Week 8 - Summer Low Carb Bootcamp - two months almost done ...

[BIWI]

Morning all

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness once more

So the finish line is almost in sight. I see from the last thread that some of you have been struggling to stay on track - just three more weeks to go, so stay focused.

That 'it's only one piece of bread/one glass of beer' moment really isn't worth it. Been there, got the t-shirt.

If you're bored with the food - there are two things that could help you. Firstly, think back to the last time you were doing a low calorie/low fat diet - how awful was it to have to scavenge the shelves looking for something low calorie enough, and how often were you eating food that didn't actually taste that nice, but delivered only on the basis of being low calorie? Rice cakes that might as well be polystyrene ceiling tiles, for example!

And then go and read the recipe thread for some inspiration, and find something new to cook. There's nothing on there that's difficult to do.

I'd also say that I see a lot of you are trying to recreate things that are high carb - pizza or bread, for example. These things are very unlikely to be the same, or as nice, as the high carb versions. And all the time you're trying to recreate something you're missing, you're just reminding yourself that you're missing something!

So try not to do this, but focus on things that are beautifully low carb and that you can enjoy for their own taste and benefits.

Here's to a successful week for us all.

Afternoon! I'm still in bed . I had a creamy coffee while DS was getting ready for school and then went back to sleep after he'd left. I was out on call in the early hours.

I haven't had a chilli since BC started so I'm going to make one for dinner, minus beans of course, in my Instant Pot. I'm toying with the idea of making fat head nachos to go with. I'm definitely making a marinated slaw type thing with some of The white cabbage and have lots of gorgeous bits - avocado, grated cheese and full fat yogurt - to top it off. Chopped salad on the side. I am very excited about dinner tonight .

I don't have WhatsApp . I do have FB but I'm not sure of the inner workings of it. Someone will have to tell me what to do .

Can someone explain the science of this to me? Did I start turning protein into glucose, or was it something else?

I'm doing hard core BC again as I was feeling a bit rubbish earlier in the week. Hungry a lot, and quite hangry as well, feeling a bit weak and desperate to eat. I also had (far!) less weight loss than I'd expected over the holidays, given how strict I was. Eating with hard core bootcamp principles for 3 days and I'm already feeling lots better. When I reviewed my food diary over the holidays, I realised that although I'd been very strict with LC, my fat intake had definitely dive bombed. So essentially what I was eating a lot of was a barbecued protein (usually chicken or fish) plus salad at most main meals. Although I WAS putting olive oil on all my salads, it was maybe just a tablespoon. I couldn't even find full fat yog in the shops, cream was all UHT which I don't like, and I probably wasn't eating much butter. If you don't have anything to spread it on, and you aren't cooking with it either, then there isn't an obvious way to eat it.

I'm curious about the physiological processes that would have been happening - no real reason, just find it interesting (plus I'd like to avoid accidentally doing it again!)

Yes, ilovecherries, if your diet is too protein heavy, you can gain weight. The reason for that is that protein also produces an insulin spike - albeit that it's nothing like as much as if you're eating carbs. Whereas this doesn't happen if you eat fat.

With a WhatsApp group or FB wouldn't it all become confusing? And linking real names with personal stuff shared might be a bit too much for some people me. Even with the meet up I need to know people by their usernames because I just can't remember two lots of names! I would need to draw up a spreadsheet to keep track. I struggle now remembering who is who on bc! I also have a very public professional profile which I like to keep separate. That's why I don't use FB.

Any ideas other than WA and FB? Obviously we stay on bc. I thought the 30 day section was good idea

Re moving on to a 'safer' space; on various Bootcamps this has come up as an option. In one instance, a few of us moved over to OTBT to continue our chats between Bootcamps - however, we were 'stalked' by an unknown poster, who posted some quite nasty stuff.

It was a good lesson that even if you think OTBT is safe, it really isn't. It might not be searchable through Google, but anyone can find it if they're on Mumsnet.

The other option is to go to Facebook. I'm FB friends with several current/ex-Bootcampers, and that's nice - especially as you use your real names, and do feel like you get to know people better.

I'm also in a secret FB group with some of the very original Bootcampers, and we've had a couple of meet ups over the years - although I've yet to meet all of them.

The dynamic is always different.

What I'd say is that it's great to make connections and develop friendships, but I'd hate to take that away from Bootcamp. Nothing wrong with both happening though - if you've got the time and headspace to do all these things!

But I really wouldn't want to have these threads deleted. They are a source of inspiration to everyone who's here, or lurking. That said, if you're worried about something that you feel might be a bit too personal, or if you feel you've over-shared, by all means ask MNHQ to delete your post(s).

