Morning/evening all,

Another cold but fine morning with blue sky and sunshine 🙂

Hi Nama, my knee is a bit of a worry but I know if I take good care of it all will be well so long as I give it time. There are a couple of other things going on that are dragging me down a bit which isn’t helping my mindset but my aim is rise above it all and lose some weight before Christmas.
Reading the blog has reminded me why fasting is worthwhile so the plan for today is to kickstart the final phase of my weight loss journey (she says hopefully)
I’m going to the cinema this afternoon so it is a good day to fast as I’ll be leaving at 11.30 and home around 5. I’m aiming for a food free day and if that doesn’t work out I’ve got the makings of a wild mushroom omelette and some salad in the fridge or a 350 calorie veggie chilli in the freezer so no excuses.

Happy Monday everybody 😜

Hi Happy,

My FD went well thanks. We went for coffee after the cinema and I avoided the cakes, pastries and baguettes on offer. I came home, ignored the tempting smell from the chippy round the corner as I walked past and had veg chilli so I’m really pleased that I’ve got through a FD and hope that I can eat sensibly tomorrow. It has been very cold today and there was no way I could get through without eating anything as I wouldn’t have been able to get warm.

We saw A United Kingdom which if you don’t know is based on the true story of a man from Bechuanaland (now Botswana) and the English woman he met when he was studying law in London in 1947. He was the future king and against the odds and much opposition they got married and went to Botswana. After many difficulties and political obstacles from the British government, the South African government and his own family, but with the support of the people they became king and queen and he eventually led the country to democracy and became the first elected president. Their son has been the 4th president since being elected in 2008.
It was a fabulous film, a piece of history that I knew nothing about and a heartwarming love story ❤
I’ve been to Botswana and it is a beautiful country but I knew very little regarding its history.

Thanks. After several days of not eating wisely it would have been very difficult had I not been in the cinema and as we were sitting there I was hoping that no-one could hear my growling stomach 😆
I could eat something else despite my nice dinner but I won’t and I know I’ll be fine tomorrow.

As for the cinema, my best friend often wants to see the same films as me and we go nearly every week through the winter months.
We have a list of what we want to see.
There is a film called Sully starring Tom Hanks which is based on another true story about the pilot who safely landed an airbus in the Hudson river in 2009 after hitting a flock of birds which took out both engines shortly after taking off from La Guardia airport.
There are several others and I’ve no idea how we’ll manage to find time for all of them but we’ll do our best 🙂

Post fast myself, Bay, but thought I’d get up early to have a swim and get the washing out before the predicted heat…but it’s grey and overcast outside. 🌫 Gosh we need rain for the garden.
Have a top Tuesday fast. P 😊😊😊

My daughter had minus 3 last week, Happy…and she rides a pushbike to work! Madness!!! Keep warm. P🔥

Tough lot “over there”, Amazon! But I guess it keeps you warm 😉😉P

Yep. My daughter is young and wild (and super fit ). 😊😊

We’ve had a nice refeed day. Cool enough to enjoy good food, but not so cold so that we would overeat. 2 lovely meals that felt like indulgence but were probably quite restrained. Love IF! P

Hi everyone,

Jo, I think we’ve had this conversation before, I am not interested in Nordic poles thanks 🙂

Well done for making a stand against the cheese salad. No reason why you can’t have a jacket potato with hot veg if both are on the menu.

I kept well under TDEE yesterday with a 19/5 eating window. I was aiming for 20/4 but forgot and only remembered when I was eating the two toasted brazil nuts left over from decorating one of my Christmas cakes 😆
I’m fasting again today. I hadn’t intended to but I’ve been out all morning not thinking about eating despite doing some food shopping. I’ve been stocking up on dry/canned/frozen goods and non-food items so that when I do my final pre Christmas shop it is only perishable items.

I bought a bottle of mouthwash today, something I don’t normally use but need as I’m having issues with my gums and I found one with the following information on the box “we don’t flavour our mouthwash as it is unnecessary but if you need it there is a sachet inside the box” I am so pleased as you’ll probably all know the flavouring sachet is mostly sugar, though I dread to think what it tastes like 😝

I decided to give the gym a miss this week to ensure that my knee is fully recovered so I’m taking the opportunity to catch up on a lot of things that need doing at home and another cupboard is now tidy. I’ve also checked out the Christmas lights and decorations and as a result will be strolling down to the local garden centre shortly to their Christmas Wonderland……. to buy a couple of replacement angels as the current ones are now unable to fly due to wing damage 😉

It’s a beautiful day but very cold after a heavy frost last night 🌞

Have a good one everybody 😜

Hi Jo,

I’m always well organised as when I worked and did on call duties I was often working at the weekend so had to plan well or nothing got done.
I’ve done a lot of on-line shopping this year which has made life very easy 🙂

I’ve bought everything I need to decorate the other two cakes so that’ll keep me busy next week.

