a night. Sometimes nightmares, sometimes just uncomfortable. Not something I usually experience on a daily basis. I hope it stops soon, sometimes I wake up, turn over, have a drink of water- and go back to the same dream. Very unsettling.
Enjoy your northern Spring, so lovely to feel the warmth after your cold winters.