Week 7 - Low Carb Bootcamp - Where the End is Almost in Sight!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Hope that you had a good week and that the scales are kind to you today.

Come and confess all on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness and/or on the Weight Tracker

So we have four more weeks left. A focused effort could see another four or even eight pounds disappear. Which would be 8 or 16 packs of lard!

Just to keep you focused on that, here's a picture of just one measly pound of fat. Imagine losing four of these - or how much eight of them might be

Hello all. I apologise in advance if this turns into a long post but can someone please help me see what I'm doing wrong?
I have been trying to low carb on and off for the last year, fluctuating between 13st 7lbs and 12st 7lbs. I am 5' 4 so I have a couple of stone to lose.
I have been doing bootcamp since this one started and have mostly stuck to the rules. I have had alcohol during the last 2 weekends but have foregone wine and had a couple of vodka/sodas.
The problem is the scales aren't moving. I lost 6 lb in the first week which was fantastic
I am still at the same weight since the end of week one. I have been reading all the advice about whooshes and stalls and trying to persevere.
I took measurements before starting and my stomach is much less bloated but not much change other than that.
I decided 6 days ago to cut out milk, cream, yoghurt, cheese to see if this was the problem but still nothing

My meals are usually
B: 2 hard boiled eggs mixed with 1 spoon of home made mayonnaise or
tuna mayonnaise
L: home made chicken or lamb curry with courgette and cauliflower
D: Pork/chicken/lamb with fat or skin, either with vegetables such as cauli
and broccoli or salad with mayonnaise

I have 1 or 2 BPC decaf coffees per day and sometimes a snack of posh pork scratchings. Oh and i drink at least 3.5lts of water per day.
Am i missing something or are there some people who this just doesn't work for? I don't crave anything since eating this way which is good but considering all the carby/sweet things I have cut out, i'm disappointed amazed that the scales haven't moved more.
I would appreciate any advice. Sorry again for the lengthy post

Wombat that sounds tough. Just how much alcohol are we talking? I'm definitely sensitive enough that if I cheat in that way at the weekend, there goes my entire week's weight loss. It looks like you're doing so well, it's hard to find something else you are doing wrong!
Sounds like you are doing so great, I hope we can help get things moving for you.
What kind of exercise are you doing? For some people lifting weights can speed things up (nothing heavy necessarily)

Thank you lowcarb I walk 2 miles every day, at quite a fast pace. I probably had 5 vodkas last Sat and 2 the Sat before. But I'm intending to keep eating this way after bootcamp and not just view it as a diet and it's not realistic that I will never drink alcohol again

I can't believe it! My local high st crappy Tesco is stocking Debbie and Andrew's Harrogate 97% sausages. Pack of 6 for £2.98. Gluten free, wheat free and dairy free. I shall report back later to say if they are taste free or not!!

That's really tough wombat. Can't think what else to suggest.
I think it's really sensible to do this in a way you can maintain for life. The 5 vodkas might have screwed things up a bit, they would for me, but it's hard to say. Hope someone else has some suggestions. And keep taking measurements. Have you had a carb reefed day? There is also something called the potato hack for people in your shoes; I'm not going to go there, but lots of info online about it.

I had the best day foodwise, this programme is SO EASY when you can eat lovely lovely cheese.

Bacon and eggs
Haloumi + salad again, and a small bowl of Greek yogurt
Roast pork with fried cauli

I have been much fuller for eating dairy too. Just keeping my fingers crossed I will lose this week and can keep eating it without guilt. If I don't, will definitely have a week of eating dairy every 3-4 weeks just to make life easier for myself.

It depends on how often the mishaps come along I think - if you never have a long enough period of concerted eating, you will never switch over to ketosis and so fat loss won't occur. Some people can take a few weeks, even a month, to properly switch, so if you are having a little something extra every week or two, it could be enough to derail it. Is this a possibility?

Firstly, wombat, you have already lost 6lbs, so that is fab.

You have 'mostly' stuck to the rules. This is probably a bit of a clue! And like Holger says, if you've not actually done the two strict weeks without alcohol this could also be getting in the way. Whilst you're drinking alcohol you're preventing your body from burning fat.

The other thing to think about is your portions - are you perhaps eating too much?

Wombat it might be worth tracking your meals on MFP or similar just to get an idea of how your calories for the day add up. Two BPCs and a packet of pork scratchings come in at around 700 calories before you add your other foods in too.

