Maintaining weight & cheaters confessional

[EvaTheOptimist]

Thanks to BIWI's bootcamp I've lost loads of weight. I'm determined not to put it all back on. So I am now consciously trying to maintain my new weight.

I finished the last bootcamp on 150.8lb. My aim is to stay below 11 stone (154lb). Since bootcamp I have weighed between 149lb and 151.6lb. I think this roughly counts as maintaining!

My plan or experiment is to see whether basically eating bootcamp style, but with 3-4 off-piste moments per week (eg chocolate, toast, special treat meal etc) will do the trick of maintaining.

Post here to share your experience of maintaining the low carb way.

Also feel free to confess any cheating here, offload and wail in a safe space!!

Loving being the star of stage and dream!!!! Oh dear Sayra!!

I made LC chocolate cheesecake - almond flour crust, then sweetener/ philly/cream/dark chocolate baked filling - as ILs round today.

I am soooooo tempted to eat too much of it. I will never change.....

Crabby baby fishes! and resourceful independent ones too, feeding themselves on the algae. Hurrah.

Peony it seems wrong that one can overdo cauliflower. Such a useful veg!

Wow Minny the militant labour stuff sounds like a whole story waiting to be told properly, and fairly.

And your DH! What is he like?!, and also isn't it unlikely that this WOE is making you tired? Its the opposite, its when you have carbs that you get that "low-blood-sugar" feeling.

Ho Ho Sayra I love the fact that you've been dreaming about fellow low-carbers! Its really tough that you've got all these tricky food scenarios going on when you're trying to bootcamp. It really is so much easier when you're at home and in control of what's on the menu.

Its hard to know what to suggest. Though Sweden may have some surprising good points, aren't they into roll-mop herrings and open sandwiches (you could just eat the "topping") - there might be some interesting low-carb options. The other thing is, even on my baddest days I always have a low-carb breakfast, I have a kind of "is the sun over the yard-arm" approach to carbs, trying to leave the point where I get slack and naughty as late as possible in the day. Then there is less time for the carbs to beget carbs.

Trash I love your ability to genuinely and honestly speak your mind about fish pies. But you really are suffering, I have been thinking of you. Fingers crossed for useful results on Tuesday.

Golly LittleMiss that pud sounds wonderful. Do you take commissions?

I've been a bit cheaty but not much this weekend, I think by default I've actually been eating what many people would consider a "normal" diet. Some carbs have been consumed but in great moderation - eg half a slice of toast here, one potato there, a small amount of chocolate to pep me up here. We've been travelling and staying with family so its all been slightly out of my hands and also a bit knackering.

As usual comments from family are interesting... my slender MIL has no concept that anyone could find carbs addictive. She is all about the low-fat.

We are now on holiday but able to cater for ourselves from now on, so there's a chance to regain some control over what I eat. Though I note the sun is now well and truly over the yard-arm, can't rule out a little something with the nerdish euro election results-watching later

eva I promise if/when we ever eat out together, I wouldn't say a word if the food was substandard There are times when I am discreet, and think quietly to myself - 'I'm not going back there'... Yesterday was not one of those days.

So I did some shocking cheating yesterday. We made the mistake deliberately of doing the food shop in M&S before we ate lunch. Actually, I knew I'd feel rotten as soon as I ate, so would want to come home and collapse, so that meant we were in the devils dwelling food hall and choosing the shopping both half starved. I decided I needed easy access foods, I felt actually deranged with long term hunger. Then we sat at the kitcheny thing and I had my disaster fish pie - although I left the potato. We took home those tiny belgian choc pots - I ate two of those, then felt like my eyes had turned to raisins. Later on I scoffed several tiny macaroons, and for my tea I had a fish cakewhich I suspect had fluffly mash in it, and breadcrumbs on the outside, and there were peas in my veg! I feel like such a fraud as the bloody scales say I'm a pound down on last week

I am going to eat a steak and ale mini pie for lunch later, but I'm only eating the innards cos the pie crust will give me terrible gut rot, and that's me back on the wagon!

There's no 'if' ..... Definately 'when' on our bootcamp holiday ..... Bikinis all round !

In haste ..... Trip to elderly parents with DDx3 .... Being fed to death ......

Will check back in tomorrow !

And next time you go to Lyme trashy give us a shout - will be over !

Lyme?

