Bright Line Eating UK

[Barkleyspaubles]

I’ve been on Wli for a year and plateaued on WG after succeeding on MJ. I had to swap after the Trump price hike. I’ve lost just over 2 stone in a year (so £1200 down too). I have been aware of BLE for several years and listened to the audio book twice and done the free Webinar master class. Can I hear your stories? I need accountability so happy to buddy up. I’m starting on Wednesday (beginning of Lent, I always observe this so this is a good time).

I had never heard of it until reading your post. Sounds really interesting. I just signed up to a master class later today. Is there a specific UK group?

That’s what I’m looking for too!

I’ve just read the kindle book and started yesterday. I don’t feel hungry. The breakfast seems huge…yogurt and fruit but about twice as much as I usually have? I can live without bread, but sugar may be harder. I will eventually miss pasta.

How was the master class?

I just ordered the book and a cookbook on Amazon, I am really in need of something to give me a bit of a kickstart and feel like trying something new. I already don’t eat gluten flour but my 2 biggest enemies are gf subs and sugar so this could be ideal for me.

we can support each other!

My books arrived yesterday and I already can’t put it down! It resonates so much with me. I have always had a really addictive personality, was a heavy smoker and so much of what she says rings really true for me.

has anyone done one of the workshops?

I am so pleased we are building a community. I have been 12days off chocolate (biggest issue(so no flour and sugar starts today (March 1st). Will have a look at the cook book.

I’ve emailed BLE and asked about UK support. I haven’t done a master class

@Barkleyspaubles I bought both of them on world of books, much cheaper than new.
I already don’t eat gluten but I do eat a lot of flour(s) and a lot of sugar. Interestingly, my sugar intake has increased a lot since giving up gluten. I don’t feel like it requires any willpower to not eat gluten because of the impact on my anxiety levels, (that wasn’t the reason I gave it up but the difference was so profound literally overnight)

the one thing that concerns me a little is the no exercise although I read a bit further and she does say if you already do exercise regularly then it’s ok to continue. I am training for a marathon in October so whilst it won’t do too much harm to pare back for a few weeks, I can’t just stop completely.

it seems really do-able and I am quite excited to start! I’m going to read the rest of the book first then plan my week.

I have, somewhat ironically, binged the entire book and been through the cookbook and turned over a few pages. In principle (if I was single and no kids!) I could do this diet, it is actually interesting how many of the habits I actually already do (although I don’t do very well) such as write what I plan to eat every day and weigh everything (although I am terrible at this which is why calorie counting does not work for me!)

my concerns are: the strictness of the portion sizes (eg not one gram over 6oz veg, 4oz protein etc) - this is fine for things like oats or nuts , but if an apple is under/over? I refuse to waste food, so it would be difficult for me to leave half an apple or banana to go to waste. Ditto meat- if I buy a pack for the family, a chicken breast for example may be under or over. And I am a bit confused as to how exactly you’d cook for a family (and interestingly she doesn’t mention this at all, whereas a lot of similar diet books do mention) - if you cooked eg a bolognese sauce, how to ensure the ratios are right and the portions are exact. I think that would be quite difficult.

however-some things I am going to use/ adapt-

1. the breakfast ideas in the cookbook are excellent and I am definitely going to use them
2. some of the lunches/salads in the book are also really nice and if they are one portion then they are easy enough to use, although I will have to see how it works with eg. Tins of tuna etc.
3. I have planned a weeks menu of quite basic meals of protein + veg that the family can add potato/rice/pasta to, but I will have to look at this after the first week. I won’t/cant cook 2 meals but I am happy to eat leftovers the next day so that could work.
4. I am definitely going to weigh my food as best as I can, just to see how close it is, and I am definitely going to map out my food every evening for the next day.

what’s everyone else thinking? How will it fit into your life and what will be difficult for you?

I am 5 days in and have lost a couple of pounds. It works, mainly in my case because of the strict no snacking rule. But, I am sick of veg…an 8oz salad and 6oz of veg is enormous. I can’t eat that for dinner and get a good nights sleep! So, I’ve cut back on the veg.

I’m not going to never chew sugar free gum again nor drink a Diet Coke either. I’ve had one glass of wine.

It feels doable, but I no longer have kids in the house, just DH. It’s really a form of low carb eating?

Good luck everyone.

P.s 8oz of Greek yogurt, a scoop of oats and 6oz of berries is absolutely huge for breakfast, and I have a very healthy appetite.

Sorry about the ounces vs grams, I just find it easier since that’s how the plan is written in American measurements.

