Dawn- I love your new approach and it is a positive approach and mindset. Like you, I’ve “failed” when setting targets and then feel disappointed and a failure. By going with the process and doing what you can you will succeed. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. I also like your positive approach to the next 7 years and like you I have got to the point where I cannot keep doing the same thing and getting nowhere. My aim for 2026 is to end the cycle! I’ve found what works for me, 800 keto and I have to be strict and I plan to be strict in August. I want to get to goal, enjoy holidays and festivities and then be strict in between. I think I can do it! I am hoping that I can keep within my weight range using this method. We don’t need to be hung up on what the scales say but they’re a great guide along with looser clothing and so hopefully over the next few weeks we will feel better. I’m starting on Monday with my strict August schedule- my husband is away next week leading a retreat so it’s a perfect time for me to start. I want to get under 140 and would love to get to 138. I’ve not weighed for a couple of weeks but I know I’ve crept up as I’ve not been as strict: I can’t do 800 keto long term but a four week stint every so often might just suit me. Good luck Dawn. You sound motivated and I’ll look forward to hearing your news and I’m cheering for you. SueBlue and DCT are also up for an August reset so it will be good to share our journeys together. We’ve got this!

I am so sorry to hear this Verano it must have been upsetting as well as frustrating 🙁 Hopefully another appointment can be quickly arranged for you 🤞🤞
Margaret xx

Hello.
S-g sounds like you’re doing well. So sad to see the horrendous fires especially in France but seems to be lots of other places in Europe too. The really sad thing is that some are set on purpose and others are just a result of carelessness. Let’s hope they are all under control soon and yes that it rains!

Thank you for your good wishes but I’m afraid they fell on deaf ears. I turned up for my appointment but my blood pressure was too high for me to have the surgery! I don’t suffer from high blood pressure nor do I take medication it’s ’blood pressure monitor cuff’ syndrome! Anyway I’ll see the doctor tomorrow morning and we’ll make a plan from there. The only problem is that his plan is medication and I’m a medication phobic! We will just have to see! Meanwhile I’ve had to order more contact lenses.

Had a small slip up yesterday. It is still hot here so, although I really did stick to the plan, I had a chocolate Magnum. Just one little thing can make a big difference when you are on such low numbers. At least I resisted the wine so I must lose more and have another week before we have a night out. Weigh in is tomorrow.

Hi everyone,
I started my reset today, have decided to partly use the Fast800 online plan combined with logging stuff on MFP and will see how it goes. I haven’t done any of the online exercises for quite a while so have reset the online plan to ‘beginner’ and did my first set today. I’m not going to be as strict with myself as I have been in the past (which has often been my downfall as if I have a day ‘off plan’ even if it’s not eating really unhealthy food, it can make me go WAY off plan)I am just going to try eat as healthily as I can, using lots of the online recipes, for the majority of the time and not put a time limit on how much I want to lose by a certain date as I think that’s putting too much pressure on myself. I don’t want to spend the next 7 years like the last 7, setting goals and then failing to reach them. I hope everyone has a good week.
Dawn X

All the best for tomorrow Verano, I remember you saying it was absolutely painless and gave me hope for when I have to have mine done (not yet). It will be wonderful to be able to see clearly.

Checked my weight and I am down quite a bit. Looked back on my records from last year and I have not been this weight since August last year. However, on the graph I also saw me at a kilo lighter so still something to aim for.

The fires are still raging but we are hopeful for some rain – looks like it is raining in Biscarrose – not far from Bordeaux. Fingers crossed. All those poor people losing their homes and everything. Keep saying we need to set up a grab-bag just in case of emergency but you dont think it is going to happen to you. Will look up what to put in it.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Thanks Wendy. My first one was also done at SpaMedica and it was excellent too!
Just need to get it done now when I look out of my right eye everything is bright when I look out of my left eye there is a brown haze over everything! It’s time!

