Day 14, London, UK, FD

I’m definitely going for my first B2B2B for a long, long time!!! Everything is prepped & ready so as long as nobody wafts a hot buttered slice of toast my way, I’ll be grand!!!👍🏼🤞🏼🤣

@funshipfreddie, I’m not counting any chickens just yet as I’m out for a pub lunch this Sunday😲I’m 99% sure they don’t serve sparkling water, honestly!!!😜
I gave up smoking about 8 years ago with a drug called Zyban (perfect for those of us with ZERO willpower!) and you continue smoking throughout the withdrawal period …………………… I don’t suppose JV recommends sipping as you read?😂 That would either help you get through the boredom or send you to sleep!!! I think there’s a Nobel prize (and £££££$$$) awaiting the first person to invent the drug that slowly & painlessly weans you off of carbs!!!

I think I’ll expand my reading to include Annie Grace, I don’t actually WANT to give up the booze, but I ought to try doing it for more than a month at a time!! Perhaps 1month + 1 day? Baby steps, baby steps!!!🤣

Looking forward to my 2 pm breakfast of cucumber, tomatoes, gherkins & a babybel cheese, that should hold me until I get home for my dinner soup at 7pm. I’ve a toothache at the moment which is helping enormously with my fasting resolve, again …………………….. silver linings & all that jazz😂😁😂

Stay strong folks, you can have that bagel tomorrow!!

Pocket List – Day 14 🍋
@penz
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia
@flourbaby

Day 14 – 16:8 day

My resolve way low yesterday and I had to be forceful with it but goal accomplished food wise. Took a big exercise break yesterday tho. Back on that wagon today.

@northgeorgia -so glad you are on the mend, listen to your body today to keep mending. I’ve learned for my body, chicken broth is the best thing when my stomach is in turmoil. My DH is strictly toast when he has a stomach bug. My best guess is the microorganism biome in each of us needs different things, and can let us know what is best. Feeling better needs to take priority.

@Dafodil2010 what a wonderful gift – those unexpected’I feel great’ days! Enjoy! About rosacea- Dr’s have proscribed many different topical remedies, but none out-performed the advice an older lady friend of my Mother’s: wash your face with Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoo, she told me. My weeks or month long outbreaks usually get under control with that remedy in a much shorter time. I don’t know if that shampoo is available on your side of the pond, but if so, I recommend trying it. It is also so much less expensive than the prescribed remedies!

@funshipfreddie 😺 My furry alarm clock malfunctioned from 5:00am to 7:30 am this morning and my technological one had to awake me. LOL that doesn’t happen much!

Hello and enjoy! to all you traveling folk if you happen to check in!

We are getting much needed rain the past few days. With the fall days getting shorter as well, it is so dark in the house in the morning. I enjoy changing seasons except for the less daylight hours change.

Not much to say today, with the calm soft drizzle of rain in the background pleasantly keeping me and the cats company while I finish my coffee. I must overcome this lazy feeling and charge into action, but I’m going to let myself just relax into the feeling for a few more minutes.

Happy thoughts to all

Day 14 UK FD

Hoping to see some reward on the scales soon

Ahhh those lovely fish restaurants in Sciacca @emma-taylor
I’m not sure it’ll still be there but bar Roma is worth finding for the best lemon granita ever – but it’s a rather unique experience

Pocket List – Day 14 🍋
@penz
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia
@flourbaby
@brightonbelle

Day 14. Sciacca. Sicily

@brightonbelle – I’ve just looked up Bar Roma and it’s just along the way from us, so we are going to have a look tomorrow. DH loves granita – I’m more of a gelato girl myself – especially nocciola – hazel nut ice cream. I know this is a fasting website but at the moment I’m not fasting…..

Day 15 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – NFD

Beautiful crisp Autumn morning, really puts a spring in the step with rising sun shining of the red and golden yellow leaves on the tree. Love this time of year, don’t even mind it being darker in the morning and evening.

Busy weekend of housework and redecorating ahead. Getting the place ready for an influx of visitors next weekend.

