Week 5 - Low Carb Bootcamp - The Big Stick is Back!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Many thanks to @prettybird and @BerylStreep for running this Bootcamp so well, so far. It's been a bit weird watching from the sidelines

However, I'm back. Back in the UK, back at work and back on the wagon.

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for this week

I've noticed that there's quite a bit of 'slippage' going on over the last week or so. I know that we're able to move on to Bootcamp Light now, but be very, very careful that this doesn't lead to too many carbs. And remember to keep the water and the fat up.

Good luck this week

Thank you for the kind replies. To answer your questions -

Biwi- I'm 5ft 3" so I am a bit big for my height tbh, I'd be happier around 8.10 or so but I do appreciate that it's difficult to lose once you get close to your goal weight.

I'm not veggie, I do like a steak with dh but this isn't a frequent occurrence. Should prob try and have this more often.

BlackMozart - I like that saying and I agree! Will keep that in mind! You have donkeys?! That's so lovely, I've always loved donkeys. Wish I could come and give them a scratch!

Scabbersly- thank you. I hope you are enjoying that glass of wine :)

Rshard- thanks that's most appreciated :)

I try to meal plan but it gets difficult. My 12 year old won't eat any veg, my dd is a vegetarian but my youngest will try most things. I'm constantly trying to suit everyone at least once in the week whilst sticking to food budgets, it can be a pain but generally we do okay.

My dr also said about vitamin d , I will pick up a supplement tomorrow.

The thing I really struggle with though - how can I eat more when I just don't feel I need/want to? How would you suggest I go about adding more fat? I use a lot of butter and olive oil, I'll have the odd bpc but not loads cos I'm not hugely keen on them.

So - more water, more steak, more fat, vitamin d.

Thanks very much for your help

BadlyParkedRangeRover I wouldn't take a statin because I haven't had a heart attack. Even in men (where they have been more thoroughly studied) they only show a clear benefit in middle-aged men who have had a heart attack. I don't see them as having a good risk:benefit ratio. It's the sheer number of people that have to take a statin for years in order to prevent one heart attack.

Ugh, need big stick. Had too much dark chocolate today which I know was brought on by not exercising enough will power and thinking of it as a necessary part of dinner, not as a treat Tomorrow is a new day so picking myself up and moving on, and relegating dark choc as an occasional but not daily treat. Phew - confession feels good my meals otherwise have been pretty much on track as has water consumption.

guy you would be very welcome to come and scratch their ears. They are wonderfully affectionate creatures and they love a cuddle. Of course we may be 100’s of miles apart!! Whilst I don’t live there, Cambridge is my nearest city. 🙂

What dose of magnesium and potassium are people here taking?

Sorry to hear you’re having a rough time of it Guy’

Lovely hearing all about people’s progress. And for those that progress is slow, there is heaps of support and advice via this thread.

Today’s Menu:-

B - None as not hungry.
L- 2 scrambled eggs, goats cheese, smoked ham. 8 almonds.
D - Roast chicken thighs & crispy skin, sprouts, cauli & leeks.

Water 2 ltrs

*@stuntnun@ - I'm type1, have been for over 20 years, and this WOE really helps me keep it under good control. I've seen the number of units I've been taking has reduced by a lot since I started this again in September, and for some reason I'm suddenly needing less again this week, almost as if it's catching up with me.

Re the statins - I resisted them (well, just didn't take them) for a long time, but my cholesterol was still high when I had my bloods done in December (5.something) and the doctor insisted I take them. I have been, but they don't agree with me, so I was thinking about just 'forgetting' them for a bit and see whether the LC will do it instead. Thing is, both my parents died of heart problems, so I do wonder...

@almahart - celeriac crisps noted for tomorrow...thanks

Hello all,

The cancelled ski trip has been uncanceled! I’m much happier. I really do want to lose a bit more before I go though. I notice a difference in my knees if I’m carrying less weight.

Food today:
B: coffee with almond milk and dash of cream. 2 bacon, poached egg, fried mushrooms

L. Crunchy salad of celery, radish, spring onion and romaine in hm mayo, coleslaw, more mackerel pate.

S. packet macadamias, slurp of double cream

D. Was working late, so few slices salami, carrot stick, cucumber, 1/2 avocado and 100g fried halloumi

Getting much better with Water. Enjoying my single glass of seedlip. 8 dry days 😇

Well done Beryl!!

