Week 3 – Keep celebrating the scale and non-scale victories!

[BerylStreep]

Hello Bootcampers and welcome to week 3. Thanks so much to PrettyBird for the previous threads – I hope I can live up to the high standards this week.

Hopefully this WOE (way of eating) is starting to feel easier for you, and you will have seen some good losses in weeks 1 & 2. The exciting thing about week three, is that for those who want to, we can tentatively move into Bootcamp Light.

The key changes are that you can add in some carbier vegetables in moderation, although it is best to stick to those that are 3g carbs per 100g or less for the majority of your vegetable intake. You can add some fruit in the form of berries in moderation, have nuts and seeds in moderation, and can have some alcohol – you guessed it – IN MODERATION. Vodka and soda, dry white wine, or red wine are the best choices. The rules for Bootcamp and Bootcamp Light, along with fruit, veg & nut carb counters are in the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness, kindly organised by SayrraT.

The good thing about Bootcamp Light is that it opens up your menu choices, and hopefully feels sustainable for a lot of people. However don’t be tempted to view this as a free for all – if you suddenly start eating loads of roasted butternut squash, followed by bowlfuls of berries all washed down with a bottle of Prosecco and packet of almonds, it will stall you.

Lots of people find that sticking to Bootcamp during the week, and Bootcamp Light for the weekend works well for them. Others find that they need to stick to Bootcamp in the main, either because their metabolisms can’t cope with the extra carbs (me) or because psychologically they are in the ‘abstainer’ camp (also me) rather than the ‘moderation’ camp. Just do whatever works for you.

Some people find they stall in Weeks 3 and 4, and the initial whooshes of weeks 1 and 2 can quickly become distant memories. Just KOKO (keep on keeping on), celebrate non-scale victories, drink plenty of water, and trust that this will work. Weight loss isn’t always linear, and there are loads of posters on here who have had amazing losses over the last year who are testament that this works in the long term.

So after what feels like an epic OP , good luck on the scale and non-scale victories this week!

My lovely LK Bennett shoes (bought over 8 years ago ) are now comfortable again. When I wore them in May three stone heavier , I had to squeeze my feet into them and was desperate to take them off.

I was unreasonably upset at how far I am from being able to wear my Nicole Farhi dress (the black one in the photos I posted a few days ago) But I've now given myself a stern talking to and reminded myself that although I can't fit into it now , if I do nothing about it, I'll never be able to wear it. I just have to continue my steady progress downwards and one day, I'll be able to get into it. I just need to KOKO

prettybird wise words for yourself and everyone when feeling a bit down. You can and will do it!

I'm sorry about the dress, and that you're feeling upset @prettybird. but you will get there! You've done brilliantly so far. And you have a very tangible thing to aim for now, don't you?!

Yes, prettybird, one day it will just glide on. :)

I have come to realise though that my shape don't ever be the shape of a 25 year old without kids though, no matter what I weigh. Corralled into clothes, I'm really starting to look pretty good, but without them, I've no bum at all, my boobs are still humongous (although funnily enough they aren't sagging anything like I feared), my belly has a sort of lunar landscape thing going on, and my inner thighs are wearing a sad expression (albeit they now have the tiniest of thigh gaps - mainly because my previous inner thighs have stormed off 6 inches north).

On the plus side I have collar bones, knee caps, a jawline and bizarrely- neck tendons! My jewellery is also far too big - yesterday I though my watch had fallen off, when I got undressed I found it wedged under my elbow where it must have slid at some point. I've also been wearing a pair of size 12 jeans since 7am, and they are still comfy, even three weeks ago they round have felt too tight after a few hours.

Low carb, low alcohol beer! Brewdog nanny state, 1g carb per 100ml, 0.5%abv

Had total yoghurt for bf and salmon mozzarella and egg salad for lunch which was actually a bit too rich.

DH out tonight. Struggle to resist wine on a Friday night :-(

Haven't posted for a couple of days, but have been reading. Just been koko, and though I'm not seeing any weight dropping off since the weekend, it's ticking along ok. I just keep telling myself to stick with it and the results will happen, but I can't help wishing they'd happen a bit bloody quicker sometimes

Thanks for the tip BadlyParkedRangeRover - I have lots of Beck's Blue that I have been reluctant to have due to carb content. I have tried the Brew dog before, didn't like it as much as the Beck's but I will give it another go.

Ilovecherries, have you been looking in my mirror? 😀 you've just described exactly what I see in the mirror!!!!

I'm out tonight for the first time since Christmas. Have not had any alcohol since the start of boot camp. Now how many gin and soda waters would be OK to keep on track this week? May also have a glass of prosecco to start with!

mrsglowglow I'm an absolute lightweight now! A glass of prosecco and a couple gins has me very tipsy- I'd say just see how you get on- and enjoy yourself

Had an unintentional 24 hour fast yesterday due to work. Not something I would repeat on purpose but nice not to have that 'must eat now or I'll pass out' feeling which I would have had before lc.

Out for dinner tonight, no idea where but as long as it's not Chinese I'll be fine! Have a great Friday everyone

Only you can answer that mrsglowglow

Two things to bear in mind:

1. Your body will use the alcohol as fuel before your far - so although it won't knock you out of ketosis, it does depend on how much else you have eaten today And
2. Alcohol lowers inhibitions self-control, so you will be susceptible to the allure of carby twatdom

Beware!

Oh yes I think I'll be well away after just one glass!

Very good advice as always! I'm definitely going to keep away from any nibbles as one is never enough for me!

"Your body will use the alcohol as fuel before your^ fat^ "

My boobs are faring quite well too. My band size has gone down from a 36 to 34 (which is now feeling loose!) but my cup size remains the same. Front on I look all - I have a proper waist and my thighs are slimming down. It all goes a bit wrong when I turn side on though, my lower belly still bulges out more than I would like

I have a whisper of actual cheekbones coming through too. Although I'm noticing more wrinkles as well

Grimbles - I have the same "problem" - band size going down but cup size going up

I'll never get back into my Nicole Farhi unless there is some movement in my over bust measurement

Another encouraging office comment for me today. It helped me resist the lure of the biscuit tin when the evening stretched on and i still hadn’t escaped!

B creamy coffee, Parma ham
S olives
L reheated beef stew with celeriac and French beans
D home made burgers and salad in oily dressing.

I'm girding my loins (how actually does one do that?!) to get back into serious low carbing from next week, when I go back to work.

And as part of that, I have committed myself, publicly, to being alcohol-free for February

The food thing is fine - but this is going to be a real test. Anyone want to join me for some serious support?!

Go BIWI! I don’t drink anyway, so am probably not the best person to share the challenge, but i will be alongside you anyway

Hi everyone,
Popping in to say hello and congratulations to everyone on their SVs and NSVs. I'm looking forward to weigh in this week too as I've had a sneaky check and Im ALMOST at the weight I was before my Christmas actually most of Dec and half of January of carb fest but it may mostly be due to the fact that I've been ill and that time of the month. It's still week 2 for me though so fingers crossed.

@GrandOldDukeOfPorkiness

Somehow I don't think you're really feeling my pain ...

BIWI you tie up your skirt or robe leaving you prepared for battle

Hmm. So exposing my legs to all ...

Another reason to get back to the low carb BIWI!