Week 6 - Low Carb Bootcamp - Drawing a Line Under It

[BIWI]

Time for the new thread ...

Am on iPad and have no time to link to the Spreadsheet, but please talk here! Will do links later (unless some kind soul could do them for me)

Thank you, I did't binge, still getting strong urge to do so but I do realise that it is only going to make me feel terrible and ashamed and horrible. And I had two squares of dark chocolate before bed and not only did they not make me feel better but I just want more today. So I know even if I have a big binge I'd just want more a few hours later.

Strangely, I realised I haven't had a nice strong berry fruit tea in a while. I think that really helps with my urge to eat carbs, because of the flavour of it. Must stock up on more. I do know too I need to rest, because exhaustion makes me feel like binging.

I just want to get in the scales and see a loss. This would make things so much easier. But I know if I get on and it looks like I've stayed the same, I am in danger of going 'xfuck it' and binging so I just have to be strict and trust this is working.

Stunt I was thinking of having an apple or something, something that would be a 'treat' but not too damaging. Trouble is, I do recognise this in myself as an emotional issue right now rather than true carb cravings. So tomorrow I'd want an apple. And the day after. Indulging these cravings will only feed them, I think. Might see how I go today and do sad you suggest later today if I'm really struggling.

Low carb, I really love the clipper sleepy time tea which has bags of flavour but no carbs. There is also a peppermint and liquorice tea which we drank on BC last year but it is far too sweet for me.

All good here, though I am very sneezy this morning. Keep jabbing myself in the eye doing my makeup! Hope everyone is well. It's a lovely sunny day here. Hope it's nice where you are too

Hope things go well today lowcarb and you can manage your cravings

Scales much nicer this morning and I am 1lb down My scales also measure body fat % and water, I am sure that they are not very accurate but I tested them on a variety of friends and they seemed to get us roughly where I would have guessed. Anyway, since I started LCing (January) I've lost 2% body fat (I've lost 22lbs overall....only another 65lbs to go!).

Food Today

B: Coffee with cream
L: Courgette and mushroom omelette
D: LMDs Taco bake
S: FF yogurt, cucumber sticks and mini cheddar

I can't seem to get along with BPC but on the thread about coconut oil a few of you made it sound so nice, no matter how much I blend it (I am using a little milk frother whizzy thing) I always get a layer of oiliness on the top which I just can't drink. Is there anything different I could try? I am happy with my coffee with cream so maybe I should just stick to that.

Lowcarb - well done for spotting it, thats got to be half the battle. Could portion sizes also be something to look at, i.e. are you eating enough?
Ive been trying to work this out as well, I've got a total emotional link with food that results with needless snacking (sorry no great insight to give). and keep on not eating enough food and salt, so I'm getting headaches that wake me in the night.

I had a great response from my students last night saying how much I've changed (I only teach this lot once a month), but strangely it left me feeling slightly dejected, like It was a lie.

"Promise me you'll always remember your braver than you believe,
you are stronger that you seem, and smarter than you think.' - Winnie the Pooh

b. omelette l.tuna mayo salad d. not sure yet

SayraT I always have so much froth on my bpc that I can't see any oiliness. I use a stick blender though. Are you drinking it fast enough? If I leave mine too long and it becomes lukewarm then I find it tastes oilier and I can't drink it. Or you could drink it from a thermos mug with a lid so you can't see the actual drink.

Pisses I know generally I am eating enough. I think 2 days ago I didn't get quite enough and that started this desire to binge. There is a definite link. Yesterday I ate more so hopefully as today goes on the cravings will lessen. I have given myself a talking to and already feeling better. I battle feelings constantly that this isn't going to work, I can't get my weight any lower, any work I do is worthless. Like this is happening the whole time I am awake. I hate fighting it.

Maybe that is my problem jimmy, I am not very good with hot things so I can't drink my coffee hot

I'll maybe give it a go again and use the stick blender, I'll make a big cafetiere so that if I don't like it I have more coffee for a normal coffee with cream!

lowcarb I wish that there was something we could do. I felt this way last BC when trash and twit (I think) were doing BC 100% and put weight on, trash stuck it out and after 6/7 weeks I think finally weight started to come off.

Do you have far to go to your goal? How do you feel about the weight/size you are just now? Would it be worth keeping on with LCing but not trying to lose weight. No weighing or measuring and try and take some of the pressure off so you are not worrying about it?

