Week 4 - Low Carb Bootcamp - it's week 4 already!

[BIWI]

Morning all

Remember that this week (along with last week) is infamous for seeing little or no weight loss!

Don't change what you're doing, just keep on keeping on and things will start moving again soon.

Here's the spreadsheet

Hope you all have a good week

There is usually a Boot Camp starting early January. This year BIWI wasn't going to be able to run one until mid/late February - so we declared UDI decided that was too long to wait to start one in early January anyway and took it in turns to be The Big Stick Wielder until she got back

All sorted, toots

I'm an abstainer, but I do make an exception for Christmas. Ground rules for me are: it seriously is just once a year, so that means one Christmas Eve, one Christmas Day, and one Boxing Day. Not a steady stream of mince pies from December 1st to January.

It also means 'proper' Christmas food, i.e. on the above days roast potato, chestnuts, stuffing, slice of buttered bread with the salmon, Christmas pudding, sherry, port and all the rest. It is not chewing through entire plastic tubs of roses, or eating grim chocolate lumps of Santa-shaped shit.

Oh god, i need a good talking too.

I haven't gone off plan but i nearly nearly did. i have gained weight again this morning and very tempted to say sod it!

Went to a tiny cafe that basically sells only sandwiches and cake. i asked for a egg mayo sandwich without the bread, got an odd look but ended up with something edible. i had then planned to eat a scone..why? i don't really know.

Literally the only reason i didnt is because it was served with butter and not cream (which to me isn't a scone) so i have accidently managed to stay on plan today.

Had cheese and salami for breakfast, egg mayo salad thing for lunch and my chilli beef bowl for dinner.

haven't had the usual loss of appetite this time round, im wondering if im picking up more carbs then i think and its just tipping me over the edge back into sugar burning. i feel good so i'm not in and out of carb flu but struggling really badly with wanting bad food. i have been feeling really guilty today even though I have eaten fine because of my almost wobble. fortunately i know myself too well and there is nothing in the house really to gorge myself on other then bread but im gluten intolerant so that usually keeps me at bay.

Sigh, i dont think i would be having this issue if i was actually losing weight. last time i was successful i combined lc with fasting but im reluctant to do that now with the breast feeding, it also got quite extreme last time as i had a hard deadline (wedding). perhaps i should start skipping breakfast as i used to do, perhaps i will feel better tomorrow. right off to drink more water!

Thanks so much everyone for your supportive messages, it really helps knowing that you lot understand when no one irl seems to.

@boldlygoingsomewhere you sound like you've sussed this thing, that's how I'd like to be able to be long-term.

@MumOfAPickle I totally get the convincing yourself thing. I'm Justifier McJustiface when it comes to talking myself into 'just' eating this or that. I now need to hone talking myself out of it instead. It's a work in progress.

@prettybird i'm afraid I must be an abstainer as, whenever I've attempted to be a moderator, I've failed at every diet I've ever tried before. I think I'll have to abstain until I'm really sure I can handle it and won't self-sabotage like I have literally hundreds of times before. The lack of cravings on this WOE certainly help.

@Littleorangetree we sound very similar, I'm a moderator wannabe too! Good luck with
it.

@AthelstaneTheUnready sound advice there, my Christmases do usually last all of December. Thanks for sorting the spreadsheet for me.

@Iamnotacerealkiller It must be so difficult to do this whilst breastfeeding, I wonder if that's why you're feeling uncharacteristically hungry?

Thanks so much everyone for your supportive messages, it really helps knowing that you lot understand when no one irl seems to.

@boldlygoingsomewhere you sound like you've sussed this thing, that's how I'd like to be able to be long-term.

@MumOfAPickle I totally get the convincing yourself thing. I'm Justifier McJustiface when it comes to talking myself into 'just' eating this or that. I now need to hone talking myself out of it instead. It's a work in progress.

@prettybird i'm afraid I must be an abstainer as, whenever I've attempted to be a moderator, I've failed at every diet I've ever tried before. I think I'll have to abstain until I'm really sure I can handle it and won't self-sabotage like I have literally hundreds of times before. The lack of cravings on this WOE certainly help.

@Littleorangetree we sound very similar, I'm a moderator wannabe too! Good luck with
it.

@AthelstaneTheUnready sound advice there, my Christmases do usually last all of December. Thanks for sorting the spreadsheet for me.

@Iamnotacerealkiller It must be so difficult to do this whilst breastfeeding, I wonder if that's why you're feeling uncharacteristically hungry?

