Week 3 - Low Carb Bootcamp - Where We Have a Decision to Make!

[BIWI]

Morning all.

Here's the link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

So we've finished Bootcamp! Well done all or at least to all those who are still with us

Now you have a decision to make. You can move on to Bootcamp Light, if you wish, which is more relaxed (to a degree). The rules are on the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet - sorry, I don't have time to copy/paste this morning as I have to get off to work about 10 minutes ago.

But essentially it means that you can introduce nuts and berries - in moderation. You no longer have to have three meals a day. If you're not hungry, then it's fine to skip a meal - as long as you don't then dive into a pile of carbs when you get hungry! And you can have alcohol - again, in moderation.

If you're happy with the stricter Bootcamp then by all means stay on that, but please, please, please make sure that your carbs are coming from vegetables and salad. It's important that you get nutrition from these.

Or you can, if you like, do Bootcamp at the week and Bootcamp Light at the weekend.

However

There is also something else you need to prepare for, and that is the dreaded weeks 3 and 4 slowdown!

It's something that lots of people experience. The weight loss suddenly stops, for no apparent reason. If this happens, don't worry and don't panic that you're doing anything wrong (assuming that you're not, of course ), just keep on keeping on, and it will get going again - albeit at a slower rate.

From here on, you should be expecting to see a loss of 1-2lbs a week.

Good luck everyone!

Morning all! Lovely reading all the success stories. For those struggling do keep the faith. The scales lie for all sorts of reasons so do get the tape measure or trousers of truth out; Sayra is so right - I bet most of us would take inches over lbs any day!

I stayed the same this week - my week 4 & TOTM. Determined to extend dry January for two more weeks; planning to share some prosecco with DH on valentines day but will probably go straight back on the wagon as I'm loving the clear headedness!

Did not feel so fabulous on the scales this morning - 1lb up! I'm not going to let it get to me though because:
a) its TOTM
b) I had a couple of minor slip ups this week, and not enough water these past couple of days, so need to get back on track
c) It's still 4lbs loss over 2 weeks which ain't too shabby - would be well pleased to lose another 2 this week

Good luck with week 3 everyone - onwards and downwards as someone so aptly put it!

mrssteve how bloody annoying - I bet the scales will catch up quickly but it is just a number and if you feel slimmer and clothes are fitting then definitely KOKO!

Btw, i picked up some liquorice tea in sainsbos. Wow, it is the most peculiar and nicest herbal tea i have ever had! It smelled the same as any other, so wasnt holding my breath, but the taste was nothing like i expected! And every sip it shocked me all over again

MrsSteveJones

i have lost 1 inch from my middle. I am wearing my size 16 velvet jeans that i couldnt button up. The arse on my size 18 jeans is saggy and even hubby said i had lost weight. My double chin is noticably less double and i can in certain lights see a hint of cheek bones. My wedding ring could fall off at any mo

What, pray tell, is disheartening about that.

Your fat cells are full of water (less mass than fat), they're waiting to see if it's safe to deflate yet or not. Show them it is and the water will woosh!

I've STS. My only 'failure' is not drinking enough water. So, that's my aim for this week.

Thumbwitch after reading the diabetes website I was confident that low carbing was the way forward, but many of them 'lower' carb, rather than 'low' carb. BOOTCAMP just seemed so 'drastic' and 'restrictive' (as a non egg eating vegetarian) and tbh it is really, but it works for my blood sugars and sometimes for my weight. So I just have to behave! :)

I'm afraid I don't have access to a laptop for the foreseeable, could someone please update mine? 123lbs. Thanks loads and super sorry.

I'm a pound down which I'm both happy and surprised about, considering how crappy I felt last week. Did lots of walking over the weekend, and have just come back from a walk so feeling good for it.

Hope you all have a good week x

Done for you Guy :)

Thank you very much, dixie!

BIWI, I know it won't drop off really quickly, but I found it quite hard going to lose two pounds by the Saturday of week one, only to see they had come back on the Monday! I would just like to avoid that happening again.