I use my big stick on Bootcamp when it comes to food/eating misdemeanours - but keep well clear of the direction the conversation is going in (unless something particularly unpleasant develops, of course! ). I don't see it as my role to direct or control the conversations - I think it's something organic, that develops as all the posters see fit.

Each Bootcamp is different, because the members are different - this one has been a particularly emotional one which I do hope means that it's because people here have the time and energy to support and help others who are having a difficult time. And one thing I've learnt over the last 5 years is that the reasons for being over weight are many and varied - and are often much more about our mental and emotional states than simply what we put in our mouths for sustenance!

@YoLoZammo an alternative is to keep an ongoing Bootcamp thread going, and to have a different username just for that one, so you can maintain your anonymity/privacy.

Dear Lord BIWI I couldn't cope with extra usernames for everyone on another thread!!

I'm definitely in the chorus of this show, so unlikely to join an additional group. I would like to stay on the BC threads though, like Style I'm close to my original target weight but v scared of falling off the (non existent) wagon and it all going to shit.

I've been on a number of the Bootcamps (think I signed up for the first one but didn't actually complete it as I wasn't yet in the right head space).

I already know quite a few MNers on FB via various interests (Woolly Hugs, Indyref and a previous diet thread) and although I haven't met all of them in RL, I have met quite a few and they've all been lovely

I've always been quite open on MN (my username is even a rough translation of my real name) so anyone who knew me would be able easily to identify me, hence why I am quite relaxed about posting picture of my beautiful distinctive cats. If I've ever wanted to post something I might be embarrassed by or wouldn't want people I know to find out, that's when I change names.

Any really personal stuff I share on FB, I tend to do in a secret group in which we share a common interest but, because we've got to "know" each other, tend to use the fact that it is secret to offload/ask advice/share quite a lot of off-topic stuff.

Eh, there's about 4500 people in a public basset hound group on Facebook who will recognise my dogs straight away, they have their own fan club I've posted my face a couple of times too, like I say it doesn't really worry me too much, I NC regularly although tend to keep the same name throughout bootcamp

Thanks for the welcome everyone, and thanks @C4PinkWheels I made them the other day for lunch with a thin layer on dijon on top and served them on a bed of spinach, and they were delicious. Pic attached. Might add the recipe to the recipe thread as it works with any tinned fish.

Jimm Knowning you a bit geeky and like the science, have you been following your magnesium inputs?

This article Magnesium deficiency induces anxiety

What with the extra Gym sweating, extra fluid intake, IF, egg fast, and stress of work dad life.

You might be suffering from a lack of the essential minerals rather than needing chemicals and their side effect.

Did you doctor run any test to see if you are deficient in essential minerals before prescribing drugs? No then ...... go geek and track and review. In the words of Sami Inkenin, ‘If you can measure it you can improve it'.
Stole that of the real meal revolution website.

Grah0SoontobeaFatty interesting, thanks for that!

I think in my case though it's far more likely to be my pre-existing GAD (generalised anxiety disorder), made unmanagable temporarily by a work mistake I made and worried A LOT about even though it really isn't a huge deal and is fine, plus my Dad and being generally completely burnt out at work and at home. That triggered a crisis which I luckily recognised immediately as soon as the intrusive "just get in your car and drive the fuck away" thoughts started happening. I immediately booked a same day emergency GP appointment and she quite rightly prescribed me an intrim, very short term dose of diazapam to get me down off the ceiling which allowed me to sleep (hadnt slept for 48 hours and was completely wired), and stopped me crying which I'd also been doing continuously at that point for about 12 hours, unable to bring myself back under control. That was the Friday.

I then took the weekend to focus on recovery, so I dragged myself up and out of the house to take the dogs for a really long walk. I found that being physically exhausted left me with no head space to worry about my work mistake, so I just spent the entire weekend walking pretty much.

I felt ok on Monday but still took diazapam before work, then knackered myself at spinning that night and slept fine without the diazapam. Took it again tuesday morning but haven't taken it since :) I've upped my gym sessions to keep myself exhausted as much as possible and the endorphins from that are helping too :)

At the same time I've been taking fluoxitine which will take a couple of weeks to start working and propranolol is dealing with the physical, pit of the stomach panic whenever that turns up.

The fluoxitine though has completely knocked out my apitite, so although I'm managing to eat something in the evenings I'm having low carb, high protien meal replacement shakes in the day time fortified with a dollop of double cream. Not good and not at all sustainable so my next job is to sort that out. Last night I ate steak and broccoli/ cauliflower and mushrooms all cooked in a ton of butter but that was after 2 hard core gym sessions in the day so I should have been starving. I wasn't and I felt very sick afterwards .. this can't carry on but the leaflet says it should settle down so I'm holding on for now.