I have just weighed & am pleased to say that I have lost 1.5lbs phew!! 😀
Excellent weight loss for you Verano 👏👏. S-G unfortunately I didn’t visit around the bay because we were on a river cruise & I hope SunnyB that you have recovered from your migraine?
Let us all put our best fort forward for next week 🤞🤞🍀🍀
Margaret xx

Good luck with your cataract op Verano & I had an eye check a couple of days ago advising me I probably need my second one done as well. I have been referred back to SpaMedica & they were excellent first time around.
Fingers crossed for you on Monday
🤞🤞🍀
Margaret xx

I’ve not posted here for ages so here we go …..

🥯🥯 Have been baking my own bagels as our local deli has closed down. I don’t eat them, well maybe half of one once a week, but baking is really satisfying!

🥒🥬 Enjoyed lovely Greek salad last night. Have found a lovely recipe…. who would have thought you would need a recipe for ‘salad’!

🧘🏻‍♀️🧘🏻‍♀️Have starting just ‘following my breath’ which is really interesting.

Hope you have positives to share.

S-g when you move back you the UK we won’t be a million miles from each other so who knows!

Yes the wildfires this year seem to be far more widespread and far more severe. Really sad especially if they are set on purpose, which is quite often the case. Certainly when we had our apartment in Tenerife there were often forest fires in the National Forest and often set on purpose. The only good thing was that the pines always seemed to regenerated really well despite being burned almost to a cinder. Anyway, hope you stay safe in France s-g.

Sorry to hear about your migraine Sunny could it have had anything to do with your fast? You know I’m not a great lover of fasting so just throwing that one out there! Anyway, glad you’re getting on ok with myfitnesspal.

Margaret same happens to me sometimes so I take 0.6 lb of my weight. I weighed a mug with and without liquid and that’s what I came up with. A bit ad hoc I know but having the need to weigh everyday it makes me feel better!

So, to me. Well almost at the end of the third week of my ‘course’ and my weight loss overall is just about 1lb a week but it’s patchy to say the least. I’m finding some of the articles really interesting but the course is really aimed at people who eat a ‘normal’ western fast food/ little home cooked food diet. I think maybe I’m glossing over some of the information because I’m already comparatively low carb and eat pretty healthily. This week the articles have been mainly about mindset and have been really interesting but next week is ‘exercise’ and given my level of mobility I’m thinking this won’t be the best set of articles for me! I haven’t written them off yet but we will see.

I am a Tuesday ‘weigher’ this course has made me weigh on Mondays. I don’t like Mondays! I’m going back to my traditional weighing day… Tuesday!
Hope everyone has a good week without too much heat!

PS I’m having my second cataract op on Monday so may not be posting for a few days… looking forward to finally disposing of contact lenses!

A few positives ….
🌺🌺 visit with eldest son and family yesterday
💧💦 set up a little container pond in the garden
🌹🌹 my roses are starting to give a second flush of flowers
Hooe your weekend will be full of positives.

Haven’t checked in for a couple of days, as I had an unusually prolonged migraine episode, which took me out of action.
It’s really sad to see all the wild fires. So many places are being affected and so many beautiful habitats bring ravaged.
On the BSD front, things seem to be going well at the moment. Have been using Myfitnesspal to keep track of things and although carbs were up a couple of days and cals were over on one day, overall it’s balancing out across the week.
My weekly weigh in will be on Tuesday, so although I weigh daily, I’ll wait until Tuesday to report results.
Have a good weekend.

Just be careful you dont over-estimate how much food you can have to make up for the walking. You have to walk 35 miles to lose 1lb of fat and 26 minutes to burn off one chocolate digestive. Happy days. 🙂

Hi Margaret, did you ever get to the Bay on your trip. I am sure you will have seen photos of the large Dune de Pilat, the largest non-moving sand dune in Europe. It was surrounded by a pine forest which went up in flames a couple of years ago due to arson. Such a shame for all the areas that are burning.

