New Year, New Start Week 2: This WoE works!

[prettybird]

Welcome to Week 2 - the one where many of us (especially the newbies) will see the biggest drops. For those that don't, the drops will come. We will have seen other benefits too: brighter eyes, smaller waist (with the reduction of dangerous visceral fat from around our organs) - and all without feeling hungry Week 2 is also when I find that my pschological urge to snack reduces.

Remember that you still need to adhere to the Rules. This is not a forgiving Way of Eating and if you cheat, you will set back the process of getting your body to adapt to fat burning. Only one more week of being ultra strict - it is only one more week If you're thinking of cheating, come on here and we will talk you down. It really helps if you are prepared and have low carb snacks with you, or drink some water when you think you are hungry.

Keep drinking the required water ( StuntNun has explained why this is important). Avoid nuts and seeds (unless you are veggie), all fruit (you can look forward to the odd treat of berries from next week) - and no alcohol or artificial sweetender for another week.

The Spreadsheet of Fabulousness is here to remind you to keep to the straight and narrow with the Rules and with resources to advise you. You can weigh-in if you choose to, but it is not compulsory. Over the weeks, your weight loss will start to average 1-2lb a week, sometimes more sometimes less .

The Week 1 Spillover thread is here.

Morning. Just checking in after a couple of days keeping a low profile - I know weighing in is only supposed to be weekly, but I got on the scales on Tuesday to find not only the two pound gain from last week, but another bloody pound had materialised from somewhere. Wtf?? Anyway, I've gritted my teeth and kept to it (good job I'm a bloody-minded sort) and this morning, at last, I'm back to my starting weight. I think there's a gremlin lurking in my scales

I've been eating pretty repetitive meals this week as I'm trying to sort out new reduced insulin doses and it helps reduce the variables, so this is the last couple of days:

B: Mushroom omelette (2 large eggs)
L: -
D: Chicken thigh, braised in stock with green veg (leeks, little gem lettuce, broccoli) and a dash of cream - makes a very filling sort of soup

Plenty of water, of course. And a mug of hot water with a bit of bouillon powder is really nice in this cold weather.

I've found some lovely teas to try - as well as the peppermint & liquorice, there's a Twining's turmeric with orange & star anise, which is absolutely lovely. And anything with ginger in goes down well.

Fingers crossed that gremlin takes a rest over the weekend...

Abbey44 - fingers crossed for the scale victory. I weigh daily myself but I only allow myself to use any daily variations upward (and they are normal ) as a spur to remind myself to drink more water and not to snack as much even if the snacks are HFLC and not to bear myself up about.

My observation looking at your meals is: are you having enough fat?

That's frustrating abbey, hope you get a whoosh soon.

And eek theway! Not nice at all.

Having this fab loaded cauliflower soup for lunch. kalynskitchen.com/instant-pot-low-carb-loaded-cauliflower-soup/ so good! (Stovetop instructions there too, although so easy in my instant pot)

Hopped on the scales for a quick look as I was convinced my jeans were looser - 203lbs which means 8 pounds of since the start of BC! At last I'm getting somewhere, need to get below that 200 though!

Hi all. Been really off my food recently. Feel like I’ve been eating the same food since October. Haven’t been craving carbs, just not interested in food at all. Appetite seems to be non existent! Do you think this happens when you are close to goal? I’m probably about 3-5lbs away. Anyway, varied my lunch today from the usual 4 or 5 variations I normally have. Had a whole romaine lettuce and some tuna pate, followed by ff yoghurt. Made a nice change I guess. Have been very busy, need to read the thread and get some inspiration for food.
Hope you all have a great weekend with good food!

Thanks prettybird and nekobus.

I think my fat content is ok, I'm using butter to cook with and my MFP tells me it's over 60% of my daily intake so I think I just have to stick with it and trust it's working. Bit like God though - working in mysterious ways at times

Update on blood donation: it was absolutely fine! No issues at all being on low carb plan. I had a big glass of water after and sat for 5-10 minutes having a chat with everyone and left feeling no different. They don't offer hot drinks now and advise cold drinks only for a few hours so on with my water!

Mostly on plan this week so far. Birthday this weekend but as I've got a horrid cold I may get away with not doing much carby twatness 🤔
I did go out for a birthday meal yesterday and chose the best on the menu and adapted (think not too bad apart from the grapes.

Starter deep fried Brie with poached grapes
Main chicken ballotine with crab filling and replaced the potato with creamed spinach
Dessert cheese board with grapes (no crackers)

Today
B spinach and cheese omelette with butter
L pate and celery (not that hungry)
D kale spinach and courgette fried in butter with mozzarella and a small amount of chopped tomatoes (aldi ones with a low carb count)

Ok pretty get the big stick out for the grapes and a light crumb on the Brie (too thin to effectively pick off) 😔

Glad the blood donation went well, I was worrying about that too @mrsglowglow

That great news mrsglow!

