Rhubarb, thanks for the reminder, I have loads in my garden and it grows, dies off and continues to grow. Just been out and picked about 10 big stalks which I will peel as mine are tough old green things, then I will stew with ginger and stevia ready to freeze. I have loads of strawberries and raspberries at the moment and rhubarb and strawberries together are delish.
Back on track and lost half of the gain and still hoping for 2lbs off but maybe not Monday on this weigh in, hope Tuesday.
Oh Frog it is terrible when you have a plan in your head and things go awry. Good for you for making a good compromise.
Got my doctor to stop my statins as I have been having cramps again. Not during the night as I have soap in my bed for that, but during the day and in my legs and arms. Anyway, I am stopping for a month to see if they stop, then I am going back on it to see if they start up again. He is also going to test my cholesterol again at my 3 month check up to see if it is okay without the statins.
Have a good weekend all.

Still keeping on too…..
Day 12 and weight loss has continued after a brief halt. Not finding it hard which is astonishing to me. Planning a cheat-meal tomorrow night as going out to dinner for Father’s Day but other than that I have been 100% committed. Need to decide what to do next week. My original plan was to kickstart the weightloss plan with Fast800 for just 2 weeks then move to 5:2 till I get to goal. But may stick with Fast800 for a bit longer. Have a good weekend everyone.

Hello everyone. I’m entirely new to these forums so apologies if I’m posting in the wrong place or breaking some community guidelines. It’s not intentional and I’m sure I’ll learn.
I’ve only just started the diet, today is Day Four. I’m intending to have courgetti and bolognese tonight for dinner but how much would be a ‘normal/healthy’ portion size of bolognese? I’m imagining something like a handful. If anyone has any better guidance please let me know.
I’ve also been reading on here that lots of people are aiming for <20g of carbs a day. I’m struggling to meal plan and stick to 40-50g a day so if there any other helpful resources for doing this please let me know.

Many thanks

Hi all, hope you are all feeling good. Nicky I know that feeling with the hairdresser. My hairdresser does it at home and she doesn’t have a mirror and it was only reading you post that I thought about that. I have been having various treatments for my face, laser treatment, facials etc and people keep jumping me in shopping centres and putting that puffy eye stuff under my eyes. They have made me feel so insecure about my looks that I have stopped looking. Dont buy the puffy eye cream, it works but cracks into a white powder and you cant put makeup on top or it cracks, and when do you want to look your best, yes, when you go out wearing makeup. The other thing is it drags the fluid from your bags but leaves it 10 times worse.

Back on track and still hoping for 2lbs by Tuesday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend all.

Nicki! So nice to see you posting today 🙂 A job change AND a move to another country represents
mega stress, so please don’t be too hard on yourself. I took such things in stride when I was a young
woman, but I’ve learned by experience that with each successive decade, it’s a little harder to shake
off. I’m guessing that what may be contributing to your fatigue is that you’ve fallen out of ketosis.
You have all the tools to return to BSDing, so brush yourself off, jump back into posting, and do pop
in on the 4 week challenge thread so we can share your new lifestyle in northern Scotland. What
an adventure! Welcome “home” 🙂 🙂 🙂

Allie

Hiya Zoomers
Saturday, the end of my week off which has been very relaxing with gardening and seeing friends.
Good to see so many enthusiastic posts and some great results already!
Blackspot, I always have a few almonds in my bag when out and about to keep me going plus a couple of hard boiled eggs or babybel cheese.
Mrs Thompson, and anyone else celebrating Father’s Day tomorrow, have a great day!
Kazzeexx

Hi Verano, S-G, Nicola, Butterlover,
I’m just coming to the end of a week’s holiday at home which has been lovely. Mostly gardening and visiting friends. I managed a couple of 24 hour fasts during the week although I’ve not been weighing, or counting calories. I know that is key to success but I find it a bit of a chore at times. However, back to work Monday and have a clear run of 10 weeks to my next week off at the end of August.
Enjoy your weekend, everyone!
Kazzeexx

Hi all (Verano and Sunshine girl!),

Writing this post seems a bit too familiar for me now, but here I go… Despite my plans to be back on track now, sadly I’m not. The move from the South of England up to the North of Scotland, and starting a new job has really taken its toll on me, I probably could have been strong and kept to BSD principles but I just haven’t prioritised my health.

