Week 4 - Low Carb Bootcamp - We're not cheating at all, are we?!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Here's the SoF

Hopefully it will be working for you all. As ever, if you can't enter your weight, please ask on the thread and (hopefully!) someone will do it for you.

And just to reiterate StuntNun, this WOE really does work. However, it's a very unforgiving way of eating, and if you're going to cheat, then it won't.

I totally get that circumstances interfere with things - but we all have to try as much as we can to plan around 'off piste' occasions.

Also, however, don't forget that we're still in the tricky 3-4-5 week period, where it's not unusual for weight loss to stop altogether.

Remember - KOKO! If it worked for you in weeks 1 and 2, then logically it's going to work in subsequent weeks.

Good luck all

[NigellasGuest]

Gcal thanks for the encouragement, just a case of KOKO!

[FelicityFunknickle]

B: 4 squares of 70% chocolate. Black coffee
L: flat mushrooms, egg, cheddar and spinach fried (in a pan )
D: "risotto" made with cauliflower, parmesan, bacon and parsley. Ff greek yogurt with vanilla.

Doing quite well with water today. Almost 2l so fsr. I plan a run later.

[Wombatinabathhat]

moan and Equiem I've added you. Everyone has been done.

To the poster who asked, I gave myself the weekend off and have sts. I think the only reason I didn't gain is because I have eaten this way for a long time.

B: Egg mayo
L: Chicken/courgette curry
D: Pork steaks, mushrooms in butter, fried egg

[StuntNun]

Long term low carbers have rebuilt some of their glycogen stores in the liver so the odd 'excursion' from low carb doesn't cause the same weight gain as it would in a newbie. They're also more likely to be metabolically flexible and be able to deal with temporarily changes to food intake.

[Wombatinabathhat]

Thank you Stunt
I should point out that even when my weight stalled, my clothes continued to get looser. I have strayed a bit on this bc and although my weight hasn't gone up, I feel heavier, so I'm back on track.

[shouldiblowthewhistle]

Felicity just get back on! It's all you can do. What's the option otherwise? Eat/drink carbs and feel like crap? One pound down is still one pound down eh?! Better off than when you started AND you're armed with a lesson learnt.

I'm out to dinner tonight with friends which is usually a boozy one so I can stick with a steak and soda water. Had nothing to eat all day - not trying to fast, just disorganised and didn't get hungry till around 4pm -and was then starving so came home and had 2 fried eggs. Now I'm stuffed

[Mookbark]

Wise words from shouldi
Just had salmon on a bed of creamy spinach with roasted veg. Another lovely, filling meal. Far better than the low fat meals I've been eating for years.

[ShebaQueen]

Hello everyone, some great losses and some wise words and motivation for those who haven't lost. I'm away with work so won't be able to weigh until tomorrow, but will update the spreadsheet then. Off to scour the room service menu for something suitable , bye for now.

[CassandraKumquat]

Hi all, sorry I haven't posted for a couple of weeks but have been reading. Well done on the losses and hope things get better for those who are struggling.

Can I ask for some advice please? Hoping BIWI and StuntNun will check in but any other opinions welcome too!

Two weeks ago I started having dizzy spells and feeling absolutely drained of energy. Thought it was just a virus so slowed down as much as I could and carried on.

I've steadily felt worse so saw the GP this morning who thinks it's labyrinthitis and it will go in time. Fine. However she got in a bit of a flap at how ridiculously low my blood pressure is (it has always been on the low side).

I mentioned I'd changed my diet recently and she seemed worried by this, asked for a blood test to check thyroid, etc and talked about referring me to a consultant. She said I should be drinking squashes and energy drinks not just water.

I've been doing this WOE for five weeks, have lost 7lbs (only 5 to go) and felt great for the first three weeks. Do you think this virus is just a coincidence? My instinct says yes but now I'm feeling paranoid that I've broken my body!

Any thoughts? Sorry for the epic post

[feekerry]

142 if someone lovely could pop that in for me.
That's 1lb down on last week but I am v pleased with that as couple of iffy days and I am still on steroids so should be gaining but something magic seems to be happening!!!

I think for me keeping glugging water is key. In truth i hate water really but it does work

[GuyMartinsSideburns]

Lex I'm a shortie too - 5' 3" so know exactly what you mean about carrying that extra bit of weight! Mine all goes to my thighs and backside first grr! I do find that trying to get under the 9st mark seems to take a while at first. Last year I was at goal for a few months - 8st 7lb which I felt great at, then Dh was diagnosed with cancer and also then had to move house, and I gave up on myself tbh, just after xmas I was up to 9st 8lb and feeling terrible. So here I am! Can't seem to move from 9st 3lb at the moment, tho I did have a cock up last week or so when I was feeling crap but people on here were lovely and supportive. Im angry with myself for letting things get out of control when Id worked so hard to get there.

[Wombatinabathhat]

fee I've added you.

Guy Don't be so hard on yourself. You've had a lot on your plate. You know this works for you, so steady and sure is the way forward. You must be due a whoosh in the next week or two

[LexLoofah]

guy I think you have done incredibly well in the circumstances, second what wombat said. Good to know it can be done. 8st something sounds so sweet! I am thinking the same about more fat and even less carbs as we get nearer to goal, will give that a go - good to know someone else is at the same stage.

B - half a tin of tuna, avocado, scr eggs, BPC
L - bacon cheese burger - out so asked for no bun no chips, first time ever it was a problem as no big lettuce leaves to use as a wrap so had a side salad and ate it with a knife and fork like a proper lady!
D - cauli cheese with bacon & leeks - good cold weather comfort food, sq dark choc - sainsbursy 85% one is half the carbs of the 72% so in my mind that means I can eat twice as much - but I don't, I guess it means I can still have some rather than none....