I definitely have to be careful with my calories.

lowcarbforthewin - def put your meals in MFP for a few days and you'll see how much of calories are coming from proteins vs. veg vs. fat

Thank you all for the advice. When I said "mostly" it was because of the alcohol. I haven't had other cheats and I didn't have alcohol on any of the previous weeks. I don't think my portions are large but I've nothing to lose by trying to reduce them I'll track on MFP for the next few days and see what happens but I'm going on hols for 2 weeks on Thurs.
I'm keeping on keeping on.

Wombat you probably don't need to adjust your meal portions, though. Just drop one BPC and keep pork scratchings for an occasional treat (or just eat half the packet) and it should be enough.

I think I have lost enough weight that I am getting a really sore coccyx on sitting. Going to have to get me a piles cushion at this rate. Hsve never experienced this before!! I always had too much padding.

I know you've all been waiting with baited breath but I can now tell you that my sausages were pretty nice! Not quite as nice as my usual cheapy sausages but a definite addition to my shopping list. A downside is that I didn't realise they use lean pork but next time I will fry them to add back some fat.

wombat22 just a thought but are your scales ok?

I think sometimes people aren't getting the true idea of BPC. I read about it some time ago. The blog was supposed to be by the chap who started it all. From what I read he intended it to be a breakfast substitute and used once a day. He was aiming at body builders who want to train pretty well fasted. He used 1tbs coconut oil, 1tbs butter and strong, caffeinated coffee. Its supposed to fill you up and energise you for exercising. Its just a big chunk of carb free fuel so you need to consider your intake or its going to derail you. Its also not suitable for later in the day either as its intended as an energy boost.

I haven't tried it as I don't like anything in my coffee but I've read on other sites about people who seem to be drinking buckets of it and wondering why they are actually gaining weight! For breakfast I have a tablespoon of coconut oil and wash it down with my hot coffee. It keeps me going for ages.

Very good point, miffy.

Lovely day today here, and I've got people coming for dinner. So I'm planning a barbecue, which is perfect for low carbers. (i.e. me!) Will be doing prawns marinated in olive oil, lemon and garlic, and halloumi with a coriander and lemon dressing to start with, and then probably chicken skewers (some kind of tandoori/curry marinade), home-made burgers and possibly butterflied lamb in Moroccan spices. Big green salad and some roasted veg as another salad.

Not sure what to offer for pudding, although there will be cheese.

Wow BIWI, what a feast. Could you out out a big bowl of berries and cream and offer meringues separately for those who want them?

Strawberries and cream BIWI, low carb and perfect for a barbecue.

Yes - good idea! Could also do some bitter dark chocolate sauce to go with them.

Jimmy the other sausages that I really love are the "good little" and "good big" - gluten free and a reasonable fat content. Barbecued some last night and had the leftovers for breakfast, yum.

Have a weekend that revolves around food and church commitments - but a hog roast plus take your own salad and drinks sounds fine and I am feeling strong enough for some baking and giving it all away!

BIWI sounds gorgeous, if you fancied baking "Low Carb Gourmet" has a very straightforward almond crust cheesecake and nut butter brownies, both of which I've served to guests who've had no idea. Happy to copy out the recipes, don't want to derail anyone (btw these are the only low carb baking efforts I've made in almost 6 months, they are a rare treat not a regular thing!)

Have a great weekend all!

Lovely BBQ BIWI, the thought is making me hungry!

I love lightly whipped cream with ground vanilla in to go with berries - even the sugar eaters like it.

Miffy having been doing MFP all week, I've realised that a BPC actually has more calories than my usual breakfast! I wish I could say it stimulates me but sadly the only thing it stimulates is my bowels (TMI).

Wombat I agree with low carb about the alcohol. I also find it makes me really really hungry >> tipsy and hungry >> diet fail!

SMS:

I've chickened out of putting my food on here because I've been well and truly BCL-ing, which... shhhh... may have triggered a whoosh. I will say no more in case I scare the whoosh fairy off!

Wow, Biwi that sounds yum!

SarahBeeny just think of the extra exercise bolting off to the loo!

Only got myself to cater for tonight as hubby off on a job. Thinking maybe some big prawns with lemon mayo. Will have the kitties wanting to share They can home in on the sound of a prawn packet from miles away!

Is Low Carb Gourmet worth getting? I love my food, always like new recipes, but find some of these recipes books so stuffed with treat food, as you say, it's better not to go there.

I have the low carb gourmet book and I'm not really impressed - she uses a lot of artificial sweeteners.

This month's Olive magazine has a low carb meal for 4 and is referencing a book called Cut the Carbs! By Tori Haschka.

Haven't had a chance to check it out, but looks interesting!

Thanks LittleMiss, I will check them out.

BIWI can I come to your barbecue? Pleeeeeeeeeease. It sounds lush.