Week 8 - Low Carb Bootcamp - only 3 weeks to go!

[BIWI]

Morning all.

Here, hopefully, is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness Let's just hope this one works

So we have three weeks left. Still time to see a good loss before our final weigh-in. This weather, I think, makes it all easier - so much easier to choose a salad when it's hot. And barbecues are perfect for low carbing (if you're a meat eater, of course!)

We had a barbecue yesterday and we had:

home-made chilli burgers (12% fat organic mince, chopped shallot, chopped red chilli, dried oregano and salt and pepper, whizzed up in the processor to combine). I had mine without the bun, obviously!

chicken thighs, skin-on, that had been marinated in a spice mix (ground cumin, ground coriander, ground ginger, turmeric, chilli powder, oregano, salt and pepper, all mixed in with olive oil and fresh lime juice to make a paste that was then rubbed all over the chicken)

coconut cod** - a lovely recipe I found in one of my barbecue books. Fish marinated in coconut cream, that had been infused with lime, garlic, ginger, shallot and lime juice - bring all that to the boil and simmer for around 10 minutes; cool and then use as a marinade for the fish, which you then cook on the barbecue in a foil parcel.

And sausages. Because you can't have a barbecue without sausages!

Anyway, plenty left over, so I'm taking chicken and sausages to work for my lunch.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Great to hear about your ideal blood pressure, @chocchip88!

[bibliomania]

Unfortunately it's too good, itchy

Leapin good to know it works for you. I think I'd be the same and eat if I am hungry. Because this woe has suppressed my appetite to some extent, I thought now would be a good time to try it.

[LeapinLizards]

@bibliomania, that's it exactly - appetite isn't there so it's easy to do it. And on the days that it's not for whatever reason then you just eat.

[qumquat]

Thanks @biwi Yesterday I had:

Bf: two eggs mashed in butter
Snack: half an avocado
Lunch: two sausages (from school canteen so probably too carby) steamed broccoli and salad
Tea: salmon and asparagus tray bake then mountains of cheese as I'd let myself get too hungry.

Today I made sure I had a slab of butter with lunch (canteen chicken curry plus salad) and I haven't keeled over yet so progress!

I know I need to stop relying on canteen lunches but cooking makes me so anxious I'm not keen to take on a third meal to prepare. I can try to take in more leftovers.

[qumquat]

I'm also drinking tea with milk at work which I know I shouldn't but I struggle to get through the day without a couple of cups.

I'm a teacher of a physical subject so work is physically draining.

[Twoo]

I’m reading the threads but not posting much as I’m just kokoing when I’d rather be losing a bit as I still have about 20lbs to go.

However, I’m reading everything I can around Keto and trying to get educated. In my research I came across this book.

It arrived today. It’s a great book, by a great lady, who’s travelled the Keto journey. It has recipes, meal plans and shopping lists. A great resource.

It also covers other aspects of Keto and includes portion control/sizes. I know the general rule is you don’t need to count calories wtwoe. Nonetheless it might be relevant for those of us who are less active, have health issues etc.

I’m determined to crack this way of eating. I already appreciate feeling less bloated and not to have cravings etc, I just wish the scales would start to move downwards.

[Gammeldragz]

I tend to eat first between 10-11 if I'm at work and if not don't usually bother with breakfast at all. I pretty much do 16:8 most days and as dinner is usually before 6pm, have done for most of my low carb journey as it works with my changed appetite.

[BIWI]

@qumquat

Bf: two eggs mashed in butter

That sounds good - perfect low carb food! But if you still needed a snack, then perhaps it's worth trying to eat more at breakfast time?

Snack: half an avocado

Well, this is lovely - and also low carb - but see above!

Lunch: two sausages (from school canteen so probably too carby) steamed broccoli and salad

This really isn't great. The sausages will undoubtedly have been really carby - as an example, one (grilled) thick Richmond sausage is 7.9g carbs.

And steamed broccoli?! Where's the fat? Or flavour?!

Tea: salmon and asparagus tray bake

How much fat was there in this? This, potentially, is a low fat meal!

then mountains of cheese as I'd let myself get too hungry

Well, also not a good idea really - firstly letting yourself get hungry and then 'mountains' of cheese!

Today I made sure I had a slab of butter with lunch (canteen chicken curry plus salad) and I haven't keeled over yet so progress!

Do you have any idea what was in the curry though? They're often thickened with flour and/or potato. And the salad - did you have an oily dressing, or did it have carbs in it? Was it balsamic vinegar rather than wine vinegar? This, potentially, could also be a carby meal.

Don't forget, it's not just the absence of fat that can make you hungry, it's also the presence of carbs.

I know I need to stop relying on canteen lunches but cooking makes me so anxious I'm not keen to take on a third meal to prepare. I can try to take in more leftovers.

Leftovers would be a very good idea.

[qumquat]

Thanks @biwi. You're right I need to lose my reliance on the school canteen. I imagine it has to follow low fat criteria. The salad is totally undressed I'm afraid. I could bring in my own oil and vinegar dressing.

The salmon was smothered in oil and butter so I think reasonably high fat. I'll try to plan a better strategy for lunches. Tomorrow is roast day so I can usually get some good fatty cuts of meat and I know there are no hidden carbs.