8 dry days here too!

guymartin I absolutely second BIWI's advice now I know your weight. From your post I had imagined you to be obese and have struggled to lose weight, so your weight (and therefore health) was another problem you faced amongst all the others. Since your BMI is 23.5 and you are comfortably in the green healthy weight zone, I wondered if your anxiety was manifesting itself onto your weight? Sorry if I am overstepping the mark here. But you did mention worries, long term issues and sertraline. And you are feeling down about one pound. One pound is nothing up or down and most likely just a normal daily variation. it doesn't mean you are fatter. BIWI is right, it would be better to focus on other things right now rather than weight loss and just look after yourself. Eat well, ensure plenty of nutrients in your diet, take supplements if necessary (folic acid, iron, B vits) make sure you get enough sleep and destress opportunities. (stress can causu weight gain). I appreciate that everyone has the right to be subjective about their own life and problems, but it does seem that you are creating worries and disappintment about something that objectively isn't a problem at all. Would some form of CBT or counselling help? You may have done this already. Even a girls night out is a good way to offload and just have fun. It sounds like you need more joy and laughter in your life.

I also wondered whether you had enquired with your GP about S.A.D.? A special daylight bulb can have massive mood lifting abilities. Its all about brain chemicals.

We are all here for you, whether or not you are on a weight loss journey.

All this cholesterol and insulin talk is very interesting. I posted a while ago on another thread but didnt get much response. Would people stuntnun mind taking a look and seeing if they have any input? I am still waiting for a retest with GP to get results to compare.

this is my thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/diabetes/3136533-any-medics-who-can-interpret-my-blood-results

A tiny loss this morning but, crucially, it takes me fractionally below where I was before the funeral (which is when it fell apart and I carbed and gained). It’s a very tiny victory, but somehow psychologically important for feeling like I’m putting it behind me.

Hurrah for uncancelled ski trips, beryl! Where are you going? I am hoping to get a couple of days this year, if I have time to go out before the snow goes, and am really interested to see what a difference is made by being a bit fitter and a lot lighter.

YoLo - I completely understand what you are saying, and I realise that I probably sound irrational about my weight. It's just that I've been carrying this for a number of years now, all my lovely clothes etc don't fit and I feel miserable about it. Even when training for and running my first half marathon last year my weight didn't change and I know people will say 'oh you ate more because you were running' but I can state that didn't happen. I'm the type that can run 8-10 miles first thing on empty (or just a coffee/water) and come home and still be fine with either no breakfast or skipping lunch instead etc. So that one pound I mentioned is just my disappointment that things still aren't taking a downward shift.

I've read about s.a.d, it's def a tough time of year for me and 2 years ago we were waiting to find out if the cancer treatment had worked, so I think even if I'm not consciously thinking of that time, subconsciously I might be, if that makes sense! I may need to have counselling again I guess.

I prob sound a bit ott about my weight, I know it's not much to lose etc I don't know why I've made it into such an issue. Dh says 'I wish you could see what we all see' but of course I don't lol

BlackMozart - aw bugger my city is Bath so a bit far or I would've def taken you up on that! My friend lived on a farm when we were little, I used to loved hanging out with her goats

Hoping for a better day today, thanks for letting me rant!

B- coffee and milk, water
L- fancying cauli rice and something? Chorizo and onions?
D - no idea yet, dd wants to make soup after school, I think I'd like omelette and salad.

Oh and I had a bit of a clothes clear out yesterday, just stuff I haven't fitted into for years but don't need to keep looking at and depressing myself!

Glad you’ve sorted the ski trip beryl

Yay for losing that little gain grandold!

Think getting rid of the clothes was a good move guy

I babysat for a friend last night and resisted the open bottle of cold white wine in the fridge but had three squares of the dark salted caramel chocolate she had specially bought me. It was more not wanting to be rude than finding it hard not to drink if I'm honest.

I've put back on the ib I lost. Thus us a funny bootcamo for me. I'm at the weight I always set myself (147) but actually definitely have more to lose. But I'm in it for the long haul and happy to let that weight set iykwim and it turns out this bc has been about other stuff.