I had my hair cut the other day and spending that long staring in the mirror made me realise that my double chin is coming back! I’ve also been feeling tired all the time, which I’ve put down to the move and the new job, but I suspect that my diet has had a big impact on that too.

This week I’ve started taking a low carb shake to work for breakfast, as I’m having to leave the house an hour earlier than I used to, and I just don’t have time to make anything for breakfast. Lunch is where I’ve done most of my carb-eating, and dinner has mainly been meat and veg, so no problems there. I’ve started doing some exercise but only once a week really since we moved.

THE PLAN

-Keep taking shakes for breakfast
-Take a packed lunch (not sure what but maybe a chicken salad)
-Keep having meat and veg for dinner
-Set a goal for exercise and stick to it

Simple! I’ve done it before, I know I can do it, I know that it works, so here’s to the recommiting to my health 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Dear HappyKangaroo, I do hope you are feeling OK and good luck with all the TV shows. You have done an amazing job in hospital and your blood sugar results are brilliant. Think we have just over a week to go, keep posting everyone!

xx

Californiagirl/Julia,
I was directed to your post from another thread – ‘Shame is burying me’ – by alliecat (thank you allie). Everything you say here I know to be true for me but it really helps to have someone else corroborate it. The test for me, of course, is to carry it out!
I’ve only just joined this community although I’ve been lurking for some time. As I’m quite a private person, this feels a bit beyond my comfort zone but I was getting a bit desperate and knew I couldn’t do it on my own.
“… it is my family’s solution to anything, including difficult family relationships, and I was practically raised with a glass of white wine in my hand.” This was so familiar to me. I was handed my first glass – sherry on a Sunday lunchtime – when I was thirteen and I loved it from the start. All sorts of connections, now I’m thinking about it, between the tension in the room and the unexpected and until then unknown way alcohol can relax. Witching hour is usually my downfall so I need to find a new way of getting from work (which I love but is tiring) to home and food without a stop on the way for a bottle. I do find I like a break on the journey home to give myself time to adjust and last time I attempted to drop the alcohol, I decided to ‘treat’ myself by stopping off at a cafe for a cuppa. But that meant a cheese scone which doesn’t do anything for the BSD!
Thank you to everyone here. I know I need to stay close, keep reading and posting. This is day 2 for me and, yes, like Julia I’m tackling both alcohol and carbs at the same time. I know it’s going to take time for my body to rid itself of the poison I’ve poured into it (what is anyone else’s experience of how long this takes? I’ve heard anything between three and nine days). Sleep is going to be a big one for me. I’m a light sleeper which means I tend to wake often and it really doesn’t worry me, but last time I tried dropping carbs and alcohol, my sleep pattern went all over the place and never really settled which was disappointing as I’d heard how much sleep was supposed to improve. I can’t remember the last time I woke up feeling refreshed.
My alternative to alcohol is sparkling water but it has to be the right kind as I don’t like it too bubbly. Badoit costs a bit more but is less sparkly. Mostly, I like it with a couple of lime slices and a squeeze of juice but another way, especially on a hot day, is a couple of slices of cucumber and a sprig of mint.

Morning all
Well weighed in pleasantly surprised as I’ve lost 5 lbs without realising due to all the hard work I’m doing lol anyone want to join the Norfolk renovation boot camp feel free, it’s amazing what a wheelbarrow can do 😁😁😁
Anyway have 89.5lbs still to loose it was 112.5 so getting there.
So for this thread I am aiming to be 15 st something so need to loose 17 lbs may be a tall order but I’m on it and want it gone this year. So of to do a fab healthy shop presently, and get MFP up to date.
Ooh it’s such a relief to be back, why did I stray I know I love it 💃💃💃

Good luck BlackSpot! Hope you have a great day celebrating with your family 👍🏻

Morning folks.
Been up since 5 putting some pork shoulders on my smoker for a party at my mum & dads later today. Mums birthday, so cake, booze galore, paella more booze…
I’m planning on taking the pulled pork, and a really zingy herby coleslaw that’s more veg & dressing than mayo & sugar.
I’ve heard about vinagre based drinks and have been having cider vinagre with soda, and it’s lovely. So going to try and jazz that up a bit to avoid too much booze.
Wish me luck going to the land of temptations!

