Inbetween BCs Thread #2

[SayraT]

We filled up the last thread and we still have 3 weeks to go until the next official BC so here is our new inbetween BC thread.

Link to previous thread

So, I was good yesterday and now all of my confessions are lost on the previous thread but I am going to carry on with daily weighing and food recording so this morning I weighed 225 lbs.

Oh and another note re the berry crumble... It tastes tart but a bit sweet if you've been low carbing for a while, but for someone who hasn't been, it will taste very tart indeed, so might not satisfy your DH's craving for sweet things.

Romeyroo - spot on re emptiness. There is stuff.

Willpower - or perhaps a motivated mindset - is a definite thing for me, though!

I live with my husband in the Middle East, I am what is known as a "trailing spouse", an appendage, if you will. Hence my residence visa states: "HOUSE WIFE/Not allowed to work". Of course, there are ways round that, but I don't have a foundation in anything useful (architecture, design, law, medicine, teaching, for example) where I might be able to get a job in my own right, and nor do I speak Arabic, which is another factor. Before moving here five years ago, I hadn't had a job which I found challenging or stimulating for the 20 years since I left England to live abroad after marrying the husband. My small nest is now empty, my plans for studying this year have been scuppered as the course I wanted to go on here is not open to students of my age - I got my degree in 1978 so I'm too old for further study, apparently.

Sorry if TMI - but you are not on the wrong tack.

Dumde could you fill your time more to give you a sense of purpose and distract from the food? Suggestions...
Get fit - become a gym bunny/ take up tennis or whatever sport is available.
Do some online courses with Coursera or EdX. No limits there and would be evidence of recent study for applying to other courses.
Learn Arabic.
Learn another language.
Volunteer with a local charity.
Start a low carb lunch club for other trailing spouses.
Etc!

Dum - I use a one meal/one day at a time strategy. When I did my first BC I reasoned that I would see if I could manage a day without any carbs. I did, so I decided to see if I could manage another day. And another. I really liked the fact that BC was only for 10 weeks - somehow I could get my head round not having any lovely, crusty fresh bread for 10 weeks whereas not having any for the rest of my life was too awful to contemplate.

I've done several BC now and am the worst at scarfing carbs the minute I take my eye off the ball, so the most I've ever got down to is 2 stone below my original starting weight (but I've done it several times). On Monday I'll be more than a stone above the weight I'd got to when I spectacularly fell of the last BC. But using my 1 day at a time approach, I've been back on track for 4 weeks now. Also, the health/lifestyle benefits of eating low carb are a far bigger motivator than just wanting to lose weight.

For me, the biggest thing I've learnt about myself is that if I don't have the first biscuit/piece of cake/whatever I find it comparatively easy to not have the second/third/fourth/rest of the packet. For as long as I can remember I've been someone who can't resist sweet things. If I am in a meeting/at a friend's house with a plate of biscuits, as soon as I've had the first one, the plate magnifies in size until it is the only thing in the room. The effort and will power in not clearing the plate becomes all I can think about. But if I don't eat the first one, then I completely forget that it's there and it's no more important to me than anything else on the table.

I also love the fact that I don't get hungry in the same way. With carbs for breakfast, I would be absolutely starving by break time (teacher) so I'd fall on the staffroom biscuit tin. And then be starving again by lunchtime. But a low carb breakfast means that I don't even think about eating before lunch, and if I don't have time to eat all my lunch (which isn't unusual), I can get through to the end of the school day quite comfortably. For me, that's a massive, massive difference. It's freedom from being controlled by food.

Add to all of that the fact that my knees ache less, I hardly get any indigestion (I was doing a large box of Rennies a week and knew I really ought to go to the Dr) and, ahem, my bladder control is better (I'm sure I heard somewhere that chocolate is a known bladder irritant). Not to mention having so much more energy. What's not to like? Finally, to end this mammoth post, this is the first diet I've done, and there have been many, where I can have a slip up and get back going again. And again. And again. Previously I'd manage to be "good" for two or three months, would slip up for some reason and then that would be it. Because these additional benefits of this way of eating make such a difference to me, I can get my head back into the one-day-at-a-time mindset and start all over again. (If anyone can come up with a way for me to not fall off the wagon and start stuffing my face with carbs in between long periods of being angelic, please let me know :) )

I have had a break through. NOONE is expecting me to make or eat cake on this traditionally associated with cake day. This gives me the happies

dum I have periodic struggles with willpower. I was listening to the radio the other day. It was a program on the AA movement, its founders and history etc, and although science can't explain it, for whatever reason, it works for a lot of alcoholics. I had the idea that a 'sugar' AA might offer me help in those weak moments. I'm going to either look into it, or bloody well start my own! We could have an online 'twelve steps' thread, where we work through the stages together.