Sorry no idea why it posted my ridiculously long post Twice. Aargh!

toots, I started this woe on 21 May 2017. Since then, we’ve had two big wedding anniversaries (ours and my parents), three holidays, three significant birthdays (me, DH, DD) a graduation, landing a big project etc etc, plus of course Xmas, Easter, bank holidays, two Halloween’s etc etc. The FIRST time I’ve deviated was this week as I had to go on a low residue, low fat, high carb bowel prep for a colonoscopy. I’ve lost just short of 6 stone. I knew that if I came off, I might not start again. I decided I had to make good times not mean stuffing my face, and celebrations were still happy without food. I know lots of people say they can moderate, but my observation is that often comes with extended periods off, and rebound weight gain. For me, abstaining works better, and it means only one decision, ie ‘I don’t eat carbs’ rather than a constant will I/won’t I, followed by how often/how much etc. When I ‘just say no’ it means I don’t give headspace to it. Well done for being so brave :)

@ilovecherries thank you, your journey is so inspiring and it's great to hear how you've managed to stay on plan through all those holidays and special occasions. It's good to know it's doable.

Just marking my place as I've been so busy at work I'm struggling to keep up. Been a horrible week, terrible traffic, late nights working and early starts, plus problems at work that usually would have me reaching for the chocolate and white Carbs, but I resisted, although I don't think it seems like I'm loosing this week, I have had so many comments about loosing weight, it's nearly half a stone gone and I feel really good, so that's been a high point.
Today has been crappy for food, I just have had 2 really down days where I just keep reaching into the fridge for cheese and ham. Hopefully I can get out of my slump and start eating a bit better tomorrow.
Question though, has anyone had odd cycles on this WOE? I have now got what feels like my period and some spotting, after only 2 weeks of my cycle. Its really odd.

That's happened to me before when I've low carbed, I think it's to do with oestrogen which is stored in your fat cells being released into your bloodstream as you lose the weight, it should settle down soon. You might be reaching for the ham and cheese but you can be pleased with yourself that you've resisted the stodge and sugar!

Oh thanks, I remember seeing somebody say that earlier, I guess it makes sense and why I'm feeling a bit down too, been tearful today so maybe that's it. Yeah I'm pleased overall I've avoided the sugar, did have dome 85% chocolate in the end though, but better than 3 crumpets and a bar of crap chocolate which is what I would have eaten!

I sometimes find a spoonful or two or three of clotted cream will assuage any "sweet" craving

@Youcantscaremeihavechildren
Buy some cacao butter. Its smells like dark chocolate a tiny tiny piece melted on the tongue leaves that just eaten 85% silk texture and settled the taste buds and cravings. Small amount in coffee makes it taste like a mocha

Totally normal Youcantscareme and should resolved in a couple of cycles. As Everdeen says it's due to oestrogen being released from fat cells.

ooh clotted cream and cacao butter on the list! Along with buttermilk tea... I'm going to find a fancy shop to get these things in at the weekend (well, waitrose rather than aldi ).
Just properly caught up, I'm an abstained I think, although I'll see how that goes up to Xmas..
Determined to shake it all off and do better today. Down to 59kg, so that's about 9st 2 I think, over 8 lost so far. Getting a tattoo this weekend which I'm very excited about midlife crisis so I'm looking forward to that and more of fitting into clothes comfortably, rather than being upset/hormonal and annoyed I can't fall in to a vat of wine or chocolate.

Looks like yesterday was a test from the LC gods. im now half a pound under my lowest bootcamp weight!

Right extra strict day today. i plan to buy that cheesy chorizo thing that was recommended up thread.

hmm what would happen if you combine cocoa butter and clotted cream?

cereal killer the cheesy chorizo thing is 9g carb for the whole thing. That's okay ish for bootcamp lite but it's not what you want for a "really strict" day I don't think. It is oozing fat though

@oldbirdy

oh ok, well will buy anyway for emergencies.

Sneaky weigh in , and I’ve put on 2lb !
Cross with myself , and back on Bootcamp Strict now
Had Greek yoghurt with a sprinkling of cocoa for breakfast , quite nice actually
Think I’ll have bowl full of green veg for lunch , with olive oil and feta ( not Fanta , as my iPad would prefer )
Chicken breast with veg for dinner ( bought one of The Romanesco Cauliflowers , it’s so beautiful ! ) so will roast some of that

I was thinking of the cheese and chorizo thing for Christmas - I wondered what brussels dunked in it would be like.......

@Rshard

OMG inspired! i have brussels!! i hope you dont all live in my area and they are all gone by the time i get them !!

@Doilooklikeatourist

I was in exactly your position yesterday and nearly threw in the towel but didn't and this morning the 2lb gain plus another half lb was gone...no explanation other then the weight loss is always going to be there tomorrow so KOKO!!

I have a bag of brussels to use up (mmmmmm ) - probably tonight for my supper while dh has a curry

.....and then I can start cropping my brussels from my own plants I have 5 plants - plus 5 each of Savoy cabbage, kale and green/white cabbage (the latter was bought as Romanesco cauliflower plug plants, hence me not knowing for sure what they are ).

@oldbirdy i've just looks for your cheese chorizo bake in my local sainsburies and can't find it. in the ready meals bit i assume??

Will sooth my broken heart with a hot crispy duck salad :)

It's actually quite easy to make clotted cream yourself. If you have an Instant Pot then the yogurt setting makes it even easier. Dangerous though - I don't have enough self-control when there's a bowl of clotted cream in the fridge - so probably best to save it for special occasions like when strawberries are in season.