Week 5 - Low Carb Bootcamp - almost half way through!

[BIWI]

Morning all - lovely sunny day here!

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for your confessions

It sounds like some of us have been struggling recently, so I hope that the scales have been kind to you this morning.

If the scales aren't your friend, then don't forget to take your measurements, or to try on that dress/those jeans that were too tight 5 weeks ago - the results here are more meaningful than the scales anyway.

I put some new trousers on yesterday that I bought a couple of weeks ago, and find that they are now too big. Which is both pleasing and annoying at the same time

Peppermint - I always use a side plate for my meal as i struggle with portion sizes and it tricks my brain. Having such lovely rich food I don't need such a massive portion. I was a lifelong SW-er and need the quantity of low fat stuff to attempt to fill me up - didn't work!

www.anediblemosaic.com/cauliflower-crust-garlic-breadsticks/
This is the recipe I use for cauliflower pizza base and it doesn't require any squeezing out of water - it is 50% mozzarella by weight but very filling and delicious. If the link doesn't work try googling 25 things to do with cauliflower - I think sassandfaff posted it originally and it has revolutionised how I look at cauliflower!!

I have had something to eat and a some veg stock to get my salt levels back up and I am feeling more human.

I saw on an earlier thread about canasista (sp) Mexican pork? does anyone have a recipe to hand? I love the idea of a new recipe a week as I do get stuck in a rut.

I made chicken stock the other day so will be making a house speciality wilting green veg soup and I always chuck in coriander pesto to pep it up - another mumsnet find, cant get enough of the stuff!

Def feeling better I am starting to think about food again!!!

Blessed

heman and hangon* yes was me who posted the meatza link, glad you like it, it is so handy at the weekend so the whole family can eat the same thing - the DCs and DH of course love this as well as cauli pizza. I must make more next time to try it cold, love cold pizza.

OK I know I am late to the whole drama started by monkey and maybe we have all moved on by now but going to post my two cents anyway even though I hate confrontation even from a distance.

I didn't contribute a few weeks ago when it came up about posting cheats as it honestly does not bother me reading about the food, it only mildly annoys me if a) that person goes on to lose that week or b) moans they have STS or put on however I do understand that it is triggering for others and agree we should not post specifics and be respectful.

What does annoy me though monkey if you are still reading is being sworn at and preached to especially by a self-confessed rule breaker. This used to be one of the nicest threads on MN and your rudeness has spoiled it.

I am one of the off wagon posters because I was so ill last week, otherwise I don't find it hard to stay on at all. If someone cheats and does not lose it does not affect me at all, my weight is a result my choices.

I suspect you are looking in the wrong place to lay blame for not losing/struggling, it certainly isn't because of something I ate or drank now is it?

blessed was it these pork carnitas ?they are utterly gorgeous and leftovers are even better, going to make them this weekend in fact, glad you are feeling better

Thanks Lex that looks like them, will try this weekend.

B:berries, yog, cream, flax seed and coconut almond milk
S: cheese
S: brocoli and bacon salad in buttermilk dressing
L: leftovers
D: steak, Boursin mushrooms, creamy leeks, brocolli, lemon courgette. All cooked with lots of butter.

I'm keen for a new recipe challenge!

It's my leaving do at work today which means I am mainly in a pub (so it is quite tragic that I am mn-ing) but (despite booze, and not wishing to offend anyone with tales of misdemeanours on that score) my food has remained on track today so far:

B - protein pot of boiled egg with spinach and smoked salmon, plus some coyo
L - crouton-less Caesar salad with plenty of dressing, plus chicken, avocado and bacon, followed by some "picky bits" of chorizo, squid and Padron peppers
D - tbc but will be on plan!

3 coffees so far and more booze than should be mentioned but I am leaving this job after 16yrs of hard and loyal service so I am not going to apologise for celebrating/ commiserating!

Lis, - absolutely not!!! Have a fab time

This is my first day of eating LC seriously (I do 5:2 and yesterday was a 500 calorie day-kept LC but still...)
Can someone tell me if this looks OK food wise?

B: scrambled egg with double cream and butter

L: salad (lettuce tomato spinach green pepper) with mayo and olive oil dressing. feta cheese, 1 slice gouda cheese.