I struggle with that empty feeling too. Its not hunger or carb craving just a feeling of something lacking that I would normally have tried to fill by eating. In my case its often tiredness. Low carbing has helped a lot as it boosts my energy and does away with the true hunger and the need for sugar. Its awfully difficult to try and over ride the need to fill that emptiness. Its as though your brain knows something is missing and simply misinterprets the message. You know that food doesn't fill the gap and just makes the situation worse but I have yet to find the over-ride switch!

Trashy I love the wreath! That's a hell of a lot of fiddly bits to make and assemble. DH used to be a SW consultant and I once made him a couple of huge bowls filled with crochet fruit and crochet veg for his interest table. He was given strict instructions NOT to take any orders!

Dumdedumdedum does the name represent you sitting in the waiting room staring at the ceiling?
That sounds flippant, it is not meant to, you just sound very down on yourself.

I have been reflecting on your last post - and from what you have said, the best question I could come up with was this - if you were told you had a year to live, what would you do?

I say this because for lots of different reasons, I have felt very stuck where I am (I have a job, financial responsibility for DC, and they are settled in school etc), and my response to the question was immediately I would do x,y,z on the house because I wouldn't want to die with it in this state.

Practical, and probably sounds heartless, but the point was that actually I can't go anywhere or do anything till the house is done. So action - get it done asap within the bounds of possibility.

Then ask myself the question again. I know I feel stuck but I have no idea where I want to be. So for me, I have a busy job, DC at home, since I stopped filling the emptiness with chocolate etc., it has become clear that I have no idea where I want to be, apart from quite possibly not here forever.

In other words, changing your WOE won't solve the problem; but it opens up space to think about what to do about the emptiness, as you are not just filling it up every time you feel it. Sometimes it can be solved by an early night, a social occasion, a learning experience, in which case, these are good things to do.

What emotional support do you have? Does your husband know how you feel? You don't need to answer any of these questions online and they may not be the right questions.
For me, this WOE did not resolve any issues itself, but I do feel more in control of what I put in my mouth, and that is the first step to getting a bit of control in other things. You can do it otherwise you would not have lost eight pounds first week

Hey all, bit of an odd food day here as house on the market yesterday and 3 viewings today. Didn't want to stink the house out with bacon and eggs this morning so had spinach and cheese for Brekkie, out of mayo or would have had some.

Late lunch and was starving by then so had scrambled eggs and mushrooms in butter.

Just fortified myself with an almond scone with butter and a cuppa before more strangers tramp through the house, hopefully one of these lot will make an offer as it is hard keeping a house clean and tidy all day esp with kids around. Being stuck inside all day has not helped my mood at all, hoping to get away for a swim later

DH bless him will be cooking steak and buttered veg for tea later

Hi from the US of A!!! Well thanks Lex for the advise re T3 and Rhubarb, had poached eggs, smoked salmon and hollandaise before take off and then had 2 litters of water while flying, the Food on AA is terrible - an 8 hour flight and breakfast was waffle and sausage or waffle and tomatoes then then I was offered a tub of chocolate ice cream after 6 hours, then an hour before landing a wrap with mozzarella and tomato sauce followed by a small apricot tart.

Am now having a yummy turkey burger, brie, rocket and onions with some mayo and gerkins! Hope all is going well for you all xoxo

Enjoy, plumstone!

Hi all, I am KOKO! I'm on week four now and finding things ok. I don't want to weigh right now but measured myself 17 days ago and my waist is now 3cm smaller. My hips are stubbornly the same size but that's normal for me - all my weight falls of my waist which isn't huge to begin with but my hips which are ginormous stay resolutely the same!

Anyway, am quite happy. Clothes are feeling better and I feel ok, barring a little tiny bit of heartburn which is unusual for me. I don't have a gallbladder (removed 8 years ago) and I wonder if this could make the fat just a little bit harder for me? Don't know if anyone can shed any light on this.

Today I've had:

b: FF greek yogurt mixed with cream cheese plus salt and pepper. I've discovered that the own brand cream cheeses are lower carb (around 2.3%) than Philadelphia (4%) so that's a nice little saving
L: chicken plus loads of mayo plus green salad
D: same again just in a slightly different format!

3 Litres of water. Interestingly at the beginning I was hugely thirsty so the 3 Litres felt essential but now I don't feel so thirsty so it's more something that I have to remember each day. The good news is I've dramatically reduced the tea intake. I was on about 7 cups a day plus coffee and now I'm on 2 or 3 of weak black tea plus black coffee.

