The Cottage Smallholder

The cravings do go Aly, I can vouch for that.  Oatcakes are very easy to make, although I must confess I frequently buy rather than make them, sheer laziness and they're cheap to buy anyway!  I'm sorry you can't tolerate porridge with yogurt - I love it myself.  I agree with Rob, quinoa is good.....you can flavour it with lots of things and I have it either hot in place of rice, pasta or potatoes, or cold with canned tuna/salmon or chicken or sliced hardboiled eggs and salad or cold roasted veggies.  And of course eggs, being protein, are quite filling....I've just had mushroom and cheese omelette with salad and found it very filling.  Of course, you can't actually have mushrooms or cheese in Phase 1......

Danuta, it's a big undertaking so start when you feel ready.  I have to say that I didn't find Phase 1 too bad, to be honest.  Yes, you are likely to get a banging headache for a couple of days, and will probably feel a bit run down and tired....but these feelings do go surprisingly quickly.  And it is only 5 days!  It goes by remarkably fast - the end is very clearly in sight and you can boost your spirits by knowing that you can have cheese, fruit, coffee - whatever you are really looking forward to - within a very short space of time.  But it is best to start Phase 1 at a time when you know you haven't a lot on, and it's also a good idea to start cutting down on things (like caffeine) gradually in the run up to it, as Aly and Nadine are doing, so you don't shock your system with too many withdrawals at once.

I am very happy to report that upon weighing in this morning, I have lost another 4 lbs, making 12 lbs in total.  I feel so much better on this diet, it has improved both my physical and mental wellbeing already, just in 3 short weeks.  Not only am I sleeping a lot better (most of the time, apart from the odd night like Saturday night), I wake up feeling refreshed rather than like I've not slept at all.  I have more energy and va va voom(!), I feel more mentally alert too.  And my joints haven't been aching nearly as much recently, which is fantastic.  My gut problems are virtually non-existent now too.  A win all round, and a big incentive to carry on. 

Thank you all.  It will soon be you ladies with similar results to announce!  

Thank you Val, I am.