Out With The Bunting, On With The Banting!

Back from Norfolk, and busy with the job of taking down the decorations. Like my bunting [which I made in 2012 according to the handstitched label]
The garland on the staircase came down too, but there was a slight disaster

The little wooden motto which said 'Have Faith' broke.  It came with one saying 'Peace on Earth'  - from a Poundshop in 2010. 
I am obsessive about labelling the date of acquisition of decorations, no idea why.
But anyway, it snapped.
Have Faith has become Have Fat

It's a sign!! I know I need to lose weight - the GP and Physio both indicated that my knee pains are exacerbated by the excess pounds I have been carrying since moving somewhere beset by regular Church Lunches and Cream Teas.
Did you know that the victorians referred to dieting as "Banting" ? William Banting [1797-1878] was a very overweight undertaker in London, who went to his doctor because he was conscious that his size was making him ill.
His medic put him on a strict high protein/low carb regime.

Breakfast, 9am: 6oz of either beef, mutton, kidneys, broiled fish, bacon or cold meat of any kind except pork or veal; 9oz of tea or coffee without milk or sugar; a little biscuit or 1oz of dry toast.

Lunch, 2pm: 5-6 oz of any fish except salmon, herrings or eels, or any meat except pork or veal; any vegetable except potato, parsnip or beetroot, turnip or carrot; 1oz of dry toast; fruit out of a pudding, not sweetened; any kind of poultry or game; 2-3 glasses of good claret, sherry or Madeira. Champagne, port and beer are forbidden.

Tea, 6pm: 2-3oz of cooked fruit, a rusk or two, tea without milk or sugar.

Supper, 9pm: 3-4oz of meat or fish similar to lunch. For nightcap, if required, a tumbler of grog (gin, whisky or brandy, without sugar) or a glass or two of claret or sherry."

It was so successful [he shed 3 stone in a year] that Banting publicised this, with a "Letter On Corpulence" sent copies to the hospitals and did all he could to help those afflicted with obesity. 

The diet is very like the Atkins Diet - high protein/low carb, but unlike Dr A, Mr B did not seek to profit from his discovery.
The word 'banting' meaning 'dieting' remained in the OED until the 1960s.
I have decided not to go on a very strict diet regime. A couple of trips away this month will mean there are some days wen I will not be able to diet easily, as others will be preparing/providing my food. But I am trying to cut down on bread, cakes, pasta and puddings. That at least is a start...
I am certainly not planning on following the Banting diet- I couldn't face mutton and kidneys for breakfast, and I certainly couldn't manage all that alcohol.