Hi All — I get sad when I read that perhaps a “bad” vibe has somehow developed on our forums — there is no way we can be here on such momentous issues in our lives and not knock heads now and then — these are hard, lifetime problems for most of us and we are literally trying to change lifetime habits and mindsets.
This is BIG work! This is NOT easy. Everyone here is doing an amazing job of just FACING the problem of our weight and diabetes. We are taking full responsibility for ourselves in a way we have never done before. I am SO proud to be a part of this group and be honored with the struggles that people share with me.
We aren’t perfect — we will disagree and get mad and write less than perfect posts. But it’s good for us because we are often, for the first time, also finding our own unique voice. It is part of our work on the BSD — to find our new inner selves.
Anyone feeling frustrated, please stay — your voice is very important to all of us.

I’ll be glad to, V.! I’ll put it over on the salad thread 🙂

Allie can you share your dressing recipe please. I guess it’s a Caesar dressing? I made my first home made one last week but it seemed very thick and a bit too parmesanny for my taste buds. Would love a lighter dressing.

So I’ve not posted on this thread for ages, not because there have been no positives, but rather I’ve sort of lost the art of posting on almost any thread. I am having a quiet tennis watching weekend but will be back posting next week. Enjoy the weekend everyone.

Who mentioned cheese!!!!!! Who said ‘blue’!!!!! My complete and utter downfall. To make life more difficult we have friends around for dessert after dinner out tonight …… a cheese board! Stilton, Roquefort, manchego, emmental, Wensleydale with cranberries and a fabulous cheddar that we discovered only a few weeks ago. For those cheese lovers here in the U.K. try Proctors ‘Kick Ass Cheddar’ if you can find it. I think it may only be available in a decent deli or cheese shop. It is wonderfully creamy but beautifully strong. A very close second is Black Bomber cheddar from Wales. Oh I have to go before I raid the fridge!

A quick ps. I’m sort of post-menopausal at the age of 60. I stopped bleeding around two years ago without any fuss or bother but then started having hot flushes which seem to coincide with very achey legs (feels muscular and mainly in my thighs but sometimes knee joints too). Things seemed to be gradually improving but have now worsened ie the aching is more frequent and always unpredictable. I’ve hardly ever seen a doctor but was desperate enough to go about a year ago. I asked if he thought my symptoms were due to menopause but he couldn’t say. I asked him about supplements but he wasn’t convinced.
What I’m long-windedly getting round to asking is do any older ladies here have any experience of this low blood sugar way of eating easing menopausal symptoms?

Californiagirl, I found your guidance so helpful way back on 16 June. Thank you. There was so much I needed to hear: the reassurance about sleep getting better in time; the gradual muting of the siren call to drink; the way you limit your reading of the posts and so on.
I did quite well for around ten days, losing 9 lbs which was a real boost and I felt so much better. Then something happened. I think I let myself get too tired and took my eye off the ball and my journal-keeping (this is quite time-consuming even though I now do it on the computer, but it helps me to feel as if I’m achieving something while taking responsibility for myself too). So I come here today a bit crest-fallen and shame-faced as I stopped counting and measuring and have put almost all the nine pounds back on. But I want to start again and know that here are others who are doing the same. Today is another day 1 and if I can say that here I know I’m being accountable. Three days before I go back to work so I hope to get into a new rhythm. No alcohol this evening and I’ve already had my day’s carbs after a 16 hour fast so will eat lightly, healthily and early tonight I hope.

Thank you all for posting here.

Yes Wendyq I’m pleased to see them getting too big. I’ve got jeans in all sizes, here, so I won’t need to go out buying new ones just yet. However I did try on a pair of linen trousers in Debenhams and they did not have my size, so I took a chance and ordered online. Very pleased after trying them on as they are a size smaller, than the ones I tried on in the shop. In fact if I had been a bit more patient I could have maybe got down another size, but by the time that happens it will good bye hot weather hello Autumn. ! I found that for me it takes about 21 lb to get down to the next size. Mind you the stores are not all the same are they? A garment from M and S in a 12 will be more generous than a Peacocks size 12. Saying that I bought a linen dress from peacocks size 12 and lined for £20. This was bought last year and was really too tight then. I tried it on today and it’s still snug, but it is wearable. However if I dropped anything on the floor it would have to stay there.
Away from home this weekend, so I will try to be careful.
Down we go.