Hi Verano – yes, I just got to the end of the technical bit last night, but had glanced at the recipes earlier – there’s a Turkish vegetable dish with baked egg that I made at cookery school a few weeks ago, and a lovely sounding one with egg baked in avocado.
Looking through the recipes reminded me of how much when I did BSD last time I was a bit obsessed with bread/potato/carb substitutes – the cauli rice, gram flour pancakes and courgetti, etc – it really doesn’t bother/occur to me now – a plate with fish and vegetables doesn’t look as if it has something missing.
I was never convinced by cauliflower pizza!
At home, I always bake rhubarb in large batches – I’d never realised how fast it cooks in a pot, much easier to just cook what I need each time.
Sadly I think we’re getting to the end of the season, so do try and find some before it disappears.

Good morning all!
Zinny that was a great idea to take scales with you…a visible reminder for you…I too have dug out my scales instead of hiding them away to give me a kick up the bum!
Hope everyone has a good day…day 6 for me today and the first with the whole family home…determined to stay strong and not let them derail me…

HappyKangaroo enjoy all the movies & good luck with the tv shows so many made these days and a lot of them are the terrible but cannot look after type. Who knows what will get you hooked 😆

I am off on my holiday tomorrow & managed to talk myself out of packing bathroom scales. Going for prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

Rhubarb! I had forgotten about how good rhubarb is with yogurt. I used to make a batch in the microwave with an apple and some ginger and portion it out in the fridge. Today the hunt for rhubarb will be on!

Frog don’t know if you’ve got to the recipe section of Pioppi yet but there are some great recipes. Lots of spice and chilles used which is right up my street. Also, I find it very interesting that they recommend a 24hr fast on around the 6th day of each week. I hadn’t thought deeply about this until I read that dinner to dinner is a 24hr fast. I already miss breakfast on most days so it sounds more than doable to me. I will definitely give a try next week.

Water, water, water today for me. I have just got out of the habit of having 2ltrs a day but I’m already 500cl in for today. Just 1500 to go!
Have a good day.

Good morning. Another weekend so a little extra mindfulness needed to stay focused on that goal. I hadn’t realised just how easy it is to stop drinking water. When I’m away I think, subconsciously, I stop drinking lots of water for fear of needing toilet breaks! Anyway today I will try to get back to my full 2litres. I have had a very early start to this Saturday and am already part way through my first 500cl.

I have just been reading through some of the threads and taking on board some of the advice. I find the need to constantly refresh my thoughts to keep me on track. So, just for today, I will drink water, water and more water!

Sunshine-girl looks like just you and me at the moment but we will both keep on keeping on………

Hello everyone
I’m looking at my scales right now in my bedroom here. I’m sure that the fact of them being there in front of me has stopped me from eating too many of the wrong things whilst being unexpectedly away. I’m just back from swimming and ready to face another day of oh just have one or go on it won’t hurt you! I think of the scales weighting(get it) for me and it stops the hand going to the mouth!
If I can stay the same I will be very pleased, who knows I might even have a loss. I’ll be flying back home 22 nd June, so I will be back on the right way proper, but I’m being mindful and you know what it, it’s not as hard as I thought it was going to be. It’s easy to say to the waiter no rice or chips – can I have extra salad with that, there’s plenty of chicken or fish dishes available, so here’s hoping.
All the best to us all

Well done to you! You sound so enthusiastic and your words made me feel encouraged too. I’m just coming up to week 4 I’ve lost 15 lb so far. I’m unexpectedly away from home and in a foreign country but I packed my scales !
I’m swimming early every morning (just back) and being mindful of what I eat too, so even though I’m not following the book I’m eating a lot less than I would of been eating this time last year. I too have said goodbye to bread potatoes pasta and rice, and hello Greek unsweetened yogurt.
I’ll be weighing in on Monday hoping to have stayed the same, back home on Friday when I can get back to the book.
I wish you all the best and keep us posted on how things go!