[knowclue]

Thank you betsyM00 for adding me to the SofF!
Hope youre okay Ami?
I'm 5'3" too guy, and get a similar distribution of extra weight. This has been the only WOE that has worked for me, it just takes frustrating time to achieve! Be kind to yourself, you've had a lot on your plate.
Today,
B: egg with butter, had an unfortunate ryvita incident thanks to dh so won't be letting him prep my brekkie for me in future!
L: chicken with salad and lemon dressing
D: spinach smoothie
S: one coffee with cream

Sticking to BC again although I might add a few raspberries to my smoothies!

[BIWI]

Cassandra I'm sorry you've been feeling so poorly

I'm being cautious about advising you, because I'm not a doctor nor do I have any medical training.

However, my first response would be to think that your electrolyte balance is out of whack/you're not getting enough of them. This means sodium, potassium and magnesium.

Sodium is usually a key one - are you cooking with it and adding it to your food? Really good foods for these electrolytes are salmon, spinach, avocado and natural (full fat) yoghurt.

This is a really good article about it

It may, of course, be something different, but I'd think about addressing this too.

you could also try some of this too

[BIWI]

... but please don't do any of that instead of continuing to see your GP!

[Patapouf]

Well done on all the losses everyone!

I'm 2lb down this week, could someone please add me at 233?
I had dipped down a further 2lbs but I must have overdone the berries and dark choc and wine over the weekend
I am very bloated at the moment so that could be a factor. I've tried upping my water by 500ml and hope that makes a difference.
My face is looking a bit thinner though

I'm off to Paris then the south of France in a couple of weeks and I just know I'm going to fall off the BC wagon but I'm hoping to minimise it. I.e. Stick to BC for meals (maybe reduce fat) and have the odd patisserie. We are seeing old friends so there will be lots of wine! I will be LCing long term though and for it to be sustainable I need to not restrict myself too much on holiday because I'll just give up totally.

[Gcalgske]

I've had labarynthitus cassandra it is a vile disease which makes you feel grotty and awful. I had it for 8 weeks where I got stuck in my top floor flat due to the dizziness and then a short case a few times after (every time I got a head cold) for a couple of years. Get the tests, no harm upping the healthy foods biwi has reccomended.

I have a small bug bear with drs who freak out about low carb. Most if you don't label it as low carb but tell them you have stopped eating stodgy carbs and processed foods and now are eating lots of veg / eggs/ meat / real butter/ oily fish/ avocado/ olive oil etc are totally fine, it's the misconception that you are eating nothing but bacon that makes them freak out.

[CassandraKumquat]

Thanks BIWI I really appreciate your help

Yes I thought electrolytes too initially, but eat all those foods in abundance, love salt and take a magnesium supplement too. Really interesting reading though and my symptoms certainly do match them so will try upping electrolytes a bit further.

Interestingly the meds for vertigo have given me a couple of hours of mental clarity and energy I've not had for a fortnight, so I'm hoping that indicates that it is just the virus. Will go for blood results on Friday and report back!

Thanks again

[NigellasGuest]

I made myself a hot chocolate this afternoon when it was cold and windy outside, and it really hit the spot. Just made it up as I went along, as follows:

I grated some 100% chocolate into a mug and added vanilla essence and chocolate essence, then some hot water to melt it. Then a sachet of Truvia. Then more hot water, and double cream. Probably ended up one part double cream and two parts water. Then I chucked in a teaspoon of green & blacks dark cocoa powder.

Does that all sound a bit OTT? Other than that, I've just had eggs, cheese, vegetables and butter/coconut oil in different combinations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus lots of water.

[CassandraKumquat]

Thanks Gcalgske, sorry to hear you've had it too. I tell you doing the school run has been interesting!!

Yes I was a bit naive talking about it with the GP, as soon as the words left my mouth I thought 'uh oh!' Fantastically though my sister's GP has just advised her to do LCHF after being diagnosed with PCOS - I am thrilled as she would never have taken that advice from me!! Hope it works for her.

Feeling less panicky about it now - I had a sudden terror I was going to have to go back to eating normally again

[BIWI]

[Patapouf]

Oops forgot to post food

B: total FF yoghurt with a couple of strawberries and raspberries
L: none, had no time and wasn't hungry
D: spicy mince, lettuce, hm guacamole, sour cream with fresh coriander and a bit of cheese.
S: bit of hotel chocolat 90% choc

[nekobus]

Just popping on quickly to post today's food, will catch up with the thread eventually!

Out all day today so limited by how organised I could be to pack my lunch... And then late dinner at 9 after exercise class so wasn't that hungry

B - 2 hb eggs with butter, 2 babybel
L - salad leaves, dressing, celery filled with a little whole earth peanut butter, cheddar and some Parma ham
D - avocado, dressing, olives
S - 85% choc bar from Aldi

[AuntieMaggie]

still 5kgs down so AF gain has been and gone

I'm probably eating too much processed food (mainly bacon) but struggle with convenience with a toddler.

My typical day goes something like:
Bfast: scrambled egg/frittata with cheese and bacon and mushroom
Lunch: avocado, olives and salad with prawns and mayo/salmon and cream cheese/meat/feta (or just meat if on the run)
Dinner: bolognese without spaghetti/stew/lasagne with corgette/meat and veg of some description

I had some hotel chocolat cocoa tea bags for Christmas... they're ok though they just taste like you've dipped chocolate in hot water as they are quite weak tasting but quite comforting in my cold office! That's another thing I'm struggling with... cravings for comfort food because my office is so cold!