I bought some lovely new tree decorations today. I only have gold or silver apart from one small Father Christmas, and there was so much too choose from I had to stop myself from buying too much. Having said that, my tree has grown a huge amount this year after not growing at all in the five years I’ve had it, so there is more room for baubles 🎄🎄🎄
One thing that is rather irritating is that all the lights on sale are LEDs so it is impossible to buy replacement bulbs for my older lights which I ike to put round the fireplace 😠

My FD has gone really well, I had a small jacket potato with ricotta accompanied by a huge green salad topped with avocado salad which is just chopped avo, tomato and onion with some lemon juice and chilli. It is delicious on it’s own, with a poached egg, with a green salad or on toast.
The only issue is getting perfectly ripe avocadoes in a country that doesn’t grow them. Thank goodness for the perfectly ripe range 🥗 🥑

Hi Fast Trackers & Welcome New Fasters And Hello World (You All know Who You ARE)
Amazon the evening meal of I had a small jacket potato with ricotta accompanied by a huge green salad topped with avocado salad which is just chopped avo, tomato and onion with some lemon juice and chilli. It is delicious on it’s own, with a poached egg, with a green salad or on toast.
How delicious gee good food is easy to eat and ticks all the boxes for me some ideas stolen for the weekend there a fast day for yfee and I a trip to Adelaide in the morning for work then a bbq luncheon and a stay over at number 4 sons unit and home Saturday morning hire car needs to be returned by 11am. For those fasting I wish you well.

“It’s is easier to avoid eating than to stop eating once started”
Peace RT

Potatoes aren’t a healthy choice. However you can have non healthy choices as an occasional treat. As long as your mindful and realise it is a non healthy choice. Its when you start believing it is healthy and start having it as a staple rather than a treat is when you get yourself into trouble.

Hi All,

Must agree re potatoes, a rare treat for me these days, even though I love ’em!

Jo I am surprised you mention giving up bowls – I thought that was one of your favourite activities! If the ‘compulsory’ meal (can’t believe that either!) is unsuitable, cant you make bowling days a fast day? If I can swim 40 laps of the pool without eating, surely you can bowl and fast?

Amazon those roasted brazil nuts sound very yummy! I am curious about your xmas tree now – obviously it is a ‘real’ tree if it is growing, how on earth do you get it upstairs to your flat ?

Just had a lovely lunch at 3pm – out and busy earlier but got home hungry enough to eat my arm off. Old standby of coleslaw (very fast to grab a handful) topped with a tin of sardines – really tasty NFD lunch. Slow roasted pork belly for dinner – trying a new recipe for xmas – so a tiny serve of pork with more salad will do for dinner later. Thinking of the pork made it easier to resist the yummy looking scones my friend was having with morning coffee!

I have had an unusually ‘social’ week this week, seeing friends 4 days in a row! I was a bit concerned about staying on track, but its amazing how those scales motivate me. And the smug feeling of resisting rubbish foods gives me a warm glow that no amount of cake can do! Just off to polish the halo….

I’m sure I will have full forgiveness at a FD that has evolved into wine and chocolate (but apart from a scone, just the usual FD evening meal 🙂 . After my last post I had a phone call from the hospital to say that my elderly aunt (92) had been rushed in by ambulance with a suspected stroke, and had died shortly after! She was surrounded by people trying to help her, was lucid and without pain to the end, and I have ordered my demise to be in the same league. My niece and I have spent the day since, passing time with my aunt, then beginning to arrange a sendoff for her (she was never married) with the help of a nice pinot gris.

There is such glorious clear evening light outside, to welcome the first day of summer.

Thanks, P. 🙂

Barata,

So sorry to hear about your aunt, I know you’ll miss her.

Amazon,

I see that Diabetes UK also advise that meals should be low in fat… Not sure how much trust I’d place in their dietary advice 😁

Barata so sorry to hear about your Aunt pal . Sending you hugs .
It has been so busy here so many people to inform about funeral arrangements . so many things to do . Our eldest and our lovely DIL ( his wife Kate) have been amazing . ANYTHING t6he can do to ease the burden they have done it .

