Week 4 - Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp - first month done!

[BIWI]

Morning all! Sorry for later-than-usual start to the thread

Hope last week was good, and that you have managed to keep to it despite the fact that we are in the infamous weeks 3 and 4!

Come and confess all on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

or on the on the Weight Tracker

If you haven't seen the scales move, don't panic!

This is really, really common - keep on keeping on and from here on, hopefully things will start to move again. And you will know that every pound you lose from here on, will be fat. You are only likely to see losses of 1-2lbs every week, but don't forget how much a pound of fat is - imagine 2 packs of lard, and that's what you're losing for each pound!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Jumpers Sarah jumpers!!

Sorry for those feeling down at the mo, I really do empathise, I have enormous swings.

Going to France tomorrow night, and will do my best, tis only a long weekend, back last thing on Sunday, but really looking forward to it. DH travels such a lot, and after this is mostly away right up until Christmas and I LOATHE it, but we have this lovely long weekend as a whole family, bring it on.

[CharlieSierra]

I felt awful yesterday and had a vile taste in my mouth - so much so that my dinner tasted horrible when it should have been lovely - cottage pie with cheesy cauliflower mash topping, and buttered greens, the veg tasted so bitter I couldn't finish them. I had drunk all my water and haven't cheated once so I wasn't expecting to suddenly feel shit. Is this something anyone else has experienced?

[Pisseslikeahorse]

I'm cold (the only down side to loosing weight) and youngest is demanding to go out scootering this morning.

on the up side I now have scales that work and its all going in the right direction still

B. Bacon egggs mushrooms
L. Ham cheese omelette (hopefully)
D. curried Cauliflower & Porkchop roast

and lots of press ups, plank holds and probably cbeebies

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Tanukisan and Sciusadelic The thought process side is a really interesting one as it is where I will always struggle. The positive spin aspects sounds really good as we are all really guilty of being our biggest critics. And for me looking at the end result can seem overwhelming. A half way house between the two might be a method that I am being introduced to help me control my fibro symptoms. It's called reframing. So far I have only used it in terms of insomnia but if I give you that example it will give you an idea of what I mean:
Negative:
Insomniacs (particularly frequent wakers) are guilty of lying in bed getting frustrated at not going to sleep/staying asleep. Fidgeting and get cross and anxious that they are awake because they need sleep and have to get up in x many hours oh but now it is only y many hours... etc
Reframed it would be:
Ok I have been in bed and hour (or had my first batch of sleep) and couldn't get to sleep. There is still time for sleep, I might potter for an hour/until i feel sleepy again. I will get some sleep tonight, it might not be as much as I like but I will sleep...

I can't say that this necessarily would work with my insomnia (I actually need medical intervention) But I like the approach from negative thinking to a positive plan.

So I have used this approach to turn my thinking around from "There is no point in me even attempting to bootcamp whilst I am waiting for my scary medical stuff to be sorted", to "Even if the results aren't what I want them to be I owe myself to be in the best position I can health wise, especially if the results aren't what I want as it will allow me to start whatever journey in the best position."

Not entirely certain that makes a huge amount of sense so do question me if it is confusing and circulative.

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Charlie there are a lot of throaty virusy type things about. Is it possible you might have caught one?

[gointothewoods]

Happy today that the weight is going back down after AF arrived yesterday morning.
Menu today is:
B: greek yogurt with raspberries and 1.5 L water and a coffee
L: mixed leaves, shredded slow cooked ham, coleslaw, olives, cucumber, baby tomatoes
D: not sure yet, something with beef mince or turkey mince.
Any suggestions for turkey mince? Maybe an asian style stir fry to have with lettuce wraps. Will google.

Hope everyone feeling positive today and nobody else has succumbed to the lurgy.

[rybka13]

It is interesting how so many of bootcampers hit difficult times this week...My household goes through vomiting/diarrhoea bug at the mo so I have mountain of washing (DD been sick in her bed, DS's nappies unable to stop explosive poo, strange that he is bright as a button though), DH off sick two days and finally me defeated. Tried to stay positive and repeated to myself that 48 hours of vom/diarrh will contribute to my weight loss haha. I am 2 pounds heavier than on Monday!
In 48 hrs I managed to eat one pork belly slice (felt ill next 12 hrs), glass of full fat yoghurt with spoon of desiccated coconut, 2 squares of 70% chocolate and 5 slices salami. Water intake is a disaster as well, one pint yesterday, two black teas and pint of chicken stock. Today one black coffe, sip of water (made me sick) and now I am trying to drink green tea.
Any ideas what LC food can be eaten instead of traditional toast or banana?
I have seen coconut porridge posted recently so maybe that one?

[Jocastafantastica]

I've got down to 11 stone 1 which is 6lbs in total, really pleased, just need to squeeze over into 10 stone territory. Feel really motivated and pleased, going to use my new spiraliser for courgette noodles tonight

[ClashCityRocker]

Hello all!

Haven't been on for a couple of days as have been away overnight.

Haven't done too badly, a couple of slips but nothing too serious. Going to be extra-good for the rest of the week now though!

[CharlieSierra]

Don't think so Bitchy, I'm not feeling poorly today and I just ate leftover cottage pie for lunch and didn't get the bitter veg thing, it was lovely. I must have just been having an off day.

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

That must be a plus thing then Charlie, some of them are really horrid. I have had a throat and ear thing for weeks and it won't shift. Will keep my fingers crossed that it stays that way for you.

[BetterTogether]

Hi everyone sorry to see that so many of you are feeling rubbish at the moment - hope you all feel better soon

I'm having a good day so far today - my day off work but I'm not getting the usual boredom food cravings that used to plague my days at home!

