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.

kermit this woe has given me really irregular periods, despite being over 6 months in I still haven't settled back to my regular 29 days - was due on Monday/Tuesday and still waiting!

C4. I honestly believe that you should just eat whatever you feel your body is craving, whatever the type of food. You have barely eaten this week, I would concentrate more on quantity of food to get your appetite going again rather than quality of food. You've been really unwell, you need to eat to recover.

My lunch and breakfast are usually left overs "Wombattoo* (sometimes my dinner too) so lots of repetitiveness for me but I agree it's so much easier. Left overs are my life line, and I don't tend to get bored with food I like (and I like most food).

C4 I agree with everyone else, eat anything and every thing you fancy when you fancy it. Your body needs nourishment and you need to regain your appetite. I'm sure you're pleased when Spug manages to eat anything you offer him, no matter what. Right now you are as fragile as that baby bird. Eat and your strength will return (physical strength to match your inner strength) Remember you've got training to do for that long walk.

Wombat welcome home, my health is never going to be stable but losing weight will reduce the risks of things like chest infections and the less of me there is the easier it is for me to move around. I think if I wait for a better time I just won't do it. I can't face going back on a very low calorie diet and feeling too weak to do anything.

Sayrra that dream is weird - I would love someone to analyse that.

Kermit I have form when it comes to raising wildlife, especially birds. He is super cute, they bond really quickly to whoever is feeding them.

BIWI you brute, but I hear what you're saying so I'm going to indulge in my go to comfort food this morning and have some porridge. Do you think that eating HF is harder because I've had my gall bladder removed?

Some poetic justice for Spug, he needs a high protein diet so will be having cat food for breakfast after almost being cat food himself.

very no he's not a taxidermist but I know where that bit of the dream came from. I was looking at a gift a friend had been given for Christmas when I was at her house yesterday. It was a diy kit to make your own taxidermy mouse! Very odd.

Currently sitting in the middle of a field doing my judging duty. I've had a cup of tea and some prawns I need a wee but I'm not sure when my next rider is due and I'm also not sure what side is the "back" of the tree

@C4pinkwheels I've had my gallbladder removed and I'm having no problems at all. Eat woman, and eat lots

C4 congrats on the hair. Hope you feel a little bit pampered. I bloody hate the hairdressers so it's an ordeal for me! Hope you find the perfect dress today. You must be so excited for the graduation. Your DD sounds amazing. And YY to advice about eating. When you don't eat your appetite goes. Get some hot buttered toast or whatever else you like into you and get your appetite and metabolism going again. Health before WOE very time. Your body needs fuel to heal. At this stage any fuel not just bc fuel. Don't make the Namaste Bitches come round and do an intervention!

Sayrra at that dream!

Oliver there is so much still to be learnt about allergies. 50 years ago the doctors knew exactly zilch. I second the fodmap diet idea. There is a lot you can learn yourself by trial and error and elimination without tests. But whatever you do don't get tested by one of those bioenergetic machines offered by the snake oil people. Its total hokum. You can get a basic £29 home testing kit from many sources but it's limited and I expect you really need a specialist giving you a thorough approach.

We cross posted C4! Enjoy the porridge. You said you don't want to be on a low calorie diet feeling weak. This is exactly what you are on now! Get some calories in and regularly! Weight loss comes after your immediate health improved. You'll just get back to it in a couple of weeks and we are all here for you.

Sorry C4 cross posted back up there.

at diy taxidermist mouse kit and wrong side of the tree SayrraT. Dirty I couldn't help picturing the latter, your embarrassed face surrounded by bemused rosette winners.

Kermit I'm so glad you can still manage to eat a woman without your gallbladder. That must be such a relief to you.