Well I am ignoring sixturkeys so very rude!!
Very worrying about the wild fires everywhere now & near Bordeaux where we were last month on holiday. I will weigh tomorrow because I forgot today having already drunk a mug of coffee.
Keep safe everyone in the sunshine although it is cooler here in West Sussex around 25c.
Margaret xx

Hi all, shame we are nowhere near each other Verano – different countries – or we could meet up. You wouldnt want to be here right now. We have wild fires in the Bay of Archechon for the second time in the last few years. Such a shame as it is a magnificent area. Unfortunately, it is impacting on us, so no swimming and have to keep windows shut, lots of smoke even though it is around 100kms from us. Hopefully, we are safe here but you never know if some idiot is going to drop a cigarette end in the grass.

Still losing weight and determined not to mess it up over the weekend. Have a good one.

Well that rather proves my point.
Do let us know when the in real life Verano (surmising husband was a top professional accountant or business owner) will meet up with the in real life Denise. You are geographically not that far. And obviously so ad idem.

Sixturkeys if you don’t like this site or find it helpful fine.
Bye bye

I was on this site a while back when the community was very diverse and helpful. I have no doubt that that the basic premise works. It is a shame that the forum has been largely overtaken by a core small and tedious group. Who don’t seem to understand that it’s just AI algorithms posting not a personal slur. And frankly if after 8 or 10 years still chasing 100g…it’s not healthy. And just very boring.

As previously posted by admin.
We pay tribute to our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Mosley.

Michael was an integral part of our lives, bringing a wealth of knowledge, dedication, and compassion to his work.

Throughout his distinguished career, Michael made significant contributions to his field, earning respect and admiration from all walks of life. His unwavering commitment to excellence and his innovative approach to science and health have left an indelible mark on the lives of many.

Michael was not only a remarkable professional but also a kind and generous individual. He was always willing to lend a helping hand, share his wisdom, and support those around him. His infectious enthusiasm and genuine care for others made him a beloved figure in our organisation.

We will remember Michael for his outstanding achievements, his compassionate nature, and his unwavering dedication to improving the lives of others. His legacy will continue to inspire us all.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be deeply missed.

Rest in peace, Michael.

I have just reported on the Michael commemorative post as some idiot has put a gaming post on. I have asked admin to just take it down and restore it to a more respectful post. Please dont comment on the post or your post will also cover the real post. I have tried to repost something but the system says I have already posted so I have to change a few words to trick the computer. I will try again but better to let admin deal with this scum.

It worked, I just added a few words. I think admin should lock the post to stop people putting rubbish on it, it is like desecrating a grave.

Back to the diet – doing okay, slowly slowly – another 0.1kg down so under last months goal weight. Just another 0.9kg to go 🙂

Thank you – I’m expecting that much exercise should shift a bit of weight too as I’ve hit a plateau!

Keep going but do enjoy your holiday. Walking that much will create an appetite so be sure to have some low carbs or good carb snacks.

Thanks Sunny, I dont normally like seeing pictures of myself but I have changed my FB profile photo from my cat to me in a red designer jump suit on our last cruise. I wasnt slim but the way the photo is taken and the layers on the suit make me look at least 1 stone lighter. It is a lovely photo of me. If I went back to my slimmest it was when I hit my goal at Weight Watchers around 30 years ago and, to be honest, I look like a lolipop head. Too thin.

SG, you have shown time and again your determination, so I’m sure you’ll be able to hit the targets you are setting yourself.

Read somewhere that a good incentive, is to put a photo of yourself at your slimmest somewhere prominent, to spur yourself on … just a thought.

I’m on day 3 of my reboot. Doing well at not snacking between meals and with recording what I am consuming. Struggling a bit with getting daily carbs down to 20g although managing to keeping them below 30g, but it’s a work in progress. The calorie levels are okay, so hoping that as time goes on, the desired result will reveal itself.

I have to be clear about what I want. I looked back on a photo from 3 years ago when I was dressed up and ready to go out for Sunday lunch – and I am chunky. Looked in the mirror this morning and I am still chunky. Clear motivation is to get my HbA1c down from 7.5 to around 6.5 when I am tested in September. That is my main goal. Second goal is to be down another 2kgs before daughter comes out in mid September. If only I can just stick with it.