Managed to lose 1.8lbs this week, despite my numerous slip ups. DH cooked dinner which was assorted green veg in a creamy sauce with cauli rice. Only told me half way through it contained leeks. It's my own fault, I thought it tasted bizarrely sweet and I still ate about 10g of poxy carbs just from that.

going to meal plan like crazy tomorrow for next week so I can follow BC strictly.

plumstone enjoy yourself!

So one birthday overwith not a single person offered cake, no sugary foods given. So one year older and it seems that people can be trained. Although some fool me lost count of how much coffee they put in the coffee machine and the extra strong coffee was super duper seriously extra strong Sleep might be an issue

Aparently i have lost weight on my ribs, not sure this is a good thing as you could count them anyway. ah well eventually it will shift from my ass and thighs. Tomos focus: drinking the water.

dark your birthday ? Many happy low carb returns

crabby you area genius! berry crumble was delish, not tart at all, did half the mix in little ramekins so no leftovers to raid for breakfast, can see how that would be tempting

Patapouf leeks are allowed, they're about 3g carbs per 100g.

I was in Boots yesterday for food and there were a few lc things available such as two boiled eggs with fresh spinach or a pot of olives.

I'm staying with my mum at the minute and she's making roast ham with pease pudding for lunch. It's funny that I can take or leave the sweet stuff but pease pudding is awfully tempting.

Belated happy birthday dark

Happy Birthday Dark.

Lex I'm glad you liked the crumble!

Pata leeks are definitely ok.

Spatchcocked BBQed chicken for dinner last night, with asparagus and hollandaise sauce. T'was lush!

Morning all,

Lex hope you get some movement with the sale of the house - and managed your swim

plum - enjoy the US, sounds like you have made a good start with your turkey burger

preminstrel - hips are the bane of my life, actually my hips and the round bit of fat above them are very stubborn. I would happily also see more off the top of my thighs. However, in just over two weeks, 3cm is excellent progress and if you stick with this WOE, you will manage to shift more and keep it off (not that I have got to the keeping it off stage yet, but I am beginning to believe it might be possible...)

And to everyone else - KOKO and have a lovely Sunday. I like reading what everyone has had, as it gives me a bit of motivation to be creative.

I do have one question, which I wonder if anyone can offer a view on before BC starts and the thread moves too quickly - if your sleep was off kilter, how would you adapt your meals to adjust?.

Not sure I get the question, Romey - why would you need to adjust your meals?

Belated Happy Birthday from me, too, DarkEvilMoon.

Thank you so much to everyone who kindly replied to me about my continuing lack of willpower - you have each given me something to consider seriously, but I am not going to do the introspective thing on this thread! Although I will say that I'm fairly sure that I am/have been suffering from low-grade depression for a long time (self-diagnosis) and I know that for years eating and drinking lovely high carb food and wine to my heart's content have been my way of filling the emptiness, and alleviate the boredom, if that makes sense.

To the present - I have remembered what it was which gave me the initial kick-start last month and am concentrating on it to get me going again. To explain: An old friend of ours who I haven't seen for ages glimpsed me whilst my husband was Skypeing him, and made an extremely hurtful remark about my present size. He was absolutely right , but it was a shock hearing it. The reason I've been avoiding seeing all my friends on Skype for years is precisely because I knew what they would think, even if they didn't say it out loud. When I see our friend again, I want him to see I've lost some weight, at least . OK, mojo returning .

Off to see if there's any organic chicken in stock in the local supermarket..

So for example, because I woke up early yesterday and got up to catch up on work, and this is a pattern rather than an anomaly, I find myself sometimes eating at 7-8pm when I am about to collapse into bed by nine.

Last night I was really thinking (again) do I actually want this? So sometimes I grab some cheese and cucumber and just go to bed.

I know that three proper meals are key on BC and I struggle with this for life reasons so the question is how much does it matter six months in if I focus on do I actually want this?

Am I worrying about nothing? Please feel free to say so

Dumde, absolutely only post what you feel comfortable with; and two things, your OHs friend was super rude, but if you have realised why you are cutting off one source of interaction, lose weight for YOU so you don't feel you have to hide.

Romey - thank you! Oh, I forgot to say, before the flood, I used to be a great fan of "The Archers" and "Dumdedumdedum" is how I hum the beginning of its theme tune, "Barwick Green"

The more I think about it, the more appalled I am at the cheek of this man - I hope he is an oil painting himself, Dumde!

Do you know, your good friends will want to hear from you no matter what you look like; and it might help to share your concerns/plans with one of them. If you have not skyped, how do you know what they look like, and more importantly, would you care? FWIW, it was one of my RL friends, also an MNer, who inspired me to start BC - right that very day - by telling me she had been doing it and lost a stone.

I hope your husband set him right.