Week 5 - halfway there!

[SayrraT]

Morning all

Well done for reaching week 5, hopefully by now low carb eating should be pretty natural to everyone.

Just watch out for complacency, don't think "oh a wee bit won't hurt" it might!

If you need food inspiration (some people might find they are eating the same things and getting bored) check out the recipe thread or one if the many low carb/keto websites for ideas.

spreadsheet

Good luck everyone

Sorry, perhaps my last post sounded a bit smug, and possibly hurtful to those who have stuck to the WOE and not lost

I don't think it sounded smug or hurtful, Wh0Kmows, it was just a statement of fact and thoughts from you.

It highlights two things--

1. We all react as individuals, there's no one size fits all with this WOE other than it works (for almost everyone).

In the Idiotproof Diet the authors talk about maintenance and how adding different types of carbs bit by bit will identify which foods have the most negative impact on weight stability. (Kind of like weaning, now I think about it.). It's the same when "cheating"...a piece of toast might not affect you at all but might send someone else into a 2 lb weight gain and lethargy or increased hunger.

There probably is some kind of carbohydrate like that for you, but I'm just guessing.

1. Despite your seeming immunity to toast you're still mindful that it would be a bad idea to incorporate it as a regular food. And this is good advice for everyone. We ought to be listeningat this stage at leastregularly and carefully to our bodies. We ought to be observing with keen eyes. So we can know precisely what works and doesn't work.

There was a book a few years ago called something like French Women Don't Get Fat, which ruffled a few feathers amongst British female journos, but I quite liked it. It talked about having more foods in smaller amounts during meals for variety and to excite the taste buds, and to pay attention. That phrase was used often, especially when there was a bit too much gâteau eaten or perhaps baguette a couple days on the trot. The author would pay attention and be strict for a few days to right herself.

That's what I envision maintenance will be like--thoroughly enjoyable, unlimited options and no real denial of pleasureable foods, but paying attention.

I can report a loss of 1.5lb this week - that's 6.5lb this Boot Camp (Actually it was 1.75lb but I'll hold that 1/4lb in reserve for next week ). Down to 12stone 10 and a quarter 10.5lb

For newbies on Boot Camp - like other old timers, I've been doing this a while (since May this time around) , so am well beyond the "stall" weeks (although that does mean that they could strike again at any time ).

Singadream - iirc, I lost 21lb on my first ever Boot Camp (many years ago and lots of carb fests since so it is possible - especially because you get the big initial water-flush drop. That included the inevitable stalls mid Boot Camp where you needed to keep the faith and KOKO. Subsequent Boot Camps it becomes more difficult to get the big drops but an average of 1+lb/week is possible - and healthy.

Time I bet it was the carb cheat giving you a kickstart!

Scabbers Nescafe gold blend is very mellow and smooth. Or Douwe Egberts.

Velocity I've noticed the same about my hunger on this WOE. Especially when I consume too much dark chocolate. I spend the next day starving hungry!

3.6 lb off this week which means I've lost last weeks gain plus an extra 0.7 lb. Still pretty bunged up from codeine but it's still a loss and I'm glad to be back on track!

B: BPC
L: Mushrooms and broccoli pan fried in butter with a couple of rashers of bacon.
D: Chicken, mushrooms and leek in a double cream/cheese sauce with leafy green veg.

For lunch I had these Iceland multi-greens. They are so easy and convenient. I also bought some 100% chocolate buttons from Hotel Chocolat, they are good and low carb!

It's well known for a cheat meal to trigger a whoosh on the scales. An alcoholic drink can have the same effect. The theory is that as your fat cells release fat they refill with water. Once a certain proportion of your fat cells are filled with water they all release it at the same time causing a sudden drop on the scales. This explains why weight loss seems to happen in fits and starts. Even though you are burning fat consistently, the water retained in the fat cells masks the weight loss. Because water is more dense than fat this is how you can lose an inch or two from your waist without your weight dropping. It's unknown exactly what triggers the whoosh effect but eating a carby cheat meal or drinking alcohol both affect water retention so it's likely that's why these can also trigger a whoosh.