5.2 hasn’t been a problem as I have hardly eaten since dad went into hospital . I always ate while sad or happy or busy or not but this has knocked me for six . I am down below my fighting weight now . .

The funeral is on Sat morning at 10;30 and we are all leaving from my sons house and immediate family all gathering there and cars leaving from there and after the service at a local restaurant famous in the area for its steak pie ( family tradition )I will be having that. So sorry to go on but that lovely old man has left such a big hole in my life and my heart .
jim and I are off out to have some time to ourselves and have a wee drive then a wee bit shopping . It’s sad the this is one of the few times that family and friends meet . neighbours have been amazing too .

sorry for going on . Take care everyone and be good

Wee xx

Please look after yourself, Wee.
As my old dad used to say. “Good people are scarce”. Hugs to you.
Bay 🌺🌺🌺🌺☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️🌺🌺🌺🌺

Hi Wee, good to hear from you, lots of love XXX

Happy, the low fat wagon is unfortunately still grinding along but that doesn’t mean that everything else said by those promoting it is untrue.

I guess I’m a little tired of being told that foods such as potatoes are unhealthy which is untrue. If I were eating nothing else then that would be a concern but I am not.
I won’t be mentioning it in future for fear of the potato police turning up again and attempting to chastise me……….

Hi Happy,

I wasn’t referring to you 🙂

I’ve never been one for chip butties but I do like chips/fries/whatever you want to call them, although last time I went out to eat and had them I was forced to leave half as I was so full. In a past life I would have eaten the lot and had dessert, so I might have learned a thing or two……
I used to enjoy a cheese and chutney sandwich with a few cheese and onion crisps squashed in for good measure, but I rarely eat crisps these days as there are so many other things I would rather have.

I’ve just dressed the Christmas tree and the living room is now lit up by twinkling lights and shiny baubles catching the light from them.
Dinner is in the oven, guinea fowl yum yum! and I have a glass of chilled SB by my side.
I haven’t eaten all day apart from a spoonful of polenta that I was tasting for seasoning and so also if anyone asks, no I’m not drinking on an empty stomach 😉

Hi Happy/All

Thought I’d pop by to say hello. You were right about my tastes changing, though I could sure go for a chip butty. Not missing the mass carbs I used to go for quite so much. Still a long way to go. 19lbs down since early September but still 25 or so to go. I now believe that I can do that and maintain forever with this WOL.

Ps Amazon, your meals sound lovely!

Hi Jo,

It is very cold and wintry here too but much preferable to rain IMO.

I used to eat pasta at least twice a week and now I eat it once every couple of months. The same goes for rice which I eat as risotto or paella but not as a stand alone carb.
I’m eating bread once or twice a week at the moment and it is enough. As I just said to Sarah, I’m working on making every meal really interesting so I don’t get bored and then start picking.
I’ve learnt the hard way that cutting everything out is unsustainable and I end up consuming more calorie in pieces of cheese, handfuls of nuts, spoonfuls of peanut butter etc than if I’d had a sarnie or a slice of toast.

My parents used to boil vegetables for 20 minutes. When I started doing the cooking I gradually cut the time down until they were cooked but still full of flavour and goodness. When my Dad complained I told him thats what his teeth were for 😆

Hi Barata,

I always thought I put the tree up just for me as most of my friends and family are from the Bah Scrooge Humbug mould. It always goes in the bay window. When I went to Australia for Christmas 2013 the neighbours were complaining that I hadn’t put my lovely tree up 😆

Sorry Amazon. Didn’t intend to upset you. 😶

I was concerned about 3 people all saying jacket potaotes were a healthy choice. I’m very aware of the newer casual readers of this thread.

My understanding of jacket potatoes (and I’ve eaten them in the UK), they are full sized potatoes, not small ‘egg sized’ spuds.

I am a great believer in all things in moderation, but choosing highly calorific, high gi foods, over the huge range of more suitable foods, when all we should be eating is about 1350 calories on normal days, and a quarter of that on fast days, massively limits what else you can eat. Potatoes do not satiate so actually make you hungrier.

As a fellow over 66 pound looser, and maintained since 2013, I understand the need to eat foods we love, but it is also great to find wonderful new foods to thoroughly enjoy too.

I used to love chips (your crisps) but would never dream of eating them now and don’t miss them at all. I had to go cold turkey with them.

Good luck with trying to change the bowls club, Jo. Probably not worth the stress ☺☺P