Week 7 - Summer Low Carb Bootcamp - are you still with us?!

[BIWI]

Morning all

Here's the spreadsheet - sorry to keep you all waiting!

So we have four full weeks before our final weigh-in - still time to lose half a stone if you stick at it.

Here's to a good week ahead

If you don't fancy three days of eggs then check out the Ubercamp menus on the spreadsheet.

Those who have gone off track pigged out a bit in the last few days

Anybody up for doing it (the 3 day egg fast) with me?

I would start tomorrow, as I've already had flaxseed bread this morning.

I like the egg fast idea as it sounds nice and simple and easy to follow. If I'm going to be irritable for a few days (my own fault), I don't want to be faffing about with recipes as well.

Mandelinka Sounds exactly the same. I just cook it in a ramekin so that it's a muffin shape. They're okay but the texture is a bit off - I'm tempted to do some experimenting with ground almonds as well as the coconut flour.

OldBooks I used to be on propranolol and fluoxitine but came off both about 6 months ago and managed just with CBT techniques and mindfulness for a while, but the clinical psychologist I saw yesterday was basically like 'it's your own fault you're struggling because you came off the meds' , so I've got a new prescription now although I'm loathed the start taking them again. I KNOW I'm only bad at the moment because of a tough spot at work and because of dad, as soon as things settle down I'll be able to get myself back on an even keel but in the meantime it's like swimming through mud tiny things take me from 0 to red zone anxiety levels before I've got a chance to take 5 and sort my head out, luckily I can recognise the difference between rational reactions and anxiety now so it's a bit easier to control

BIWI will tell you off for wasting money on keto strips. So long as you are following the rules you shouldn't need them...

I did an egg day, it was ok because you can have fats and cheese

It sounds really positive that you can manage without the meds Jim. The person you saw yesterday sounds spectacularly unhelpful . I had to wean off Sertraline in my last pregnancy and it was awful, I was self harming again and in the end it was agreed to induce me at 39 weeks so I could get back on them. I am also really scared of my DDs being aware of any mood swings etc so I would rather stay on them for the moment! But long term I would like to experiment with reducing the dose or coming off them. My other concern is how bad my PMT gets and I feel like the meds take the edge off that too. I hate hate hate PMT and periods and cycles and all of it. I don't want more kids well I would if money, time, physical & mental health were no object can't it just stop!?!

Have you come across Andrew Johnson Jim? He does really amazing meditations. I'm absolutely certain you'll find an anxiety on in among them. They can all be bought online. His voice is so soothing and he's really helped me. People really rave about him. He has even done a guided meditation on getting back in control of food/binging which I know is brilliant. I used to use it and then stopped for some reason.

I've had quite an emotional morning. I got a voucher to make a photo book for Christmas and I've finally got around to using it. I'm making book of the last 2 years. I don't exactly have lots to put in it because I haven't done much but in particular the few photos I have of me are mostly from me being nearly 2 stone bigger. Some are quite important, like me with my nephew. My instinct is to leave all photos of myself out but I'm not doing that. That would be awful. So it's really hard going through them all, putting them all in and realising how bad I look when I'm bigger. Wtf did I do letting myself get so big? Why didn't I realise how bad I looked? The weight went on so quickly and I was so distracted I honestly didn't know there was a problem until it was too late. I really really don't carry weight well at all. It's done such damage in my life and looking at myself in those photos as such a big woman I have to accept that I'm the one who's done it to myself because no one else has force fed me.

In some ways I feel proud because I've obviously now lost some weight and it's definitely still coming off. So it'll be ok. But I just can't understand how I could have sabotaged my own life so badly. So much would have been different had I been slim.

It makes me really keen to be strict and get this fucking weight off for good. My fat can most definitely piss right off.

dustmotesinthesun I'll check him out, thanks!