Can't remember who said that they can't drink cold water but I am the exact opposite - the colder the better! I get very upset when it is rhe slightest bit warm

Going to investigate some of the low carb brownies (after the weekend of course).

I have also made quite a nice "mousse" before: equal parts extra thick or whipped cream and mascarpone, a bit of powdered eryithitol (or however you spell it, the low carb version of icing sugar) and a few drops of sugar free chocolate flavouring. V quick and easy to make and hits the spot; goes nice with berries too.

lizard - if you know the Big Stick is required, I don't need to get it out.

Sounds like you made good choices given the fact that you were eating out. But next time, avoid the grapes!

With all this talk of brownies, cakes, cheese cake, cranachan and mousse, it seems an opportune time to remind Boot Campers that while from Monday, when Boot Camp Lite is allowed, which includes berries, chocolate, nuts and artificial sweetener, these things can be enjoyed in moderation - not every day!

If you have them too often, then your weight loss will stall. And you don't want that, especially as we move into Weeks 3 and 4, which are notorious for stalls anyway.

On the plus side, it helps to incorporate a few more ingredients which allow you to make such great meals for friends and family that they won't realise that they are eating "diet good".

Checking in after a couple of days of not doing so but I have been reading most of the posts. Been sticking to plan food wise no it's been fine but I did have 2 glasses of red wine last night out. It was nice and I mindfully drank certainly the first but I shouldn't have had the second one.... it has been very nearly two weeks of no booze as I started that in the Friday before bc. I did it mainly because I am going away with my book group for two nights today so I thought a) I could do with a drink after a rough day and b) if I start back on the booze today I'll be wasted after 2 drinks so why not ease in gently.
So this weekend is going to be really really tough. I know I will have some prosecco and I have made my peace with that but i really really want to stick to it with the food. There will be crisps and chocolate in abundance although I did get the breakfast order changed from croissants to eggs & smoked salmon. Not sure how I'll manage the planned fish & chips tonight though....

Mum have you taken any boot camp friendly food with you that you can eat instead of the fish and chips etc? I got served up with fish and chips yesterday and just picked the fish out of the batter, leaving everything else. You don't have to drink the booze, just say no (as Zammo used to say) joke for the oldies amongst us

I'm supposed to be eating now-ish with the kids, but I'm not v hungry. Should I eat a bit to stave off binging later? I haven't eaten much today and have exercised lots- weights and swimming.

Leapin I'm still in shock about the gum, I really am. I will investigate further when I have the chance!

We sometimes get in a "special fish supper" (in Scotland, that means 2 haddock coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried to order, with chips) and I have just picked out the fish from the breadcrumbs and enjoyed the Cava (this was of course not during the first two weeks of Boot Camp ). Dh and ds get all the chips.

I am away this weekend with family, so am stocking up on things to take. I’ve said I am low carbing and that is fine for actual meals, but it will
be those in between moments when everyone else is having a piece of cake or a biscuit with their coffee etc... just need someone to put in my mouth at those points.

Hope you're not putting someone into your mouth!

...well, as long as it's a low-carb someone, wouldn't that pass?

Just had a lovely dinner - curried cauliflower rice with chicken thigh and creamed spinach. Might have a coffee and cream just to finish.

MumofaPickle it might be worth buying BC / BC Lite friendly snacks for your book weekend.

E.g. some tubs of olives (come in lots of flavors), some precooked crunchy bacon, a couple of bags of nuts from Lidl - they do nice macadamias, and big bags of pecans.

I know BC lite doesn't Start until Monday, but that might keep you off the crisps and chocolate, and is a better option.

prettybird you are completely right that we shouldn't go too crazy on the low carb puds etc, but it will be nice to have the odd thing. Looking forward to getting the salted caramel Oppo ice cream again

I don't have a Lidl near me, are there any other recommendations for bread substitutes? I've tried cloud bread but not a huge fan - want something I can toast, slather in butter and dip in my soft boiled eggs 😜

If you are happy to bake yourself, I'll let you know what the Tom Kerridge almond bread is like, once I've tried it.

@prettybird

Currently baking brownies to take. Haven’t licked a spoon so far, but still have a couple of hours before they are cooked, cooled and safely in a tin (which I am going to sellotape shut) before I feel I can relax.

But seriously, GrandOldDukeOfPorkiness - have some babybels and olives with you if you think you'll want to snack. However, you may well find that a glass of water alongside the coffee is sufficient.

We go for coffee after our Pilates class and they serve the coffees with those lovely wee spicy pre-wrapped biscuits (Soci?). I'm now able to resist it and take it - and the others that are left (two of the ladies are gluten free) - home for dh and ds. I just enjoy my glass of water with my Americano

Good point abbey44 - they can't be lean, they'd have to have a good layer of fat