I never trust the weight loss after a few glasses of wine. It’s simply dehydration and doesn’t count

Cleareyes - there was a thread about French women and their appearance plus a lot about their eating habits in Style and Beauty last week. A lot of black coffee and cigarettes seemed to feature, not sure that's quite the ideal, but yes, they are much more considered in what they eat than many of us Brits I suspect.

Well done on all the losses and KOKO to the rest of us.
I am up as expected, but as I hadn't added weight last week because I had a tummy bug, it is still showing as a loss over the last two weeks. I am 4.2lb down in BC, which is pretty good for someone who has been doing this since January. So I won't complain. I am expecting a good result on the scales next Monday.

Lunch (2:45pm!) - leftover belly pork fried up with kale and soy sauce. Amazing.
Dinner - am doing shepherds pie for the family, but not sure how carby it will turn out. If I think it's worth it I will have that but top mine with celeriac mash Otherwise, I'll just have a bowl of celeriac chips with cheese!

Need to plan tomorrow's lunch for at work...

@sing. A scilicone muffin tray is the way to go. No stickage.

Re the sprouts. I’ve been seasoning mine with garlic pepper. It’s excellent. Garlic pepper was recommended for scrambled eggs on a previous boot camp. I now use it a lot.

Thanks SayrraT for the new thread and the picture of your giraffe horse.

Well done all loosers and everyone else for hanging in there.

I’ve stayed the same. Could you add me please Wombatt. I’m giving it another week and if I sts again I’m going to do either a fast or an egg fast.

OOh ASD thankyou for posting those Iceland multigreen microwave bags! I have been looking for something like that for a while to use in my packed lunches, the nearest I had found were by Birds eye but had peas in along with broccoli and green beans, so were a bit higher carb. Your ones look great

Hi
Can someone add my weight please 192.8

Thank you.

Been doing this for 18months on and off
106 lb off from heaviest but now less than a stone from target. Light at the end of the tunnel. Hope it's not a train coming the other way.

Congratulations to everyone on 1 month learning about your bodies. DAY 1 OF 42.
Let's have fun losing the 3 ounces today.

I enjoyed a really lovely walk with my friend today. Perfect weather (really sunny, no wind) and lovely views across the river. Stopped off at pub for lunch and I had the chicken burger with halloumi, salad and harissa mayo (without bun or chips), which was lovely. Dinner will be haddock baked with cherry tomatoes, basil and mozzarella, plus some leeks sautéed in butter.

I've recorded 12.10 this week. Have briefly seen 12.9 and 12.8, but they aren't sticking yet, so happy with my 12.10, knowing the lower numbers are starting to appear. 4lbs to go to get to 50 off. If I can see 11.13 by New Year's Day I will be ecstatic, but I think it's over optimistic so I'm not going to stress on it. My shape seems to have changed a lot now - keep scaring myself by finding bones and wondering what they are!

I'm down 6.5lb this week due in part to last week's totm water retention being gone, and partly as I did a mid-week fast. I'm now only 1lb away from losing 4 stone in just over 5 months. Still a stone and a half away from target but it actually seems achievable now!

KOKO everyone.

Light at the end of the tunnel. Hope it's not a train coming the other way. . That's just life sometimes, isn't it?

A lot of black coffee and cigarettes seemed to feature. Ha ha, that's such a cliché! Not entirely true, obviously. I spend a lot of time in France, though not Paris, and there's a lot more seasonal eating, a lot more variety during meals, and a lot less processed food in homes. Plenty of processed shite in supermarkets, though. Things have definitely changed for the worse in the past 10-15 years, and much more obesity than people would expect. And generally (as is typical here), it's the lower socioeconomic bracket that seems to be affected earlier, then it spreads to the bourgeoisie. The rich, of course, are rarely affected as they can pay for others to figure things out for them.

Interestingly, my (French) cousin visited recently, her first trip to the UK. Her comment about it was that she adored the fashion, particularly in London, as there was so much freedom, diversity, and vibrancy of style. France is admirable, but can be restrictive.

Anyway, back to Bootcamp...

I'm feeling dissatisfied with my weight loss, even though it's steady and I actually have no complaints.

