Week 4 - Low Carb Bootcamp - Coming to the end of our first month

[BIWI]

I know! Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for your delectation!

Remember, week 4 is, like week 3, a time when weight loss tends to be pretty slow, if not non-existent. KOKO and persevere, and things will get going again soon.

But not if you cheat! Whilst many of you have been very honest about your transgressions, just remember that this WOE is not a very forgiving one. It's not like a calorie-controlled diet, where you can compensate for one 'bad' day with a 'good' one. As some of you have already found out the hard way!

Lost my 3lb gain overnight now I've stopped cheating. Made almond and coconut flour pancakes for dinner which were very nice. Strange eating pancakes without the sugar high.

Naschkatse I can't say that I don't miss/crave or get tempted by sugary things. I do. I weakened a couple of weeks ago and had some fruit pastilles. I was VERY disappointed. They were just too sweet and I realised it wasn't worth it.

2 nights ago, I was really craving a piece of chocolate cake. DH was mega shocked. I don't have anything like that it in the house so it wasn't an option but the craving was there. It had passed within an hour or so

Grrrr, just 'spent' 3.4g carbs on a flippin' coffee in Macdonalds. Asked for an americano without thinking then only realised when I was half way down it had milk in it, which I never even have. And the avocado I bought for lunch was all black when I opened it. I am not loving today!

What recipe did you use for the pancakes Cherrypi? I've just bought some coconut flour so might give them a try.

@C4pinkwheels

I'm sorry but neither of those flours is allowed as they're way too carby.

Rye flour varies from 64-72g carbs per 100g, and buckwheat is the same.

So, pork belly:

I have devised a method I'm testing out tomorrow that i THINK should work.

Cut a bramley apple into quarters, core and put in the bottom of your slow cooker so it forms a sort of rack for your meat to balance on top.

Score the pork belly rind really well and rub salt all over the skin.

Place pork belly skin side up into the slow cooker balanced on the apple, stick the lid on and cook on low for however long you're out of the house (11 hours for me tomorrow )

When you get home, take the belly out and place skin side up on a rack tray for the oven. Pat the skin really dry and salt it again.

Stick it on a super high heat in the oven until the crackling crisps up.

Strain off the juices from the bottom of the slow cooker into a pan and reduce with some gravy granules to make gravy. It wont need a lot, probably a tablespoon for 2 people's worth of gravy. If you want to, you can mush the apple you strained off together to make apple sauce (about 2g carb for a tablespoon), it should be full of pork fat .

I work out that cooking it like this (assuming 1 table spoon of apple sauce made with Bramleys and a teaspoon of gravy granules per person) and served with asparagus/ other low carb veggie comes to 7g carb for the whole meal.

I'll report back anyway.

I'd have done it today, but there's a lamb neck fillet in my slow cooker

Also, does anyone else lurk on the 'what did you eat today' threads and play the ever entertaining game of 'spot the LCHF'er'?

I also have a macabre fascination with what people consider a 'good' day of eating.. it's fascinating!

'Phone it in' means to do a crappy, half arsed job. Phoning it in in this context means not putting effort and energy in to the workout

stunt and adalind that's what I assumed. Though I'm usually too red faced and gasping to care that much!
Have food network on in the background while I procrastinate do some revision
Paul Hollywood just had a crisp butty. I would looove a crisp butty. Going to eat some clotted cream instead

Goodbad Didn't realise it might be a breastfeeding thing - thought it was just me being weak willed.
I don't miss the carbs at meal times (because I'm eating delicious food) it's in between. Low carb snacks just don't have the same appeal! If I can put down a very clingy baby at some point this afternoon I will try and make some more cheese crisps and maybe the chocolate truffles.

StuntNun I've had a bar of dark chocolate in the cupboard since we started BC. It's stayed there because I don't really like dark chocolate! I will try and convince myself it's a treat.

Jiminny I used to like lurking on those threads but it's just fuelling how carb cravings. The crisp one yesterday (how many packets is too many or something along those lines.)