B- mushrooms and scrambled egg
L- protein roll with cheese or avocado and salad
D- fathead pizza with veg
Yoghurt and raspberries

I'm coming to the end of my patience with bootcamp meals. There isn't much I can do to change them up as being vegetarian it's all variations of the same ingredients just prepared different ways. Eggs, vegetables (around 10 different ones I guess, but I don't have them all every week as it would get wasted) tofu, cheese, salad. I like them all but it's definitely limited.
My weight loss is slow; 6lbs overall now in 9 weeks of low carbing. I'm ok with that as long as I keep losing - but haven't seen movement for 2 weeks now. I will definitely see bootcamp to the end but I'm feeling slightly anxious about what happens next for me. I was sad yesterday so I ate a tracker bar and a mini mars. Could have been worse (tracker 9g carbs) but obviously it's still the stress/sad=sugar response.

Oh Kermit I've just reread that. I thought it was a typo. Read it properly this time. (does this one mean embarrassed, I'm never sure, I think I need emoji training)

Ha ha very had to reread my own post and did wonder what you were on about means sick/envy is the one you wanted

Morning all--mad crazy week and a variety of eating challenges but certainly don't feel I've lost this week.

Will have Perfectly on Plan weekend at home with more control over my food, and double my treadmill sessions to see what comes up on Monday.

Went to dinner party at a friend's last night and she kindly made two LCHF friendly salads to go with the lamb (and potatoes and bread and couscous). I would have been happy with lamb and one salad but felt obligated so ate more than I normally would have, the irony.

Very kind of her (I hadn't asked) and she also provided a cheese board with the pavlova and cheesecake on offer. #goodfriend #nosabotage

Sorry not dirty.

Thanks Kermit

adalind have you got any of the low carb veggie cook books? They might give you some other ideas. I think one is by Rosie Elliott, I'm sure that's one I've seen recommended. Maybe others will have other recommendations.

Morning all.

C4 please just eat whatever you fancy/can keep down. You need to get some calories into you to get your strength back. I know you have been through the wringer but have you always lost your appetite during times of stress/illness? My sister is like this and finds just eating a little of what she fancies kick starts her appetite again.

I had my tooth drilled down yesterday. I was fine until the anaesthetic wore off . I got home and went to bed as I came over all tired and emotional - I'd worked myself up into a bit of a state . I had face ache for much of the night. It's settled down for now but I can feel it niggly in the background. Pffftt.

Clear do you follow a programme on your treadmill or just jump on?

I haven't, I'm pretty broke atm so just been using online recipes. There are loads of nice things but they are all variants on courgette, feta, eggs etc as far as I can see!

I can imagine it's tough adalind!

Adeline that is a shame. It is quite hard as a veggie isn't it. I have to be quite inventive and I eat fish so a pescatarian. Veggie meals I have made recently include quiche with almond crust, baked aubergine with tom and cheese, mushroom curry with tofu and cauli rice, halloumi and roasted veg, fathead pizza and stirfry veg with tofu. I must admit my meal when I am stuck is often fish and brocolli.

I think I might make a curry tomorrow, that's one I haven't explored much. I'm used to putting tinned tomatoes in a curry and they are quite carby u less you only use a tiny bit. A dry curry would be nice, mushroom or paneer with spinach maybe

Adalind I feel your pain. I am veggie but I can't eat dairy or wheat because it brings me out in eczema. I am not a fan of eggs and tofu and am getting very bored. I was sticking to the plan although like you had not lost huge amounts . I seemed to have stalled at about week 3. I was weighing myself daily and loosing 3-4 lbs one day then putting it all back on oner the next 6 days but then someone told me I shouldn't be eating Quorn as it was a processed food and since then it has all gone to pot.

I have all but given up.

Not too sure what I am going to do. Feeling really low at the moment.

Oliver I can urge you to keep going for another 2 weeks just to see. I stalled at week 3-4 as lots do. If you stay the same then maybe accept LC doesn't suit you. I think as veggies we probably just can't get the big losses that people get if their main food is meat or fish.
There are health benefits to LC but it only works if the food you are eating is tasty and satisfying enough for you not to miss carbs. Your diet is far more restricted than mine so I do think you will find it hard to do this long term. But stick with it until week 5 and see what happens?