Interesting @Nofksleft2give, yes the huge amount of veg does seem a lot. I’ve just gone back into my Tesco order to add all the things to make a big tray of roasted veg. Is it low carb? I guess with no sugar or bread and very limited potato it’s possibly by default lower carb, but I have done low carb before and this doesn’t seem quite the same.

my menu is done. Tomorrow I am having oats, milk and fruit for breakfast, and tuna mayo and salad for lunch. Dinner will be leftovers from tonight’s roast. So that’s day 1 sorted. ✔️

I’ve bought the book but not the cook book do I need to ? It looks quite interesting

The book I have (2017) has no recipes in it, the cookbook has a brief summary of the book/plan and then a selection of recipes and a menu plan. I’m sure the recipes must be online somewhere though.

Also I just checked and a Birds Eye steam bag veg (the broccoli/cauli/carrot one) has 5.8oz in, so I have ordered a bag of those so I can add a bag to my evening meals to get the veg in!!

I bought the kindle book after reading this thread and googling a bit. I’m about 2/3 of the way through it. I liked the idea of the no sugar, no flour as I wanted to reduce carbs and I think this gives an outline to work with, so I can have oats for breakfast and could have potato or rice if I chose to. I agree that there is something addictive about foods with these things in so cutting them out should make it easier to adhere to a reduced calorie eating plan.

I don’t think I could get on board with any of the other stuff though. I can see why participants in the programme lost so much weight, and so quickly, but for me it wouldn’t be sustainable without being able to eat potato or a snack occasionally if I chose to, and I think it’s really difficult to fit in with real life for someone who doesn’t eat meat. Nor could I be arsed with all the logging and morning routine.

I’m definitely going to give the no sugar, no flour a go though. How is everyone else doing ?

So, I’ve done a full week now and lost 2lbs. That includes a modest night out. I’m used to going to the gym so have kept that up.

I am keeping to the three meals with no snacking rule. That’s radical for me.

Onwards. If I continue at this pace I’ll be happy.

@Nofksleft2giveare you pleased with 2lbs? I would be, that’s a good amount for me.

I have adopted a few strategies and abandoned others. 3 meals, and a bit more balance to my plate so less meat, more fat, and lots of veg. However the super rigid weighing is not feasible with a family. I like the big breakfast and I feel like I’ve eaten well and I’ve not needed to snack. But I have had some sugar. 🤷‍♀️

Yes, I think it’s a good sustainable amount to lose weekly. I’m not starving myself.

I did it for years. It probably did more harm than good. There's some good tools but a lot of it is based on debunked science. Cutting out UPF is helping, getting into a regular pattern of meals is helpful. Pretending pasta is addictive is not helpful.

Can you explain what you mean by harm?

It created a real all or nothing mindset for me. It was a very hard plan to stick to 100% even 10 years ago before husband, family, demanding career. Instead of looking at how I could eat well in the circs, I was convinced (and I do think the BLE narrative encouraged this) that everything was ruined, I was back to Day 1, and actually I didn't really have a choice because that's what my brain was wired for anyway.

I found Gillian Riley's book far more pragmatic and sustainable for me, along with 16:8 fasting and avoiding junk food before it was called UPF, if anyone is looking. But I'm not shitting on anyone's efforts and recognise there is some really good shared in BLE and for some people who can get their head around it better than I could, it can be fantastic. Before the last few years when the conversation changed with regards to more addictive food, BLE was the only thing I was aware of that acknowledged some foods were genuinely more difficult to resist than others.

For all of you doing it now, I really wish you all the best and hope it's something you can stick to. I would just be sceptical about the messaging that if you're a 10 on the susceptibility scale, nothing else will work because it easy to go from that to "I can't do it so I'm doomed".

To explain simply like all diets, if calories in is less than calories out you lose weight. The plans always set you up to fail, slimfast. weightwatchers, WLI there's no commercial benefit to have a scheme where you lose weight and that's the end of it. Join the plan lose weight, achieve your target, stop the plan, gain weight, wash, rinse, spin and repeat.

Thanks for explaining. I wouldn’t say Im addicted to food but I have a big appetite and need something to put the brakes on. I doubt this will be a way of life long term but I need to shed 10 pounds to feel good in summer clothes. I agree some of the narrative in BLE sounds a bit dogmatic. We’ll see.

Update, that’s two weeks in and I’ve lost four pounds. The only thing I am not sticking to religiously is the amount of veg the plan advises. I just can’t get through it. DH is fitting in with me but it does mean our evening meals are not as interesting as usual. The best aspect for me is that I am not craving anything in particular, not even chocolate which is surprising.

I’m going to continue in the hope that I can drop another 4/5 Ibs at least. I’m not sure where eating out fits into this as that’s an occasional treat I am not willing to forego long term.

How is everyone getting on?