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!

Hello. I know I missed the beginning but please may I join? Ibstarted on Wednesday having been reading up. I have had this (ish) daily since.

Either an omelette or full fat total for breakfast
Hard boiled eggs, ham, salad portion, 6 olives with mayo
Steak, salmon, last night a venison burger and halloumi with salad and dressing.

Restricted tea and coffee to one mug of each. Drinking 2l water.

Have cut out all wine and alcohol. A two glass a day girl half a bottle

Have lost 4.5lb.

The catalyst was trying to buy a dress for glyndebourne, a garden party, son's graduation. I dis fisted myself in the changing room. Was 13st 2lb. 5.6.

I feel hugely better in myself. This had all just crept up. Until my mid 40s I was 10st 7lb. Exacerbated by breaking my foot and six months later my back. Strenuous exercise is out but I walk and garden and work full time. I made an excellent recovery. Am almost 57.

Take 100mcg thyrosine daily, have annual infusions of zolendronic acid (a bisphosphonate cor my osteoporosis and calcium and bit D.

Thanks Asmoto, I can see it on my face but tummy is harder to gauge

Blimey Jiminny BIWI won't need her stick! I haven't cheated or had a little of this or that and I know if I do it will immediately impact ketosis. Obviously dairy is a problem for me and I think I am going to log a week of meals to ensure I am on track with daily macros.

Jiminy remember that you have also had some wobbles on this woe too. I know that you are going for the hard line but not everyone needs that. shitty has already said that they've not eaten anything carby.

shitty have you done anything else differently? Scales in same place? I've weighed at OH's parents and I'm 7lbs heavier on their scales. Or have you done a lot of exercise recently? I'm sorry that it's not working for you don't have the pizza tonight though, please just try to hang on until the end of BC and see what the results are then.

Do you have any photos or measurements from the beginning of BC? How do they compare, I didn't think I looked that different until I looked at some photos. I'd you've not got any then why not do some now and compare at the end of BC?

Welcome roses

I had an amazing dinner last night, was mums birthday and we went to our favourite Indian restaurant. I ate whatever I wanted as it's a 140 mile round trip and we don't go to any other Indian. Ever. Having an egg day and will ride later, I find that's the best way for me to combat a planned (or unplanned) meal. For others new to this WOE you might not 'recover' so quickly/easily if you go off track now, I've been lcing for 6 months with only one other carby detour in that time. You need to give your body time to move into fat burning mode so don't be tempted yet!

Lemon squash with no carbs. Is that becaise it has sweeteners? I'm afraid there's evidence that your body still kind of treats sweeteners like sugar. Ditch the lemon squash and that might help. Cooled fruit tea is a good replacement. As is fruit infused water.

If you're having scale issues bit sticking perfectly to the diet then drop to weighing once a month. You're less likely to get all het up about it. When i'm due/on my period my weight jumps ny several pounds. I have in the past taken that for proper weight gain and fallen head first into a binge.

It's shit being overweight. Losing can feel so slow. It's hot. I feel like a whale. But every small step you take now does add up. Get on instagram if you want some inspiration. Lots of hashtags to search to see other peoples' transformations.

I'm actually trying to get into the mentality of what i eat today = determines how i feel one month from now. Eat crap = feel shit in a month because i'll be the same weight. Eat really well = be looking and feeling great in one month because i'll definitely be lighter. It's really motivating me because suddenly 1 min of pleasure eating something now means misery in a month's time and I don't want to do that to myself.

It's important for everyone to remember a few things, myself included:

1. These couple of weeks are notorious for stalling.

1. Extreme heat can make us swell and feel uncomfortable. It can also make us feel even worse about the fact we're not swanning about in floaty dresses and bikinis.

1. It didn't take a month to put on that four stone, ergonthat fiur stone won't come off in a month. That's science right there!

1. Weighing daily is hugely demotivating. Why would you set yourself up to be demotivated? Instead, do the things that motivate you and look to others who inspire you.

I do recognise manynwere simply expressing frustration and have no intention of stopping Bootcamp. That's understandable, that's what the thread is for. To all of you, .

Jim, is there a handy phone app I can use to get a graph like yours? CBA setting one up in excel.

