Low Carb Bootcamp - the end of the line!

[BIWI]

Morning all.

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness, waiting for the results from your Scales of Truth!

Hopefully the final weigh-in is a good one for you all.

Although this is the end of this Bootcamp, it's not the end of the chat - so not the end of support, advice and general chit chattery!

So don't despair if you haven't reached your target. Keep going and reporting in here. The Big Stick will be rested in the cupboard for a while, but you can keep checking in here.

Oh my god @summersazz, you’re a braver woman than I!!

Inspired by everyone's successes, I'm skulking back onto this thread. Many colds and minor illnesses and much sleep deprivation have thrown me somewhat off course. It's been interesting observing my behaviour while off course, especially around chocolate. It's basically addict behaviour, escalating from just a couple of squares of dark chocolate to two 100g bars over the course of the day (although I would like to claim sleep deprivation and breastfeeding munchies as excuses mitigating factors). It's not pretty.

Thankfully breastfeeding seems to have softened my fall off the wagon and I can continue to claim my Bootcamp loss of 13.5 lbs. However, that safety net will not last forever...

So...I would like to join the Between Bootcampers, if I may? I would like to lose 7lbs before the next bootcamp, get me into "overweight".

I know the conversation has moved on, but regarding BIWIs big stick. It's not really a big stick. It is literally just a well lit mirror. No lies, no personal comments, it's just a reflection of what is there. If people don't like it, it's a reflection on them. Especially as the big stick is almost always wielded by saying "read the sodding rules", except using nicer words. Honestly woman, you've got the patience of a saint.

What I am currently struggling with (aside from a wilful toddler and a 4 month sleep regression) is the low carb equivalent of something to chuck in the oven/microwave. I'm thoroughly enjoying the food, but every so often I just need something that involves no effort. I was doing well eating a lot of swede chips and eggs/ham, but I want something even easier if it exists, and I was also sadly told to be careful of the swede carbs.

Notlost some supermarket soups aren't too bad - the fresh ones not the tinned ones. Sainsbury's/Waitrose/Ocado/Co-Op sell Yorkshire Provender Cauliflower Cheese Soup With Kale & Fountains Gold Cheddar which is 3.4% carbs. Broccoli and Stilton soup is often low carb too. I usually add a lump of butter when microwaving to get the fat content a bit higher for satiation.

@Notlostjustexploring recent 'meals' in a hurry: slices of beef spread with mustard and a chunk of brie, boiled eggs with mayonnaise (add avocado to either) wilted spinach and mushrooms with Boursin (add egg for omelette or scramble).

ooooh, love the sound of a mile-long zipwire Summer - where is that?

notlost, I tend to make a huge vat of shepherds pie (with a not too thick celeriac mash) and then put lots of portions in the freezer. Takes 10 minutes to defrost in the microwave, and then 15 at a high heat in the oven. Zero preparation however.

Otherwise, if I'm feeling wealthy, prawns and avocado in mayonnaise with pepper - takes 2 minutes and is very filling.

@Rshard my 10 year old wants to do it so I'm along for the ride! I really want to not close my eyes and actually enjoy it 

@AthelstaneTheUnready it's in North Wales over an old slate mine

@Notlostjustexploring I too batch cook and have leftovers in the fridge - I love cold curry and cold chilli so that makes a good snack. I also roast (or buy ready roasted chicken) and dip that in mayo

Still brave @summersazz!

The chilled soups are a great idea @stuntnun, I second leftovers for a quick and easy meal.

I make extra dinner each night so I have my next day's lunch and don't have to buy something in the work canteen (their panini's are too bloody good so must avoid)!

Cold meat slices and butter are my go to snack. Plus a little cheese - Brie, halloumi or cheddar.

Brief update from holiday: I am failing massively. Haribo on one side. Family pack of crisps on the other. I literally can't stop.

Enjoy your holiday @BrassicaBabe then get back on it when you return!

I'm struggling today. I'm unusually hungry but had a broken night so I'm tired. Not sure where to start with work so chipping away at things and the day is dragging. How is it not 5pm yet?

Dinner is omelette but I'm not convinced it'll cut it tonight!

I just realised the other day that all the mayo that I've been buying has sugar in it! All this time! I can't believe I didn't read the ingredients.

In a bit of a stall here. I'm sticking to the rules but weight-loss has stopped/slowed.

At least I enjoy the 'diet' . Suspect I'll have to reduce dairy ... though will be very sad about that.

On day 4 of my amazing beach holiday. Mostly doing ok food wise apart from a few bites of dd2s pizza, and a piece of baguette yesterday for breakfast. But, I am drinking wine and beer so am definitely off plan.
My swimsuits are all too big and I have some photos of me that I don't hate so I have had some NSV.
Home in 3 days then back on plan. Well done to everyone who is staying on track.

Brassica I'm exactly the same! Currently on holiday and had carbs at every meal time. However, I'm not going to beat myself up about it, I know I'll pay the price on the scales, but it's only one week and actually I feel that bloated (and windy ) that for all I've enjoyed this week off I'm looking forward to getting back on it.

I've also realised it's the convenience of carbs I miss rather than the taste. I've loved the warm croissants for breakfast, but other than that most of them have been pretty bland. It's been the not-thinking about it that I've really enjoyed this week, but I guess that's the whole point of a holiday - having a week off from the norm. Like I said though, looking forward to getting back to normal next week.

