Week 4 - Low Carb Bootcamp - already a month!

[BIWI]

Morning all.

Here's the Spreadsheet

The link should open on the rules rather than just the spreadsheet because I rather think some of you need a reminder!

@Dia12 - you asked about water. Do you not know how much you should be drinking? If you don't know, then that tells me that you haven't read (or remembered) the rules!

Seriously - drinking the water is really important. That's why it's one of the rules.

So we're in week 4 - remember, this one has a reputation (along with its evil twin week 3) for being a week where weight loss is limited or even unlikely. Don't despair if you don't see any loss this week. As long as you're following the rules, you will be fine.

And remember - it's not all about the scales! Take your measurements, or try on something that was too tight a month ago, and you'll get a much more realistic idea about your progress.

I'm away for the next three days, visiting my best friend, so don't really know a) what's going to happen on the food front and b) how often I'll be able to post. I should have wifi on the train, but after that - who knows! I'm travelling first class though, so looking forward to my fried breakfast this morning.

I hope you all have a very good week.

Morning everyone

Feeling shit this morning but that is to be expected when you fall off the wagon I suppose. I'm so disappointed in myself, I allowed my old emotional binge eating habit to creep in last night. What's worse is that it happened directly after I had come to the conclusion that even though the scales aren't shifting much, I am definitely losing weight as my clothes finally stated to fit better. I'm already sold on the other benefits of eating this way so it was purely a case of allowing an old habit to creep in because I was feeling shit about some other things going on in my life.
I'm heading to yoga in a bit after I've dropped off DD at her performing arts class so that should help me get my mind right again. Plenty of water for me today for sure.

Any other tips for getting back on track if you've fallen off?

@CognitiveDissonance I've no personal experience to offer but from an objective viewpoint you can't change whatever you consumes yesterday, but you can control what you eat today, and if you've been successful so far, you can be successful again so try to move on rather than beat yourself up about it.

I read something recently about creating new associations for old habits - the example I remember because it was relevant to me was replacing the relaxing glass of wine whilst cooking dinner with listening to your favourite music or a podcast whilst cooking dinner. Could you make something positive out of yesterday by thinking about what you could do differently next time you feel that way?

@Cloverleaf1 thank you for sharing your story. It is very inspiring!

I am finding most of my clothes are getting too big. I have also realised I look bigger in baggier clothes. I guess I need to do some shopping!

Busy morning, I have to buy biscuits for other people at a worksop, but I've got a wee bag of macadamia nuts in case I'm tempted.

B - avocado
S - 5 macadamia nuts (if I need them)
L - celeriac remoulade with cheese on salad leaves
D - going out to local restaurant. It's quite carby with lots of battered items but I think I'll be OK with mussels in a cream, shallot and wine sauce followed by a starter portion of scallop and black pudding with sides of garlic chilli beans and creamed spinach.

I think most of us here have been in that changing room shagme
.

I am imagining us all whoosing the changing room curtains back at a some point in the future, stepping out looking fabulous in our chosen outfits and being handed a cocktail and a bunch of flowers 🍸 to rounds of applause. But then I'm slightly odd 😊

@KiteMarked - the cheese melts into the yoghurt and it makes a sort of sauce; if you leave it under the grill for long enough, and you've put plenty of cheese on it, then you also end up with a lovely cheesy crust.

I enjoyed that article BIWI, it's also introduced me to the diet doctor and a whole load of youtube videos.
Thank you!

How can you tell when almond milk goes off? Mine has been open longer than suggested and is two days past use by date, but honestly smells fine to me. If I hadn’t checked, I would happily have used it.

Well done everyone and sending strength to those who are struggling!

I am having the period from hell and it's emphasised how much hormonal fluctuations affect my carb/sweet cravings. Some weeks I can ignore them happily but this last week has been murderous.

Weighing on Monday so hoping for another small loss. The NSVs are pointing in the right direction.

Cognitive if you've had a fall off the wagon the most important thing is to get straight back on again - which is what you're doing and that's fabulous. I'm sure on a previous Bootcamp someone said that they fell off the wagon, dragged it into the woods and set it on fire for the insurance money! My tips are to drink plenty of water, have your favourite low carb foods and make sure you have low carb snacks available as you might have cravings today or tomorrow. I keep a couple of boiled eggs in the fridge and have them with mayonnaise if I get peckish between meals. For extra yumminess mix a little curry powder into the mayo.

The other thing is to reflect on what went wrong so you have more resistance next time. We could see the frustration building up in your posts over the past week or so. What could you do in the future to help yourself stay away from the carbs.