@mariaelena, good tip for Head & Shoulders, we normally have a bottle of that knocking about the bathroom, I will try it out next time rosacea hits.

@funshipfreddie, I will try to get Allen Carrs book, he was my lifesaver for the cigarettes so he could help wean me off weekend boozing.

Have a great weekend.

Day 15 – 16:8

Probably ate too many carbs yesterday but I’m still gonna count it as a win because no refined carbs and plenty of fiber, fats and protein with them.

Thanks for the heads up on that food compass @funshipfreddie – Tried to look into the food compass beyond the obvious covered in media (veg and fruit score well, sugary snacks don’t) but even though many articles say this: “The researchTrusted Source was funded by the National Institutes of Health and supported by both Danone, a food company, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.“

But they don’t allow public access to the research article. I don’t understand how it works, it is funded publicly research and then the results are under lock and key in an expensive scientific journal.

My questions: (they emphasize LIGHT mayonnaise over regular, why? How do you apply “pizza” rating to all the different types of pizza? Why do they score beef so low? Carrot juice rates very high, so did they consider fiber at all in these ratings? Etc) can’t be answered in the superficial media coverage I see and this “new compass” becomes useless IMO. Essentially all it says is ‘eat more veg and fruit’ – the same messaging the public has been getting for years. It frustrates me. Basta!

I was extraordinarily fatigued and tired yesterday- but all other indicators were healthy, so I will do my best not to worry. My mid month weigh in down only 1.5 pounds since last day of September so that is in the right direction but a bummer for October goal. I’m trying to hold on to the fact I always seem only able to lose ~.5 a week no matter what I do and stay positive. The turtle slow weight loss is the main reason I do not weigh myself more often, that can depress and derail me.

Well, exercise beckons, need to get that in before my list of errands. The light drizzle rain continues here, so I think I’ll pass on walking and stick to indoors.

Wishing all well!

Day 15 New Hampshire, US MFD

Today we were supposed to go up to Bennington, Vermont, to a museum with a Grandma Moses exhibit. Unfortunately, DH has been fighting vertigo all night and had been sick with it this morning; poor guy!

So who knows what we’ll do, other than an evening drive to our hotel a little over an hour away so we can catch our 6am flight. Assuming, of course, DH can fly by then. He’s feeling better, so we’re all hopeful he’s on the mend now.

Sadly, that museum also had the Jane Stickle quilt on exhibit–until this past Monday. As a quilter, I’m so sad to have missed it by mere days. https://benningtonmuseum.org/portfolio-items/1863-jane-stickle-quilt-2/ I guess that means we have to come back another year!

I’m feeling quite chubby, so I’m terrified I’ve packed on a few pounds; they’re too hard to get off not to hate their return, after all. Overall, however, my food choices have been good, so I’m not bothering with guilt or shame; I’ll simply hit the reset button on Monday morning. Talk to you all then!

Day 15 – USA/GA – NFD

Fasted for about 42 hours and broke it with pizza this afternoon *horror!*

Anyway, weigh-in before the pizza: 219 lbs.

Happy weekend

Day 16 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

@mariaelena – it’s always an eye-opener when you see who funds these studies. No doubt there’ll be another one soon, telling us margarine is a ‘super food’.

@songbirdme – I’m sure you’re right, drinking will most likely always be socially acceptable. But I can’t help wondering if it would even be legalized if it had only been discovered in the last few decades, knowing what we know now. Especially when you consider statistics like this: “In 2016, 3 million deaths, or 5.3 percent of all global deaths (7.7 percent for men and 2.6 percent for women), were attributable to alcohol consumption.” In 2020 well under 2 million people died as a result of Covid 19. Makes you think…

Wishing everyone a good weekend ⛅️ 🌈

Day 16 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: mmmm, unsure. But as it kept going back and forth, we’ll choose the better number: 219 lbs.

Good luck to all today. I just found the Obesity Code Cookbook in eBook format from my library. I’m going to check out some of the ideas.

