Week 1 - Pre-Summer Low Carb Bootcamp - Off we go!

[BIWI]

Evening all!

I'm starting this thread now as I have to leave early for work tomorrow. and I know how keen you'll all be to weigh-in first thing, so won't want to wait until I can get round to getting it up and running

[[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/103TaUddLEq2Pb4ofRgsR2sMLkvgN5qK021keqkhFj8Q/edit#gid=0
Here's the link to the lovely shiny new Spreadsheet of Fabulousness ]] for which many thanks, SayrraT.

Your name should be on it, but if it isn't, just add it at the bottom. Don't try and re-alphabetise the list - Sayrra or Wombattoo will do that later.

And don't touch the blue cells!!!

I feel so disinterested in food right now. I'm having a really hard time in general, and I'm finding food a bit boring.

Either way, I weighed myself this morning and (two different weights from different places in the house) I've lost at least 3 pounds, and potentially 4.5.

I know it's probably just water weight, but I find it so heartening to see how well this woe works when you don't cheat and snack all the time.

I've done LC before and had wine, or squares of dark chocolate, or peanut butter, or hot chocolate, or berries (or, worse, honey or mints or small handfuls of cereal, or a sneaky bag of Propercorn) as 'occasional treats' - but ended up having them 3-4 times a day, sometimes replacing meals entirely.

I did lose some weight, but never anything like this. So I'm determined to stick to bootcamp for the two weeks, and see where I am at the end of that. And hopefully be a lot stricter with snacking in BC lite.

My food will be:
Breakfast: full fat Total yogurt.
Lunch: a cold, chopped lamb leg steak (accidentally well-done ) with salad, and some sort of oily dressing.
Dinner: baked salmon salad.

I think the exploding baby bel is nearer two minutes. Not done one for a while but I'd suggest doing a minute and then going up ten seconds at a time. It sort of all melts then starts to firm. The end result should be crisp but it won't be till it's cooled. Takes a bit of experimenting with as the temptation is to take it out too soon then it's greasy and chewy. It's similar to the cheese crisps done with grated cheese in the oven and you can do grated cheese in the microwave too. I've done it with Stilton which is good.

Sunborn glad it seems to be working for you! But you shouldn't be bored with the food already - we're only on day 4!!!

Have a look at the recipe thread for some inspiration - some really lovely recipes there.

Vinaigrette dressing

The basic:

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon wine vinegar (red or white, or cider vinegar - but not balsamic, as it's really carby)
sprinkle of sea salt and a good few grinds of black pepper

You can add:

finely chopped shallot
wholegrain or Dijon mustard, or some English mustard powder
crushed/finely chopped garlic
finely chopped herbs - any of your choice

or substitute the vinegar with lemon juice

dustmotes I had a quick cold blast in the shower this morning. I lasted about 30 secs . I'm such a wuss!

I was looking at Blue cheese dressings last night. There are loads on line, some more complicated than others. They all seem to have cream/sour cream/mayo as the base. I think we'll have chicken breasts with salad tonight tonight. I'll either make a blue cheese salad dressing or I found some recipes for a creamy blue cheese topping for chicken which sounds nice and involves mashing cheese with butter! Then I can have an oil salad dressing.

Morning campers

I nipped to Tesco before work this morning to pick up eggs, so I'll be testing out the coconut bread tonight .. I decided to go with smoked duck pate, then at least if the bread does have a coconutty flavour it wont be too bad with duck!. I also picked up soft goats cheese to have on it too

I also picked up cream cheese because I want to try cream cheese pancakes for breakfast on Saturday and garlic cream cheese to have with my chorizo crisps as a lunch. I need to watch the dairy but I reckon a bit at the weekend and none during the week is an ok way to balance it.

Menu for today:

B: Coconut coffee
L: Mozzerella balls, sundried tomatoes in oil and a big plate of salad dressed in olive oil
D: Chicken and stir fry veg cooked in loads of coconut oil with soy, garlic and a bit of ginger
S: I NEVER need to snack, but seeing as I'm making the coconut bread tonight it would be rude not to test it.. in the name of science...

