Week 3 - Low Carb Bootcamp - which way will you go?

[BIWI]

Morning all

Here's the spreadsheet

So a few mixed results so far. Hopefully there will be some more good ones on the spreadsheet!

I suspect that what a lot of you are coming to realise is that this isn't a way of eating that can allow you to cheat or even to take your eye off the ball.

In this initial phase, while we're aiming to become fat-adapted, it's really important that you keep your carbs as low as you can (within sensible limits - this is not a a zero carb diet - you should be eating enough veg and salad to get good nutrition, which will mean you're eating carbs)

I know that sometimes it's impossible. I'm in a situation where tonight I'm being cooked for, by people who have no idea I'm low carbing, and who haven't asked if there's anything I can/can't eat - so I'll just have to accept it. But whilst it's within your control, you really do need to stay strong.

Now.

This is the start of the infamous week 3 (and next week, week 4) - and it's very, very, VERY common for weight loss to stop - or sometimes even for people to gain slightly, even if they're following the rules.

So. You can decide to stay on Bootcamp if you want to, to help deal with this, or you could move onto Bootcamp Light, which means you can start to add some fruit, some nuts and seeds and some alcohol back into your diet.

The operative word is 'some'! All in moderation - and not at every meal, every day - because this will mean that you won't see the weight loss you want to.

There are three options:

• stay on Bootcamp
• move to Bootcamp Light
• choose a hybrid - Bootcamp during the week, Bootcamp Light at the weekend

Whatever you choose, I hope that you have a good, positive and successful week.

Oops wrong name!

That's some exfoliation Mimosa!

Good lucks MrsF!

Had yummy dinner of steak with garlic butter, mushrooms and spinach cooked with wholegrain mustard and cream, on a bed of salad.

Just had glorious dinner of turkey burger (turkey mine, egg, shallot, smudge of fresh parsley) with buttery mushrooms and a fried egg on top with avocado and salad (mayo). Who needs a shitty, processed sugary burger bun? Not fucking me!

What is this fathead stuff people mention?

I’ve got a hen party booked in the cafe tomorrow, for afternoon tea ( note to self , the scones have been cooked by liceridden chefs , in a rat infested kitchen etc ( thanks @unexpecteditem for the idea ) obviously not true ( especially if any of the hens or the EHO is reading )

B cheese 2 egg omlette ( I turned the omlette over , then added the grated cheese and it seemed much more filling than the gooey runny cheesey omlette I normally have )
L veg soup , with double cream added
D pan fried salmon fillet with courgettes , onions , mushroom and half a tomato
2 glasses of white wine ( after dry January, it’s such a treat )

I so wanted this to work for me but it’s been a whole month and I have lost nothing. The scales haven’t budged, my clothes still don’t fit, I’m not losing weight or inches. I’ve been in ketosis since the first three days of January, I’ve researched, I’ve read, I’ve learned. I’ve tried tracking macros, I’ve scaled back on dairy, berries etc. I drink water throughout the day. I genuinely can’t see where I’ve gone wrong but I’m so disappointed and demotivated. I don’t even want to give up because my skin is clearer, my energy is better and it’s nice to not crave the sugar that I was clearly addicted to but I’m so disappointed that it did not have the desired effect on the weight that I seriously want/need to lose 😔

Good Luck MrsF.

Today
B - 2 boiled eggs and butter
L - broc and stilton soup and a peperami
D - Pork belly roasted in herbs de provence with a slaw of red cabbage, radish, fennel and celery and chopped walnuts.

Cognitive perhaps you just need to start counting calories?

@CognitiveDissonance Sorry that it doesn't seem to be working for you - although I see you did lose 3lbs in week 1.

List out for me what you've been eating and drinking over the last few days and let me see if I can help

Can you share pork belly cooking tips MrsKoala / anyone.

There is always too much fat that's not done enough for me. I only like fat on meat when it's crispy.

Thanks @BIWI yes I did and I appear to be at least 1lb up since then! So frustrating 😔

breakfast is usually eggs, poached or scrambled in kerrygold butter. Lunch is when I have the majority of my greens. It’s usually a salad or crudités with salmon or shrimp with some avocado. If I have dressing it’s homemade so I know there are no hidden carbs (sour cream mixed with whole grain mustard or a little balsamic vinegar). If I add cheese, it’s a small amount (15-20g) as I try to be strict with dairy and I’d rather have a drop of cream in my coffee- I only drink it once a day. If I have a snack it’s 15-20g of nuts such as almonds or hazelnuts. I don’t eat cashews as I know they’re higher in carbs. Occasionally I’ll have berries instead of nuts but again, not often. Dinner tends to be steak or grilled lamb or ground turkey or roast chicken or grilled fish. Always with a side of broccoli, kale or spring greens. In the first week I was having creamy sauces with my dinner (mushrooms in double cream etc) but I've stopped that in case dairy was the problem but no change.

