Low Carb Bootcamp - our final weigh-in!

[BIWI]

Good morning!

Well, we've finally reached the end. Here's the spreadsheet, for the last time

It feels to me like it's been a really good Bootcamp, with lots of NSVs as well as success on the scales. Hopefully today sees another good reading on the scales too!

As I've said on previous threads, just because we've reached the end of this Bootcamp, it doesn't mean that we all just melt away - I'll keep this chat thread going and when it fills up, I'll start another general chat one, so there's always someone here for help and support as well as ongoing low carb stuff.

I'll probably put the big stick back in its cupboard for a while though

Athel - I don't know!!! I suspect the latter.

I’m thinking a pie / quiche /tart type of thing, that could be eaten hot or cold. Ready-made pastry would simplify things too. But I’m totally open to suggestions. I don’t mind a bit of complication as I love cooking, and DP will clear up whatever mess I make!

(And before anyone says DP should be making it, that would result in sandwiches! I’m more than happy to make something, I just don’t know what!)

What about a (distinctly unglamorous) sausage or pork belly casserole? Can be bulked up with onions, mushrooms, lentils (with star anise is nice). Would be really cheap to do a lot, but not great to eat cold.

Having looked up the website it is to be an “international potluck dinner” with people bringing a “special dish from their home place for the meal”.

That’s London and Glasgow. Am now stumped again!

Jellied eels!

If it's 'international' rather than regional, could you perhaps do a UK dish instead - cottage pie's quick and easy?

Haggis. Cranachan. Stovies?

BlackMozart - is there anything we can help/encourage/advise with?

Athel’ your Burp post made me laugh out loud, it reads very funny Hope you don’t get a belly ache though!

The 'local' Tesco doesn’t sell Jellied Eels! They were my first thought, along with Pie and Mash.

Cottage pie sounds good. I wary of doing something very Scottish as I suspect that's what 90% of what will be made will be. Maybe I should look a time “British” and go for that. Will keep thinking.

Thanks for all the ideas!

This is my fav sausage casserole:
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pork-recipes/sweet-cherry-tomato-and-sausage-bake/

Goes great with ciabatta. (Haven't had it since last year then!)

I've got a planned "cheat" question BIWI. Thought I'd ask it now rather than derail anyone once BC starts. I have a holiday at the end of May. Carbs will be in play! But I tend to have some planned carb meals and not simply fall face first into a family sized packet of crisps for the entire week. So if I have a scattering of high carb meals during the week am I actually better to stick to low cal overall for the whole week? I'm thinking a few carb meals then LCHF for the rest of the time will simply be too many calories overall without any of the LCHF science at work? Thoughts?

I really don't know, @BrassicaBabe. I think you need @StuntNun for that one!

If it were me, and it was only a week, I think I'd just go with the flow - enjoy it, try to choose low carb options where you can, but don't stress yourself out too much about the higher carb things. You do have to accept that this will mean weight gain, but as long as you're super strict when you get back, you should lose that weight pretty quickly.

(And definitely avoid the family-sized bags of crisps )

Hi all.

I started the bootcamp but then got so busy with work that I wasn't 'on' Mnet very much.

I started Bootcamp at 150lbs and today I am 138lbs - so not a massive loss but I am delighted.

I followed the principles of low Carb but also found giving up Chocolate for lent also helped as it took my daily crave away.

I've got a planned "cheat" question BIWI. Thought I'd ask it now rather than derail anyone once BC starts. I have a holiday at the end of May. Carbs will be in play! So if I have a scattering of high carb meals during the week am I actually better to stick to low cal overall for the whole week? I'm thinking a few carb meals then LCHF for the rest of the time will simply be too many calories overall without any of the LCHF science at work?

Brassica why are you planning to eat carbs? Is it because it will be difficult to find LCHF food? Is it because you don't want to stand out for the way you're eating? Is it because there are high carb foods you're missing? Is it a planned indulgence? Are you prepared for possible side effects such as weight gain, bloating, stomach ache, feeling nauseous, cravings, or increased hunger? If it's a case of wanting to enjoy your holiday without trying to stick to low carb then I recommend eating LCHF as far as possible. Choose carby foods that you really enjoy; don't waste the carbs on anything that isn't worth it! And keep portion sizes small so for example have a spoonful of mash or a little rice rather than filling up on massive quantities of pasta. If I were to cheat then I would choose something like risotto or high carb fruit or fresh cheesecake rather than doughnuts or pasta. HTH.

Morning all.