What are the alternatives? If you are enjoying the food on this WOE and have had any of the good side effects of LCing then maybe focus on that. Most of the other WOE that I can think of are not as appealing to me as this, WW - nah, don't like counting, SW - pasta makes me feel shit now and I need to learn portion control, 5:2 - I don't like fasting! CC - don't like counting and last time I did this I put weight on eating only 1200-1500 calories per day.

I read on somewhere (I think on sire of creator of BPC) that we should be able to have Himalayan pink salt to top up our minerals (a teaspoon a day but need to confirm quantity).
Supermarkets have quite expensive himalayan pink salt. I saw some on Amazon but would prefer to get it from a reputable source.
ANy suggestions?

My observations so far are - the later I eat on pervious night the more I feel like snacking the next day.
Did anyone else notice that?

Lowcarb - I don't think there is anything I can add and totally agree with SauraT.
Theres got to be something happening if your following this woe, fingers crossed for a whoosh.

Sayra, it's really great just to come and share here and your support actually really helps. The stupid thing is I clearly am losing weight, it just tends to come off really slowly on the scales. My stupid head just looks at the scales and goes 'oh poor me, I'm not losing' even as my clothes are getting baggier. It's nuts. So I have banned weighing myself.

I have lost 5.5 stones. I'm currently 11 stones, at 5'4". Although I'm thrilled with the loss I've had; to look at my body my lower body is still pretty heavy and is making me feel rubbish. I would like to get to 9.5 stones. Being sedentary (I have M.E) means that that might be over ambitious. Ten stone would do. I was very very stressed in April and May and that might have stalled me a little. But generally this really is an issue of just ignoring the scales and focusing on how my body is changing. I just have a lot of anxieties thanks to years of low fat diets and not losing weight despite being very strict. It's a really classic thing for me to go 'I'm not losing, wah, I'm going to indulge in comfort food,' then of course I do stall. I really must not go there.

Re-reading 'It starts with food' (one of my favourite low carb books) so feeling much more motivated. Desire to binge dropping off dramatically. I have a pork belly in the freezer; going to get it out and look forward to eating that instead, with some courgette chips. Thanks for helping me through this.

Morning all, absolutely stunning day here, was up stupidly early for my run or it would have been too hot later! Still trying to up fats and lower protein intake, and a little cautious re my calcium levels as well as I generally don't eat much dairy.
B spoon of clotted cream with blueberries and few raspberries (and remaining astounded that I am 'allowed' such a treat with this woe)
L plain green salad
D no idea! Something veggie I think
Have a good day everyone

Lowcarb, your losses are AMAZING! Wow! I know the scales can be massively disheartening but, as someone said on a previous thread, no one is ever going to pick you up and try to guess your weight so it is how your clothes fit which count. I have weighed myself but what I really want is to get the size 10 jeans on again. The jeans I am wearing today were so big last year that I nearly threw them out! They are OK today but I need to get past them and get rid.

The Neris and India book is very good at dealing with cravings/ emotional eating etc. Worth a look if you haven't already?

Just had some egg mayo and marmite cheese. It was yum but I feel full now. I have slightly wobbly tum from my TOTM. I hope I am not going to spend all day rushing to the loo.

Have a good one everyone

Thank you! I am very chuffed. I look drastically different. Might check out the Neris and India book. And you are quite right, my scale weight doesn't really matter at the end of the day.

ello folks...

I am Back In The Game and wondered if I could jump in with you for the last few weeks?

I lost 2 stone LCing but a pig of a kitchen refit has made me fall off the wagon into a pit of carby-crap-a-la-ping.

But no more. I am going to bootcamp to the letter

I know from experience that even when I'm in ketosis it takes 2-3 weeks to see any loss at all. My metabolism is odd. I shall not be disheartened!

I was going to suggest doing some reading, as an alternative way of dealing with the cravings - nothing like some affirmation of this WOE for general, long-term health as well as weight loss.

Have a look at some of the YouTube links on the spreadsheet as well as they can be very motivating.

And the other thing - have you been plotting your weight on a graph? I got to the point where I was lucky to lose half a pound a week at one stage, and it was really tough. But when I plotted it, you could see that there was a definite down trend and that kept me focused. The trouble is that it's very difficult to get stuck in the here and now, rather than stand back and look at the overall performance.