Well done amazing you must be so pleased. It’s my 4 th week weigh in on Monday. I am away from home unexpectedly and won’t be back there until 22 nd June which is making food choices rather more difficult. I have brought my own scales with me so I shall weigh on Monday and if I have stayed the same I’ll be happy. There is a pool here so I am able to get some exercise, and yogurt with fruit is much better for me than a big ice cream sundae or a large magnum! Wine is better than gin and tonic, and I only have a couple of sips, but it stops the others from saying oh go on just have a small one. For me, that way madness lies. I would rather have no drink at all, to be frank, but can’t bear to have them going on about it.
Hope every one else is doing ok I will report on Monday !

Hello!
I am an unemployed 63 year old who was into cooking and drinking a little too much. As I was not working I took on the role of putting the food on the table for myself, my mrs, my daughter and her boyfriend. Everyone liked my cooking, always fresh – never processed, even though it was adding on a few pounds.
After being 7.1 in a previous blood test, a month ago I was told my long term blood test, the HbA1c, scored me at 155, well into type 2 Diabetes. A bit of a shock but I said I didn’t want to go on yet more medication (I already take Statins because of high cholesterol, Lisinopril for high blood pressure and Tamsulosin for BHP), I’d sort this out myself, if possible, by making some lifestyle changes.
I was in the middle of reading Michael’s ‘Fast exercise’ book which seemed a common sense approach to a gym-hater like me, backed up by proven research, so I looked at his 8-week blood sugar diet book.
Bread was my first love followed by pasta, rice and potatoes – but not now!
The 8-week recipe book is a knock-out – I just flicked a switch and said I don’t eat those things now – and the food I’m making is so good the whole family are loving it and dropping pounds into the bargain. Drinking lots more water and just not getting hungry.
I also do the intermittent fasting from 8pm till the following lunchtime and Michael’s High-intensity workout exercises and I’ve never felt better – I’ve lost 9kg in 11 days so far and intend to lose 20kg by the end of the 8 weeks. That’s like walking around carrying 10 bags of sugar! No wonder I feel good and my blood pressure is down to 125/75!
Thank you for producing your books Michael and motivating me into a healthier life.

Mixnmatch
That’s brilliant work I’m sure you will get into those shorts again
🙋

BonChance, welcome to this community! This is a place like no other, full of wisdom and knowledge,
tons of experience and unique in its generosity of spirit. We are just a sea of usernames to you at this
moment, but if you join one of the challenge threads, you will meet others at all stages of their journey
to wellness, who are already looking forward to welcoming you! You don’t know me yet, but I very
much know you 🙂 I admire your courage in taking your first steps, and believe that you
have more strength than you may realize. On June 1, 2016 I weighed 20stone5lbs. Ten months
later, I had lost 10stone, went into maintenance, and lost another 8 lbs. All things are possible
with this way of life (WOL). I have been able to maintain my losses for over a year, and this community
is an integral part of making such possible. Please have a look around, and join one of the threads
that speaks to you 🙂 I’m looking forward to getting to know you!

Hello there, Nixi. Welcome to you as well. Many members here acknowledge that alcohol is a
challenge for them, too! Dependency is a different matter, and is a medical problem that goes
beyond the scope of this forum. If you participate in the forums, you will find much helpful advice
on why alcohol is an impediment to weight loss. You might want to take a look at a post by
californiagirl 6/4/2018 on a thread entitled “Wino!” You are in good company here, and we would
all be happy to offer support to you, and share our experiences. Best to you,

Allie

Hello BonChance (and everyone who has responded here).
Your story moved me and I recognise something of your difficulties in myself: a tendency to low self-esteem; self-destructive thought patterns; self-criticism; sensitivity (a double-edged sword, that one, but a positive I’d say).
I’ve been physically healthy and active most of my life although now and then prone to depression (never bad enough to make me go to the doctor, but debilitating at times). Exercise helped a lot with that. For some reason, in my late forties/early fifties I stopped looking after myself and I’ve put on four stone. I feel ashamed, embarrassed and, like you BonChance, avoid going back to old haunts in case I see previous neighbours. I know this is life-limiting and I want to feel better about myself. I’m also frightened. I turn 60 this year and want to be around for my family and be active with my grandchildren.
I’ve never believed in diets, but I tried the low blood sugar way for a month last year and was amazed how well it worked. Then I went away for a long weekend and fell off the wagon. I’m quite a private person so don’t like taking part in forums like these. But I now know I need the support of others attempting the same challenge.
I first came across Canadaliz on the ‘alcoholic’ forum. She was a huge inspiration and I continued reading all the messages there on and off over the weeks and months. Alcohol is a difficult one for me, probably even more difficult than avoiding carbs although I love bread!
I want to make a new start. I mustn’t tell myself that we’re halfway through summer so I’ve missed the boat – that’s the kind of negative thinking I can do (I’m a bit of an all or nothing person, no compromise, so if I slip up I consider it a complete failure and what’s the point in trying? See what I mean?).
I’ve had no alcohol today and won’t now. I had a carb binge mid-afternoon then ate a small, healthy meal with hardly any carbs (resisted the new potatoes) early this evening. It’s a shaky start (and I hadn’t really intended starting today) but then I read your message and the others here and would like to join you all.
Thank you for writing.