Well I did eat carbs last night as I said I would, but more than I should have...half a slice of sour dough bread and then some sticky toffee pudding which was lovely and totally worth it. And also some , ehrm. Little cheese biscuits. Quite a few actually. Also rather a lot of wine..😳

But back on it today.,,no gym though....definitely a rest day.

Emma well done, that's a great loss. Nearly a stone!

Just stocked upon delicious LC stuff in Aldi. Off to the gym before coming back and eating some of it for lunch. Looking forward to the truffle salami in particular!

Thanks BiWI and @StuntNun. My cheat is a planned indulgence really. I'm committed to this WOE but for me that doesn't mean never having bread or potatoes again. I'm at maintenance weight too which I guess helps. I just wondered if I'd gone off plan for example on a meal Monday night, but could/would stick to plan on Tuesday should I go for low cal because having LCHF with maybe another meal off plan on Wednesday would simply add up to too many calories.

Hi all, looking forward to the start of bootcamp on the 14th. Am going off alcohol for (most of) May, so hopefully it will see me starting at the same weight I was at the end of last bootcamp.

We're going away for quite a few weekends in May, and then I'm doing a week's sailing course in June, so it might be challenging in terms of being able to control what I eat, but I'll do my best.

I got a promotion in work, which is great because I have worked really hard for it, but first day was last week and it was a baptism of fire and has been quite very stressful.

I had tried a new MN NN, but it just didn't suit, so I'm back to being Beryl. BIWI if you need any help on Bootcamp just let me know.

Am very impressed at all the running chat. Cherries some people are just dicks.

Cherries thank you for asking. I think as bluntness has pointed out on the new bootcamp thread this is a matter of personal choice and I absolutely do know right from wrong in LCHF so no excuses there BUT....
I have to commit, wholeheartedly, and that means for me, no chocolate, no wine, much much more water, probably less cheese which I find hard - I have very little willpower it seems.
It’s not just this woe but also in my professional life where I also need to commit to various things and haven’t and personally. There is so much more I could achieve in do many ways if I just truly committed myself. By 14 May I need to make that choice.

In that case Brassica my recommendation would be to stick to LC rather than start counting calories or trying to stay low fat. LCHF is your way of eating and the carby stuff is a planned 'excursion'. Yes there might be a bit of weight gain as a result but you seem confident that you will be able to stick to your planned cheats without falling off the wagon.

Thanks Stunt. That sounds most sensible. Holiday is still a month a way. But I didn't want to ask this as a question on the new BC thread when folks are just getting started.

Continuing the running chat, I did my first ever Parkrun yesterday with 6yo DT1. So proud of her. It took 47 mins but the girl did it with a smile on her face and enjoyed it. It was one of the moments I've enjoyed as a parent the most! It was so nice to do something together. I think she's convinced DT2 to join us next week. I am excited on a daft level!

That’s lovely brassica, hope dt2 joins you next weekend. Parkrun really is the best thing.

Love the family running, Brassica

I've just been for my first run. I thought if I did it when I'd just woken up I wouldn't have time to persuade me out of it - which worked.

It was only 15 minutes, but running more than walking, and all of it either up or downhill (no across here it turns out). It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd thought, although I've discovered I really fear not being able to pull enough breath in (as in, get a bit panicky, which is unexpected). Uncomfortable around the sacro-iliac joints as well, but perhaps I was bouncing a bit too much.

What wasn't bouncing was my chest - this new bra is really soft and comfy, and absolutely strapped down. My legs and knees are also in fine fettle, so it's just the breathing that's the challenge at this beginners level!

Athelstane - take it carefully though. Throwing yourself into it like this risks injury.

Key questions: did you warm up before you set off (via a brisk walk, or some dynamic stretching) and did you do cool down stretches after the run?

Oh dear, I didn't think this was too much - it's the first C25K recommendation?

Yes, I did a 3 minute brisk walk uphill first, and a load of bendy/stretchy things when I got back - can't feel a thing in my back now, which is good. Will be googling before I try again though, to see if I'm doing anything noticeably wrong (heel-strike appears to be a no-no, for example).

If you're doing C25K, the first run is only running for a minute at a time, with 90 seconds of walking in between, and I think you only actually do 6 minutes of running overall (can't remember but I know it's unlikely to be 15 minutes for your first run).

I know it might sound overly cautious, but it really is important, especially as you'll be running every other day (if you're following C25K). I ended up injured because I wasn't stretching properly afterwards, and had to rest for a month and then start all over again from the beginning!