Trash any food you can keep down, is surely a good idea at the moment. Though I love the description of your eyes turning to raisins. Carbs are awful tempting short-term but they can make you feel bad. So, if you are ready to eat again and get back on the wagon, then good luck.

Ooo a bootcamp meal out! I think we are scattered to the many corners of the UK though. I'm in Gloucestershire. Though not right now at the moment - right now I am on hols at the seaside!

Today I have been on the wagon myself. Including eating a tuna-mayo salad on the beach while my family had ice-creams! This felt like just falling back into a familiar pattern of last summer, which I dubbed my "ice-cream-free summer". Ensuring that I have my packed-salad with me when I leave the house is now second nature.

I have had strawberries and cream for tea so its not all deprivation round here.

Can we find a midway point for us all for our dinner? I'm in the Scottish Borders, so if any of you are heading this way then let me know.

I'm having a shitty sort of day, this TOTM is due so that might explain it. I also feel like time is going so quickly and I've got so much to do for my PhD, I'm not usually a stressy sort of person. I'm the one that everyone comes to with their problems which means I don't really have anyone to moan to . Don't get me wrong my friends would listen but I'm not good at expressing myself and always end up saying "it doesn't matter" when it does. I am going to moan here, better a writing it down than talking so feel free to ignore the rest of this post!

My funding will end at the end of September this year, I don't know what I am going to do once that happens, if I have no money I don't know where I will live. I don't want to go back to my parents and I can't ask OH to pay my rent. Supervisors keep saying it will be ok, but how do they know that? Other friends who have finished PhD's say it will be ok, they were fine. Yes they were fine because they lived with their OH's/DH's so they weren't going to end up with out anywhere to live even if they didn't have any money. Possibility of funding where I am but wouldn't be confirmed until October and job wouldn't be until January.

I need to get finished in the lab to get on with my write up so i can submit for end of September so that if I do get a job I can start and don't have to work and write up at the same time. Some people can do it but I don't think I could. I can only work in one specific lab (I work with a pathogen which needs to be contained) but only one person can be in the lab at a time, at the moment at least five of us need in regularly. The others are very good at letting me have priority but its not fair because they all have deadlines too. We are getting a bigger lab built but it won't be on time for any of us! I could do with being in the lab everyday but it is not possible. I have considered going on "night shift" to overcome this but not sure if I could/would be allowed to.

As above lots of work to do and last week I was only at work for three days because I had to attend a board meeting for work as they need a scientist there and no one else could go. This week I am heading to Sweden for a conference (which will be great and I am looking forward to it) which means another 4 days away. Today was wasted writing the presentations for the conference. Next week OH has to go for an operation (not his fault) but again that is a week/two that I can't go to work. Work is 100ish miles from OH so not really possible for me to look after him and go to work.

And I have a sore head

Moaning Over

I always have funny dreams that involve people I know/speak to. I often dream about people at work, at one point everyone used to ask at morning coffee what I had dreamt about the night before

crabby baby fishies I'd love if my corys would breed but I am not even sure what sexes I have.

My fry are doing well, I have lost a few but that is probably quite good as tank not big enough for them all and LFS said they can't take them I've got six, will take some pictures and update at some point.

trashy as eva said anything you want to eat just now is probably fine, just be careful that you don't let it carry on too much once you are well again.

I'm off to make dinner for the poor offerings I have left, didn't want to shop when I won't be here. So I've got pate, lettuce, courgette. I am going to fry the courgette and eat it and put butter and pate on the lettuce leaves

Stunt Lyme Regis is a lush little seaside town on the south coast. Sort of between Exmouth and Weymouth I think. I lived in Somerset as a child for a couple of years and have some of my only actual happy childhood memories from there. A few years ago I met a lovely lady through a mutual friend whose family have a summer house next to the cobb (harbour thingy) and we have a ladies retreat there once a year. We basically gorge ourselves on fry ups from the cafe on the prom, cream teas from the hotel overlooking the bay, cheese and bread from the artisan shops, and ice creams from rinky tinks. Oh and a dinner at Hix.

Peony are you near there? You jammy fucking bugger. I may want to win the lottery and buy my own place there, it's the tits

I'm definitely getting better. Still getting funny pains post eating, but went out for a walk to the beach today, stayed out of bed all day, and am actually going to work tomorrow. Got four dogs to exercise and one terrier to 'strip' then got to shop, pick up laundry and do housey chores. Eek, am scared. Oh bastard. Just remembered I left my Marksys rasberries and blueberries at dps. Fuck.