Over eighteen months ‘maintenance’ now, and still mostly size 12 even though my weight has gone back up into over BMI 25 territory. I am going for a few weeks logging my food and weight again, just to try to get back into my favourite pair of size 10 surf shorts for my summer holiday 😂 otherwise I still feel much fitter and slimmer than a few years ago.

Wow mixnmatch
What a memory, yep I’m now a full time labourer, as the barns are still in progress. Hence why I need to feel better, a 60 yr old lugging 7 st something extra around is asking for trouble, I’m fairly fit but need to be much better.
Glad to see some names I know how are you doing.
😊

Welcome back Jan, how are the barns coming along? There are a few old hands around at the moment making a push for summer.

Hi zoomers
May I join you tomorrow after my weigh in, then I will follow your tues weigh in if I may.
I’m a old returnee needing a big poke to wake me up and face reality.
My life for the last 6 mths has been all over the place, but things have levelled out and barring illness or death should stay like that for quite a while. So I’m going for it now.

I had a large lunch yesterday and didn’t eat supper – so when I had a late lunch at 4pm, realised a 26 hour fast.
Plans slightly awry – the cottage I’renting generally has fresh eggs waiting, but sadly foxes got the chickens a few weeks ago, so lovely baby chicks but no eggs so not the omlet I’d intended to make on arrival.- but the owner had still baked .
Very proud of myself, instead of eating all the shortbread, I cooked some rhubarb and had that with yogurt I’d brought with me and just one piece of shortbread.

4 weeks done 13.5 lb down. Have probably not been strict on 9/28 days. Very pleased. 4 weeks to go!

I was very nearly 19 stone when I embarked on my current weight loss journey, and at my lightest point I had lost 8 1/2 stone so your target is absolutely do-able, although it isn’t easy to stay motivated for the length of time it takes. It took me two whole years to get from my heaviest ever weight to my ambitious target of 8 stone less, and back to a weight I hadn’t seen since my early twenties, and I jumped “off the wagon” several times during that period. The trick is to always jump back on again and there will always be many hands outstretched to pull you back up, as there were for me. I second the WHY call to arms, we all have a better reason than just weight loss to do this, and that is our health. Your specifics may differ to some of ours, but it is the main reason for me even though I wasn’t diabetic. Look for Lucia’s ‘baby steps’ threads for some good ideas on things to do to increase activity slowly (and with added humour). Even though I was still quite fit at my heaviest, I put some of her suggestions into my daily routine. Review some of the other threads as well, a particular favourite of mine are the positive thoughts thread, and the various mini goals threads, there are so many success stories on here I don’t know where to start recommending them, but just dip into anything that takes your fancy to bolster your motivation. Good luck on your own journey.

Dreamscometrue that is exactly what I was expecting to happen to me to…I though I’d have to creep of the forum a failure! My energy levels today have been so much better, I really am glad I stuck with this. I’m drinking so much water, and am managing to cope with hunger pangs. This weekend will be the big test as the family will be home and eating whatever they fancy but I’m feeling more confident and determined now to face it and succeed. I can’t believe how much weight you’ve managed to lose, well done.
Allie thank you so much for the book recommendation, I’ll look it up when I get a chance.
Thank you all for all the advice, support and encouragement, it’s invaluable and makes such a difference.
BlackSpot I eagerly await answers to your question…I’d love to know if anyone has any tips for easy food when out and about that fits in with this lifestyle.
X

Hey girls.
Just thought I’d say hello after getting back from Ireland. How is everyone?
I’m getting ready to do another cycle of BSD. Think I need the reboot most definitely! Can’t decide whether to give up breakfast or keep 3 meals and have smaller ones. I used to be able to fast easily but now find I get very hungry if I don’t have sustenance in the morning. Also wondering if I will be able to keep up my exercise….
First world dilemmas eh?