Food today
B - creamy coffee
L - smoked salmon, avocado, butter scrambled eggs and mushrooms, leftover asparagus from a jar
D - prawn pad Thai made with bare naked noodles and extra pak Choi fried in garlic

Concentrating very hard on water, which I find difficult on the weekend. About 1.5 litres down, almost halfway.

Avocado and...

I'm eating loads of them, they're quick and easy. I've tried egg mayo, tuna mayo, chicken mayo (with sriracha because I'm getting bored). I'd normally run to houmous [sic] but it's carby. What do people use?

Prawns and mayonnaise?

I love them with vinegarette and crumbed feta (and crispy bacon)
With a hard boiled egg
With smoked salmon

Prawns? How did I forget them?

Help. I'd forgotten I'm going to Wagamama for lunch tomorrow.

Had a look at the menu and there's nothing suitable unless I get them to adapt something. Anyone got any experience of what might be possible or any tips?

Thanks!

@1stMrsF

I went to Wagamama a few weeks ago and was going to have a salad. I mentioned to the server that I was low carbing hence ordering the salad. Anyway he said to me that they would be happy to prep any dish for me and would replace the noodles or rice with bean sprouts to bring the carbs down. So I had a noodle dish with bean sprouts and no noodles!

@1stMrsF There's quite a lot you could have there if you focus on the starter dishes - you could have a couple of those, or the steak salad looks good!

@MrsTerrtyPratchet
Avocado and cooked broccolimakes a lovely salad , add some feta orcrumbled blue cheese with the dressing
Poached eggs and avocado is a Favourite breakfast , used to be with toast , now with bacon

I hope my story has helped in some way. It all sounds a little smug and contrite when you have done it, (and written it down) but coming out the otherside, I can say, I am so glad I have done the journey and I feel terribly proud of myself, which is, in itself, a lovely feeling. We British are not very good at self congratulations and receiving compliments....well I'm not, so all I can say is Do this for YOU.

@ Slinky/Shag

You will get into that changing room and find that the size you selected from the clothing rail is actually too big. I struggled to recognise my own weight loss in the first 9 months. Then I bought a lovely skirt in October that is now just too big. I have even contemplated a bull dog clip to see if I could use that to tighten the waist! Another trip to the tailors beckons.

Anyhow, good luck for all your weigh-ins next week. I will be lurking and keeping any eye out for you all and wishing you all the very best. Summer is (hopefully) approximately 3/4 months away. Think of what a difference you could achieve in that time.......

And finally.......BIWI/Stunt - I need to say a personal thank you too you both. Your combined knowledge and insight (and my lurking/stalking of your posts) got me on this WOE in the first place, and for that I thank you, I wish I had had the confidence to post sooner, but tis done now. x

I'm very glad you plucked up the courage to post, @Cloverleaf1!

Lots of social stuff for me this week plus my child's birthday party this week has meant I've struggled a bit but trying to remind myself this woe is for life. I'm flying out to Canada tomorrow and hope there will be LC options. Thanks @Cloverleaf1 for posting your story - it's amazing. I'm frustrated at how much slower this time feels but I am sleeping better and don't have that ravenous feeling all the time so I'm focusing on that.

Thursday and Friday were very much off plan so if I am up or sts on Tuesday I'll take it... Just had compliant takeaway which was excellent, what a treat!

B: not enough water, but I've hopefully caught up by the end of the day now
L: butter fried cabbage with bacon pieces (couldn't finish it all, very filling)
S: cheese, pepperoni
D: rib eye steak with cauliflower and broccoli (restaurant) I had a bite of the coleslaw but it had carrots and tasted far too sweet.

I've started my period and have barely noticed it. Nice!

It’s been good week food wise, I did lot of bulk cooking on Monday so lot of the meals repeated themselves throughout the week:
Parmigiana, slow cooked lamb in red wine sauce, broccoli Stilton soup etc.

Food today:
B green tea
L stir fried leeks with mushrooms and cheese
D warm smoked haddock with mixed salad ( rocket , radishes, coulifliwer, green berms, tomatoe). Small portion left for tomorrow
2 cream coffees and mug after a mug of green or mint tea, also 2 large glasses of sparkling water/tea infusion

I’ve been keeping up my excercise this week, so far 4 session of JM, would like to do another 40 mins tomorrow.
I’m planning on going through my summer wardrobe tomorrow and see what fits, we are off on holiday on Friday and hopefully some of my old skirts and dresses will fit.
Please wish me luck

TOM arrived today, which is great. Should be all finished before the hols.
I’ve been feeling pretty good ( except 2 massive spots on my jawline), no major carb cravings. Slightly grumpy with my DS as the homework took forever.