Anyway, I shall be sticking with bootcamp...no light for me. I know I can get too easily carried away with nuts and I'm not missing fruit really. Might as well carry on as usual.

Oh! Also, I was listening to a podcast about weight loss and I've now heard more than one person say that inflammation can be a big inhibitor to weight loss. They were saying that our bodies really don't respond well to certain oils, including vegetable oils and heated olive oil. I find the science difficult to understand, but the final message was to cook with fats that are solid at room temperature, such as dripping, butter and coconut oil. Olive oil should be consumed in dressings and things because it becomes toxic at its smoking point, which is quite low. Just something I thought might be interesting/useful if you're struggling.

1 pound down woohoo (or at least that was the lowest weight of the week and quite frankly I'm taking it!).

A long way to go still, but good to be on the path. I'd have loved more, but am forcing myself to be happy with what I lost rather than focus on what I would have like if I ruled the world etc...

Thanks for that reminder Amaxapax, I read about that when reading up on Paleo stuff. The extra light (not extra virgin) olive oil has a higher smoke point than extra virgin or regular, so I use that one for cooking if I don't want the taste of coconut oil or heaviness of lard etc. I save the extra virgin for dressings etc.

Well done to everyone, both those who lost but also everyone who hasn't lost / has had a small gain but is KOKO. It may not be showing on the scales but they are only one measure of success and the benefits.

Raggydoll there is no set carb limit for Bootcamp. The whole point of Bootcamp is that you don't have to weigh or measure anything.

Just follow the rules, and focus on eating veg that's 3g carbs per 100g as much as you can, and you'll be fine.

Yes amaxpax, I think olive oil actually turns into a trans fat when heated... I might be totally wrong, but in any case I fry in butter. I'll add olive oil afterwards to something hot if the need arises.

I seem to have gained six pounds since last week..... However, dp has assured me I look slimmer, and the thing I am pretty sure I should be on my period. I had a hysterectomy in 2010, but still have ovaries and therefore a cycle of sorts, but it's a bugger trying to pin down when - my evidence is thus.... Utterly foul mooded last week - I'm sure I cross posted with someone and we put it down to carb flu, but now I'm thinking pmt. This week has seen sugar cravings, a really sore invisible zit in my eyebrows, juggernaut tits and a murderous hatred of nearest and dearest, followed by the feeling of pointlessness in life.... All sounds a bit period related to me.

I have also been recovering from an ankle reconstruction, which has made me so sedentary and now I'm in that thing where you don't move enough so you just get even more tired and fed up. I've just had a good chat with dp, who's bc as well, and he's nicely kicked my arse. I'm going to RIGHT NOW get offline and do my excercises. Hopefully that will energise me and lift my sagging spirits.

beyond I LOVE liquorice tea.

I've just browsed the peanut butter aisle with a very furrowed brow for 10 mins.

It makes no sense, and has no ryhme or reason. The carb contents varies greatly, to the point that one brand with added sugar in it had a lower carb than a brand with no added sugar.

Plumped for the whole earth smooth. 9.2g.

I actually prefer crunchy, but I'm planning to make Reese cups with it, so figured smooth might be better. Got 85% chocolate for the coating.

I really hope I'm not disappointed.

Buying lunch for dd3 and caught sight if myself in the shop mirror. It didn't look like my frame.

STS but that's OK with me as I am going to eat LC forever so there's no rush, I don't have an event I need to slim down for so not working to a deadline.

Still feeling positive as I am enjoying cooking and eating, feel better and somehow lighter even though scales and tape measure do not record this yet.

DH and I had already decided to stay on BC as too early for us to go on to lite. The only thing I miss is fruit, not for the sweetness but palate cleansing, will make do with mint tea for now.

I think we need to keep an eye on fat as could add more, conscious we don't have as much as others seem to be, just need to try to work it in more and add more than I am used to doing.

Maybe do a few days without dairy (except my one cup of tea a day) to see if that makes a difference too.