Morning ladies!
I am in NY very busy. Glad you are all well.

Thank you everyone for all your kind comments and tips! Already feel so positive and supported! And weirdly after just 1 day I feel a lot better – calmer hormones, bloating gone, cravings going 😀
Yesterday I’d decided not to tell my other half about this, as I was worried he’d get annoyed – we’ve been together 3 years and I’ve constantly been trying new diets and ways to battle the weight and PCOS only to end up fatter and fatter. Last night I caved and told him because I knew it’d be tricky to keep it a secret and he was so supportive! Fingers crossed this is the last time I have such a huge amount of weight to lose.

Amarela, I think I understand what you mean. The format isn’t great and it’d be good to be able to share photos etc more easily, but you do all seem like a really friendly and supportive small group, which is less intimidating than the massive facebook groups.

We do all get on well Allie and close to each other- though much of the year elder daughter is at sea where she’s a maitre d’.
I’ve no ambitions to live forever but now I know how to live well I’m going to do my best 🙂
Maggie

Was just wondering th same thing Mrs T.
Amarela I belong to a closed FB a group called 8 week blood sugar diet friends, there’s about 15k members on there and we share recipes, ideas etc. but to be honest I find the forums friendlier.
I was in another FB group but had to leave as people got really nasty towards one another if they didn’t agree on things. I find my forum friends a lovely, friendly, supportive bunch and we have the added bonus of anonymity here 🙂

Crikey I’ve not felt any vibe! Is there anything specifically that’s bothering you? Xx

Welcome LollyT!
I’ve no personal experience with PCOS but this way of eating has definitely helped me with the raging hormones, I used to get really, really bad PMS which has been toned down to slight crankiness and some bloating so I’d imagine this could really benefit PCOS sufferers.

I’ve been getting back to my fasting frame of mind this week and feel so much better for it.

Guys I’m wondering if any of you follow any other fora or Facebook groups compatible with this lifestyle? Any recommendations?
I’m much more used to Tapatalk type of discussions where you can quote, pm, share pics etc and I’m also finding there to be a bit of a vibe I don’t care for here at the moment… :/

Zinny,that’s great your jeans are too big now.I’m fitting better into my clothes these days,it’s a wonderful feeling.We’ve had visitors for a few days but I’ve been pretty good with my eating,have gone over calories but carbs haven’t been too bad .We have a barbecue at a local park with loads of friends tomorrow and next week we’re away for a couple of days.There’s always something isn’t there .Maybe that’s why I’ve been static for so long as there seems so few days of “normality” where I’m at home and there’s just family and that’s it.Life is full of challenges!The week after my mum is coming for a week,she likes to go out for lunch and has huge amounts of food.She’s diabetic and says she has to eat regularly i.e. every 3 hours or so or her blood sugar dips.She’s 80 so what can I say?!Usually she helps herself to whatever food she wants so I’m not continually making her meals.The good thing is that she’s not bothered about puddings.
Last night we were looking at some old photos,saw some of me about 3 stone heavier than what my weight currently is,I looked horrendous!
Hope we can all have a good weekend and stick to what we should.The results will be with it and come September 1st we’ll all be so much slimmer,I can’t wait.Thanks Skinny to be for starting this thread.

Hi Elle and Mrs T
It’s still early days for me in maintenance which is why I’m wary of offering any advice.
I did the 50 cals reverse dieting that Allie mentions and I’ve increased my carbs so I’m currently on 25g-27g carbs which seems to be OK for my bgls and weight seems OK (apart from my recent 4lbs holiday gain – but that’s already coming off).