God, I sound like a right ponce - all lad di da Posh restaurants and M&S food. [ideas above station emoticon]

Hey sayra don't stress lovey. I know it's easy to say 'it will be ok' but the idea of the end of studying is petrifying. I can guarantee you will look back in the future, and laugh when you find yourself reassuring some other body of exactly the same issues getting you now!

Well judging by the amount of waffle, you can see I'm on the mend.

Big kisses to you all, and a special pat for eva for the thread

Night night my lc lovelies

Sounds like a lovely place and the food sounds lush!

Sayra I just wanted to say your funding situation is sh*t and sympathise. Here you are, one of our finest brains, doing brilliant stuff with pathogens, and the system can't give you a smidgen of security.

Your supervisors need to be a bit more specific than "it will be OK". It will only be OK in 1 of 2 scenarios:

1. You get the funding that starts in January but your supervisors manage to find you some stipend or bursary that tides you over between September and January. Otherwise, what do they think you will be living on?

1. Somehow, you manage to apply for a job that starts in October. Simultaneously with finishing your research and writing up?! Seems a lot to do. Also in this situation I think you need more support from your supervisors, either with workload or extending your funded time.

I'll bet your supervisors are brilliant brains but probably not the best at practical stuff or empathy. Either way they need to take some action and they won't be thinking of this on their own, you would need to push them. They can't just leave it at "it will be OK" without some real explanation of how this will be.

Sayra that's crap about your funding. Is there any chance of any lecturing September-January? Years centuries ago I went out with someone who funded the rest of his that way.

Eva get you all organised with your salad I try to find somewhere that does an all day breakfast whenever we go out.

Will reply to funding questions/suggestions later but thanks

Wish me luck today, got first presentation this morning I'm not usually nervous but I am today. This conference is specifically about my pathogen and I've never talked at a conference so full of experts before. The delegate list looks like my reference list!

I know I'll be fine but it's still quite scary

On plus food so far has been lc friendly, salmon, chicken, beef and salad last night. Fingers crossed for lc breakfast options. Hotel is next to a supermarket so I bought some nuts yesterday in case of emergency!

They've all been in your situation Sayra I'm sure they'll all be very friendly and interested in your presentation. Keep calm and remember academics only ask questions to make themselves look intelligent!

We had a barbecue last night and DH handed me a burger in a bun! He really should know better. It's all right for him to cheat left right and centre, clearly he can handle it but I still have wobbly bits to lose. I gave him the bun back so crisis averted.

Good Luck Sayra that does sound daunting!! Agree with Stunt re: questions notonlyatconferencesjustatbloodyhospitalGrandRounds and academics/clinicians/educated persons. Sweden is the country that has gone back on it's low fat advise to say you know what, we were wrong, low carb is better for health. So I'd really hope you're in the best place to be fed right!

Survived, was fine. Got good questions and more than most people got which is a good thing. Next talk tomorrow. On phone hence short reply and no name checking.

Go sayra you rock girl! Well done well done well done - save yer namechecking for a superpost when you're home and dry!

I've got campylobacter - I'm bloody delighted, cos it's real, and I'm not just a massive pussy, and best of all I'm getting medicine! As soon as I can hot foot it get dp to up the doctors for the prescription! Woo hoo, the relief is palpable.

Had those six dogs to take out today - what a fucking disaster - I swear they could smell the weakness in me. One of my regular walking dogs is staying for the week. Oh she only snuck off and pissed off home! Thank god I have honed my tracking skills - As soon as I spotted her missing, I guessed what she'd done. That said, I had three bloody kids and five dogs to wrangle into the car and it felt so wrong to be leaving the park a dog short, but sure enough, there she was, having bolted over two main roads. Gaaaaah. Not my proudest moment, and so not what I needed after my first proper walk in a month - I was dead on my feet. I could have cheerfully strangled her.

Plus, I am having to work very hard to be pleasant to the child I am looking after, for my lovely friend. I'm positive he'll grow up to be a lovely adult, but right now the sound of his precocious, grating, entitled little fucking voice is boiling my piss.