Day 17 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

@high5 – welcome back! Star-ship – that’s me! 😂 🛸 🚀 Your Cornish vacation sounds wonderful. I’ve only ever been there in August, so it was always hectic, even 40+ years ago. Even the drive down from Manchester – which seemed to take forever – was a big adventure.

Boo Boo has decided she WILL curl up my lap, despite the fact that my laptop is already there 🤨 Back on the list tomorrow – for On Target October, Part 2 🎯

Have a great S🌞nday

Day 17 UK NFD

Sorry to hear of your tumble @emma-taylor I do hope you weren’t running from my “unique” recommendation What a fantastic few stops you have lined up , some of my absolute faves ahhh💭

Making the most of the reasonable weather today as feel winters drawing in

Good to have you back with us @high5

Day 17 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: wonky again, but 219 lbs. Still, lowest Sunday weigh-in ever.

Just skimmed through the cookbook. Will go back later today to get a few ideas. Got two potlucks this week, so I’m going to do the cooking today.

Last night, I made one of our family traditional recipes: chicken stew — a dish my grandmother made from the days of Southern poverty. As I was cooking chicken in the crockpot to use in the potluck this week, I thought about what to use the broth in. I knew my mom was sick with that cold/sinus bug going around, so I used half of the broth for this recipe. The recipe is simple:

* One part fresh chicken broth, strained. (2 cups is good)
* a small portion of shredded dark meat from the chicken (if using 2 cups broth, maybe 1/3 cup or so of chicken — not a lot needed)
* One part milk (can do a can of evaporated and a cup of whole, I used 2 cups whole milk)
* One or two tbsp butter
* Salt and pepper

My broth is hot, but if yours is cold, skim most of the fat from the top. Add shredded chicken and milk. Begin heating. Add butter, salt and pepper. Heat through until warmed and serve. Adjust milk to broth ratio to taste.

Usually served with soda crackers (saltines), but can use egg noodles. We ate with soda crackers (also easier to limit your carbs this way). You can dress this up as you like. Some use flour as a thickener (again, crackers are better as you can control the carbs). I have sprinkled in garlic and other spices before. But this time I just made the broth with whole onion, carrot, and celery for flavoring.

day 18, FD? Aus

Struggling with Mondayitis. I know I sd do a FD today but struggling with mojo.

Will need to re-read @northgeorgia‘s posts re fabulous new long wait. Time for Wesley and co to make an appearance?

@mariaelena – love the word coolth. We use it a lot in our family but I don’t know why it doesn’t enjoy wider use.

Day 18 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD

Despite takeaway food this weekend I am lower this Monday than last so that’s good. Busy week ahead, so go to go….but first @mariaelena and @penz what does “coolth” mean? 🤔

Day 18 – USA/GA – FD

Weigh-in: 222 lbs. Yay for today’s FD, and once again, going for a liquid fast for today.

I should have behaved better this past weekend, but here we are:

FRIDAY (morning after FD)

Scales: 219 lbs. Well done!
Me: Too bad I didn’t get 218 again this week. Oh well, I’m happy with that.

SATURDAY (after NFD)

Scales: Oooh, almost 220, but I’ll give you 219.
Me: Very kind. I had pizza. I’m sorry.

SUNDAY (after NFD)
Scales: It’s iffy. 220? Nah, I’ll do 219 again.
Me: What? I snacked a lot. So sorry, but I thank you.

MONDAY (FD; after NFD)

Scales: 223.
Me: NOOOOOO!!
Scales: Fine. 222. Get off.
Me: But, but… come on — why not another 219?
Scales: Go away. I’m cold. It’s early. It’s dark outside.

—
I look down at my watch. Nearly ten o’clock and no sign of the wedding party or couple anywhere.

“Do you think we were scammed,” Wesley says seriously.

I give him a concerned looked.

“But we haven’t given them any money.”

“No, but what if they paid with a stolen credit card?”

“No,” Lola says. “They paid with cash at the boutique. I saw them.”

“Counterfeit bills?” Wesley suggests.