L x

Thanks Allie, I’ll have a look once I’ve finished in the garden. Even the dogs have filtered water – they turn their noses up at tap water 😉

Hello, All!
Maggie, the discussion about green tea reminded me that I have a bag of Matcha green tea powder
in my pantry! I just love that you are interested in trying new things and have really caught the health
and nutrition “bug” 🙂 Do you know about this “high octane” best quality green tea? I use an American
site that includes lots of information on it, as well as many other superfood powders. It’s an
education just reading the site, even if you don’t order product from it. For some strange reason
when I post a link, it just takes you to the site, but not the specific link, so you have to use the
“search box” to locate it. I use the matcha in a green smoothie that I add a lot of heart healthy
ingredients to, one of which is chlorella. I try to do a heavy metal detox twice a year, by having
these green smoothies 4-5 x week for 6 weeks. (for the liver). Chlorine in our water can be so
bad for you, not to mention what leeches out of our pots and pans! So much to learn! If you
want to follow up, the site is “nuts.com” Let me know what you think 🙂
Allie

Hi all,
Hope everyone is doing ok – I’m on day 12 today and I am 9lbs down. Clothes are starting to loosen and I can see the difference in my body shape. Annoying thing is that I was 13st 12 when I started (I’m only 5ft3) so its was a long way to get into the next stone bracket which is such a mental thing to combat… Still, weighed in at 13st 3 this morning so not that far off. Also means that the next stone bracket and the stone loss are quite close together!

So when I did this before, the lowest that I got to was 12st 11 and a nice size 14. I have about 2 and a half weeks until I go on holiday so I feel confident that I can reach that and maybe even a couple of more lbs. 5lbs to my stone, 7lbs to get me to 12st 10 which will take me to my lowest. I think I can do that with the time I have before hols. The advantage is as well I am going to Croatia to they have a very good med diet so should be able to be fairly sensible whilst I am out there…. she says…

Motivation for me – I am allowing myself a gin and tonic (within my daily calories not surplus to) when I get to 10lbs and then a double, (within my daily calories not surplus to) when I get to my stone….

I hope everyone is doing ok and things are on the sunny side – also… ITS FRIDAY!!! :o)

Sending much love,
Rebecca xxx

I’m not a great lover of plain green tea but I have discovered a green tea with jasmine that is really lovely. If you like Earl Grey then you should like the jasmine tea if plain green tea isn’t to your taste.

The tea is full of antioxidants so cannot do any harm -I also love water. I stopped drinking black tea with milk when I became intolerant to dairy and, even though I dont have a problem any more, I still prefer green tea to black. However, going back to the evidence, most people think we are bonkers doing this diet and I for one have had faith for 2 years without the evidence, so whatever you try cant hurt.

That’s true, if you have a biscuit then that is going to account for it. Still, I thought I’d give it a go instead of one of my delicious glasses of water. As a non tea drinker I might also find it quite exciting 😀 Or as unpalatable as any other tea!

The thing with green tea is that there is no evidence that it promotes weight loss. My logical head tells me that (a) green tea is taken without milk, (b) if you normally have several cups of tea with milk you could cut around 100 cals per day. So it is not the tea per say but what you dont put in it. And (c) it is also reported that people having a cup of tea seem to fancy something with it – hence the saying a drink is too wet without it – meaning a biscuit. Drinking green tea doesn’t have the same association with snacks as black tea with milk. Just a thought.

Hi all, still keeping on….

Hi everyone, Hi V, good to see you back on board – we will do this. I had a bit of a glitch and gained 1lb overnight even though I am back on track. Maybe the previous 2 days caught up with me or maybe, just maybe, it is the 15th of the month and my pre-men day when I bloat up. Anyway, whatever, it will be gone tomorrow but puts me back a little bit for my 14lb goal. Never one to moan, all will be well.