He's a very listened to only child, who has complete expectation that everything he says deserves my full and complete attention. I had to look away and bite my fist so as not to snigger when I heard one of my dcs explain how it is round ours, very sweetly. Mine get one on one and family time with me, every day, but they are totally aware that the day also has certain periods when you 'leave mummy the fuck alone or she may bite you'..... I think it developed as a survival strategy from being a single parent with twins and an elder dc. We are all completely comfortable having time in our own company. Blimey - I sound like a right old bag.

Thanks everyone.

Trashy glad you know what you've got. We (not me, the institute) work on campy sometimes. One guy got it once and was horrendously ill. At least now you can take whatever for it and get better.

Feeling much more relaxed after talk today so hopefully won't be nervous for tomorrows

Got really good feedback and one guy invited me to his lab so he can do something for me. In very quick terms in one of my studies looking at cows I've found different types of the same parasite in adults but the calves only have one type. We dont know why (i am the first/only person to show this) so this guy can help by sequencing the whole genome of each "type" to see if there are any genes/potential regions that make one type more pathogenic than the others (the one the calves have causes disease) so I am very excited (geek) about this.

Also nice to know that others think my work is useful. He also suggested that I let it be known that I'll be looking for a job come September so I think I will

Off to the pub now...not sure what I will drink, water seems a bit odd.

Oh lmd you are right, all food so far very lc friendly. Lunch was chicken (with skin), green beans and potatoes. I ate everything except potatoes.

Trashy you must've been a good few years below me in the school of parenting. Even when I was married to ex I was a single parent. I'm strict but open and easy going and have ended up with 2 independent young adults who are almost teetotalers side effect of my many drunken antics My mates who were more lax about things that were important to me but then super strict about the things I'd rather my kids could talk to me about can't have any booze in their houses and don't get me started on some of their kids now, in my book its all about trust and respect. Some of them still think I'm terrible for letting DD travel up and down the country to meet internet friends with the same interests I went with her to one convention when she was about 14 and they're a lovely group who'd never have met without t'internet and half way round the world for an audition for a pop group she didn't get raped or murdered and had a fantastic experience she'll never forget even if she didn't get picked god knows what they say behind my back but I'm past caring

When I lived in America it wasn't unusual for brats to interrupt a conversation and take over for 20+ minutes by which time you'd forgotten what you were talking about. Mine got the finger, not that one, the one that means wait, I'm talking My mates called me minny1,2 because if I ever got to 3 when I asked mine to do something they knew they'd be in trouble. Its bloody hard being a single parent but sometimes its easier because there's no one to undermine you.

Sayra that'd be great if something jobwise comes out of the conference, its often a case of being in the right place at the right time and who you know so fingers crossed. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

Better get back to my boring coursework

Apologies for muteness..... half term craziness. Start the new job on Monday and busy organising.... tights and stuff !

Yes Lyme not far from us - perhaps an hour if we drive over the blackdown hills to avoid mad traffic. We like to head there at the end of the day on a sunny day - when the crowds have left . Dh and I used to do open water swim training there in another lifetime !

sayra sounds amazing - well done you...[slightly in awe emoticon]. and fingers crossed for a job ( not sure what happened to your teabags - I sent first class last monday, so surely should be there by now ! )

trash ... 5 dogs and 3 kids into the car...... don't envy that ! and as for ,,,,, .... other peoples children ..... and also may try the mummy may bite you approach...... Good luck on the antib's - phew, must be a relief.

minny I totally agree with you that we need in instill some independence and experiences in our children. It must be terrifying for the poor mites who arrive at university almost as if its their first excursion away from parental protection.

Just been sorting out the completely useless payroll office at old job - who insist they need to deduct alost half my salary for a car that I don't have......... Grrrrrrrr With Mortgage payment in jeopardy...... went in with both barrels...... now sorted - but was a scarey morning and now realise its 2:30 and no food has passed my lips so far today. Must eat... must drink......

stunt - you're macros are working........ properly working -

your macros.....

So ...... Just heard ..... Puppies now well .... Puppies have had first jabs ......our Puppy is coming home to us on Monday night !!! Aaaggghhhhh so excited I am going to be sick !.

tries not to think about starting new job next week

Also DD1 finishes exams on Wednesday . Can a 17 year old be responsible for brand new puppy care ? She is massively sensible ......?

I am making Crabby's orgasmic duck for a late dinner. Can't wait to eat it.

Omfg the smell of garlic. I'm never going to score tonight after eating this.