Loads of people sounding really down today :(. I know from multiple previous LF dieting experiences that it's crap when the weight yo yos about or doesn't come off, and it's always the point I start making exceptions and bending the rules. I mentioned weeks ago that my only rule of this bootcamp was to follow the damn rules. To the letter, even if I didn't want to, didn't feel like it, others or myself were trying to sabotage me. Having done that, it's working.

But it was about making a decision that this was really the most important thing I was going to do for the time I was in here. I see other people online charging upwards of £1K for something I'm getting for free. I just feel I'd be crazy NOT to grab the opportunity - a bit like Jim and the opportunity she has with her personal training just now.

For me that means meal and snack planning, being nice to myself when I'm feeling sad that I even got to this place at all, turning up here every evening and being accountable for everything that went into my mouth that day.

I have 4-5 stone to lose, so I know this is a long haul, and I'm not at the moment entirely convinced it will ever be super-easy. But it seems to work, when nothing else has. We go on holiday for two weeks next weekend. I've packed decent kitchen knives and a box of herb and spice sachets because I'd decided that I'm not going to jeopardise the stone I hope I will have lost by then for a few ice creams and fancy cocktails. It's hard, and I'm scared, and to be honest, if I could reschedule the holiday I probably would - but I know I need to get to the place where food is not the thing I use to relax, celebrate, comfort or entertain me. It just needs to be the thing that fuels me to do other fun and practical things.

Hope everyone has a great day today.

I will also half my dairy intake and cut squash, thanks for the fruit tea tip.

OldBooks, I think you are losing like me - I'm sort of caving in from the sides if that makes sense, and as the weeks go in, it's as if everything is slipping downwards at the front, so my belly button actually looks different. I think when you are doing everything right and it isn't working in obvious ways then it must be really hard - weight is the obvious measure we all use. I think it was stunt that said something really helpful to me, she said to remember that my body was undergoing massive biochemical changes internally, that I couldn't see, but were all priming me for massive change. I've found that helpful to remember when I feel crap - because actually I have felt quite rough physically so far.

It wasn't aimed at anyone in particular and yes, I've struggled loads as you know sayrra and have had plenty of whacks of the stick from various other posters in that time . I miss my motivating, positive thread where everyone was excited to be seeing health benefits. It's been dipping into carby twatdom territory for a while. Basically I'm really frustrated that this thread has become a long list of post of 'oh I had chocolate and toast today because I'm not losing weight' etc etc.. its horrible to be honest when you're trying to stay on track and see people on the same diet falling off the wagon and cheating their way through it it's demotivating.

You guys haven't gone off track so that bit wasn't aimed at you, but in general there's a lot of people falling off the wagon regularly and posting about it which is getting me down if I'm honest and stopping me from wanting to read.

I'm not saying don't post about it by the way, I'm saying don't cheat!

If you need support, absolutely post about it and everyone will try to help but when it's every other post mentioning dominoes or toast or potato etc it's really hard.

Bah. Sorry

ilove yep it's called happy scale :)

I will also go back to one of my favourite topics, which is that womengenerallytake care of everything else before themselves: their children, their partners, their work, their homes, their parents, their friends.

I would ask all of you (women and men) to remember how important you are, how much you deserve a long and healthy life, how life is inherently difficult (survival, etc) but so very worthwhile.

Many of us self-sabotage. If you do, ask yourself why. Address whatever answer you come up with, work on that, get help, whatever it takes.

We all have dreams. No child thinks "I want to be and do nothing when I grow up." So many of you have already achieved some of your dreams, and this weight loss and healthy life is another dream for you, a dream that you can and will achieve.

Give yourselves permission to have a good life. Put in the work to make your life good. Enjoy the rewards.

Namaste, bitches.

clear I love that namaste bitches has become a thing

Welcome roses

Jiminny it might not have been what everyone needed/wanted to hear but I'm going to save your post to read when i'm struggling. Sometimes you need a dose of tough love.

dust

Well, speaking of health benefits, yesterday I walked uphill in extreme heat to see the remains of a seaside castle in the southeast of England.

I didn't want to do it but was persuaded by the enthusiasm and desire of others, people I love, who wanted me to join them.

Six months ago that would have been out of the question. I wouldn't have tried. I'd have made some excuse, ormore likelynot even gone out for the day with them, just sat at home denying that it was a problem yet still feeling bad about myself. Feeling angry because I knew I wouldn't have physically been able to do it, but feeling resentful that they even wantedexpected!me to join them. Misery all around.

