Week 6 - Low Carb Bootcamp - Half way through already!

[BIWI]

Good morning!

Here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for your delectation and delight

Glad to hear that we're getting less squishy in our clothes! I think that's a far more satisfying achievement than a number on the scales, actually.

One thing to remember as the weather seems to be warming up a little bit - finally! - don't forget to keep your water uptake up. (And remember to keep your salt levels up too)

If you are stepping on the scales this morning, I hope you're pleased with what they tell you.

[trashcanjunkie]

Evening, Poor hissy and your gouty parts, that sucks ass. And I totally get the not wanting to need to do food. If I had to just quit food I think that could be easier than having to cope with it thrice daily.

That said, I'm two pounds (and a quarter) down today.

I definitely have to have a bp drink twice daily. When I forget I sts or gain. Dunno why, probs a few reasons, such as satiety, therefore eating less, plus fat in = fat off.... Who cares if it's working.

Had a slightly grim one today. Bought bullet proof earl grey from paleo deli. First taste and it was made with salted butter. Bleaurgh. Thing is, it was a takeaway one and they're bloody expensive, so forced self to drink it. Rand the deli and said heads up, you've got the butters muddled. The very nice lady was mortified. She checked and I was right (which I knew cos the frigging tea was salty) so next time I'm in I get a free one plus a refund

I had soup for lunch with mushrooms, and for some reason that set my guts off something rotten. Have been floored all afternoon, and even took a nap this evening

Waste of bloody day!

[Gcalgske]

hissy
Today I have been mostly not hungry.
BPC , tsp almond butter
Late lunch of pork belly slices in chilli powder.
Dinner not until 9pm. Small portion HM chicken curry, was so late as was at audition for new band
Not sure how audition went, will have to see if I get it but as a positive I drank 2l of water to keep the old voicebox lubricated during the rehearsal so plenty of water today.

Barely had any veg (passata, leek, peppers and mushroom in the curry but only had a tiny bowl)

Not a good food day. I have an avocado packed for my lunch tomorrow. I will be better.

[LexLoofah]

hissy that sucks

gcal band? Do tell more

[SayraT]

Up early this morning. Been a while since I've been up at 0530 (old job I used to get up at 0330) so just having a coffee then heading off. Its pleasure not business, I'm off to take the horse for an early morning gallop before work

[Dumdedumdedum]

Hi, Everyone! Hope you are all doing better than I am! I have a quick question for the experts here, please - my beloved only child is back from uni and loves Greek lamb shanks and aubergine parmigiana. Are the following recipes OK for LCBC, do you think, or shall I make them just for her?

Nigella's Greek Style Lamb shanks:
4 lamb shanks
2 cans chopped tomatoes
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 large onion (sliced)
1 bottle dry white wine
2 large lemons (juiced)
1 pinch of salt
1 pinch of freshly ground pepper
1 splash of olive oil

Method
In a large heavy cast iron pot (Nigella's All-purpose pot would be ideal) brown the onions in a little oil. Turn up heat and add the shanks and give a little colour.
Add all other ingredients ensuring they are evenly distributed in the pan, and bring the boil to burn off alcohol.
Reduce heat and simmer very gently for 2 or 3 hours, lid on.
Remove lid for final 45 mins of cooking to reduce sauce.
Serve with rice and crusty bread. Obviously not for me!

Antonio Carluccio's Parmigiana di Melanzane

Serves 8 as a main course, 10-12 as a starter

4 large aubergines weighing altogether 1.1 - 1.2kg (about 2 1/2 lb)
Plain flour for coating (won't bother)
4 eggs
Plenty of olive oil
300g (10 1/2 oz) fontina cheese, sliced (will use Mozzarella)
115g (4 oz) Parmesan, freshly grated
Salt and pepper to taste

Sauce
4 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 1/2 x 800g (1 3/4 lb) cans peeled plum tomatoes, chopped in the can
10 fresh basil leaves, torn

Slice the aubergines about 1cm (1/2 inch) thick. Dust the slices on both sides with flour. Beat the eggs, season with salt, and dip the floured aubergine slices into this. Fry the aubergine slices three or four times in some hot oil. Brown on both sides, remove and drain on kitchen paper. You will need more oil from time to time.

Now make your tomato sauce in the usual way, adding salt, pepper and the basil towards the end.

Preheat the oven to 200 C/ 400 F/ Gas 6.

Put two or three spoonfuls of tomato sauce in the bottom of a large ovenproof dish, then arrange a layer of the aubergine slices, placed as close together as possible. Cover the aubergines with some pieces of fontina, spoon a little tomato sauce on the cheese and sprinkle with some Parmesan. Continue with another layer of aubergine slices, arranging them in the opposite direction to the layer below, cover with fontina, tomato sauce and Parmesan. The final layer should be of tomato sauce, small pieces of fontina and a generous amount of Parmesan. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Leave the dish to sit for 15 minutes before cutting up to serve.

Thanks for your advice and my apologies for clogging up space.

[StuntNun]

Dum there's an aubergine parmigiana recipe on the recipe iirc. I do lamb shanks in the slow cooker with a couple of sliced shallots, glass of red wine, stock cube, seasoning and some Rosemary.

[Hangonaminutewillyou]

Poor you, Hissy sounds awful, hope you get your symptoms under control soon

This article popped up on my Facebook feed. Not something I need to worry about for now as weight loss slow but for the bigger losers it would be worth reading: www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/ways-to-tighten-skin-after-weight-loss/

[billabye]

I haven't tried bulletproof drinks yet. To those of you who do drink them, do you find you have a better loss because of them?