Yesterday was a good day for me (properly back on Bootcamp Light after my hols!):

B - ff Greek yoghurt
L - Prêt Italian chicken salad
D - shallot and cheese omelette

I did have an Atkins Daybreak bar, as I ate dinner early (for me) as I have my Chinese class last night, and when I got back at 9 I was starving. Although we have lots of nuts, I didn't want to open a packet of those as I knew I'd eat the lot, so the Daybreak bar was at least controlled carbs.

Lovely, lovely day again here, which somehow does make it easier to stick to the plan. Especially as the prospect of tight-fitting summer stuff does not appeal

Antimatter I had a late dinner recently, after 9 p.m. for complicated reasons, and the next morning I was starving when I woke up. So there might be something in late night snacking causing hunger. The best way I've found to stave off evening hunger pangs is to have a snack mid-afternoon.

Lowcarbforthewin I have found recently that I have to keep carbs extremely low to keep hunger and carb cravings at bay. It always hits me a couple of days after as well, just when I least expect it. Chocolate can be quite carby even in small quantities so you might be better off with fat bombs than chocolate. Another thought I had about your situation is that after losing so much weight already your body might need a break from losing more. You might find you have an extended pause and then the weight starts to drop again.

Sayra my BPC only splits if I don't blend it for long enough.

Welcome ewan , hope the kitchen refit went ok!

Oh lowcarb my heart goes out to you! A massive well done for staying so focused amidst your misery, and for being able to share it on here, and gain strength from others. Sayra is right me and twit had shocking stalls, whilst bc ing to the letter. I also had some grieving to do with regard to losing my emotional crutch, so it was a massive double whammy - even though you have been on your incredible journey for some while now, there may be an element of that grieving for you. And like all grief, it can grow stronger with time, before you get to grips with it.

I'm so happy right now, I made my first BPC this morning, really must get one of those frother thingies, I just used a little fork to mix mine and it was lovely. First cup of coffee that I've actually enjoyed in 3 months, coconut oil is the business

Lowcarbforthewin - It's really tough to resist the cravings when the scales aren't moving, I felt unwell all last week and really craved something carby to make me feel better, my scales are stuck too and it was really hard to not just give in. Well done for resisting though, I agree with others, fruit tea, planning lovely low carb meals, reading up about the benefits of low carbing etc have all helped me to fight off the cravings and concentrating on the way I feel and my overall health when eating low carb verses how I feel when I'm eating carby crap really helps when the numbers aren't moving in the direction I want them to.

antimatter - No idea about Himalayan pink salt but I will have a nosey about it. I sometimes worry a bit about my mineral and vitamin intake, I don't take any supplements and prefer to try and get everything I need from my food but it's hard to tell if your managing the balance sometimes. I do know when I haven't had enough salt as I get headaches and foot/leg cramp though.

EwanHoozami Waves, come on in the more the merrier . I think there are quite a few people on here who have been doing bootcamp for either more or less time than the start date so don't worry about that.

Hope everyone has a good day, I'm going to try not to drown myself in coffee now that I can finally drink it again and concentrate on upping fats and water and cutting down portion sizes. I'm also cutting out the fruit tea I've been drinking each morning to see if that has been causing me to sts although realistically it's probably just a plateau and I will have to put up with it (and maybe stop the daily weighing) until my body is ready to start losing again.

I'm loving the BPC too - my tummy issues after drinking it have settled down and the energy it gives me in the mornings is fantastic. I'm a chemical engineer so much of my time is spent climbing ladders & stairs. Before I lost weight my knees would be killing me and I'd be so out of breath. Now (with the aid of my morning BPC) I fly up those stairs & ladders and my knees are so much better.

Oh and my work clothes are ridiculously big on me - I went to the stores to get smaller sizes and the storeman jokingly told me to regain the weight instead. The thought of that terrifies me!

Hope you all have a good day, todays food

B - Cold sausage (2g/100) & BPC
L - Roast chicken & salad in olive oil & apple cider vinegar dressing & mayo
D - Not sure....maybe tuna or eggs with salad or roasted veg

And I meant to say lowcarbforthewin well done on your amazing loss xx

Wowzers there are some cracking losses in here. Congratulations all!

Thank you all for the fantastic support. Makes such a difference! I feel miles better than this morning. This youtube videos are definitely something to go and check out too. (especially that diet doctor talk, drool)

Stunt I think cravings really can be set off by carbs being too high, so will try to keep them low this next few days. Had 2 eggs in butter and a handful of olives for my brekkie. Lamb chops for lunch. I kept some of the fat from the pan and have mixed that in with all the veggies so when I microwave them it will all melt.