Lola looks down at the floor. We all slump back in the back row of chairs in the altar area.

“Well, we’ve already checked out of the hotel, so there’s no problem there.”

“Until they plaster our faces all over the evening news as scam artists,” Wesley says.

“No, this can’t be,” I say. I shake my head in disbelief. “What if something terrible has happened?”

“You mean they got abducted?” Lola asks. “Oh my goodness! Maybe a limo drove up at the hotel and it was a planned kidnapping! They may be in some far flung metropolis being forced to withdraw all their funds from ATMs all around town!”

“Oh my goodness, Lola! Maybe we need to call the police!”

Wesley looks at us. “What? And file a missing person report on total strangers for not attending an event on time that they themselves organized?”

“Well, we’re going to have to do something soon.”

The Rev. Smith comes up to us. “Look, I’m going out for breakfast for an hour. If the couple shows up, tell them I’ll be at Edward’s Pancake House and will be back as soon as I’m done.”

“But, we don’t have a clue where they are,” Lola says.

“I’ve seen this kind of thing before. I suspect they got cold feet and either called off the ceremony rather quickly or eloped out of nervousness.”

We look at each other. No, surely that didn’t happen. Did it?
—

Pocket List – Day 18 🍓
@penz
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia

Day 18 UK FD

Coolth- Never heard that before I’ll be looking for opportunities to sneak it into conversation

coolth
/kuːlθ/
noun
1.
pleasantly low temperature.
“the coolth of the evening”
2.
INFORMAL
the quality of being fashionable.
“the pinnacle of 1960s coolth”

Usual Monday reset
Pocket List – Day 18 🍓
@penz
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia
@at
@brightonbelle

Day 18 – Rural Nebraska, USA – WFD

After our lovely days away, I was up a few pounds yesterday morning to 147.2; after how well (and how much) we ate yesterday for our eldest’s birthday celebration, I’m too afraid to get on the scale this morning, LOL! The food was glorious, however, and I don’t regret a bite of it; now for the water fast to start taking me back to feeling lovely in my gut again.

@high5 Welcome back; you have my deepest respect that you tried and loved surfing! And keep in mind that my water fast “on vacation” only lasted at the very START, while flying and sleeping, before we met up with our friends! 😂🤣😂 And, thankfully, DH truly did recover completely and our day was only a slightly later (or not?) start than if he’d been entirely fine.

@flourbaby Toothaches are possibly the absolute worst! Have you gone to a dentist??

@emma-taylor How awful! So glad you didn’t fall into traffic! Are you sure nothing is broken?

@funshipfreddie}
@penz}
@mariaelena} I also thought it was a typo, then realized it was the opposite of “warmth.” Great word, and funny!

Pocket List – Day 18 🍓
@penz
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia
@at
@brightonbelle
@mariaelena
@stitchincarol

I actually started this post about four hours ago, but got distracted by a long research on how to do a proper Keto diet. I’ve borrowed several ebooks from my library (sadly, @northgeorgia, the Fung cookbook isn’t available to me via the library), bought one from Amazon, and have read half of it already!

Tell me what you all think: in the end, as long as I eat whole foods, little or nothing that requires a label on it, and mostly meats and veggies, and continue fasting–extended water-only fasts when possible–I should do terrifically, lose weight, and lower my cholesterol. As I go, I’ll figure out what fasts work best for me, and I’ll continue to lose weight at some rate. Right??

I have so much information racing through my brain, but I haven’t yet figured out what the “this is what I should do” answer is other than: FAST. What I do know, however, is that I love, love, love how I feel when I fast.

Day 19, NFD, Aus

Thanks @funshipfreddie – it is indeed a PFDS today!

Cool is to coolth like warm is to warmth.

Thank you @northgeorgia, both for your funny scale conversation and for the return of Wesley and Lola. The plot is thickening!

Ugh, @at – so sorry to hear about your friend(s).

