Well I saw the physiotherapist today, who diagnosed a case of spine seized up, and did some work on mobilizing vertebrae and gave me a series of exercises. Funnily enough my back was just very stiff and tight when I saw her, but not painful and no clicking at all. Typical that on the day I see the physio the main symptoms are nowhere to be seen! I won’t mind that of course, so long as the exercises do the trick.

I think once it’s settled properly I’ll have to investigate something like yoga, to work on flexibility and full range of movement. I was always very loose limbed and flexible, but I’m definitely losing that (allowing it to go) as I age.

Hermaj,

I would never now have thought about acupuncture for anything other than pain relief, but of course it’s benefits are more wide ranging. Thank you for the reminder!

Back on the main topic…I fasted today. After a slightly excessive (hmm, sugar, think caramel…) and slothful weekend, it was great not to eat 🙂

I did mention caramel. Not my normal fodder, but when presented with it… Although, I do alternate two Twinings green teas – salted caramel and gingerbread 🙂

Thanks for the link. I may have to submit sometime, just out of curiosity.

Hi Fast and Lichtle and others

Ready for Lent tomorrow and the sugar free challenge. Today I’ve eaten the last mango and the last of the poached apricots that I can have until Easter Sunday. 🌺🌺🌺
No fruit juice, no fruit except for a few berries, no sugars or sweeteners of any kind, very little alcohol. This means no bread, or any kind of processed food, as they all have a sugar in them.

I’ve been trying to be totally sugar free for the last week, but haven’t succeeded until yesterday. Last square of dark chocolate was eaten on Sunday. We’re having 30 C days all this week and it’s much easier to fast when it’s hot. 🌞🌞.😎😎

To boost my resolve while being sugar free, I’ve reread the Michael Mosley book The 8-week Blood Sugar Diet. I realise that independent of each other Purple, Happy, Thin and I (and Merry) had all adopted the list of banned foodstuffs while trying to lose weight on 5:2. My motto was no white foods at all. No potato, rice, breads, pasta, sugar, or any kind of sweet stuff. It also assists the speed of weight loss if you have very little alcohol.

If you want to lose weight in a hurry, Dr Mosley recommends 800 calories a day for 8 weeks. The research is there and the average weight loss is greater than 1.5 kg per week. (Over 3 lb per week). You focus on eating leafy green vegetables, capsicums, salad vegetables, fish, seafood, lean chicken, pork, beef, lamb, eggs, some raw nuts, full fat yogurt. Recipes in the book use olive oil, avocado, lemon, pepper, garlic and other flavours like chilli etc. Fats and protein make you feel full.

He acknowledges that the hard part is maintaining the new way of life. Tell me about it. 😏😏

Cheers, Bay

Bay, I salute you!! Anyone else thinking of joining in, please don’t be intimidated: Bay is spectacularly more conscientious than most of us. My version of sugar-free is ‘no added sugar’ – so fruit (intrinsic sugar, lots of fibre) is ok, but commercial peanut butter, for example, has to be carefully vetted by brand to ensure its sugar free – and salted caramel is off the menu, dammit!! In addition, Sundays don’t count (they are always feast days) – though last year Bay (who knows herself and how she works best) decided it was sensible to include them, as it was easier to keep going than to stop and start. You will know your own best way – so if you fancy joining in, even if just for part of the time, welcome on board, and feel free to set the rules you find work for you. ( And Lichtle, if you’re popping in to read this, PLEASE come back and join us!!

I am going to do my best, but it may not be able to be 100% as I’m facing some surgery some time in the next month or so. (Yes, I know – some people will do anything, etc etc…). Seeing consultant tomorrow so shall know more then, and will update. But I promise I’m ‘in’ as far as I possibly can be. And if I can’t manage 100%?sugar-free, it will have to be online clothes buying which goes….(actually that should go anyway – can I manage both at once…?)

Thanks, Apricot – and come and join us as soon as you feel ready.

Good for you Bay! You’re exercising lots of discipline and dedication. Cheering you on all the way! As you know, I lost the taste for booze following a previous large scale weight loss effort (one of several pre-5:2 where I ultimately gained it all back) and was reduced to enjoying a very occasional G&T. A couple of weeks ago, I treated myself to one, Australia Day I believe it was. I’m very particular about the quality of both the gin and, even more so, the tonic but it tasted like something better utilised in the car battery and I just couldn’t finish it. Disappointing on one level but certainly useful in keeping the weight down. I really don’t miss alcohol at all. But I believe you deserve that Sunday glass of wine Bay. A girl’s gotta have some fun. Is your OH doing this with you?

Fast, under the circumstances I think you can be excused this year!