D: chicken breast, cottage cheese, coleslaw, oven cooked aubergine with olive oil (and more cheese )

also: 3 coffees with double cream.

Also can I ask a question? I'm only looking to lose a couple of pounds so does that mean I have to calorie count?

ergh dinner fail, I was cooking chicken in cocnut oil, I then wilt the spinach in it and it is lovely but due to my usual plumbing issues I am trying to increase the fat so I chucked some cream in and it was disguting.

mrs whiskers you are not supposed to need to calorie count although I still do as it is so ingrained in me. I find I never go over my calorie allowance anyway with this woe as no snacking needed.

Hi there
I have been away abroad and managed to keep LC until about 10 days ago when staying with elderly family members made it almost impossible, I have coeliac disease and they had gone to great pains to buy 'safe' food ... and I had no access to scales. I didn't fall off the wagon as it were but I could not stick to plan without seeming very rude to them and I can feel that I have regained weight as I am squidgier than I was 2 weeks ago
I was off plan for about 10 days and restarted yesterday; if ok with everyone I would like to weigh +officially re-join tomorrow? I am not going to do BC light but stick to BC as I really enjoyed it weeks 1 and 2.

Excuse me if I am being stupid - but what are bullet proof drinks/BPC?

Many thanks.

I don't do confrontation either; life is hard enough. I honestly love this WOE and have found this thread really supportive. I am sorry that things are not going well for some people and hopefully things will get better

mrswhiskers - you may need to count calories if you're that close to your target. I'd also say that you might need to keep an eye on how much dairy you're eating, as that might get in the way of weight loss.

mrs whiskers welcome. I'd say firstly try and read the rules, they are on the spreadsheets, which is linked in the opening post of each week (I think) if not can someone please direct her?

Apart from the dairy and cream overload, your food looked ok. Was the coleslaw home made? We try to keep carbs under 3g per 100, and shop bought may contain sugars and carrot which isn't ideal. If you're only looking to lose two pounds, I'd have to say probably the main thing for you is making sure you're drinking plenty of water, and eating fat:protein:carbs in those ratios. The thing is, it's perfectly normal to fluctuate a couple of pounds daily anyway, so it sounds like maintainence is more suitable for you, which is also difficult and requires support and motivation, so really well done and best of luck.

heffalumps bulletproof drinks are a way of getting pure fat into your diet. They usually consist of a spoonful of coconut oil and about 25g unsalted butter which is blended (so it emulsifies) with hot water and whatever you're having it in. For example I'm currently sipping a bullet proof chai, which is very similar to a chai latte. Mostly. People make a cup of coffee and then blend in the butter and coconut oil to create something akin to a latte. They sound fucking gross, but are nothing like what they sound like when you meet them in person

We're having burgers for tea and I'm contemplating bbq as it's scorchio here and I don't have pans to clean after

Dumde no need to parboil kale - just remove tough stalks, slosh over some oil, salt and chilli if you fancy and bake at 180 until going crisp and brown. PS - Tesco do ready-grated cauli rice, I think they call it cauliflower couscous

Heffa BPC refers to bulletproof coffee which is made with butter / ghee / coconut oil instead of milk. more info here

I've never quite managed to get it right with coffee or tea, but have discovered that Bovril with butter / ghee mixed in is a fabulous way to get extra fat in.

B - two double-yolked fried eggs from the smallholding up the road (awesome - I am ruined for all other eggs)

L - cauli and courgette soup, dripping mixed in.

D - crab and avocado salad with toasted sesame seeds, chilli and loads of good stuff.

S - there might have been some peanut butter

Thanks dita BIWI and trashcan

I have read the boot camp rules and think I overdid the dairy today! I did underestimate how much cream and cheese I had consumed until I wrote my last post and saw the almost empty tub of cream

normally I use coconut milk (1.6g/100ml) in my coffee so will revert back to that I think rather than the cream and try and cut down on the cheese.
The coleslaw was shop bought lidl cheese coleslaw 3.8g/100g

I've spent the last 6 months as a vegetarian and fell off the wagon at the weekend. I only really eat chicken and tuna and im struggling to think of ways to incorporate them into my diet as I only ate meat occasionally before going veggie and I seem to have forgotten how to use it in dishes.
I tend to eat more pulses and pasta normally but they seem to be pretty high in carbs.