Hello everyone and thank you for all your lovely messages. I can’t quite believe what has happened but still fought the good fight to eat low carb in the hospital, they were all so against it. Now, they can see it works. Loving all your updates and happy to hear how you are all doing. Me, my life is the bed and what is in arms reach, thank goodness for this floating touchscreen with internet, movies and tv. Hey we are nearly there all of us! Good luck, keep up the good work! x

Dreamscometrue I use Himalayan salt, a pinch several times a day and that keeps me drinking.
Now I’ve gone alternative I’ve really gone for broke (do nothing by halves should be my motto) and watched a series of videos on YouTube by Barbara O’Neill. There’s one called “The importance of salt and water” which explains it all.
Maggie

After dieting we go back to eating ‘normal’ food.
That’s, for me, the problem. The food that is all around and readily available is the food that makes me fat!
I have nice pubs near me that do crest craft beer and hand made pizza. I like sushi with all its white rice. Buy a sandwich, homousc great, but on loads of toast?
The everyday temptation to eat what your mate next to you is having off the menu without making a fuss or having a meal with the carbs removed but no extra salad veggies and protein or oils to make it satisfying makes that choice difficult.
When I’m eating this way, the low carb way, pileing into salads, roasted veggies, grilled meat and fish and lashings of chili sauce my mouth is happy.
It’s falling off the wagon that’s hard to avoid in the ‘normal’ food environment that’s harder. But getting better.
I’ve found some motorway services stations have boiled eggs h spinach leaves as part of the grab food now, which is a start, but otherwise pack up lunches it is.
Anyone else found any easy & available food for when they are out and about?
(whilst doing the 800 calories it not a problem, eating is so infrequent, but after when maintaining or intermittent fasting is when I mean.)

Good morning, Mrs. T and Maggie 🙂 It’s a little early for me on this side of the pond, just past 5:30am,
but I’m enjoying these first posts of the day! I’m so happy that you are fighting your way through the
first week, Mrs T. While it is on my mind, I’d like to recommend a book that I was very fortunate to
find at the very beginning of my journey, and I relentlessly and shamelessly bring it up at the beginning
of each new 4 week challenge. Gary Taubes “Why We Get Fat..and What To Do About It” changed
my life. It’s a wonderful companion to MMosley’s books, but it alone clarified my understanding
of how refined carbs/sugar do damage to the body. I’ve never looked at food the same since,
and I think it was much easier to adjust to this way of eating as a lifestyle, rather than a finite period
of “dieting” per se. If I had it within my power to present a copy to every new member to the com-
munity as a gift, I’d happily do so! I definitely need COFFEE at this hour, but will be checking in with
you all later 🙂

Allie

Mrs Thompson I was the same as you when I started this diet – not expecting to succeed. Joined the forums but fully envisaged having to creep away quietly, tail between legs!

But it does work and I have lost over 2 stone so far, a bit more to go. I’m sure you will find success too. I think because there is such lovely food that you can eat – and the emphasis is on the positives rather than negatives – it is relatively easy to stick to if you really want to do it.

Also one other thought about the tiredness, make sure you are getting enough salt. I’m not an expert so please check it out, but it’s something to do with electrolytes. So you may need to add a little salt to your food – even though that is often seen as a big no no!! I know it helped me when my energy was flagging.

Have a great weekend everyone X

Hi Verano
I’m sort of counting, in that I’m logging everything, but because I eat mostly at work, most weights are guesstimates – and thus the calorie/carb breakdown a bit imprecise (not a convincing argument to go back to the packets of dehydrated mush with their carefully measured sugar though!) and it’s been easier than I’d anticipated – 4kg in just under two weeks.
Now I’m going away, so it’ll be a week of cooking & weighing the food, but not weighing myself.
I’m sure you’ll do really well, good to see you back.

Thanks Maggie, it’s great to start feeling more energy today and to not feel as annoyed with everyone as well! Miso soup is a good one to try, will add to my list.
I think you’re absolutely right about the psychological aspect with dieting. I know I’ve tried so many diets over the years and failed at them all and piled the weight on…as a result my self belief was at a complete low and I kept expecting to fail at a diet. I was a classic yoyo dieter, which I suspect many people are. This group has made a real difference to my self belief and for me that’s key. I think the psychological aspect of dieting is a huge factor in whether you can stick with it or not.