Also I am TOTALLY with you on the photos thing. I'm in the process of putting together our photo board for the wedding and over the last 9 years (it will be 10 on our wedding day) the photos of me just get gradually fatter .. the ones from the last 4 years are particularly awful. On the day I'll hopefully be wearing a size 12, but all the photos of me and DP range from an 18 to a 22 , I don't want people pointing at the photos and saying "gosh she was really big wasnt she?" or even "she's lost tons of weight!" - that last bit would probably be a compliment but on my wedding day it's the last thing I want to be discussed with me or between the guests.

At the moment, the photos consist of 1 or 2 of me and DP and about 50 of the dogs

I really seem to be having such a struggle at the moment. Today my PMT cravings are even worse. I almost licked the window of our local patisserie and quite went to pieces when a friend stopped me outside to chat. Don't think I was much of a conversationalist as all I spent most of it resisting the urge to tell her to STFU and let me get away from the cakes. Generally feeling quite stabby.

I'm totally constipated, which I think will be all the eggs, despite drinking at least 4L every day. Although I am slow moving in that department generally I haven't 'been' for nearly a week now. I'm very sensitive to caffeine so usually avoid it, but am going to have to have strong coffee today which always works but will probably keep me up at night so my stomach will be better but the rest of me won't.

I made some of those almond/flax crackers last night which were nice but still didn't 'satisfy' me. So on a whim I ordered some of the atkins chocolate. Not ideal but I figure a day of that is better than a full on blow out, kicking me out of ketosis etc plus its meant to get your stomach 'going' which for me wouldn't be a bad thing.

Also as an aside I must apologise as I have noticed that my rather lengthly posts are mainly about me! I'm not totally narcissistic but as I'm from a family of people who are all slim and have a DH who is a total gym bunny with a body fat percentage in the single figures, I've been promised a slow death if I bang on about my diet to them all any more, so I don't really have anyone else to talk to about

dust, jim photos are hard. I have forced myself to just smile and bear it, because otherwise there won't be any pics of me with my babies. And I don't want them to notice that mummy hates the camera. But every photo of me I just pour over it and pick myself apart DH can't understand it, and it's something I think is worth bearing in mind, that he people who love you don't see 'fat' they see YOU, because you are not fat, if that makes any sense!

I am totally the same with photos. Always been a camera dodger. I'm sure I've lost a lot of memories because of this.

sasha don't apologise. This is what this thread is for. We are all talking about ourselves! It's a journey we are all on and sharing our ups and downs, revelations, tips, advice and support is what is keeping us all going.

Can you try a laxative rather than Atkins chocolate?

I know what you mean jim. Anyone pointing out to me that I've lost weight just makes me think they thought I was a big fat pig a month ago. I'm still fat lets call a spade a spade. But people say 'Oh you are looking ' or 'I love that dress you look nice today' and instead of feeling good, I just think they wouldnt have said that to me in April. This is the self sabotage I do to my self esteem.

oldbooks have you tried different pill prescriptions? Some of them stop periods altogether and some help with PMT.

Sending healing vibes to everyone whose life is providing extra challenges.

Sasha that consequence is the thing that makes me avoid the egg fast (though I am impressed with its results). Flaxseed crackers may not taste that great, but do help a lot for me. I have also recently discovered senna pods. Three pods in a mug of hot water before going to bed has been miraculous for me, especially even on holiday. Gentle but effective and no unwelcome after effects. I know i would be feeling on edge after a week. Celeriac and spinach are both on the bootcamp approved veg. List, to add some bulk.

[ I picked up a sackful of the pods for a couple of Euros on holiday, so hope you find some, too. Happy to send you a handful The sack is clearly a lifetimes supply, and I started quite late on in life and can't imagine ever using them all up ... but you know what they say about people you don't know sending you 'drugs' anonymously]

Thanks for that tip dustmotes. Fell into a lovely low carb Pinterest rabbit hole. Just made some peanut butter fat bombs which are delicious. Think I'm going to really indulge in low carb food so I don't feel deprived and quit. Going for another swim tomorrow to get rid of some of the booze damage from last weekend. Just had a really stressful toddler supermarket situation and resisted the urge to eat burger baps I'd bought for the family. Small victories hey. Did eat several spoons of clotted cream at home though.

