Week 10 - Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp - the penultimate weigh-in!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Come and confess all on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

or on the Weight Tracker

Just one more week - hopefully we can shed at least one more of those pesky pounds!

Thanks very much Mo for your encouragement. I'm up a couple of pounds today but touch wood that is just because of my period and will disappear as if by magic at the end of the week!

This WOE just seems like the right fit for me, as long as I keep the red wine under control...

Plus I have to get into a swimsuit in three weeks time. Being another few pounds down won't make a difference to how I look but it might make me feel marginally better. That's the plan anyway. And if I don't wear my glasses then I won't be able to see the cellulite so much

Chester would it do any good to reflect on how much better ur eating tough spots are? (Don't like the blame implicit in calling them binges) you used to hit the crisis and chocolate in rough patches, now you've upgraded to something low carb. I call that really good progress, given that there is no world when none of us ever have emotional eating challenges. Give urself a pat on the back for being constructive under pressure and plan some delicious LC meals for this week.

Miffy stamping right along with you. Just think though, those of us who hang onto every ounce of fat will be the survivors if there's a famine...

And as for me, i delayed official weigh-in till this morning to get away from the artificial tummy bug low. And it had dropped again 4lb off, doubling my previous wld 1-8 total of 3.5lb. So either the week 9 protein & calories dump/fat boost really worked, or, more likely, this is still chunder-related and I can expect a 3lb rebound. Fingers xed...

Sigh. Crisis = crisps; wld = wks. Bloody phone.

Fingers crossed for you Mo, this could be your whoosh moment!

I like that way of thinking Mo and that is pretty much what I'd advise anyone else in my position. Why I am always so hard on myself, I just don't know but maybe it's time to cut myself some slack.

Today's been a bit odd foodwise after some helpful soul decided to bin my lunch from the fridge in work. So glad for ketosis-enduced reduced appetite or I'd be on my knees by now or face down in the contents of the vending machine. Sure am looking forward to tea!

We are own worst enemies and our harshest critics. You are not alone in this. Acknolwedge and trying to approach situations in the what would i tell my friend manner can help but that is soo much easier in theory than in practice. Sorry you were the victim of a helpful sod today. Chester

Nightmare Chester.. Nothing worse.
First day back at work today, good day food wise though.

B - coffee with cream
L - cauliflower, broccoli, bacon and Stilton soup ff lidl yog
D - roast chicken thigh with mushrooms and shallots in cream, iceberg and 1 tsb coleslaw

5 pints of water, gonna try for a few more tonight though

Thanks PrettyBird I've thought that sleep could be an issue. I have FMS though. I try to keep a decent sleep pattern but people with FMS don't reach restorative sleep hence the continuous exhaustion. I do exercise but can't actually get outdoors as often as I'd like because of my mobility and balance issues. Sounds crazy but I do actually feel trimmer this week so maybe theres some hope.

Mo keeping fingers crossed that it stays off!

Good morning all

I have been following these threads and you have inspired me to join the LCHF bootcamp in January. Congratulations to you all on your amazing losses, your resilience in the face of STS and your courage in dealing with everything else life has thrown at you along the way!

I would be really interested to hear your views (while its all still fresh in your minds) on aspects of the bootcamp, such as:

• what would you recommend that a newbie should do/not do to get maximum benefit from BC (following the rules is a given!)
• which 1 thing has made the biggest difference to you (water? cutting diary?)
• how did you break the plateau for those weeks when you STS
• how did you explain the woe to skeptical friends/family
• best (most BC compliant) alcoholic drinks

Any advice very gratefully received!!

1. Read read read and read some more around the theories and research on the topic.

Then plan, plan for the ideal food, plan for what you will do when faced with a challenge (eg do you keep a few bits of cheese/ham close to hand for days when you can't eat at meal times to stop you falling into carbs) Don't buy unnecessary carbs. if it isn't in the house it can't tempt you. Sometimes it helps to work down slowly into the start of bootcamp to reduce carb flu depends on the person. I have to be an all or nothing person on this.