The thing is, this is a drastic change to the way I was eating before. I was completely addicted to sugar, permanently bloated, absolute carb monster. I’m genuinely surprise that I haven’t dropped any weight at all based on the change alone. there must be more to it somehow. When I’ve simply cut out sugar for lent in the past, I’ve dropped weight so something is definitely wrong this time.

Drinks wise it's just water and a coffee in the mornings. I don't have diet fizzy drinks.

@CognitiveDissonance looking at what you've listed, there are a couple of things - first, cut out the balsamic vinegar. That's shockingly high in carbs. Use a white or red wine, or a cider vinegar instead.

It also sounds like you're not eating enough fat. All your protein choices sound like they're low fat - and why are you grilling rather than frying? Are you having butter on your veg? Or mayo on the side?

And how much water are you drinking? You should be drinking between 4 and 4.5 litres a day.

Slow cooker kebab was “banging” according to DH. Highly recommended! Minimal prep, too.

@SlinkyDinkyDoo do you pour boiling water over the pork belly before roasting? Makes all the difference. And scoring the fat.

Oh congrats for being nominated @1stMrsF ...did you win?

I've had a similar issue @CognitiveDissonance but I have had some NSVs - I noticed an improvement when I increased my water intake and upped my salts.

I do however still have about 2/3 tbsps of double cream with a few raspberries - I'm now beginning to think I should cut the cream out. Is mascarpone a better alternative @BIWI?

Not necessarily @Dia12 - if you have a problem with it, it's probably because it's dairy. Different types of dairy, but still dairy!

D'uh 🤪! Of course, you're right they are both dairy!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

No, just sling it in the oven mrsterryp tried it a couple of times only. I never have any luck with crackling on pork, tried scoring and salt. I like to cook pork long and slow and think the lower heat doesn't work for crackling.

I've been reading about drinking water on a low carb diet, and this is what I've found so far:

1. drinking a lot of water at the start of a low carb diet is important - previously glycogen has been stored with water in your muscles. As your body burns through stored glycogen (and it's not replaced) your body's water stores get depleted too. The resultant mild dehydration can make 'keto-flu' symptoms worse.

2. there's a close relationship between your kidneys and your liver, drinking lots of water helps your kidneys to function properly, including excreting excess ketones, and allows the liver to do the task that you want it to i.e. break down fatty acids

3. the biochemical mechanism for burning fats and carbohydrates are different - breaking down carbohydrates adds water (about one molecule of water per molecule of glucose), while breaking down fatty acids requires water for the chemical process (roughly one molecule of water for every 2 atoms of carbon). So in effect, drinking more water can help to speed up fat burning.

@BIWI I don't grill often, our grill is a bit rubbish so it's once a week at best! I do struggle to get 4litres in because the nature of my job and the type of building I work in makes going to the toilet difficult. It's easier at the weekends but could still be better. I only used the balsamic vinegar once so swapping it out for ACV is no big deal. Yes to adding butter to veggies, I do that most evenings.

Forgot to add, this week I started having mayo with my salad instead.

The thing is, despite the lack of weight loss, the change in the way I feel is enough to make me want to keep eating this way. Its so nice to not feel permanently exhausted, have better skin, have more energy and banish the bloat. I just need the last bit of the puzzle to fall into place really.

Ha, @prettybird @ShagMeRiggins @AthelstaneTheUnready that will teach me to use paragraphs but wouldn't it be nice if facials really did make you lose weight?

@CognitiveDissonance must be so frustrating! I don't have anything to add to @BIWI's advice but I know what you mean abound not having that sugar addiction feeling. Could it be that you just gave very little to lose ? That last stone can be very stubborn. I wouldn't know, ahem, as I still have quite a way to go.

Cognitive I absolutely understand your frustration after a month of no weight loss. I don’t have the answer but I’m so happy you see other benefits and that you’re willing to go forward with this, because it does work.

You didn’t mention anything about snacks? Or
Portion size. Trying to figure this out with you—we all are!

Thanks for the support everyone. I didn't win, but I'm still very proud to have been nominated and had a great evening.

Almost more exciting (for a mother of two) I'm now in a cab heading for my hotel where I will sleep alone in a king size bed, and eat breakfast with no interruptions!

It sounds like this week is a challenge for us all. KOKO all 😘