Week 4 - Pre-Christmas low carb Bootcamp - almost half way there ...

[BIWI]

Morning all.

The Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for you all

So this weigh-in might be a bit testing for you all (not least because I can see that there's some struggling cheating going on).

Remember that weeks 3 and 4 are notorious for the lack of weight loss, so if this is happening to you, don't panic! KOKO and things will get moving again soon. Honestly!

But that said, it's also important to remember that we have only been doing this for 3 weeks. I know it probably feels like a lifetime Hopefully you've settled into low carbing, and you should be enjoying your food, without any sense of deprivation that a low calorie/low fat diet can often bring.

Why not go and have a read of the recipe thread (stickied at the top of the Bootcamp topic) for some inspiration for something different to cook this week? That way, you'll keep your interest going and it will help to keep you on track.

Good luck, and here's to a successful week

Push there's a reason we all have to remind ourselves to KOKO! I've had some really frustrating plateaus and sometimes feel nothing is happening or I'm going backwards. I'm back up again today and I'm the same weight I was a couple of weeks before this BC began, so I know it can feel like there's no progress. But then I tell myself I started my first BC in May 20lbs heavier! So it does come off, with patience, if you keep at it (as I keep telling myself).

What does KOKO mean?

PushToOpen - you haven't even completed two weeks yet!!!

KOKO means 'keep on keeping on'
and
BIWI is short for 'BecauseImWorthIt' which was my original MN name, but just got too long to write all the time, so people kept abbreviating it.

The only thing I did 'bad' was eat the crispy bit of the outside of a roast potato on Sunday and drink a lot of wine on Sunday. All the rest of the time I've kept under 20g of carbs

Three things here:

• first, in the first two weeks of Bootcamp you shouldn't have been doing either of these things. The aim here is to encourage your body to switch from burning carbs to burning fat

• second, alcohol is the easiest source of fuel for the body, so all the time you're drinking alcohol, your body isn't burning anything else

• and third, there's no need on Bootcamp to keep your carbs under 20g. We don't count carbs (or calories)

Why don't you list out for me what you've been eating and drinking for the last few days, and let me see if there's anything I can identify that might help

Dillite2 - in extremis, packets of nuts. Otherwise, M&S do little individually wrapped portions of cheese. You could also buy packets of ham/cooked meats there.

Boots do tiny packets of nuts: good for portion control.

Great I will do thanks BIWI. I'll do it when I home.

You should set up your own exclusive and paid diet club!

Thank you BIWI. Ham or cheese are good ideas, although I am trying to keep dairy as low as possible. I will look at the little packets of nuts for emergencies.

Ok food list for the last few days.

I've been very very poor so it isn't exactly exciting this week.

Every breakfast time I have two boiled eggs. This totally suffices as I have an early lunch at 12pm at work.
All three days for lunch I've had egg mayo with lettuce. I was careful about the mayo.

And Monday evening it was chicken wings (plain with skin) with broccoli and/or buttered leeks.

Tuesday and tonight will be tuna mayo salad.

Again because I'm broke.

It was the same last week. It's been a tough month financially.

Every day I've drank 2-4 litres of water, averaging at about 2.5-3 most days.

Oh also I've been snacking on cheese.

Not loads though for example a normal sized triangle of Brie lasted 3 days.

Push I realise that money may be a factor but it doesn't sound as though you are eating enough. You shouldn't really have to worry about the amount of mayo. You need a bit of fat with your boiled eggs in a morning. If you are eating them hot, have you tried scooping them out into a little bowl and mix with a knob of butter and pepper. Lovely.
For some people, cheese can stall their weight loss - although it doesn't sound like you're eating a lot of it.
Stick with it for a bit.
I am sure BIWI will be along with more useful tips.

I wasn't worried about putting too much on. I was worried about the carbs. It said in theBC rules to check the mayo. I saw some were higher in carbs so stuck to the one with less.

I'm definitely eating less than usual but I put that down to being so full of water.

And thanks by the way. 🐢

Ah, I see. Have you tried making your own mayo? It is quite easy.
Using a stick blender, beat 1 egg and a teaspoon of mustard in a jar. Drizzle in 237mls of mild and light olive oil slowly, whilst blending. Add a teaspoon of wine vinegar or lemon juice - done!

My little one is super anaphylactic to eggs so I try and keep down how much I use eggs on things and in equipment for my own peace of mind.

I squash up my eggs at work for egg mayo. I don't think I'll get away with making my own mayo

No Push It might be taking it too far making mayo at work.

I'm finding this really hard this time around. I'm desperate for something chewy and crunchy and... well, carby.

It's probably not helped by my diet at the moment. I seem to accidentally be feeding myself a lot of baby food at the moment. Loads of yogurt and soup and pate.

Today, I've eaten:
B: chicken, leek and bacon stew
L: homemade mushroom pate and roast chicken thigh
D: broccoli and cheddar soup

I just feel really dispirited and carb-fluey at the moment. I feel like I'm not losing weight and that there's no point.

On the upside, I learned how to make homemade garlic mayonnaise today, so thank you!

PlayNice How about grilled/ fried halloumi? It's crispy, slightly chewy and just delicious.

Push - unless you're eating 100g mayonnaise, which I seriously doubt, don't worry!

And I hope you're using an oily dressing on your salads? I agree with wombat, adding butter to your eggs will be a good thing.

And sorry to hear things are tough financially

PlayNice

How about making some Parmesan crisps? Really easy! Just grate a load of Parmesan, put it in heaps onto an oven tray (leaving space between the heaps), season with black pepper and - if you like - cayenne, and then put in a hot oven and bake until they melt and brown. Take them out of the oven and let them cool, when they'll go crisp

BIWI while you are there can I ask - imtraining heavily as well and pretty much stuck to boot camp rules could I have lost 4.8kg in just over 3 weeks?

Sorry RJ - I meant to reply to you earlier.

Of course you could have! (Unless the batteries in your scales need replacing )

You're doing brilliantly well.

I second this

PlayNice How about grilled/ fried halloumi? It's crispy, slightly chewy and just delicious.

Halloumi was my most amazing LCHF discovery and really satisfied that need.

Brunch was bubble and squeak (cauliflower and mashed celeriac fried) with two fried eggs. It looks a bit of a mess but tasted lovely.

Dinner a pork stew made with LV veg and little whole turnips.

Forgot to photograph the stew.

Tap water glass X 6
Sparking water 500ml X 3
Black tea cup X 3
Mint/herbal tea cup X 4

Too busy today! Lunch at 1.30 but didn't get dinner until gone 9pm.

B - coffee with cream. Bite of chicken.
L - bought greek salad - not much feta! Half an avocado
S - few olives
D - 2 home-made burgers, leek/mushroom/spinach mix, fried in butter

Out tonight and did have alcohol but not a bad day overall.

B: scrambled eggs, cheese, half avocado,
Coffee with cream
L: prosciutto and mozzarella salad
D: German sausage dish with sauerkraut and wilted spinach, followed by cheese plate (no frackers, small amount of apple chutney)
S: black coffee, almond milk hot cacao

Tomorrow will be a challenge - work so that
goes on all evening and I know is only catered with canapés

Oops forgot my booze - a glass of Sekt and a glass of red

Sorry - bit late to the party this week. Have been stupidly busy at work..., still managed another 2 lb off though. Quite happy with that