1. Water, if I don't drink enough I don't lose weight and I feel rubbish, but do build up slowly to the right amount (not the standard 2ltrs/day but the xltrs for your weight so for me that is 3ltrs min/day)
2. I haven't had to deal with this yet.
3. I didn't/haven't. It is on a need to know basis
4. I quite like vodka but alcohol is something that can hinder so I avoid it so someone else is best to ask

Going out to dinner tonight, sick of being a killjoy. What would you choose:

Mains
HOME-MADE WEST COUNTRY BEEF BURGER: gherkin, mustard mayo, smoked cheddar, relish, fries £10.95

Add... bacon / chorizo / Cropwell Bishop stilton £1.50 - pulled pork £3.50 - ½ lobster tail £7.00

BEER-BATTERED LINE CAUGHT COD & TWICE-COOKED CHUNKY CHIPS: homemade pea purée, tartare sauce £11.95

GARLIC & BUTTERMILK BATTERED HALLOUMI: twice-cooked chunky chips, homemade pea purée, tartare sauce £11.50

SLOW-COOKED PORK BELLY & SEARED SCALLOPS: sticky ginger beer glaze, crackling, black pudding, mashed potato, green beans, Bramley apple & vanilla purée £17.95 / without scallops £13.95

SLOW-COOKED BRITISH BEEF & BLACK SHEEP ALE PIE: borage honey roasted carrots, kale & cabbage mashed potato £13.50

SPIT-ROASTED HALF CHICKEN: lemon & garlic confit, jus, fries, aioli £12.95

18 HOUR SLOW COOKED BRITISH CORNED SALT-BEEF HASH: fried free-range egg £9.95

ROASTED SEA TROUT: sautéed baby potatoes, samphire, tenderstem broccoli, crispy Cumbrian ham & tarragon velouté £18.95

PAN-FRIED GNOCCHI: spinach, butternut squash, roasted red onions, creamed goat's cheese, dukkah £9.95

CONFIT PIGS CHEEKS: black pudding & sage mashed potato, apple ketchup £12.50

WARM ROASTED SALMON SALAD: tenderstem broccoli, feta, portobello mushrooms, ginger & grapefruit dressing £12.95

STICKY, CRISPY DUCK SALAD: mooli, cucumber & carrot ribbons £8.50 / £12.50

KING PRAWN, CRAB & CHORIZO LINGUINE: tomato, garlic & chilli £8.95 / £12.95

LAMB RUMP: honey roasted parsnips, chorizo, peas & baby onions, dauphinoise potato, tenderstem broccoli £17.50

MAPLE ROASTED SWEET POTATO & BEETROOT SALAD: cranberry cous-cous, baby spinach, sweet red onion, orange, grapefruit & coriander seed dressing £9.50
Add... chicken £3.00 - salmon £4.00 - goat's cheese £2.00

28 DAY DRY-AGED CASTERBRIDGE RIB-EYE STEAK: twice-cooked chunky chips, crispy onions, rocket £20.95
Add… béarnaise, red wine or peppercorn sauce £1.50 - ½ lobster tail £7.00

PAN-FRIED SEA BASS: honey roasted squash & beetroot, spinach, horseradish & buttermilk sauce £17.95

WINTER ROASTED ROOTS & CROPWELL BISHOP STILTON TART: olive-pastry tart, sage & pumpkin seed crumble £11.50

There's this too

VENISON STEAK: sweet potato, malted poached pear, tenderstem broccoli, blackberry & elderflower jelly £17.95

I'm thinking the sea trout, no potatoes, easy on the velouté ( or even ask to replace with bernaise?)

dixiejo

1. Make sure you follow the rules!

As Bitchy says you need to read. And adapt this WOE to suit you. Keep a daily food diary, you can look back later and see if you might have / had an issue with a food and its good for keeping you on track (I keep my diary on post-it notes on our kitchen cupboard doors for all to see)

1. not drinking anything apart from black tea, coffee and making sure I drink my water requirements.
2. just kept on going.
3. friends and family should be supportive - expect them to do so and get them to read / join in.
4. booze is bad, we all like it but its not helpful as its full of sugar, so keep to the light coloured alcohol (and soda) or just except you have an occasion and give yourself the time off, and get back on board later.