Might be fatigue (awake at 4.45 this morning, thank you darling) and no sleep since. Wondering if there's something I can do to lose weight faster.

Possibly because everyone's noticing and commenting I feel like a slacker.

Possibly because I still have a long way to go (36-56 lbs, depending on what I decide my goal weight is ).

Just need a bit more...action!

Evening all. Night shift last night so forgot to weigh in. Will do tomorrow.

I'm not surprised that lower socioeconomic groups are affected faster, Clear. When money's tight, it's easier to fill up on cheap carbs (bread, potatoes, pasta). You have to make more effort to source good, nutritious food if you are on a budget.

Yeah, am also having to school myself in patience ClearEyes. Minimum of 20 lbs to go, and probably really nearer 35. I just keep reminding myself that it took me a along time to get this fat in the first place, and that a pound a week is nearly 4 stone in a year. I've added exercise in now, not at all convinced it will make me lose weight faster, but I'm hoping it may arrest some sagginess.

Ilovecherries - I'm continuing to track you . I too am hoping to break through 12 stone (11 stone anything 13 and 3/4lb would do me ) - but I want to get there a week before you, ie by Christmas It's a touch ask but I'm motivated

Went for a walk with dh this afternoon and he was impressed with the language I was subconsciously using: I'm going to a "Knit and Natter" at the Willow Tea Rooms tomorrow. I'll be paying for a cream tea but I won't have any of the cakes might have some of the cream - but I explained to him that I'll have other opportunities to have the cakes there in the future and at the moment I want to lose another 10+lb by Christmas. He is currently doing a lot of work with a psychotherapist and she has been exploring with him his Catholic guilt and the fact that he thinks he needs to do things or should do things, not that he wants to do things as well as the damage his mother did to him

ilovecherries good point. I've just worked out that I have lost a pound for every week since the beginning of the year. Did lose 12lb in the first month though! Had a few long-ish stalls. Not expecting to get to goal much before Easter in reality, partly as I haven't nailed down my goal weight yet and suspect it will be lower than initially planned, partly as I expect a gain at Christmas and partly because I need to tone up and gaining muscle is going to mess with my weight a bit.
But I can handle that. I'm actually dreading get there and doing maintenance, so need to be wary of self sabotage as I get closer. I've never done any diet/WOE this long before, I feel safe with this plan and the idea of adjusting to maintenance, rather than gaining and losing (even just half a stone) for the rest of my life is rather alien.

prettybird, I get that. In the past I would have had the cream tea in that situation because I felt I should. Today I could have felt resentful as I paid for the bun and chips, even though I didn't have them. But I didn't feel resentful, I felt I had made the right choice for me and enjoyed the food I did have.

Have I eaten too much today? Please judge me.

B: 2 x creamy coffees
L: 2 eggs, scrambled with butter, 2 rashers streaky bacon. A bowl of leeks and sprouts microwaved with butter. A few teaspoons of greek yogurt.
D: a cold roast chicken thigh, picked at in the kitchen.

Absolutely stuffed which is why I am worried. Will probably have a mug of almond milk later. Have drunk 2.8l water.

Well done, all, who have stayed the course, whether it's gains, losses or STS. I am in the STS camp, but very close to a loss. Went for a walk yesterday & while not long, my goodness was it steep! Really feeling it in glutes & back of thighs.
Clear Pay attention - good advice. Also, I like "listen to your body" ( This I picked up from Top of the Lake, Holly Hunter playing the guru character-also when she stared at the teenager's baby and said"This is your teacher" Wow! - but I digress)
Listening to MY body, my craving for wine is fading. I haven't fallen off that particular wagon, but it is good to know I don't really miss it now. Onward, comrades...

scabbers that doesn't look like too much at all. Just a lot at lunch and not much at other meals! But you may find you're hungry later on.

Dinner was shepherds pie filling and celeriac chips. Scrummy. Pie filling had leeks (instead of onions), celery, carrots and peas. So some carby veg but they are the only carbs today (and an improvement on the peanut butter binge)
Creamy coffee for pudding.

Feels good to have eaten veg today and proper meals again.