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.

Adalind Have you looked at the Diet Doctor website? There are many recipes on there which may give you some inspiration.

Zero carb soya milk! Hurrah!!

I gave up being a veggie and discovered a passion for beef burgers. No help for a proper veggie though.

Not a veggie and personally hate mushrooms but would it be possible to make "mushroom burgers" from minced up mushrooms, chopped shallots, herbs/spices, ground almonds, Parmesan, olive oil and an egg to bind?

I'm afraid I was the same, Moist. Strict vegetarian, almost vegan except I ate honey for well over 15 years. Woke up one morning and thought 'I don't want to do this any more'. By dinner time I was eating roast chicken. The rest of the family (we were all vegetarian, though it was me who had started it), all followed me within a week. I certainly hadn't consciously thought about becoming omnivore again, it was a sudden but total decision. I still eat a lot of veggies and we have vegetarian meals quite often, because after all that time it's just part of how I cook, but I eat nearly anything now.

3 crispbreads with peanut butter.

Spug is in intensive care, I don't think he's going to make it.

R.I.P Spug our bootcamp baby bird

Awww poor Spug

Thanks everyone for the supportive words. Yes I'll go back on strict bc and try to post what I've eaten every day .. if my phone can load the thread.

Awww. No . Poor Spug .

I was a veggie for 20 years too. Think it contributed to my screwed up eating because I mainly ate toast.

So sorry C4. Glad you managed to eat something though.

I had an interesting lunch. Corned beef fritters. Slices of corned beef dipped in eggs then almond flour and Parmesan, they were baked but could have been fried. Served with buttered cauliflower and broccoli. Very quick and easy and quite tasty. Dh did nugget type things for the children but they actually preferred the corned beef fritters.

Been crazy busy this week and only caught up to page 15 but I have a quick question...
I have lean beef chunks/cubes (bought reduced). What can I make? I have a lot of ingredients but no energy for being creative with them!

i know if i ate meat i would be thinner. But i would also be more ill. The idea of eating meat is gross. And people tell me how Quorn is made is disgusting. but at least it doesn't involve killing another creature.

Gone back to eating Quorn so I am out of this.

What kind of meat is it? It sounds most likely to be braising or stewing steak, which would suggest long and slow cooking. And as it's lean, you'll need to add more fat, of course

I'd fry the cubes in butter and oil, to brown them and then remove from the pan; in the same pan sauté any veg you have to hand - shallots, celeriac, swede would all be good. Along with any other flavourings - garlic, herbs, etc.

Add the meat back to the pan, stir it all together - perhaps add some tinned tomatoes - and then put it all in a casserole and in a medium oven and cook for about 2 hours.

Lean braising steak tends to be quite dry, so don't over-cook it.

Heman at the moment I just get on and walk, changing my speed and incline depending on where it was the few days before.

I have a heart rate goal and a duration goal (45 minutes to an hour) and that's what I work toward.

When I'm a bit fitter I might look into some programs (I assume you mean the going sideways and reps on treadmill sort of thing?) for more body shaping, but at the moment my goal is purely cardio.

RIP baby bird.

Oliver I'm sorry you're feeling low. I second the motion to just stick it out these last two weeks and re-evaluate afterward. It can be tough but I'm cheering for you.

BIWI I always end up overcooking braising steak and beef strips! I assume it needs cooking for ages but it seems to go tough... I gave up buying beef except mince for that reason.

Adeline I am still adding in a tin of tomatoes to the curries when it suits as one tin over three or four portions isn't too bad (I hope). Coconut milk is a good addition if you like that flavour.

Usually that's because it's too lean, @ragz134. The best meat for braising/stewing is shin of beef, because it has lots of lovely fat in the grain of the meat. Which keeps it soft after cooking.

Even if you cook lean steak for longer, it will never do that lovely falling apart thing, it just stays tough and gets drier.

I like the sound of the corned beef fritters.

Poor spug

Sorry to hear about spug

Oliver I would just carry on with bootcamp including quorn tbh you haven't got many alternatives. Cauldron veggie sausages are around 5g for 2 so not bad and much better ingredients. Linda McCartney sausages aren't too bad either

Corned beef fritters? Ooh yes please! I love Corned beef!

Yes, Clear I was wondering if you did those amazing things on your treadmill! I started doing the C25K (again) on mine but that fell by the wayside in the hot weather. I don't cope well in the heat and would keel over. Maybe walking for a set time and then increasing is the way to go....

Shite. I just applied for a job i think i am not qualified to do. I fear they will laugh at me.

Heman let me abundantly clear I do not run on my treadmill! Perish the thought!

No, for me it's all about a good cardiac workout and that can be achieved at a fast walk. Also the duration is key.

C25k sounds great if one aspires to run. I have no such aspirations.