Made it through yesterday. I'm mostly on plan but have introduced weetabix for breakfast. This seems to help sort out my pooping issues and seems a good balance for me. I'm not carb sensitive so my main issue is bread and pasta and the quantities I consume so as long as I stay away from them the losses are still coming.

Dd2 is now better but dd3 is now vomiting. Feeling really bad for dh as he's off work this week and really needed the break but instead he's stuck in with sick dc.

Hello notlost you’re certainly justified to be knackered. My quick low carb meals are boiled eggs and omelettes and also tuna mayo with black olives and jalapeños mixed in. And yes cooking double and saving it for the next day when you don’t want to employ brain cells
I did this way of eating at 3 months post partum, BFing but I allowed myself more carbs via some fruit, some beans eg chick peas and two squares of dark choc a day. I still lost the 4st I’d put on. I’m just saying you’re in a harder position and you could do BC lite.

Oh nooo Brassica just use it as an incentive to have a good detox

M0ther its so hard when we’ve relied on certain foods for comfort for years (and I mean decades in my case) and shit happens and all the usual comforts aren’t allowed any more. Well done for getting through!

Wildheartsease I agree about dairy. Cream had to go for me sadly.

KiteMarked great cat pic. And lesson learned. Now you’ll never NOT read a label again.

Marmalade yes, that nails it. It’s the convenience of carbs. Very few carb foods taste great in and of themselves. Primarily they seem to exist for the containment or delivery of flavourful foods.

I’ve been cheesed off by no weight loss the past couple of weeks despite staying on plan (I blame massive fucking family stress) that I ate half a pizza last night.

That’ll show ‘em.

Such a petulant, childish, uncaring act. When will I internalise the message to be good to myself, always?

Ahhh, rebellion eating.

I suppose it shouldn't be that surprising that food is tied up with emotions - eating is a major part of staying alive so the body must have evolved some very strong feedback/stimuli loops to keep you at it.

Just it's quite tough teaching your body to respond to the right ones and lose the habit of the wrong ones. Such as "ooooooh, a billion calories in this Chocopocalypse icecream trifle, cram 'em in while the going's good!". Trouble is, the going's always good around here. Can't remember the last time I had to chase down a rabbit in order to eat that day. Body doesn't know that though, just thinks better stock up for the lean times ahead so as far as it's concerned that trifle is definitely a good idea.*

I investigated those planks people were discussing - I can do 50 seconds just holding, and 30 if I'm doing it properly with stomach and arse pulled in and breathing at the same time... Can't see a difference but I can definitely feel muscles engaging more when I'm walking, am standing straighter, and am not wobbling at all putting my tights on standing one-legged in the mornings.

• NOT having the Brexit stockpiling discussion!

Zip wire done which was fab. When we got there we realised it wasn't the mile one (called velocity) but 3 slightly shorter ones (900m/800m and 700m I think). They were brilliant and the weather stunning for views

I'm managing to not self sabotage food wise on holiday but have been eating low carb for 3 years so I know the drill!. I've had wine one night and some beers on 2 nights so not all perfect Pete also had more than recommended numbers of peanuts last night I expect to have gone up a few pounds but my aim is fasting when I get back as a mini shock to the system.

Oh and @AthelstaneTheUnready well done on the planking. You can work up to longer times pretty quickly IME. And yes to feeling you hold yourself differently too.

Athelstane rebellion eating. Quite. I think I need to meet you in real life. You make me laugh.

Sazz just tuned in to the zip wire thing and looked it up, thinking “ooh, that’d be a bit of excitement, maybe I could do it.” Bloody Hell

Oh, and when I inhaled my pizza, I was also extraordinarily drunk.

Right, back to LCHF and No Alcohol Until First Goal Weight plan.

@ilovecherries waves furiously. You were such a source of inspiration on my first bootcamp last October. Knowing it's worked for someone else with lots to lose really spurred me on. Great to hear you're coping somehow even when you've struggled to low carb.

@ShagMeRiggins I feel for your serious case of the fuckits. @AthelstaneTheUnready's right, it's our pesky brains plotting against our efforts and trying to hang on to the lard. The bar stewards!

@SummerSazz Zip wires look fantastic and soon I hope to be slim enough to actually fit the safety rig around my thighs. I must try that!!

I'm having a lovely morning in the hairdressers and for the first time in ages, I'm not playing it safe. I've asked for my long straight bob for a rock-chick-esque layered shag cut. I've been slowly getting more adventurous with my clothes as I come down in size, so thought my hair could do with catching up!

My (male) hairdresser, who's not seen me for 10 weeks, commented on my weight loss as soon as I walked in. The gown wraps right around me easily now, when it used to have a gap at the side where I couldn't make the two sides meet. And I even have a lot more room in the chair. There's space either side of me on the seat, when it used to be sung.

Lots of NSVs today and it feels good!

toots sounds exciting! Think you can manage a before/after hair photo (with face or identifying features rubbed out somehow)? I’m a sucker for a Before & After. I could Before & After all day long.

And timely reminder, as I forgot to give a wave to ilovecherries.. Lovely to see you and the other deserters back with us.

I’m sitting at the hairdresser’s having a conversation about haircuts that are slimming, ha ha ha!

Hi shag and toots! Have done well this week but itchy as hell, which was my initial low carb misery back in the beginning. But honestly, a relief to dump the calorie counting which was necessary to enable the ‘I need toast or I will puke’ feeling. I’m already less bloated and while I hadn’t gained weight, my waist was starting to feel snug in clothes, but that’s gone already.