Ive done my best not to drink but have gone out and had a night off, its previously taken me about a week to get back into full swing. But not drinking and this WOE has given me a nice bit of clarity in what was a rather boozy crap carby lifestyle.

hope that helps

CharlieSierra: I know that menu! I eat at the one in Weybridge quite a bit. Which one are you going to? I tend to go for the pork belly (althouh have never seen the sticky glaze before) or the chicken and replace the potato/fries with veg.

I'd go for the salmon, Charlie with the dressing on the side. Sounds like a lovely menu.

Dixie

1. Defintely read up as much as you can. If you can get it clear in your why you are doing this, apart from the obvious, it's so much easier to stick with it when faced with carbs. Try Escape the Diet Trap by john Briffa, I found that really useful
2. Water is defintely important, but I also think excercise has been a massive help to me. I've not lost lots on the scales, but I feel slimmer than when I've been at this weight in the past. I do a mix of kettlebells classes and running, mostly intervals for max fat burning.
3. Not found a way to break the plateaux yet, but I'm trying! Don't worry about that til you get there, then there will be loads of support and advice from the experts on the thread.
4. The only person who knows I am LCing is DH - frankly what I eat is nobody else's business. People know I am 'being good' but that's as far as it goes.
5. I've been drinking red wine, probably more than some, but nowhere near as much as in the past. Perhaps if I knocked that on the head, it might speed up my losses but I like it and am not really ready to do that yet. Maybe in the January BC...

Today's plan:

First thing: BPC
Late B: bacon x3, 2 scrambled eggs with butter mushrooms in butter
D: Cajun chicken, swede chips, roast broccoli

It's in Cheltenham - didn't realise it was a chain. Yes to belly pork usually, but the glaze put me off. Was also thinking maybe the salmon.

I've just come out on Facebook, yes I told them how much I've lost and posted a pic, now waiting for the weight watchers to go into denial (nearly as much fun as beeping at traffic wardens)

B. Coffee cream 3bacon 2eggs
L. Avocado salad
D. Pork chop sweet potato mash

Ooh exciting Pisses, I wonder what the responses will be like.

You feeling better now?

Pisses do you get away with sweet potato generally or is it a treat? I've snuck in the odd bit of butternut and been fine but haven't risked a sweet potato. Would be nice!

whoops, should have been Swede mash - sorry CharlieSierra

and I feeling allot better, thanks Chester more like the old me

Pisses you are naughty enjoy watching their heads explode as they try to figure it all out.

Dixie Just follow Biwi's rules and don't try to over complicate it, at least at first. Save worries about dairy etc for later. Most folk don't ever need to worry. The Diet Doctor pages are a good read and a lot of us have found the 'head stuff' in the Idiot Proof Diet book useful.

As the others have said, plan ahead. When you first start its important to eat if you feel hungry but you need to stick with stuff on the BC list so stock up! As you get into it and get properly fat-adapted you will tend to forget to eat. A weird concept for most of us on here but amazingly liberating. I always keep a bag of emergency macadamia nuts in my bag. If I go anywhere and theres nothing to eat (I'm gluten intolerant as well as LC) I can break out the emergency nuts! OK, they are more BC Light than BC but far better than resorting to other stuff. Baby Bel cheeses are useful too.

Most of all, stick with it. You feel a bit weird for the first couple of weeks but once your body accepts its new fuel the feeling of wellbeing and the energy boost is well worth it.

Thank you so much Pisses and Bitchy and Chester

Gutted no one can recommend a low-carb, high-fat Mojito recipe but hey-ho

I've been gradually introducing BC into my meals over the last couple of weeks; I've seen some good results already and am genuinely excited to start it properly. I just have this confidence pride comes before a fall that, with this woe, I might be able to tackle my weight once and for all.

Good luck to you all on your final weight-in

Thanks miffy.

Good advice to plan practical stuff rather than wasting time planning how I'll overcome the hiccups which haven't yet even happened!!