I’ve done years of yo-yo dieting so like you I’ve been worried about this bit. Putting aside my diabetes, I think the key for me is in finding what cals/carbs levels work for me (still experimenting with that) and realising that this way of eating is for life – sounds so obvious but in the past I’d lose weight and think that was it – job done and take my eye off the ball. Now I’ve realised that’s just not how it works. How’s it taken me years to recognise that?

So, currently, I’m spending a lot of time putting effort into embedding those things that I’ve started on BSD e.g. walking, learning to cook a wider range of BSD-friendly foods etc that’ll help me stay with this new lifestyle and woe – and keep the weight off!
Marie xx

JGwen it’s a great idea to get away from ‘weight’. My initial goal was to become drug free and control or reverse my T2. Since achieving that I’ve struggled to stay motivated. In the past I set up threads similar to the one you are suggesting and the variety of goals was astonishing. Some wanted to eat more fish or drink more water (sorry to mention that word!) or less wine, increase exercise etc. etc. They say it takes 21days to make/break a habit so maybe three weeks would be a good time span to aim for. Anyway, I’ll join in whatever you decide.

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Thank you for this post, MrsT. What you say resonates with my own fears and feelings. And thank you for the replies Allie and JGwen. Gradually increasing by 50 cals seems a sensible way forward.
Elle

Ahh, that explains it. xx

JGwen – I think the NSV thread is a great idea.
Zinny – I like your title, also.

Verano – best wishes for Monday.

Nicola12 – I also think we can be more vocal/post more when we’re having good losses than when we haven’t lost anything – I know I do that – so it can give a slightly skewed perspective of things. I’ve always read your posts and you’ve had such a lot going on. Take care. It sounds like you’ve got a good plan. But come back soon. xx

Just back from walking King Zinny and my Fitbit tells me I am spending more time in the peak ! Going up the hill is getting easier, but I will never be as quick as King Zinny!
Hope we are all doing ok. I’m away this weekend so my challenge will to be mindful of what I eat and to stay away from sweet puddings. The desire for sweet carby things is not so strong now, but I know that for me staying away from them is the best way as once I start, I know it will reawaken the desire to go barking bonkers with a big spoon. Sad I know, but better to leave it alone than reawaken the monster!
Yesterday I realised that a pair of jeans I was wearing really were too big. These jeans were the pair I tried to put on to come home on 20 th May. They were so tight, the thought of sitting on a plane for 5 hours and the car journey afterwards was enough to set me on the BSD road. I travelled home in a dress and started BSD the next day. So glad I did.
Onwards and downwards all.

What a wonderful family dynamic, Maggie! I hope your daughters live in reasonable proximity
to you. I can only imagine how happy they must be to know that you will be around, healthy
and happy, for many years to come!!!

Hi Verano,
Initially I thought about having a thread where we set ourselves a challenge on fitness levels, but then I realised that some people may want to focus on inch loss, and some may have completely different aims. – I just think it would be healthy to break away from the focus on scales.
I thought about setting it as a 4 week challenge and see how it goes, if people feel they would prefer it to be a weekly challenge we can always change, or have the two running in parallel.

Daughters are 31 and 33 (argh, makes me feel old!) and I think they are impressed, they’re eating the same kind of food too and losing weight 😊
Sounds like you’re having a good day Allie! There really is nothing to beat a country walk for clearing the mind, especially after sorting out all the chores.
Have a lovely evening.
Maggie

Lovely, Maggie! Your daughters must be so proud of you! How many, and what ages?

I’ve had such a productive day! Shredded pre-cooked chicken for a caesar salad tonight,
steamed some broccoli, made the dressing, cleaned 3 heads of romaine, bought some
vine ripened tomatoes, caught up on emails, and sorted a myriad of meds for O/H and
myself for the next week and called in the appropriate refills. Dishwasher emptied….
Outdoor and indoor plants have all been given a drink! It’s a beautiful low humidity day,
and I’m firing on all cylinders 🙂 . Going out for a nature walk now. I hope that it’s been
a positive day for all of you across the pond, too! xx

Allie

Love that Allie Cat, must drop that into the conversation this weekend, queen of the blues, just love it!