Positives

weight back down and feeling motivated.
cooled down a bit here, now only around 35 degrees – makes a big difference
swam 3 days in a row.

Hi everyone,
Sorry I haven’t posted in ages, have totally lost the plot again over the last month. I’m still paying for the online plan so Cathy, Sue and DCT I will join you all for the August reset please!
Dawn X

HI SueBlue
Great that you’ll be joining me and DCT for the August reset. I am already preparing to start August with determination, focus and resilience. Four weeks of focus is definitely doable. We can choose how we do it. We can try something different every week if we want. I am choosing to do 800 keto for the four weeks and I will be strict. I think the online plan definitely helps me with daily structure too.. I am still paying for the plan but I think once August comes I will use it daily for exercises as well as recipes and motivation. I’ll look forward to checking in on 3rd August where we can make definitive weekly plans towards our August goal. We’ve got this!

Cathy and DCT – count me in for the reset too!
I was actually thinking of temporarily rejoining the online plan, as if nothing else it gave me some structure. The monthly fee is around $22 Aussie dollars so I’m thinking of doing it from end July to end September to hopefully lose another 6/7kg (or a stone) by my birthday which is in September.

Thanks DCT for being my August Back to Basics Buddy. Let’s weigh in on Monday 3rd and see how we both get on.

CATHY yes please, I’ll happily join you for Back to Basics in August. I keep going off piste and am maintaining at around half a stone down from February – but want to lose more. Enjoy all your celebrations and I’ll join you in August 😊

A few more positives …
🌻🌻 good gardening session with my grandson at the village hall … all.lookkmg much tidier 😀
🌻🌻 threated myself to a spectacular bog plant, with almost black leaves that look almost metallic
🌻🌻 a successful 2nd day back on thd BSD track

What are your positives for today?

Feeling better, weight dropped under 75 so now on a downward journey. I have to be clear that Saturday doesnt mean I need a glass of wine or 2 or 3. I must remember that it makes my weight go up more than any food cheat.

Using the 8 week meal planner, I do not have a shopping list to offer you, but noted the pages for the recipes weeks 1-4.

I can give you the page references for the recipes for the the first weeks BREAKFASTS: 27,33,39,27,33,31,34. LUNCHES:73,49,58,71,51,72,155. DINNERS:132,128,126,152,124,129,69.

I don’t know if this is a help to anyone…. if so i can list weeks 2-4 in another message.
Kind regards all,
Because

Hello Everyone
Hope you are all having a good week. I’ve gone off piste! I have been rather too relaxed and getting into bad habits this last few days. I went to book club at weekend and that started me off! Red wine, nibbles, you know where this is going! Also, It’s my husband’s 65th birthday next week and we have booked to go out for a country pub lunch which will be cheese and onion pie and chips for me! Then we are going to the gelato cafe for an ice cream! SO……… i will be drawing a line under July and I am going to do fast 800 keto for all of August. Four weeks of back to basics from 3rd August. I am going to weigh myself on Monday 3rd August and am going to try to lose some weight during August. I am determined to finish 2026 at goal weight and as I have my cruise in October I know there will be some pulling back needed in November so I will probably do another 4 weeks fast 800 keto in November to hopefully be where I want to be as the year draws to a close. I am still paying for the online programme so I think it would be wise to make use of it next month and then maybe call it a day. If you want to join me for a back to basics August, we can do it together.
The hot weather has been challenging for me , ice creams, al fresco dining, G&Ts and World Cup snacks crept in too! There, I’ve owned up but after next week I will be back to it. We’ve got this.

Quick post of positives ….
✨️✨️ OH accidentally disturbed a wasps nest in our garden today … the positive is he escaped with just 3 stings, waiting on pest control now
✨️✨️ managed to extend my ‘kick off’ fast to 39hrs
✨️✨️ visited our friend’s woods today … good to spend sometime in nature
What were your positives today?