So sorry to hear you’re going to have bowel surgery. I understand from several family members that the investigations can be more unpleasant than the surgery itself, I hope that’s not the case for you.

While you might not feel up to the sugar-free challenge, remember that sugar feeds inflammation and don’t go too mad?

On second thoughts, don’t think twice! We don’t want you wasting away to nothing!

Prayers for a speedy recovery Fast!

Booze or cake, Happy, if we don’t want it we don’t bloody want it, so there! That’s what all these silly people can’t understand. We’re not on some moral crusade.

At least with booze it’s unlikely that anyone would try the emotional blackmail as they do with cake. It’s like saying, Grandma will be so upset if you don’t have a few drinks, get loud and obnoxious and then puke on her Persian rug. 🙂

Hi Fast

Take care of yourself and don’t worry about any old sugar free challenge. You poor thing having to give up fruit and veg. All the best for a speedy recovery. 🌺🌺🌺

I don’t know why, but this year’s challenge is way easier than 2015. Today my first food is lunch of hard boiled egg, white beans, tomato, rocket and avocado with olive oil and pepper and sea salt. Delicious food.

Happy and Hermaj

I must be too ferocious but no one urges me to have cake once I’ve said no. 😉😉. They probably guess that I will push back if they push me.

Cheers, Bay 😎😎

Fast, I’m sorry to hear about your upcoming ordeal and hope all goes well for you. Don’t ever feel guilty about anything.

Hermaj, it’s funny how our tastes change isn’t it? I know, I’m not making a very good Aussie am I, what with not drinking much alcohol and not liking Vegemite. I can’t say I feel pressured into drinking but maybe that’s the circle of friends we currently have – we were possibly the ‘boozy’ ones in the group. It wasn’t until our daughter entered high school, that I started to realise that perhaps we hadn’t been the best role models as every social gathering with the parents of her friends seemed to revolve around alcohol. And plenty of it. I certainly drank more than my share when I was younger so perhaps it’s not a bad thing that I’m giving my addled brain a rest now. I’m relieved that our daughter isn’t at all interested in drinking or hanging out with people who do. There’s a fair amount of pressure in that age group. I still fancy the idea of a sundowner G&T when we go to Africa.

Happy, I agree completely. Why should we have to justify anything at our ages? And anyway, that one piece of cake probably WILL harm you. Sugar’s addictive! The thing I used to feel ‘guilty’ about was those awful ‘party plan’ invitations. It took me until about 40 to stop making excuses and just say, “no thanks, I don’t do party plan”.

Bay, pleased it’s going well for you. I’m sending even more respect your way now that I know you’re doing this alone and with all the sweet temptations in the house. Annoying skinny husbands.

Forgot to mention – Vegemite. If I hadn’t been used to Marmite, which I love, I might have thought its Aussie counterpart was fine. But comparing one with the other – no contest.

Ah Thin,

Yes, we do have the same in the UK. I find them embarrassing and awkward because these days I’m more careful with my money and try not to buy sh*t I don’t need!

Thanks, all, for thoughts and good wishes. Whoever it was who wrote that the investigations would be worse than the surgery – well, I’ll wait till after the surgery to confirm, but I suspect you’re spot on. But this isn’t to moan, but to say hooray for middle-aged women, especially nurses and radiographers who have taken me through a couple of procedures which nothing could make dignified, making them possible and almost normal-seeming by their warmth, care, giggling rudery and sheer humanity! More to come – but if it means meeting more women like this, it will be time, energy and dignity well lost for the experience. ‘What a piece of work is (wo)man’, indeed!

Bay, how’s it going? Thinking of you 😅

Everyone has been quiet. I hope it’s a good sign? Hi Carol and Fast. Hope all is well.
I’ve accepted I need to do 2 proper fasts and very low carb for a few weeks to drop back a full kg and to reduce the spare tyre, if possible. I’m sick of bony me with a flabby midriff!!!
I’m won’t be joining you on the sugar free, Bay, as I don’t do much sugar (my weakness is too much savoury) and am happy with basic 5:2. I respect you for your strength. Go girl! P 😊

It’s been so quiet I thought World War III had broken out while I wasn’t paying attention. Sorry, thin, I DID mention the war.

Fast, glad your hospital experience was made almost fun by the warm-hearted, funny women who were with you. I’m not one for hen parties or girlie gatherings, but such spontaneous and unexpected outbursts of “girl power” take a lot of beating.