Yes NSV would be a good idea. I’ll tell you one of mine. I used to see people walking or biking etc. They would get warm and take their jackets off and be able to tie them around their waists. Not I oh no I would either keep the garment on or have to carry it. This very morning whilst out with King Zinny walking I took my jacket off and tied it round my waist. I never thought I would be able to do that and tie it in a tight knot.
So yes a NSV thread would be a good thing.
The title could be My NSV has set me free! I’ve got a non scale victory!
I could do more but I won’t……

We all have “trigger foods”, don’t we Krysia and Zinny?!! My nemesis is blue veined cheese,
particularly Stillton, the queen of the blues! It hasn’t darkened my doorstep in 25 months,
and sadly, I have to keep it that way! I congratulate those who have the capacity for
everything in moderation, but I don’t want anything in the refrig that “speaks to me” from
inside that major appliance! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Allie

I’m with you KrysiaD, it’s dangerous stuff! Some things, even though they are healthy, are just so difficult to limit myself to that I would rather not have it at all. As you say such a shame !

Thanks Allie…have found the “good eats” thread!

Lots of enthusiasm for your new thread, JGwen! I’ll be keeping an eye out for it, too 🙂
Allie

Hi lolly! I’m halfway through my 5th week of the diet, and it does work. When I started I had zero confidence in myself and my ability to stick to it. Thanks to the kindness and encouragement of those on this forum I have stuck with it and have lost over a stone, with my goal weight in sight. My experience so far was that initially it was tough. I felt rubbish, I didn’t think I could stick at it but by around day 4/5 I had started to get into a rhythm with my meals and a routine of set meals and it somehow got easier. I started seeing changes to my weight very quickly which helped spur me on. However it hasn’t always been plain sailing. I have fallen off the wagon several times…I absolutely adore sugar and the comfort I get from chocolate, biscuits and cakes is indescribable. I think that will never change. Anyway I don’t feel qualified to give any “advice” but I would just say;
1. Take it one meal at a time. Congratulate yourself for each meal you’ve done well and know that it slowly adds up
2. Know that you will slip up but the important thing is not to give up but to just make the next meal a good one
3. Drink water and have something in place for when cravings hit e.g. Herbal tea, a good film to watch, a long bath, or just going to bed early
Good luck with it, I hope your first day has gone well! There are lots of very knowledgeable people on this forum so I would learn from them and take their advice!

JGwen, I think a NSV challenge would be perfect. I find the scales hold far too much power and can derail me if there is a disappointing result. What about aiming for a reduction in waist circumference? I keep reading that it’s far more important than weight as that is where the dangerous fat lives. Kristen

Good luck, V.! Lots of us will be awaiting your monday results with you! Don’t forget to
post. Fingers and toes crossed 🙂

Allie

JGwen what have you in mind for a new challenge? Does it need to have a timescale?

Thanks s-g, blood taken so fate is sealed! Krysia I have every conceivable digit and limb crossed! Not feeling too optimistic though. But on a positive note so far today I’ve just had a salmon salad so, so far so good.

Yes thanks u that’s my husband hadn’t realised he had also posted
. You can tell we feeling a little y worried about following the docs saying stay on metformin for another 2/ 3 months we still remain overjoyed though !!

Ladies, those of you who are eager for new meal ideas…Have a look at a thread that’s entitled
“GOOD EATS…” It’s a wonderful resource for low carb cooking!

Allie

Good luck lolly t. This will work so stick with it. I have tried many diets over the years and this works. Lost 34 lbs in 9 weeks still going half way there. I have had IVF and had to get BMI to 30 8 years ago did Weight Watchers but was always hungry. Not on this though. Recommend you look up Zita West fertility expert. My staple foods are eggs, spinach and Berry smoothies portobello mushrooms with goats cheese and chicken. Lovely wrapped in pancetta. If you haven’t got his recipe book buy it. Ooh and cauliflower cheese is lush. Good luck Catherine
😀

Hi everyone. Total newbie here on day 1! Aiming to get control of my PCOS so I can have kids in the near future. Everything I try just leaves me even bigger than before so I really hope this works. But I know I need to commit to it.
Anyone got any tips for a newbie?