Day 19 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – FD

Off to see a physio after work for this darn plantar fasciitis. It came back in waves over the weekend. I am throwing money at it now with all my orthotics, doctors, gels, physios…..hopefully something will start to work. I could have a couple of weeks of mild irritation or none at all, then bam, super searing burning pain.

Having the extra weight does not help. Can’t seem to do proper FD’s anymore , but I will stick to my 80/20 plant based diet as that does make me feel well.

Have a good Tuesday.

Day 19 Agrigento Sicily

@stitchincarol – thanks for your concern. I don’t think anything is broken. My middle finger on my left hand took my weight – no mean feat! so it is still swollen but coming down. I’m quite clumsy, and the slip on sandals didn’t help.

Re your fasting plan, I think it sounds a great idea and I’m going to copy you. I’ve never done a long water fast, but I’m going to try. And I’m going to copy @brightonbelle and try for a largely vegetarian diet. I also feel great when I fast, even if I’m not losing weight…
BTW Agrigento is beautiful. I’ve been to look at the temples before, which are astonishing, but we are staying in the most amazing, and reasonable, Airbnb in the old town, hugger mugger with other apartments but with a delightful roof terrace. There are steps here!!! Big time. We set out to find a supermarket yesterday, walked uphill for ages, then looked at a flight of steps which disappeared almost into the clouds, and gave up. We found a little alimentari instead. Lots of walking being done. About 7 or 8 miles a day, give or take. Ragusa on Friday.

Day 19 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: after a short debate, 218 lbs.

Good liquid fast again yesterday. Doing ZBC this morning. Packing a lunch, but considering extending the fast and doing OMAD today after work. We’ll see how I fare. If it’s too much, I have some options for lunchtime.

@stitchincarol I think the advice Fung et al provides is valid, but if you listen carefully, even these folks say “restricted” or “reduced.” So, I think of sugar and overprocessed carbs as similar to “poison” or “drugs,” as they say in their presentations (which I don’t think is really a fair comparison, but I’ll go with it for this one point): You don’t want to overdo it and allow it to build up in your system or for it to become habit forming. I don’t begrudge myself a slice of pizza, a doughnut, a piece of cake or candy, or especially rice, pasta, a piece of bread, and fruit. I just have to be very careful with how much and how often. I reduce and restrict. If I prohibit, I’ll hoard and overeat. If I tell myself (and prove to myself) that they won’t satisfy me past an hour or two, I’ll probably choose something else for the main meal. The other point that seems to be of even more importance that is often overlooked in Fung et al is that the low carb/high fat piece is the smaller piece of advice. The bigger piece of advice is #1 Fasting (well-done!), and #2 Limiting food intake to between two and three meals a day (stop snacking).

I have two potlucks this week. I made authentic tacos on Sunday for tomorrow’s event, and depending how many are eaten, I may have to make a tater tot cheesy breakfast casserole tonight for Friday morning’s potluck. Going to work can be so time consuming in the kitchen some days LOL! Anyway, it’s a great opportunity for me to get rid of some of the extra carbs not being eaten as often here at home.

Haven’t broken my fast yet, but my next FD is Thursday.

Day 19 – 16:8

I contemplated a water fast yesterday but ended up doing a salad and some almonds so successful 500 day. I will do another multi day fast in November and listen to my body for the remainder of October- if I feel like it I’ll turn a regular 500 day into a WF but if I don’t, I’ll just stick to 500 days.

Wrenched my back on Sunday, it was quite painful but is mending well. I think my hula hoop exercising must wait a few more days however.

I have little Keto advice, I keep my eye on carbs, but mostly I just eliminate the processed ones and try to keep my added sugar to 0. I allow myself fruits and starchy veg – if I did not, there is simply no way I’d even get near the recommended amount of fiber. You are so right, @stitchincarol, about the sneaky added sugars – does canned tomato soup really need 5 teaspoons (20 grams) of added SUGAR?!? I’ll save the sugar for something sweet, like my rare homemade ice cream.

Wishing everyone a great day!

Day 20, NFD, Aus

Still failing at DTF!!!