I would like a couple of weeks of bein really ni the zone and losing a couple of pounds, but I am fitting into clohtrw I haven't worn for yeaers and that feels really good

it turns out this bc has been about other stuff, spot on Alma, for lots of us.

Guy, I feel your grief - my husband had cancer, and the focus on that meant I let everything else in life go, to just look after itself. Subsequently trying - and failing - to regain control of some of those things, like weight, is therefore so emotionally charged because it feels as though you're not picking up from where you left off, but are starting from the bottom, which is mentally very tough. (It's also not true, but if we could programme ourselves to be reasonable, we wouldn't be here).

FWIW, you don't sound irrational to me - giving away clothes you used to fit into is a sad thing in itself, so I'm not surprised you felt like wailing a little. And as someone also with not so much to lose (13lbs), I can also sympathise with looking down to see bulges and wobble where none previously was, and wishing you could, at least, do something to make this right.

guymartin (and *athel) you make a lot of sense. perhaps it's time to just accept that you might be at 'the right weight' for your body just now and invest in some self care and loving yourself? Maybe those last few pounds will drop off in the future when you aren't trying or noticing?

You sound very into exercise so maybe concentrate on toning and building some muscle (forget the scales) so any loose bits are pulled in a bit tighter. You might then find that clothes have a smoother silhouette on you.

I'd also suggest going and buying some nice clothes thst fit right now. Feel good about yourself! You sound like you carry everyone else's burden and 'you' get a bit forgotten/lost in all of that. Please do take care of your own needs because your needs are important too!

Athel- thanks so much, that’s completely it. People expect you to be ‘fine’ afterwards but the shock of the trauma is still very much with me. Just before he was diagnosed I was at a really good place, about to move into our first ‘own’ house, good weight I was happy with, things were looking positive and exciting. Then cancer turned up and tipped everything on its head, moving house was then more stress, leaving what I knew and starting again and I felt so lonely and afraid. I had to just koko for the kids and did what I could to get through the days. I didn’t go batty with eating but some days I couldn’t stomach anything, other days would be a piece of toast just so I didn’t feel so hollow. I think it’s a bit depressing too that the years pass but I still look at myself and think ‘oh bloody hell’. It must be a lot to do with the stress, and I do wonder what will happen with the antidepressants.

Sorry for depressing start to the day! I hope you all have a good one

YoLo - yes that’s also what dh says. I have found in the past that once I thought I should just accept my weight and had a clear out, the weight decided to come off! Typical. Plus I guess I am older now too.

I usually like the shred dvd, I just haven’t done much by way of exercise due to feeling so bloody tired all the time. I’m hoping the mess will lift my mood and help me to crack on with making some positive changes re exercise. I keep getting told to be easier on myself but being like this for so long I don’t really know how to! I think I really need the sunshine to make an appearance!

Thanks all I appreciate it very much

Meds not mess!

Starts to the day are what they are

I've spent some time on this thread bewailing my (nearly 4 week now) stall, and eventually talked myself around to realising that I was in fact underfed, even though I was capable of putting fat on. I am still determined to lose the wobble, but doing my bodyweight exercises (callanetics) every other day has resulted in some visible muscle gain - and so there MUST be some fat loss as the scales haven't gone up - and a slight reduction in inches.

Better than that, it is something I can do now, regularly, that only takes a few minutes at a time, that is absolutely within my control, and that is showing definite progress. I haven't given up on losing the bulge, but if in the meantime I can show, e.g. more defined arms, it is still changing myself for the better.

oooh, the shred - I've heard people mention that and it sounds nasty. Given you're already tired, I don't know that tiring yourself even more is a good idea? You could perhaps look into some less hardcore exercises, like the callanetics I mentioned, or pilates, or yoga - all will absolutely improve muscle tone without necessarily wearing you out?

When I first started at the beginning of January, I thought it was a bit rubbish, sitting on the floor waving my legs around. Then the next day I couldn't walk down the stairs...

I can recommend yoga by Adrienne on YouTube if you fancy giving yoga a go? She’s just done 39 days of yoga for January that’s still on line. All free. It’s fab