B - fried eggs & bacon (forgot to buy mushrooms)
L - met my sister at Costa, but whilst she had a toastie, I just had an Americano coffee. Then had a big salad with mayonnaise & smoked salmon once back home.
D - will be pork shoulder steaks cooked in a creamy sauce with green veg

Need to focus on water more today - have had 3 coffees but no water so far today, whoops. That is the one thing that always slips when I'm not work.

[readyforno2]

It is strange that so many of us are having a hard time. I'm choked up with the cold but feel as though I'm getting slightly better now so fingers crossed.

Had a good day yesterday albeit maybe too dairy-ful

B - scrambled egg
L - chicken thigh and broccoli cheese
D - more chicken thighs with cabbage and shallot fried in butter with a splash of cream
Loads of water.

Today
No breakfast
L- chicken and veg soup shop bought 3.6g carbs
D - meatballs with cabbage insteAd of spaghetti
2x tea with cream
About 8 pints of water so far, aerobics tonight so will definitely drink more. Hopefully the lunch on Monday won't have affected me too much..

[BestIsWest]

I love the sound of the coconut porridge. Might give that a whirl tomorrow.

Boiled eggs with butter and salt and greek youghurt for brekky.
No time for lunch so I had a lump of Brie and some butter but have made a Coconutty chicken currycurry for dinner.

[MrsHerculePoirot]

sayra I am glad it isn't just me that has no idea what is frozen in my freezer - pot luck supper we call it!

rybka not sure what good low carb substitutes would be, tbh if I had been that ill I probably would stick to toast until recovered.

[SayraT]

best the coconut porridge is yummy, I'd make less than the recipe I posted earlier as its very filling.

I had yummy lamb tonight.

[HauntedChesterDrawers]

Not in the mood for eating tonight. DH has gone to the chippy. I'd planned to have pork and veggies, but I CBA cooking it let alone eating.

Anyone got any quick and easy ideas not involving eggs (cluck bloody cluck or lots of chopping? I've got various veggies, salad stuff, mince, ham, bacon, cheese, usual tinned stuff...can anyone inspire me?

[CharlieSierra]

rybka I make chicken soup or preferably Tom Yum when I'm feeling ill. Hope you're feeling better.

[MrsKoala]

Hi all, i am considering doing the bootcamp but i only had a baby 8 wks ago and i am bfing. Would the diet be too restrictive, does anyone know? i know i am recommended oats and dairy to establish supply, but now i've fed for 8 weeks wondered if that was enough? But my arse is vast so really want to start losing weight.

[SixImpossible]

Bitchy - YES!

That's exactly what I was trying to say about attitudes to falling off the wagon to any degree.

So, when that chocolate bar calls to you, instead of thinking "I have to deprive myself and not eat it" (and feeling angry), try thinking "I shall make life easier for myself/be good to myself/look after myself and not eat it" (and maybe feeling calm and positive).

[YoureMyWifeNowDave]

I made the most delicious sauce for my steak tonight

Pan fried rib eye steaks then in the same pan I fried sliced shallots and mushrooms with butter then added creme fraiche and a small garlic and herb Boursin cheese and the juices from the steaks after they had rested

Served the steak and sauce with brocolli, cauliflower and sprouts and DH had some carby sides

[prettybird]

I also find telling myself that if I really want the bar of chocolate/cake/biscuit delete as appropriate , then I can have it. Giving myself permission somehow takes away the sense of deprivation and therefore desire

It ties in with the concept on this way of eating of, if you are going to cheat, do so mindfully. Appreciate what you're eating and then move on.

[StuntNun]

MrsKoala it's fine to eat low carb while breastfeeding, I did it myself and there are a few others as well. Go straight on to Bootcamp Light as it's good to have some extra glucose in your diet as your body uses it to produce lactose. Also when you start out I recommend having some snacks on your bedside table for the first week or two as when the baby is feeding through the night there's a big demand on your body to produce milk. Once you've adapted to the way of eating then you won't need the snacks on your bedside table as you'll be happily using up your fat stores through the night instead. Personally I would take a breastfeeding supplement as well because if there are any nutritional deficits in your diet then your baby will get all the vitamins and minerals at your expense.

[MistyMistletoe]

Arrives very late puffing and panting May I join you all please? I need to get tinseltastic for the upcoming season (and off course develop lifelong healthy eating habits).

[aNoteToFollowSo]

Was sooo hungry yesterday - well, perhaps not hungry, more like voracious. I did do a heavier than usual gym session in the morning so perhaps that had something to do with it. But despite having good solid LC brekkie (eggs, yoghurt, almonds) and lunch (chicken and cabbage curry, and lots of it), by mid-afternoon I was putting away vast quantities of cream(eating it like yoghurt), boursin and then eventually reached for a slice of bread and butter. .

BUT - in light of the encouraging, helpful messages about positive thinking upthread, I am also going to remember what I did right yesterday. It was speech night at DS's school and there was a delicious spread laid on for parents. I sailed past the sarnies, biscuits and cake without very much difficulty. It really is a breakthrough for me to be staying off the sugar. I thought is was impossible prior to BC. So - I am realizing as I type - yesterday was also an important breakthrough for me in good ways.

But I am determined to stick to the BC rules till Monday now (though have Diwali celebrations tonight, at a friend who is an excellent cook. Sigh). Oh dear, well, will do my best and will STAY POSITIVE AND SELF COMPASSIONATE whatever happens. Thanks to Six, Sarah, Tanukisan and others for the helpful reminders about this up thread.

It's the emotional eating, and all the attendant self-loathing, that is the real battle here, isn't it? It does help to fight this together. And I have to say that this WOE has made sugar less of an issue than I ever dreamed possible for me. Anyway, glad to have you all.