Day 4 and feeling lethargic, managed to walk 5k this morning but feel drained. Headache has gone though which is good

Just had breakfast and made myself a smoothie with avocado, almond milk, FF Greek yoghurt and cream. It was...interesting!

Lunch will be a mushroom omelette with leafy greens and green peppers.

Dinner will be something with a chicken breast...does anyone know a good lemon chicken recipe?

to those struggling with carb flu. Like Chester I've been doing this in a half arsed way, so carb flu not as bad this time but was really sluggish and headachey and tired the last couple of days....but today I bounced out of bed like Tigger. I forgot how much better I feel when i properly low carb, I'm more motivated to exercise and in the rest of my life too. For those suffering, keep on, you'll feel great soon ( I understand how annoying I must sound-sorry!)

I think the key for me is proper meals, it's all too easy to just graze on cheese, ham, nuts and stuff throughout the day- you're never hungry but you're never satisfied IYKWIM and the carbs in dairy and nuts can really add up. Hoping this tough 2 weeks will reset things.

Today will be a struggle as lunch out but have preplanned from menu
B: Creamy coffee
L Asparagus, steak and green leafy veggies in oil and garlic, cheese resist the crackers
S Something light... salad and halloumi?

Have a fabulous time in Malta BIWI

Cream cheese pancakes - just any cream cheese and eggs right? Think I'll try those. I adore normal pancakes and was cooking them weekly.

Thank you so much, BIWI! That dressing sounds brilliant.

It's not so much that I'm bored with Bootcamp food, than that I'm a very carb-addicted person, and I snack a lot. I don't enjoy chorizo crisps, or pate, or cheese (by themselves) in the same way I enjoy carbs.

So, I suppose, 'I feel flat without the highs and lows of carb-addiction' would be more accurate than 'I'm bored.'

But this thread is really helpful! I'm definitely going to have a cooking day this weekend, and make lots of nice things.

I'm thinking perhaps a slow-cooked lamb, which I can make a fresh, sharp, salsa verde with and have during the week. And I definitely want to make some mushroom pate.

I'll get some olives in, as I really enjoy those as a snack - perhaps as much as carbs - and maybe make a crustless quiche or some breakfast muffins.

(Although, I made those once before and they got quite 'wet' and unappealing in the fridge. Does anyone have any tips for stopping that from happening? And how long do people keep them for?)

Sunborn I understand what you mean. Food doesn't hold the same appeal to me anymore as like you mentioned I don't get the sugar highs anymore. I suppose it's a good thing as I don't crave food so much now.

We don't have a microwave (or kettle!) in work which I think is a massive abuse of my human rights :( having cold butter fried omelette that I made last night for breakfast. Still can't get over being allowed to eat all this butter and fat...I mean I'm eating plenty of it I just need to keep reminding myself not to feel guilty!! Going out for a team lunch to a Malaysian restaurant. Having beef rendang without the rice x

BIWI, thanks for the electrolytes tips. Have just eaten some sea salt straight, which was actually fine, with a bit of water afterwards.

Apologies for starting BeanGate! Will try to behave myself from now on. Thanks for sorting out the spreadsheet, have copied and reordered the veg list so I can widen out a bit. So far have pretty much been sticking to peppers, courgette and spinach and getting a wee bit bored with them.

DP is highly amusing with this. Considering he has two biology degrees you'd think he'd have more idea. This morning's question was whether or not I could have fizzy drinks. I rarely drink them so was confused, then realised he was asking for gammon in coke on Sunday. Have said I'll do it, (though minus the treacle and sugar) - I'm hoping the carb content won't be too great.....?

So, yesterday's menu looked like:

B - Total yoghurt
L - salad with Bresola, spinach, cucumber, pepper and olives, with olive oil, dried basil (I think) and salt.
S - a couple of cubes of cheese

• (evening) - two slices of Parma ham and some cheese D - chicken traybake with peppers, courgette, cherry tomatoes (only had a few), garlic and chilli; with home-made chicken stock, lemon juice and olive oil. I included potatoes for himself but didn't have any.