Thank you for the welcome and recording suggesting V. Last night I downloaded Myfitnesspal and have used it today … seems to provide all I’ll need, but will take a look at Fatsecret too.

Newbie, fingers crossed your next results will be more favourable. As Verano says, the secret is to keep an eagle eye on those carbs.

Thought I’d report in on my fast. Broke it at 39hrs, as this is the first one I’ve done in about 3mths, I was pleased to be able extend it that far. Today I’ve been back to weighing and measuring everything, as a result my intake has been slightly under on cals, but 6g over on carbs. I’m okay with that though, as today was my first day keeping track again.

So, one day down and feeling good about being in control again. I too weigh daily when I’m trying to discard pounds, a habit I don’t seem able to break. However, overall I find it a useful exercise, even if the readings can sometimes be a bit frustrating!

Hello and welcome ‘home’ Sunny! Sorry to hear about your gain but you have all the tools and you will do it. I use Fatsecret, similar to Fitnesspal, again no subscription required for basic plan and I find it a bit simpler to use. BTW make sure you get the .co.uk version of whatever you choose as the .com version tends to be for the USA.

Newbie sorry to hear about your HbA1c. I’m afraid it really is down to those carbs and there doesn’t seem to be anyway around that without medication. I know how hard it can be and I don’t really have any suggestions. I do finger prick tests every now and again and ideally I like to be below 6, which is around 42, but I have had odd readings of as high maybe the high 9’s which is approaching 60. I know these are just snapshots at the time and not equivalent to the HbA1c readings but it’s enough to shock me into doing something immediately. I don’t know if you finger prick but it may work for you too?

Margaret hope you’re managing to get back on track.

S-g I know you’re a daily weigher like me but maybe you should force yourself to stay off the scales some days…. large glass of water before you get out of bed maybe?? Last week I lost weight then regained it by my weigh-in day so just got downhearted. I need to act on my own advice and stay away from weighing daily!

Weather has finally cooled here so life is much more pleasant. Hope everyone is well.

Thank you all for the welcome … much appreciated. Looking forward being part of the team.
Thank you for the recommendation of myfitnesspal SG, will take a look. Don’t need anything fancy, so something that doesn’t require a subscription is ideal. As you say, that small jacket spud blip on the scales will quickly disappear … can understand the frustration of seeing it though.

Newbie, just to explain my eating plan more clearly, the 800 is daily calories and the 20 is daily grams of carbs. The 16/8 is 16hrs overnight fast, with an eating window of 8hrs .. commonly called Time Restricted Eating or TRE. Generally when I’m focused and looking to lose weight, I don’t eat after 7pm or before noon though.

And yes SG … new week new motivation!

This is now my eighth week. Haven’t weighed myself since middle of last week and think I’ve plateaued after a constant and very significant weight loss. I go on holiday next week – a walking holiday and I’ll be walking about 15 miles a day on average so going to relax off it a bit then and the. Resume when I get back. I did have to have a non-keto meal on Saturday just gone – a bowl of pasta, but seem to have gotten away with it. It did make me feel very bloated though! That’s the only misdemeanour in the whole time though!

I needed to lose 9 inches off my stomach – now it’s only 4…

Hi everyone, SunnyB, Verano set up this thread to take the place of our monthly one – everyone is welcome. It saves someone having to set up a new thread, new title, new introduction – you know what it was like. Great to have you back. You will soon get back into the swing and start to see the pounds disappear.

I record my food on Myfitnesspal and you dont have to pay unless you want to ultra super dooper, whatever that is.

Newbie, I will let sunny explain the eating plan, it is what we all do and I am sure you are too. Not my place to but in.

Messed up again over the weekend. Roasted jacket sweet potato and a 0.6g gain. Drives me mad, surely a jacket potato shouldnt do that. I know it will be gone by tomorrow or Wednesday but it always seems like a set back.

Anyway, new week new motivation.