Well done everyone on the losses and STSs - but mostly on the determination to stay on this WOE for good health. It is really helpful to read. I lost 2lb this week so 11lb over BC, feeling much better in myself and have lost all my Christmas tummy, phew! Still have heavy cold and need to drink more water (and maybe swap reg for decaf coffee?) this week. Have bought the Gary Taubes book and nearly finished Briffa and the IPD books. Have to say thanks to BIWI for the cheese sauce recipe - DS2 and I had this for lunch poured over a whole steamed head of broccoli! It was delish! Why anyone bothers with mixing butter and flour then adding milk then finally cheese when you can just boil cream then throw cheese in is beyond me! Have a good Monday everyone! Keep on keeping on! Etc...

Tiny lunch as having an early tea.

L - olives, rocket and half an avocado, with hm mayo

Today's food:

Breakfast: 4 rashers fried back bacon, 2 fried eggs
Snack: 3 tsp pate and 5 parmesan crisps and a slice of brie
Lunch: spinach leaves, cucumber and spring onion with caesar dressing (has 4g carbs per 100g, so not too much, but high in fat) and feta cheese and a very little sprinkling of grated parmesan.
Snack: 2 x pork and leek sausages left over from yesterday
Dinner: will be left over cold roast pork shoulder joint with leeks braised in butter and the rest of the cabbage fried in bacon fat.

Does this sound OK? I know it's a bit heavy on the cheese. I didn't have much feta cheese, about 8 small cubes.

Mostly last week I succeeded in confusing Chipping but I am going to stick to bootcamp with health required tweaks as suggested by more knowledgeable bootcampers which has really helped. I am aiming to get right down to proper bootcamp by the end of bootcamp but am having to be mindful. Seriously the advice on the bootcamps is pretty bloody epic. This one in particular had been more helpful that I could have imagined at the beginning

So, dusted myself off and put on my can do hat!

B- BPC
S- Chorizo ricotta cup and a sausage
L- Green smoothie
D - Will be roast pork, broccoli, spring greens and for DC and students - roast butternut squash and carrots. Gravy made from juices.

Walked 4 miles dropping students off at school. My hips hurt.

I also walked with 2 heavy parcels to the post office (only ten minutes walk away, but normally I would drive there and back when carrying parcels) and then walked the dog for 40 mins.

Chipping quick question if i may... I get the fact that fat cells might have filled with water to keep their shape - all sounds perfectly reasonable. Having checked the spreadsheet i have put on 1 pound and put back on the one i lost in the first week. So i am 1 lb over my start weight.

Now i have def shrunk, i am sure of that. I sort of understand a whoosh -which i totally expect and saw that last time. I just cant get my head around why i am smaller in size yet higher in weight?

So pound for pound water must be heavier than fat but denser,right? I thought fat cells dont disappear but are capable of shrinking. So i will always have the same number of fat cells they just wont be so fat.

Sorry for being pedantic just keen to understand the science behind it - Might have to dig out my John Briffa again.

I totally got the whoosh and week 3 stall so it helped me not get despondent. I have a lot of weight to loose so i will be doing this for a very long time so i am not in a mad rush - although if i could wake a size 10 tomorrow i wouldnt complain (never been a size 10 in my life!!)

Thanks

Only 1lb off, bit annoyed really because I haven't cheated and I thought I was due a big whoosh.

Think I need to up the water and make sure I have three meals a day. It all went to pot over the weekend and although I didn't cheat I didn't drink enough water and skipped meals.

Well done everyone!

MRSSTEVEJONES , I really really understand how you feel as this is my 3rd week and my weight hasn't change at all apart from 100grs less last week ( but i wouldn't call those change...) and sadly u have them back again. I have been following the plan from a till z and I have a trip to Spain for Easter. People are going to see me quite different ( I meant big) and is going to break my heart when they start questioning my eating habits and so on.

But on the other hand this woe is great and I like it and I don't have to starve myself like I have done for many years,
So all I can say to you I what I'm saying to myself, have another this week to see if things are moving in the right direction and don't give up.

Forgot to weigh in this morning so I'll do it tomorrow. Had a pretty heavy weekend so hoping it hasn't done too much damage. Will read the thread later and post food etc.
Well done to those who have lost!