Woke this morning to the smell of raspberry buns drifting up the stairs. Luckily dh has taken them all with him apart from the exact amount left for the children.
Enjoy your break BIWI.

Well I had a bit of a shocker last night - stuck at the office until gone midnight but had some smoked salmon and cream cheese stashed in the fridge so had that. Need to pop out to supermarket and make sure it is stocked up with some salad etc.

B: Greek yoghurt and a creamy coffee
L: planning on tuna and ham in mayo with lots of salad
D: TBC

Oh and I did a cheeky weigh in and nearly a 1lb down.

I am drinking coffee with cream!!

Waitrose has an offer on cauldron tofu so I have stocked up. Also some quorn ham. I usually avoid quorn as it gives me the runs so we'll see.
Lunch will be a scrambled egg I think. With asparagus and dinner will be something with tofu and cabbage.
30 lengths, a bike ride to and from the pool and a dog walk later when it is cooler (lazy beasts don't like the sun!).

I really fancy Malta. Please tell me lots of details and have a fabulous break.

Dance of joy this morning as the Waitrose near my work has a new deli range which is very bootcamp friendly. Chicken skewers, lamb koftas, herb frittatas and no sugary sauces. Made lunch very easy.

B- ff yoghurt with coconut chips for crunch
L- chicken skewers with avocado dip
D- cheese and spinach omelette

Morning all! Just catching up with the thread. This is my first bootcamp and not finding it too bad. I think the hot weather helps with not wanting to eat too much. Had a huge headache yesterday despite drinking 3 litres of water but have just had a very sweaty workout and feel much better. I've been sleeping better than I have for weeks and actually feel refreshed when I wake up. My tummy feels flatter after just 3 days so feel motivated to carry on! Well done everyone!

C4 I hope you're feeling better today.

Cherrypi and Daisy leg cramps are sometimes a sign of low magnesium. Spinach, yogurt and avocado are all good sources of magnesium.

ASD that coconut recipe is lush. It comes out slightly grainy because of the texture of the coconut, I have no idea how they get CoYo so super-smooth. It also has a tendency to split but you just need to stir it up before you serve it.

Dust my salad dressing is 150ml extra virgin olive oil, 50ml cider vinegar (or wine vinegar), salt, pepper, 1 tsp dried herbs, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp garlic puree. I like this OXO salad dressing shaker (although I don't remember paying that much for it) because you can make up a big batch to last a week or two. Yogurt dressing is also lovely: 80ml yogurt, 2 tbsp white wine vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Heman I just mix blue cheese and double cream in a saucepan to make blue cheese dressing.

Cherrypi cream cheese pancakes recipe - I leave out the sweetener and serve with a knob of butter on. They don't taste like pancakes, they're more omelette-y but they are delicious.

NameChange I do gammon in Coke in the slow cooker - just a gammon joint and one tin of Coke. I think Nigella says to use a two-litre bottle of Coke but you don't need that in the slow cooker. I can't see it adding much sugar, if any, to the ham.

I have managed to run out of cream and butter so I'm anxiously waiting for my shopping to be delivered.

Have given myself a talking to. Apologies for the tearful outpouring earlier. Really couldn't eat earlier, I was feeling so sick, but cancelled a meeting and went back to bed for a couple of hours. I know sleeping during the day isn't great when you aren't sleeping at night, but have decided it's about doing whatever I need to do to get through this till I feel better. Now sitting in the garden having a creamy coffee, and will eat a proper lunch in a couple of hours. Have a tray of chicken legs and thighs roasting in the oven - always feels that provides a good basis for a meal if not up to cooking. Reminding myself I went completely cold turkey from a high carb diet, so a bit of kick back from my body is not surprising. Hope everyone having a good day.

I made some low carb coconut after reading about on here. Haven't tasted it yet but it smells good.

to all those feeling rough. When it passes you will feel better than you did before starting low carb. It's really worth powering through.

I've eaten a HUGE pot of Total yoghurt since yesterday :-(