[Gcalgske]

Lex it's just a covers band. Not sure if I'll get it, my voice might be a bit 'niche' (mostly sang electronic stuff/ Tori Amos/ Joni/ Leonard Cohen) before but wanted to do something a bit fun and funky. :/
Part of my PTSD recovery so trying is important.

[Gcalgske]

Billabye I find I eat less / cleaner when I have BPC. My loss is sporadic and comes off in chunks so I can't really directly equate it but it tastes nice (very decadent) and stops me getting hungry.

[Hissy]

I feel JUST a teensy bit better today than I did yesterday. ankles still hurt, but I have about a single degree more mobility in my finger than I have done of late. I think it hurts just a fraction less.

Can someone kindly remind me of what goes into a BPC? I wonder if that might help me keep the fat up and not the protein.

i am allowed coffee, it's good for me apparently :D

[mrswhiskers]

I've been LC now for 10 days and I've lost 2 pounds.
I've found it very easy as two of my favourite foods are mayonnaise and cheese
I've even managed to stop taking sugar in my coffee - I used to take 3 per cup.
I've discovered aubergine crisps this week and they are lovely but easy to eat too many.
made some oopsie rolls today and they're better than I expected. like an omelette. planning those for dinner with tuna salad and courgette 'pasta' in a cream sauce.
chicken on lettuce wraps for lunch and olives and Greek yoghurt for snacks.

[Preminstreltension]

OK, yesterday:

B: coyo
L: Lebanese chicken and salad - not enough fat
D: a sort of fritter made of courgette, egg, cream cheese, cream. Bit odd but not unpleasant! Have used the rest of the mixture to make a sort of crustless quiche with bacon for tonight.

Lots of water.

I have to be in Italy next week for three days (work) and have no idea how that will go food wise. It's a very full on few days with some very formal dinners thrown in and I can't imagine pasta won't be on the menu at some point. It might be difficult to swerve (we're actually being entertained at someone's house one night so have to be very gracious and easy...) Anyway, I am not worrying about it - am quite happy on this WOE so will do my best and then climb back aboard when I can.

[Hangonaminutewillyou]

Bill re:BPC, I had never had them until I started BC. I just have a spoonful of coconut oil in black tea. It was a bit odd at first but I rather enjoy it now. I've consumed half a big jar if coconut oil so far & I think it's definitely helping keep my appetite under control. My nails are in better condition than I've ever seen before!

[Hissy]

Preminstral - can you not prewarn them? you would if it were gluten or something? Say that you have to limit wheat/rice/grains? You can swerve the pasta course.

[billabye]

Thanks for the BPC info. I'll get some coconut oil and give it a go. Hoping it tastes nicer than it sounds!!

[Hissy]

apparently if you blend it, its better.

will give it a go myself.

[Gcalgske]

Hissy I have butter, cream, coconut oil (unflavoured) blended into a cup of hot coffee.

[plumstone]

On the BPC front, I have one teaspoon heaped of instant coffee, lump of butter and about a table spoon of coconut oil - add one mug of hot water and then blend with stick blender - yum - and the added plus of nice moisturised lips - haven't needed lip balm since I started!!!!!

Today I have renewed vim and enthusiasm!!!

B - Bacon, egg, mushrooms all in butter
L - lettuce and cucumber with chicken mayo - only ate till I was "hmm yes not hungry any more" then put back in fridge and will eat rest before leaving to go home (about 5:30ish) so hopefully that will stop the need for a cheese pitstop on the way home!!!
D - not sure but think I will have a BPC as I don't want to eat unless I am hungry and having a snack pre leaving work, this may happen !!!!!

happy Wednesday everyone!! xoxo

[lisbapalea]

Am weirdly un-hungry today which I find odd!

B - coconut yog and berries
L - two slices leerdammer
D - am making a Moroccan lamb shoulder thing. It's slow cooking with shallots, green pepper, red pepper, carrots, harissa and tomatoes (I will donate the carrots and red pepper to dh and the dds). Am going to make cauli cous cous with herbs and almonds to go with it.

[LexLoofah]

Gcal good on you that sounds like fab therapy

mrswhiskers that is impressive on the sugar in coffee, amazing how our tastebuds change in a short space of time isn't it?

No BPCs for me for a while, giving my blender away today in a pre-move clearout. made one last jar of mayo that will have to last. I do like coconut oil in or rather on rooibos tea though

[HemanOrSheRa]

Oooh! Great excitement here today! I was moaning about the lack of variety of drinks on bootcamp. I don't drink alcohol either. So my lovely sister had this massive selection of teas delivered to me today. Bloody amazing! And....the ones I've tried taste BETTER than they smell! .

Food for today:

B - BPC

L - Corned beef, salad and a huge dollop of mayo.

D - Something quick involving chicken and chorizo because I'm off to get new running shoes this evening and will be getting my running gait measured properly. I run like an elephant. I hope the machine can take it .

[ewanhoozami]

lisba your lamb sounds gorgeous

heman that's a truckload of tea! Is it loose leaf? I love a bit of tea pigs, but I've not tried that brand (wonky pot?)

[ewanhoozami]

B - bullet proof bovril

L - bresaola, avocado

D - roast aubergine and tuna salad.

S - Lidl greek yog. Being back on the dairy is dangerous, I love that stuff so much especially with peanut butter mixed in

[HemanOrSheRa]

Yes ewan it's looseleaf tea from www.wonkypot.com/. I think she's sent me the whole range - never does anything by halves does my Sister . And I really was having a good old whinge about what to drink. There was also some freebie samples of the herb and spice blends too which look nice and low carb. Luckily the use by date on the whole lot is June 2016. Carlo's Liquorice Mint Carnival is delicious. I've never tried liquorice tea before. It was a very pleasant surprise! I'm looking forward to trying some of them chilled too.