YoLo, I don't get on well with the combined pill so have been on mini pill since DD1 was born. It was great, no periods at all. Came off to try for DD2 and then went straight back on. Again nothing .... Until I started BC!! Have now had 3 separate periods since May. So losing weight has stopped the magic of the mini pill

Thanks! I was feeling quite guilty about all my moaning, I'm sure some of that is hormones. Meant to be doing work on the house today but I'm watching Titanic in my underwear!

I'm very nervous about taking laxatives after a horrendous experience with Dulcolax. If you ever want a laugh try reading some of the online reviews for that. I have taken what I think was liquid senokot before at a very low dose and found it ok. Do you know which pods they were Finally? Seems to be a whole array of senna products available.

The coffee I think is starting to work based on the grumblings in my stomach so hopefully I'll get some relief by the end of the day.

I can totally relate about the photos. Without bragging, I have a beautiful family, sometimes they look like they're out of a catalogue, and its SO depressing that I'm the blob in the middle. As I see myself get fatter in the pictures I get so annoyed because I think why didn't I do something THEN or even THEN. I know my family loves me regardless but that doesn't change how I feel about myself and I often feel like they're just trying to be kind but deep down I know would prefer me slim too. I get being slim isn't everything but when I was I never realised how much hard work it is being fat and how easy I had it! Its properly depressing to know that most of the photos we have up only include my face or not even me at all because I'm so uncomfortable looking at them.

I'm sorry so many of you can relate about the photos. It's sad. I think it's so important to be included in shots but it's so hard to see yourself in 3D too. I do a lot of looking quite selectively at myself in mirrors or avoiding them totally. At my parents' house is the most wonderfully slimming mirror - it takes at least 1/2 a stone off - and I think that mirror is a large part of my general denial because I always look good in front of it. Maybe helps that I can only see my upper body and it's mostly my lower body where I carry the weight The light in that room is ultra flattering too. So photos are always a shock

Here is an Andrew Johnson meditation on controlling your emotional eating by the way. Not sure if it's the same one I used to have but it's fantastic if so.

Cherrypi glad it helped. I do the same thing when I'm wavering. So many nice meals on pinterest.

Sasha people harping on about themselves is what makes the thread! We all relate to each other's experiences so you'll still be helping others by chatting about what you're struggling about/finding easy

I bought a few cherries for my lunch today. Only had a small amount but they were so delicious.

enid yes, it's lovely

Enid I've saved the link but not tried it yet! Hope it's not inedible

I totally get the photo issues. I really don't like pics of me with the DC when they were babies as I got so huge wth each pregnancy.
But also saw some pics from a holiday about 7 years ago and at the time I thought I looked so fat (was prob 12-14)! I would love to be that size now, I wish I could go back and tell my younger self that I looked fine.

Oops missed that comment goodbad! That's good to hear

Dust. I know what you mean about photos. Get some new photos taken to put in there at a next family/friends event, so you can see the progress!

Jim On your wedding day, you'll be so happy, you won't care what other people are saying. You'll just be swanning about looking all slim and gorgeous and feeling on top of the world

I've eaten a lot of eggs and cheese so far today due to the fridge being practically empty. We've just planned to go out for dinner very last minute with friends and the menu looks like a low carbing nightmare! Everything comes with bread/potatoes/chips and I couldn't see any extra sides to swap with. The one salad on the menu has a honey mustard dressing too! I'm hoping the real menu (as opposed to the online one) will have some more options for sides so I can swap.

SashaSashays I highly recommend the glycerine suppositories for that level of constipation. They were a revelation.

I want to buy those ketosis strips but worried the chemist will give me the evil eye over it.

style bless you, why do you give a toss what your chemist thinks?

And BIWI's only gripe about the sticks seems to be they would be a waste of time as all the water you're drinking will remove the ketones and yiubwont get an accurate reading. Or summat science-y.