Bay, it seems we all want a progress report on your sugar free time. I’m with Purple. The sweet stuff I can mostly resist but bring on a bucket of taramasalata – especially the smoked salmon version – and I’m anybody’s. 🙂

I’m afraid I had a dietary disaster this week. I’m lactose intolerant, not so much so that I have to avoid dairy products altogether, but I have to tread warily. Without realising it, in the space of 24 hours, I had several, quite small, servings of cheese – Stilton, to be precise – a tbsp of Greek yogurt, a spot of ice cream…. Guess who felt as sick as a parrot and had to cancel two nice one-to-one evenings out, each with a close female friend. Plus I’ve got a big translation job to be getting on with. Not a happy bunny. Now I’m right off dairy, although I can still use lactose free milk. Serves me right!

I hear ya Bay! I notice my will power around food still gets affected if I feel sad or depressed.
Im sorry to hear you are feeling sad. 😞 As Purple says, just a readjustment of goals and we all do that all the time. It’s why this WOL is doable and so great!

You have inspired sugarholic me to look at the MM BSD book. I got a book voucher for Xmas so may be able to put it to good use.

Sorry to hear your lactose woes hermaj, hope you feel better now. Question is – was it worth it?? 😊 the Stilton sounds magic to me!

Bay – that’s not failure, that’s sensible understanding that you can only put so much stress on mind and body, and being quite so ambitiously sugar-free while also coping with a sad time is too much to ask. It’s no different from my dropping out pre-surgery.
Please don’t be disappointed in yourself – you’re doing wonderfully, even to think about starting again. That takes real courage – I hope the same courage, plus a little help from your friends, will see you safely through the sad time and out the other side. And you have my real admiration for persevering after a hiccup.

Thanks for asking about op prep. Haiatus (sp?) at the moment as two investigatory tests were needed – one to check what’s actually happening, one to eliminate real nasties – and the hospital booked them in the wrong order, so I have to wait 3 weeks between them. The second one now due on March 7; op hopefully the following week👉🏾🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼. I’ve just realised that brings me so far through Lent that I could actually restart sugar-free with you. Would some company help? I shan’t be as strict as you (never was!) as I don’t want to go into surgery nderweight, but well nourished and with wiggle room would be good, as I’ll probably have a few low-exercise weeks afterwards. Reached the stage now where I just want to get it done and over!

Hi Carol, Most non fast days my breakfast is eggs of some form with spinach or rocket. Very occasionally I have smoked salmon with the eggs. On fast days breakfast is a cup of coffee.

Hi Thin, Purple, Fast, Happy, Carol and Hermaj
Thank you all for your support. I really appreciate it and feel nurtured by my cyber friends. 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Just finished my second fast day of the week. No food for 24 hours, then grilled salmon, green beans, and mixture of capsicum, bok choy and tomato. Yummy fast day. Off to sleep soon. It was a beautiful 26 C day with a gentle breeze. Perfect weather.

Take care all you wonderful women. Bay ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

Good thinking, Bay. Will be thinking of you x

Purple, you are so right about not being hungry after ADF. I started to cook myself an egg, decided I wasn’t hungry, and gave the egg to the dog. Happy dog. 😏😏 Bay

Hi Purple, do you remember me from a few months back having problems getting past a plateau which seemed to go on for ever, around 10 months I think….must be a record, but I did have spinal surgery and my gall bladder removed which may have caused the hold up, any way good news is, the back of the plateau is broken. I was stuck on 75K, down from 99.5K and this morning, 71.1K. Thank you to you and your team for the suggestions and support. My body seems to be back in a downward trend again, it tends to come in bouts rather than steadily on a weekly basis, but I’ll accept whatever I get. I’m happy to stay where I am, but if more falls off, with fasting twice a week, then it’s all unexpected bonuses ☺️ Just thought I’d touch base with you and thank you again..😉Xxxxxx

Hi All,

I’ve had a busy few days, with barely time to read let alone post.

Carol, thanks for asking, my back is much better than it was. Touch wood… I’ve not popped it out for 10 days or so, and I have got a lot more mobility in the spine. It’s generally achy, but I guess it will just take time. And exercise.

Thin, thanks for the laugh about your OH blatantly lying on the quiz. Mine would do the same. He really can’t see his development was arrested at age 13 🙂

Bay, sorry you’re having a tough time. You’re still getting good results though. I already do eat quite a lot of Med-style food, but i’m definitely going to take more recipe ideas from the book.

Hermaj, sorry to hear about your sick as a parrot day. Poor you. I must admit I’d be devastated if I couldn’t scoff cheese.

Fast, how very frustrating re: your hiatus. I can well imagine just wanting to get it all over and done with.

I had bread and cake and wine last night, with friends. Luckily today I was in the office, because the urge to eat more sugar was upon me. I had some dried fruit, but managed not to raid the freezer when I got home for the cake I know is lurking in there. Fasting tomorrow, which I hope will be easy as OH is away.