I had a meeting today that was directly related to the mistake I made so my anxiety has been naturally higher and it's been a real struggle. I managed it without a breakdown though and it's been ok, no one is pissed off and the general concensous is it's a miracle it didn't happen sooner considering the work load I have at the moment. My manager is really supportive and the repercussions from it havent impacted the business so it's all fine, but I'm still feeling shit about it!

Sorry that was a really long post, TL;DR: I'm fine, mental health is improving, appitite still AWOL

Whyhas they look even better in the flesh, will definitely be making those if I ever start eating again.

Sounds like it's a positive outcome, though, Jiminny? Glad to hear that your manager is really supportive. I've been in unpleasant situations with workloads before, and not had support from my bosses, and it makes things even worse

Whyhas Welcome and definitely post the fishcakes on the recipe thread, they sound and look good.

Jim Sounds like you're getting it under control which is admirable! I hope your appetite comes back soon. Is there anything LC that is usually a treat that you fancy? Can you graze on something through the day and see if that helps?

I woke up with a really upset stomach this morning, I ate some whole meal pitta bread to settle it, which worked. I weighed it, 24g which is apparently 11g carbs!

B - (late, after the pitta) 'porridge' made with ground almonds and coconut and almond milk.
L - scrambled eggs and goats cheese with spinach. Yum - two ways I like eggs now!
D - will be chicken, salad and roasted swede.

I bought pork belly and have no idea what to do with it as I've never eaten it before, let alone cooked it. Any tips?! I've got cauli cheese in the freezer, so I'm going to do that with it. Do I just roast it?

Tuna steak with pesto, swede chips and roasted courgettes here tonight with lots of olive oil sloshing about. May have a cream coffee later as that always feels like a dessert to me. Had almond based quiche and salad with mayo for lunch and some greek yog and blueberries for breakfast.

I would like to stay on a thread later but may not cope with fb as well as reading mumsnet. Definitely want the ongoing lchf support to keep from slipping up.

Glad Stanley and his terrible personality is such a hit. Can't believe I wrote so much, so late, this is why I don't regularly drink coffee!

We've had a power cut all day which fucked up the egg fast. I couldn't even make myself a coffee. So have done an unintentional fast until about an hour ago.

Day 2 is effective over, and I will have barely eaten anything, but I'm not struggling and don't feel hungry. Egg fast seems perfectly doable to me.
It is I suppose repetitive but I've realised that not every meal need to be a treat and something I love, Its just fuel and part of a routine.

I have an interview tomorrow so am probably going to hardly eat again as will be so nervous. I always feel that they will hate me for being a fatty. Am trying to be positive about it but am absolutely dreading it! Plus its only the first stage, if successful I'll have another on Tuesday, plus I have one on Monday and Wednesday too. Am going to really struggle not to go down the emotional eating route this weekend!

Nasch you need to slow roast pork belly. Or slow cook/pressure cook it in a liquid before blasting it in a hot oven to crisp it up.

I've realised that not every meal need to be a treat and something I love, Its just fuel and part of a routine. This something a struggle with Sasha. It's one of the reasons I'm overweight. You'll knock 'em dead in your interview. Good luck .

I have a baby

SashaSashays

I know interviews are scary things and they are a real stressor.

But
what if you completely screw it up -- you might not get the job.
what if you completely ace it -- you still might not get the job.

i.e. other candidates and the job might not actually be available they are going through the motions and have given the job to someone else already.

You are not going to worry about them missing out on the awesomeness of you are you?
If they fail to recognize that awesomeness, then they're not worthy of a second thought.

Do you have all your questions ready?
Training , career options/ advancement , mentoring, do they have any opportunity for CBT out of hours or additional support to get you up to speed and productive.
Nothing about compensation. just show keen to support them achieve their goals.

what happens if you get all the jobs?

C$ congratulations.

But why can't I see the piccie MN?

Morrisons strikes again! Just had their cook from chilled garlic chicken and mushrooms. 2.2g carb per half pack and it was essentially garlic butter, chicken and mushrooms 30 mins in the oven and I stuck in some celeriac cubes to have with it roasted in lard.. ate it all it was lovely! Yes it's convenience food but a total life saver when you're at home alone and can't be bothered to cook!

Eek C4. Is it hurt? Did Elsa The Pervert do something naughty? Oh gawd this would send me into a gibbering wreck.

It's a baby bird Grah.

C4 how and why?!
I had a baby seagull in my bed once. It was not cute and it shat all over the duvet