Welcome SunnyB, I’m new to all the lingo, what do you mean by 800/20, with a 16/8 eating pattern?

So the results are in, my hba1c has gone up to 66, I knew I had fallen off the wagon and was only kidding myself that everything would be ok, but I’m hoping it’s the shock I need to get back on track, what track I’m yet to decide, but it will be some track, small steps first like cutting out treats and banning them from the house, drinking only water and tea. I have a review with the nurse in August and waiting to see a health coach whatever one of those is, so today we sulk, and tomorrow we pick ourselves up and start again x

Hello SunnyB & welcome & you have taken the first step joining us here👍 I am also struggling to shed my holiday weight gain & having difficulty mentally switching to diet mode. I record my calories on Nutracheck that seems quite easy to use but of course you would have to pay a subscription fee t join. Anyway good luck with your first week🍀🍀
My husband & I are off to see the film Odyssey this evening which has good reviews.
Take care everyone in the warm weather & keep hydrated! I have to keep reminding myself to drink enough water 🤔
Margaret xx

Time for this thread to jump up the list again and long overdue for me to post positives. Thank you to V and SG in keeping the thread alive.

My positives are ….
🚘🚘 great road trip home from Turkiye, especially the stopover in a little seaside town in Greece. Definitely one to be repeated.
🌺🌺 the neighbour who was looking after my garden while I was away did a great job. So good to get home and find it all looking good.
🧺🧺 despite my washing machine breaking down when I put in the first load of holiday laundry, the holiday washing is almost complete.

Hope you are all finding positives and you’ll take a moment to post one or two for us to share soon.

Hello everyone … hope it’s okay to join in here. Have scanned through your posts and think this would be the ideal thread to help keep me accountable again… of which I’m in desperate need.

“Sigh” …. Now to put my cards on the table. Left home in April already carrying approx 9lb more than I would have liked. During our time away, not only did I fall off wagon, but I rolled most of the way down the hill too! So my extra 9lb has now morphed into a 1st 4.5lb excess!!!

To say I’m ashamed of being in this situation is a understatement, however I have given myself a good shake and talking to and I begin my new regime today. I’m kicking off with an extended fast today. No exact plan for when it will be broken, but will eat lightly when I feel it is no longer sustainable.

Going forward, my plan is to move back to 800/20, with a 16/8 eating pattern. My only issue is where to record my daily intake, as it feels like too much of a faff to revive my old spreadsheet. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Well done staying the same Newbie & S-G I have had rather a busy social week with our son unexpectedly coming to dinner on Friday & staying overnight so more food wine & snacks consumed than usual. I weighed this morning & have gained one pound in weight which I am not surprised about. I suppose I have been eating what has been simple to prepare & still rather in a holiday mood with the continued sunshine & not really focused on losing weight! However I know some of my clothes are tighter plus those I can no longer fit into so I’m conscious that I should do something about this. The weather is slightly cooler here for the next few days but then hotter weather is predicted to return 🌝
I hope you all have a good next week.
Margaret xx

Thomo, I personally found the paid for site only helpful in giving me new ideas, not so much recipes as I am an instinctive cook and can also read Google 🙂 But I am being more experimental and not cooking the same week in week out. Once you get used to the diet and have the books you will know what to buy. Always check out your fridge before shopping, you might have a full days menu right there in front of you. Write you menu before you shop and just follow what you are having. It will become second nature. I am sure you can do it as you say, so far so good.

I have stayed the same for one month so not met my 1kg challenge for June/July (ends on Tuesday). But that means I havent gained anything either – always look on the bright side of life de dum de dum…..

Still too hot here at 33 degrees, managed a swim yesterday and know I am not duty bound to swim every day. It is just too tiring to do anything. We have a brunch around 11.30 on Sunday so I cant swim without food first and then after it is too hot, it was even too hot to sit outside. A normal summer for us is around 28 degrees with the odd blast of 30 or a bit more. That seems to have changed.

C’est la vie!