Great losses so far toddy! Congratulations! I too am halfway through week 5 so a similar stage to you. Yes any meal ideas that anyone has would be very welcome as I too am running very low on ideas, and it’s a real help for newbies to steal some ideas 😊

Many thanks I’ll repost in the other forum

So I’ve just started Week Five, so far I’ve lost 17lbs which is great and I’ve done this largely by sticking to the BSD diet book but avoiding the heavier carb loads. For the next four weeks I’m seriously aiming and planning to stick to around 20g carbs a day. It’s not easy, requires a lot of planning (which I really hate) but hopefully it will pay dividends as I would really like to lose another 14lbs in the next four weeks/month – any advice/help is most welcome.
I’m drinking between 2-3litres of water a day, more days around the 2l mark though. I’ve upped my complete couch potato status and I’m doing 3-4 exercise classes a week – hoping this will help too.
One thing I am noticing is that my skin is pretty dry – has anyone else experienced this?
Tonight my main meal will be salmon steak and avocado salsa. Lunch was scrambled eggs and a slice of ham.
Well good luck for the next four weeks everyone. Please do share your meal options, it helps us newbies!

You are posting some marvelous results, toddy67. Congratulations on your first 4 week
successes, and the commitment to exercise too! 🙂 This challenge ended on tuesday, so
hop on over to the one that has Zoomers in the title, plus To August and Beyond.
It began on the 12th, so no harm done! I find that my dry skin actually improved with the water,
and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocado and wild salmon. It used to feel like
sandpaper, before! Keep up the great work. Join us, won’t you, on the current challenge?

Best,

Allie

Hi Toddy
You are doing really well – a super weight loss.

This challenge has just ended – the one you want that has just started is the zoomers to august and beyond 4 week challenge ending 7th August. Have posted the link below – but not sure if it will work.

https://thebloodsugardiet.com/forums/topic/zoomers-to-august-and-beyond-4-week-challenge-ending-7-august/

Once again I’ve no idea if I’m posting in the right place so apologies in advance if I’ve got it wrong. I can never tell when a challenge is starting but this time I think I’m just a day or two late in joining in and this challenge is for four weeks.
So I’ve just started Week Five, so far I’ve lost 17lbs which is great and I’ve done this largely by sticking to the BSD diet book but avoiding the heavier carb loads. For the next four weeks I’m seriously aiming and planning to stick to around 20g carbs a day. It’s not easy, requires a lot of planning (which I really hate) but hopefully it will pay dividends as I would really like to lose another 14lbs in the next four weeks/month – any advice/help is most welcome.
I’m drinking between 2-3litres of water a day, more days around the 2l mark though. I’ve upped my complete couch potato status and I’m doing 3-4 exercise classes a week – hoping this will help too.
One thing I am noticing is that my skin is pretty dry – has anyone else experienced this?
Tonight my main meal will be salmon steak and avocado salsa. Lunch was scrambled eggs and a slice of ham.
Well good luck for the next four weeks everyone. Please do share your meal options, it helps us newbies!

Good luck V, KOKO

Verano – fingers crossed for a good HB1aC result. I have just booked mine for 3rd August – so I will have fingers crossed for my results also.

Hi Nicola,
I understand how it feels when others are posting weight losses and you are not seeing the scale move. Sometimes it worries me a little as well when I see posts from people who are in the depth of despair because the scales are showing a fraction of a lb gain in comparison to the day before.
Both the week long and the month long challenges are centred around a weekly weigh in, and I have been wondering about setting up a different 4 week challenge thread, where we set our goals to be NSV’s.
I wondered what others felt about this idea?

The Meridian almond nut butter is divine and so healthy. Unfortunately it is so moreish that I can no longer allow it into the house because one teaspoon is never enough, not are two, three or 4……….
So for me the nut butters do come with a health warning! Such a shame.