Week 6 - Low Carb Bootcamp - the second half starts here!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

I would normally drop a link to the spreadsheet here, but for some reason I've had to request access to it

So until someone else - or @AthelstaneTheUnready - can sort this, I'm afraid I'll just have to start the thread without the link.

It's a bit like spinach if you do it the way I described: a big bowl reduced to not much

It'll be ages before the other brassicas are ready (brussels, Savoy cabbage and romanesco cauliflower) so I'll have plenty of time to practice different variations!

The first flower buds are just starting to form on my courgette plants - looking forward to them!

oldbirdy that sounds nice but how long do you cook the kale for?

Ooooh - I've got a can of coconut milk. Might try that!

I took out the Woody stems and chopped it quite finely so probably 4 or 5 min max.

M&S Ultimate Burgers! OMG bloody delicious!

Ooh we eat loads of kale and cavolo nero, very interested in the idea of roasting the discarded stems, thanks prettybird

Before LCHF I used to steam curly kale but now the only and correct way for both that and cavolo nero is pan-fried (sautéed?) in butter, takes maybe 3 mins, amazing! How is this not a staple for everyone already?!

Stayed on track for an impromptu lunch out on Friday but the beer festival yesterday including a "dirty burger" where I ate slightly over half of the bun and still ended up in need of a bath (messy) and of course a few beers has led to a deserved small gain, hopefully I can shed before tomorrow. BBQ this afternoon planned.

Destiny my top tip for sautéed kale is leave it quite wet after washing so it half steams half fries. Also use lots of butter (that's my top tip for life, not just kale ).

Had a fabulous day at Royal Ascot on Friday - and the scales showed just how good this morning!

Choice I made knowing that there would be consequences - but I'm back on it with a vengeance.

What are your top recommendations for cauliflower recipes? DH loathes cauliflower the great big weirdo but he is going away for three days on business and he has kindly bought a cauliflower for me to "eat while he's away!" I was thinking cauliflower cheese with bacon in for the first day but it's a pretty big cauliflower so will probably do two days easily.

Cauliflower cheese with broccoli through it and flaked haddock and prawns is lovely, or with strips of roast chicken.

Hooray, ajandajjmum! It makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it?

@clare8allthepies I did wonder if it was for 'genuine' reasons. If all his levels are good, but he sees them go haywire when he goes off piste then surely he’s proved that LCHF is working for him? 😮

I like cauliflower simply roasted with some olive oil and a sprinkling of cumin and coriander.

@stuntnun halve the cauliflower. Make cauliflower cheese with half and savoury rice/couscous with the other half

For cauliflower cheese, heat a 300 ml pot of double cream till it comes to the boil, then add a couple of handfuls of grated, mature cheddar. Stir till it melts, season with black pepper, then tip into an oven dish, sprinkle over another handful of grated cheese and bake in a high heat till the cheese on top melts and browns

For the savoury rice/couscous, in a wok or large frying pan, fry some sliced shallots with finely chopped garlic, ginger and chilli. Add any other veg you want, also finely chopped or sliced. Mange tout, pepper, courgette all work well. While they’re cooking, wash the cauliflower, break into florets and then pulse them in a processor till it looks like grains. (If you don’t have a food processor you can just grate the cauliflower).

Add to the pan and stir fry till cooked - only takes a few minutes. Season with some soy sauce and pepper.

Good morning,

I've only really successfully dieted to lose baby weight but my children are well and truly at primary school now and my weight is continuously going up. I did slimming world for 3 weeks and lost some but hated the diet and groups so I have decided that, as I know I eat too much carbs (and everything else) I should focus on that and see if I can get to grips with it. Would love some online support!

I'm 5'5" and 11st 5lbs. I would like to lose 1.5stone but am going to start with getting under 11 stone first, then I'll aim for 1stone and take it from there.

So... week 1 let's go

Welcome!

Thank you @BIWI

Bread is a massive downfall for me. When I get a craving, what's a good go-to alternative?

Welcome mother

I am a similar height as you (maybe half an inch taller after a stretchy Pilates class ) and am currently 5.5lb heavier. But I've lost 3 stone 3lb on this WOE over the last year - and that includes 2 months when I fell off the wagon

I've eaten well and enjoyed my food over this past year - the great thing is you never need to starve yourself, count calories or get stuck on rabbit food.

Next objective is to break 11stone 7lb - and then less than a stone to go until I'm in a normal BMI

I am however a lot older than you at 57!

Just goes to show that this WOE works whatever your age!

M0ther - initially just make sure you have plenty of HFLC snacks to go to if you have a craving (cheese, meat, pâté) and/or drink some water.

You'll find over time your cravings will decrease.

After the first 2 strict weeks of Boot Camp, there are various "breads" you can make (usually best toasted) - you can find recipes in the Pinned Vegetarian recipe thread. They have ground almonds/seeds in them which is why they're not suitable for the first 2 weeks.

Than you @qumquat, it's miserable isn't it, feel much better today though thank goodness, no more bread substitutes for me either .
Have lost 3cms from my waist and 5 cms from my hips since 9th June, in spite of weighing the same, which just shows you can't measure success just by using the scales. So that's why my shorts fell down yesterday!

@StuntNun I love cauliflower steaks, brushed with olive oil lemon juice and crushed garlic and sprinkled with salt and pepper, roasted in the oven. Just yum. It's a veg that DH will eat too. Like the sound of savoury cauliflower couscous, @BIWI, thank you, will definitely be giving that a go!

Hello @m0therofdragons! Welcome, it's great here! 
As @prettybird says the cravings definitely decrease over time, it's surprising how eating habits can change, and this is the first 'diet' I've ever been on where I haven't gone to bed hungry and have enjoyed the food I'm eating. It's definitely worth persevering!

When I get a craving, what's a good go-to alternative?
Mother eat eat eat. Have three meals a day and snacks whenever you need them at first. It's much easier to resist bad food when you're already full of good food.

Thanks for the cauliflower recommendations everyone.

Morning. Back home after a couple of days in France - lovely time, and managed to stick with it pretty well, so have lost a couple of those troublesome pounds that went on with the Breadgate issue last weekend. So, back on track and fingers crossed for tomorrow's weigh-in...

NSVs: was measured for a new bra last week (I've just been buying the same size as before and doing it up tighter, but thought I deserved a nice one now) and found that I'm not the 38B I thought, but a 36D. I can't believe either the number or the letter, but it fits really well and it's a confection of blush pink lace (with matching knicks, of course) so I feel bloody lovely in it. Shame there's nobody to see it, but hey, I'm doing this for me, right...?