Week 8 - Low Carb Bootcamp - lucky number for some!

[BIWI]

Xin nian kuai le!

Happy Chinese New Year. We're in week 8, and 8 is considered a lucky number in Chinese, so hopefully this week will be a good one for us all

Here's the spreadsheet

A very cold week is ahead of us, so hope you all stay warm and safe

Being ungenerous, it occurs to me that perhaps it is a little spiteful in tone, i.e. 'oooh, don't lose anymore - you may think you're being in some way morally superior to us non-dieting people now, but you don't realise you're on the path to making yourself really mentally and physically unwell, and then who'll be proved right...'

Talk about putting words in people's mouths . But it's a possibility.

Brassica India Knight in the IPD book writes quite a lot about that. She thinks it is partly because while we are fat our ‘friends’ can ease their own consciences about their own relationship to food and as we slim down they may have to face the fact that they no longer have a fat friend to project those issues on to. Something like that. Of course some people might genuinely be worried about us, but I’m with India on this one.

Right, clearly I'm bored of my research and getting a bit housebound. Am off up to the top of the road to see if the larger road's had any traffic. It's still blizzarding out there, so if I don't pop back up in a few days, please call the MRT.

(Interesting, BlackMozart, I have never felt these comments came from a place of concern, that's for sure)

Definitely off now!

Well, in the spirit of being the author of my own life, rather than a victim of circumstance, I went into the barbers and had what's left of my sad, sorry hair buzzed off. I was a little tearful but the bald patches are actually a lot less in your face and daughter assures me that with some make up and funky earrings I will look very cool. So there you go. NSV, I guess.

And it turns out my head is a nice shape. See, mum, that traumatic, old fashioned section you had is still paying dividends :)

Well done Cherries that was a big step to take.

This is all so interesting. One thing I really believe in is that while your own weight (number on the scales) is important, it's no use comparing with others. As in, I disagree with people who say you shouldn't weigh just go with how you look and feel or how clothes fit, because we can be blind/lie to ourselves about gradual increases whereas on the whole, scales do not lie (regarding significant increases or decreases). However my sister and I can easily both be half a stone lighter than someone who looks the same (small frames) and my mind was blown by the poster in a 12 skirt at over 2 stone more than me, I've got plenty of size 12 jeans I still can't get into! Comparison is useless. Though how that fits with BMI, I don't know. I guess that's why the bands are broad.

I've been thinking about it for a few weeks, Stunt, and this morning woke up to hundreds on the pillows then watched a few 100 more get tangled in the shower drain. I was feeling really upset by it, and just thought 'you know what, you could just put a stop to all this distress right now, if you choose to'. So without thinking about it any more, headed straight to the barber shop on foot. She was really quiet because of the snow, and put her closed sign up and made me a cup of tea while she was doing it. Wouldn't even take money for it, which given I'm not even a client there, thought was very nice of her. People are sometimes unexpectedly so kind.

Good luck, Athel stay safe!

India also says it’s about the fact that people are threatened by change, especially in their close friends. And if they themselves have something negative going on in their lives that needs addressing but they are avoiding it, us addressing our weight in this case, shines a light on what they could be doing.

I yearn for people to make those sorts of comments to me. I must obviously have quite some way to go

Very windy & blizzardy here. I sent everyone home from work, and now I'm at a bit of a loose end.

ilove I have a lump in my throat reading that. On both counts. Your courage and immediate action, and her small act of kindness. 👏

Cherries that's so lovely, great to take control back yourself.

Regarding negativity some of you have found from others as you've lost weight, I'd love to know more on how gender affects this. My Mum always says you don't need to be told when you need to lose weight, you already know. I'm not sure I totally agree with that. I knew a guy when we were late 20's, a tall rugby build I guess with a bit of a belly. Hadn't seen him for ages then found he'd lost weight and looked knockout, and told him so. What sticks with me is that he said something along the lines of "thanks, yes, you know no-one ever told me I could do to lose a few pounds but now everyone is falling over themselves to say how great I look now I've lost it". Not sure if a woman would have that experience, hearing some of your stories.

RShard I’m glad it was eloquent to someone! I thought it might be very rambling when I read it back!
Yes Athelstane wow is the reaction I tend to get on the very rare occasions I actually divulge my weight! I remember a very close friend flat out not believing me once and I was even bigger then! Hardly anyone knows my weight, not even my husband. I suppose I feel I can get away with people thinking I’m smaller than I am then that’s good. In reality, knowing the number on the scale shouldn’t make any difference to what people see when they look at me but I really think it would.

And yes thanks to inconsistent sizing I’m not in a 12 everywhere - or even in all clothes in one shop but I don’t own anything over a 14 and I think others of my height and weight probably would. I suppose it’s about shape because if something doesn’t fit and I need to go up a size or two it doesn’t really work as it gets too big in places when it starts to fit in others. It’s also why I have to go by the scales and not dress size as 12 for lots of people would be just fine but I am still significantly overweight and not happy with it.

Cherries well done on the haircut. I like your positive thinking.

MumOfAPickle I think a lot of variation in actual weight v perceived weight is as a result of where people carry their fat - sub-cutaneously or visceral. If you have visceral fat you can be heavier, but not look it. Frame size and bone density are also factors. My Mum claims that all of her side of the family are very heavy boned.

Sorry cherries was typing when you posted. What a brave thing to have done, I hope you’re doing ok xx

Wow ilove, you’re so cool. Lovely lady at the barbers too.

Definitely not rambling mumofapickle - I tried to type similar yesterday and couldn’t form logical sentences to say what I wanted to!

Well done on the haircut, cherries! I expect it will be easier to wear all your new wigs now you've had your own hair cut. A difficult decision to make, but hopefully well worth it!

Really impressed with your haircut cherries and also that the barber was kind.
Being kind to ourselves is often very difficult and yet is very important. (It’s one of the things this boot camp is helping me with although nothing like what you’re going through)

Bravo, Cherries - glad to hear it felt good to take control.

Walk a bit hairy, as spindrift about 20 feet high so visibility v bad. Heard the farmer shooting sporadically, then a pigeon crashlanded through the tree in front of me - end of one wing blasted through. No way I could leave him thrashing in the ditch in this weather, even though his chances are poor, so brought him home to add to the animal hospital I'm running here . Only problem is, he thrashed a bit in fright, so there's a trail of blood up my path in the snow, splatters on the front door, and my face and jacket were dripping with gore. Rural life at it's most charming.

I don't know if he'll make it - upstairs in a covered catcarrier with some glucose water and a heatpad - or even what to do with him tomorrow if he's still alive. But I couldn't leave him, so what will be will be.

Dinner will be roast pigeon roast chicken, garlic, broccoli. And a glass of red, since I feel a little urgh.

I lurk on these threads as I do not need to lose weight but follow hflc (paleo-esque) for health reasons and I like the inspiration from your receipes - the celeriac fried rice is great. Also I like to know other people enjoy fried cabbage and sprouts for lunch!
Anyway as for the you do not want to lose anymore weight comments I consider them to be passive aggressive and are really a subtext for it is preferable to have you as the fat one or I don't want you to be thinner than me. Maybe I think the worst of people but unless you are really very very thin their comments are not concerned with your health and welfare. What is your eating to them?

Welcome to the thread Zxy. As you've probably noticed, although most of us started doing LCHF to lose weight, many of us have noticed other unexpected health benefits along the way. It really is a great way to eat for general health.

I'm glad you're enjoying the recipes! I had fried sprouts last night...

How decisive of you Cherries, well done! I bet you look great too!

Cherries you are amazing. That story moved me too for the bravery and kindness