I'm feeling much better after a down day yesterday. I weighed myself this morning and have gone down 1 pound overnight and do feel lighter too. Definitely keeping at it and staying on track this week and keeping the faith.

Today:
B: Broccoli stalks chopped and fried in butter with eggs added and scrambled (great use of stalks, was lovely), creamy coffee
L: Aubergine, courgette and tomato fried in butter with leftover roast chicken and HM mayo, little bit of grated cheese
D: Courgetti carbonara I think

3l water

Thoughts are with people struggling. One thing I read somewhere that's helped me at times is to focus on what you can eat rather than what you can't. I found this useful when I was eating out recently and felt annoyed I couldn't just have what I wanted, but I focused on the steak with creamy sauce and cheese board I was going to have and felt pretty good about it.

I think because I spent so long on low fat diets, realising I can eat such satisfying normal food and still (hopefully) lose weight is really motivating.

Got both the cauliflower couscous and the courgette spaghetti in my tesco shop that was just delivered.
Good news £1 each and 3 for 2
Bad news all 3 are use by 11th June!

wine love the broccoli stalk idea, going to pinch that

mrs whiskers for tuna and chicken add mayo (homemade if you can or get one with the lowest carbs - I have seen Delouis mentioned on here a lot) to make a tuna or chicken mayo salad. Make a creamy mushroom sauce for the chicken or a while ago I fried chicken pieces in oil with chorizo and shallots and mushrooms which was lovely. Sorry pulses and pasta are out but you can use thin strips of courgettes in place of pasta, tbh I actually prefer this now.

B - 1 bacon, 2 scr eggs in butter, cuppa
L - lettuce, hm mayo, dill pickle, cucumber, a ' sandwhich' made from roast beef spread with butter and filled with mature cheddar
D - will be celeriac bravas from the recipe thread

I was in a lunchtime meeting for 2 hours, normally that would have meant my tummy growling, me looking at my watch constantly and bolting my lunch down the second we were done. Instead on BC I hardly noticed it was past lunchtime and am eating in between doing other things, brilliant.

I've just sold 12 bags of sugar to my village shop. I bulk buy from Costco so apparently my alter ego panic buys sugar as well as loo cleaner.

Peppermintfrog - thanks for the tip on 'butter makes your pants fall off', also enjoyed 'lard makes you lean'! I was totally on board anyway but find that sort of thing motivational hearing someone enthuse about it.

I have been promised a new hob and oven tomorrow! I can't bloody wait! If there is hell, it consists of ready meals and microwaves. Only, I'm off to Portugal on Thursday, so won't be doing too much cooking for another week. At least it will be there, waiting for my return.

Here's something I have been meaning to ask- I have tried making courgette spaghetti and every single time they have turned out into sloppy mess, how the hell do I cut them so that they aren't? Or even cook?

Hello everyone! Hope you managed to make the most of the somewhat good weather!

Fab idea preminstreltension, It will be great to try out some new recipes.
I've already earmarked making the meat pizza, sounds so tasty!

Think another poster mentioned Mary berry in the last thread, thank you, loving her series on bbc. The last episode showed some great low carb recipes, planning to make the creamy asparagus and chicken dish in the next few days. Looks so yummy.

Thank you trash for your advice on the last thread.
I went shopping again yesterday and found some stuff that looks great and is perfect for summer!

Erm this week I have stayed the same weight-wise, but I think my stomach looks smaller... that's what I'm telling myself anyway. Main goal for this week is to incorporate more fat, tried making bulletproof coffee and tea and it failed miserably.

B :Greek salad with mayo and mustard
L:Sea bass baked in butter and lemon with broccoli (went to zizzi for lunch and this seemed like the best low carb option,swapped potatoes and coleslaw for broccoli)
D: Leftover cucumber &broccoli soup.
Snacks: 1 square 90%chocolate. 1 cheese string , cappuccino.

Hope you have a lovely week and will keep at it.