Love the pork belly recipe Jiminny ! Going to try that one

I kind of made it up flibberty. 2 eggs and a few tablespoons of ground almond then a tablespoon of coconut flour to thicken it a bit. Chucked all in the mixer then fried.

I like lurking on the other weight loss chats and feeling glad that I'm not doing low fat/low calorie etc. Though some people have excellent losses that way too.

Try some new things at dinner, I bought a spiraliser and found courgettes. Also bought swede which I love mashed but going to try making fries#

Adalinde, the fries are really nice.
I cut really thin circles, then chip them so that they're really thin.
Toss in olive oil and salt, then cook. The're really tasty.

To those who say their flaxseed bread is fishy.
Could it be the flaxseed meal you're using?

I'm on my 3rd loaf of flaxseed bread and I use M & S flaxseed. It doesn't taste fishy at all.

I made some cream cheese pancakes on Saturday. I put (way too much) cajun seasoning in the mix. And I fried the whole mix at once as it didnt look like a lot. However It was nice if a little too salty. I would use less seasoning next time and fry little batches!

My duck crackling is here... Its very nice but I think I prefer the pork.

style I did wonder that. I am using Linwoods and it was a fresh packet - what I think is more strange is how the flavour of the bread evolved overnight

Will definitely look into trying another brand, because otherwise it is perfect for satisfying that need for bread.

I must confess, I am struggling a bit today. Had a big lunch but still feel hungry. Am having a creamy coffee and some extra cream to help fight off cravings. My period is due in a few days so it could be connected with that. Must stay strong!

NSV: quite a few people around the office have noticed I've lost weight and seem very interested when I tell them about LCHF - they can't quite believe I am eating lots of butter and cream

If you're missing crunchy snacks then Ocado sell salt and vinegar pork scratchings. They really hit the spot when you miss abut of crunch. They also have chilli, BBQ and maple flavours, as well as plain.

Also, does anyone else lurk on the 'what did you eat today' threads and play the ever entertaining game of 'spot the LCHF'er'?

Yeah.
In the supermarket I picked up some double cream, bacon, macadamia nuts and some courgettes. I felt as if all eyes were on me thinking
'yep, she's low carbing'

I'm getting paranoid

Thanks Cherrypi, I will give it a go for brunch once I've got some ground almonds.

I've just finished making low carb meatloaf and

It was truly disgusting!

It all went a strange pink colour and half was solid and half had turned to a mushy pate type paste.
I had to throw it in the bin

I think we are all having a strange day, one way and another

I tried to make a low carb choc mug cake - from one of those blogs that raved about how great it was. OMG it was inedible!! Like salty, eggy choc colour but not flavour. Bleurgh. It's DH birthday and I wanted something to eat when the rest of the family are having cake.

I got to try the M&S salami crisps yesterday. Blimey they are lovely! Just as lovely as the Chorizo ones. £7 for three tiny boxes is way too much to pay though.

lack of sleep raises cortisol levels which increases insulin leaving you hungrier than usual ah this explains why I am so hungry today compared to yesterday - DDs between them had me up from 4

Nasch Didn't realise it might be a breastfeeding thing - thought it was just me being weak willed you are too harsh on yourself! When I was BF I was RAVENOUS. I was eating carbs carbs carbs. All my friends who BF said the same. Added to the disturbed nights it is a lot for your body to do. I wouldn't have been able to low carb while I was BF

It's been a long day so far! I have such little motivation and really tired atm. Could it be down to low carbing?

Breakfast: coffee (running to late)

Lunch: mixed salad (grated courgette, leaves, olives, celery, red cabbage) with bacon and feta and a mayo/lime/basil/coriander dressing.

Snack: pork scratchings.

Dinner will be: chicken with stuffed aubergine (cheddar and mozzarella).

Snack tonight will be jelly with cream.

Only 1L water and 2 black coffees so far.