Thanks for your input. I need to do this properly to get the full benefits.

[BlackMozart]

Hello just slinking quietly back in. Well done destinys great chart and lovely pic prettybird.
I am another one in the camp who keeps taking off and putting on the same 2-3lbs and it is frustrating but this week entirely of my own doing. All alcohol related sadly. I love this woe and it’s definitely my way of maintaining but not at the moment a way of me getting the weight off. I did 5 weeks with no messing about but still didn’t lose that much and have now had 2 weeks of stupid little fails. I am officially an idiot.
One NSV though. I found a pair of cropped jeans in my wardrobe that are a 16 not an 18 and when I tried them on last week they just slipped on. They don’t have extra elastase in them so don’t ‘give’ so I know I have lost. It’s still not a great look on a 5ft 1 frame but along with my new short haircut which people seem to love I am making progress of sorts.

[BlackMozart]

OMG England won. Sadly I had to anaesthetise myself with wine...again.

[BlackMozart]

..to get through the penalty shoot out obvs

[BIWI]

I think I need something for my blood pressure now!

[Twoo]

It sure was nail biting Black’ .... you’re forgiven!

I’ve hurt myself trying to jump for joy ... when I know I can’t jump

[BlackMozart]

😀 BIWI
Ouch twoo. You need to recover in time for Saturday now!

[prettybird]

ignores the football

Blackmozart - if it's any consolation, I stalled for 2 months (3 if you count Christmas) yoyoing around the weight I'd got to just before Christmas. I ended up getting demotivated and falling off the wagon In c6 weeks, I put on 8lb

But since running after and getting back on the wagon for this Boot Camp, I've lost that 8lb and another 4.75lb

I think the difference this time is that working really hard on the water, including my electrolyte version (Lo-salt and lemon juice), drinking well above my "allocation" in this heat and upping my fat - having a slice/scoop of salted butter before having a snack (and as a result, often not having that snack).

I'm hoping to make it at least a stone this Boot Camp - which then means only another stone to go to get to "normal" BMI (at which point I'll re-assess my overall target).

Christmas is my objective - dh can then go to town on buying me clothes as Christmas presents!

[Twoo]

Your post has cheered me right up Pretty’ ...

I’m yoyoing the same couple of lbs this bc. Hopefully by the next bc I’ll be losing again. Fingers crossed.

BIWI this wc has been so exciting. Hoping for a win Saturday (as is all the country)

[Rshard]

I’ve been the same twoo

I definitely need to give the electrolytes a go

[Seafour]

Reporting for duty briefly in the run up to the wedding and in the midst of ongoing tests and biopsy's for the skin cancer, eight lesions identified so far and another four waiting for biopsy.
Some impressive losses, I'm 1/2lb down but worry, lack of appetite and stress are probably causing me to stall.
Off to hospital in a minute as I need to have a whole spine MRI in the run up to my next surgery which has to be done under general anaesthetic as I can't breathe laying flat, even with my ventilator it's not safe so that's my day gone.
Seven days until my eldest DD and DGD's arrive from NZ, can't wait.

[LeapinLizards]

What a stressful time for you @seafour. You're doing so well not to leap into carbs. Good luck for today.
@Twoo thanks for that book recommendation. Does it have many vegetarian meals in it? If so, I may purchase too.

[Laska5772]

Hi there Im still on holiday in Greece so wont be able to WI until wk10. but I have been keeping off all bad carbs (except some cherries and the odd bit of peach and(probably a bit too much )..been choosing fish, salads and grilled meat as much as possible. Of course there are a fair few lovely ripetomatoes in Greek salad as well but I have forgorn allbread (the lovey) honey which DH pours over his breakfasy yoghurt and fruit snd all potatoes pasta etc.. Drinking.loads and loadsof water ! . I am wishing I had brought a pair of just-fitting shorts to use as a measure ..
But Im hoping to have STS or maybe only a couple of lbs on.. fingers crossed ..

[Laska5772]

Also plenty of olive oil on those salads and am still 'taking' a 2 dessert spoons every morning like medicine !! I wont have lost but will be v happy if I have near about STS or less than 3lbs gain on return . on previous hols here ive gained about 7lbs .
What ever I shall be back to repeating the first 2 weeks regime on my return

[Rshard]

Wishing you all the best seafour! Good luck for today.

Sounds like you’re doing really well sticking to this woe on your holiday laska

[m0therofdragons]

Woke up late so no breakfast and no packed lunch. Exhausted today with hay fever so it's going to be a very long 8 hours until I can go home. Should be at work now but I'm still walking in.

I did manage to go swimming last night which I've not done for the last 2 weeks. I was hoping it would make me feel energised. Sadly not.

Good luck @Seafour

[Kleptronic]

So I finally weighed in this morning and it's 0.2lb on, when the scale's on the sweet spot on the floor that is, it's 1.2lb everywhere else . Either way it's well better than the 3 up on Monday!

[BlackMozart]

Thank you prettybird it does help to hear about those who have stuck with it through the stalls or yoyoing.
seafour much respect to you for kokoing through your health challenges. How lovely that you have your daughter and granddaughter’s visit and the wedding to look forward to.
twoo I will look up that book too. I have been wondering about getting a Keto Cookbook for more ideas and I don’t need an excuse to buy a cookery book!