Yesterday, it was a doddle. And it was glorious. Peaceful and beautiful and happy.

I felt the breeze blowing my hair, the sun shining on my face, saw the light playing against the waves and turning the water into a beautiful blanket of rolling calm. I saw my loved ones smiling at me and I knew it was in part because I was there.

It was a moment I will treasure.

Anyway, I have to report that this morning I'm feeling physically a lot better, because I haven't felt fantastic the last few weeks, if I'm honest. I upped my carbs slightly through vegetables yesterday because I was feeling so yuck - nothing too drastic, just some tomatoes, red peppers and red onions, and three things have happened:

1. I had 8 hours unbroken sleep (don't think I've slept more than a 90 minute stretch for a month)
2. My itch has not quite but almost gone
3. Best of all, to quote another poster, Elvis left the building this morning after 5 days trying to find the door. Life is good

Clear that's lovely, DH is upstairs being a dying swan, DD1 is in full whinge bucket mode, DD2 won't nap, I have to entertain them, clean the house and sort out a father's day BBQ for tonight. This WOE is for ME, for my health and my self esteem.

ilove I love the idea of caving in from the sides!

Jim I am sorry I seem to have started a pity fest. I am actually feeling really positive! I have been at 2 social events this weekend where I haven't felt even remotely tempted to be a carby twat. I had a glass of prosecco put in my hand yesterday and didn't even sip it. I am not craving anything. I hardly feel hungry and my appetite has halved. I have more energy and sleep better. I just wanted BIWI to cast her eye over my week and point out where I can tweak to stop the scales yo-yoing!

Jiminy you're harsh but fair

If I understand the science behind this woe correctly, you won't 'gain' weight after a cheat but your scales will show a gain possibly for quite some time after. Mine didn't start moving down again for 2 whole weeks after a cheat (it was a whole weekend though)
I think if you are committed you have to trust the process and see it through to the end of the 10 weeks. If it doesn't work what have you lost? apart from £££ on all the cheese
I'm trusting the old timers and following it even when it appears to not be working

ClearEyes, my eyes filled tight up at that line about no child dreaming they will be nothing when they grow up.

A tip if you are confronted with Domino's or similar pizza and feel tempted - we had some at work and it was really difficult watching others tuck in - so I got a slice, quickly scraped off the topping, binned the bread and ate the topping very slowly (chicken and veg) - I didn't miss the bread at all.

That's lovely, Clear.

Oldbooks, I can see a difference in your photos. I've stopped weighing precisely because I find the change or not demotivating. I prefer to go by measurements and fit now.

I'm finding the heat a struggle but it's making it much easier for me to drink all my water!

For people who like spreadable butter, President is a good brand - they make it spreadable by adding a bit of cream. It is lush!

Morning! I've still been plodding on although not posting on the thread. Still on plan. I did have 2 glasses of wine on Wednesday night but that is it. Food all good. I can see a difference between the two photos Old. Particularly around the under boob/second tummy area. I agree with ilove - you are 'caving in' from the sides .

I have made the mistake of starting to weigh. Stupid fool. The scales are going up/down/not moving. Belly doesn't look any smaller. I think it's easy to focus on one area though. I must have lost weight around my upper arms/shoulders because certain clothes are not hanging right.

I also swear that fat moves around . So you lose a bit and think you are starting to look OK then it moves about and you start to look lumpen and horrid again until you lose a bit more. At least I'm hoping that's what happens to me!

I love that namaste bitches has become a thing

Me, too, Jiminy. Ita my mantra for all sorts of situations these days. Sometimes I say it to the burrito ingredients in my cupboard (the burrito I won't be eating until I'm at least two stone from my final goal weight).

I am feeling great, by the way, to counteract the pity . Yes, I am hot and wobbly, but not as hot and wobbly as I would have been four weeks ago, and this weather makes it so easy to keep up the water intake - I am on my second litre already. Also it makes cold meat and salad an ideal thing to eat - I don't crave carbs nearly as much when it's hot.

ilove. I use weight diary, it's a fab app that plots a graph - it works best if you weigh everyday which I know is dangerous territory for some.

jiminny. I think you are being quite unfair complaining about people slipping. Those complaining are obviously not happy about it so are stating it. It's hard for everyone to find the right balance, some will be unhappy with those saying they have lost if they haven't, others will be unhappy with people saying they have gained as it's demotivating. We just have to support each other how ever it's going.