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.

@AthelstaneTheUnready - that is an amazing loss. Collectively, we are treading more lightly on the earth :)

@BIWI yet another asking you to reconsider putting the stick away. I joined this thread as a Bootcamp newbie. I was sort of cocky because I'd been on a solo keto adventure last year, and had lost almost 2 stone. I posted full of naïve enthusiasm on page one of thread one and got a big slap! (if you can get slapped with a stick....)

I admit that I felt a bit shocked and deflated, and perhaps a wee bit flouncy. But I didn't flounce, and when I responded, you (BIWI) replied helpfully, nicely, and with a smiley face. I am pretty certain that if it hadn't been so black and white then my food choices over the last 10 weeks would not have been so black and white, and I am certain that I would not have been 11lbs down from the start.

I know from my previous keto experiments and learning how little starchy carb it takes for this approach to be completely undone. It is pretty much all or nothing (i.e. butter, veg, meat/fish and no carb OR so-called 'healthy' carb and lettuce leaves). One option leaves me feeling satisfied and able to do intermittent fasting, and the other leaves me feeling deprived, hungry and weepy.

@Siameasy I'm in a similar place to you. My BB goals are essentially to maintain, but to keep up with other changes I've been making - 10,000 steps each day, some gentle swimming, some pilates and yoga, and a constant process of de-cluttering.

Hmm. OK. Maybe the Big Stick won't get shredded quite yet.

I appreciate the positive comments, but I still know that I've upset people which does upset me. So I'll have to think about that!

I do know that you can't 'go gentle' with people, but I think I need to find a way to do it that makes me feel easier with myself too.

Yay for Siameasy likeatourist and Athelstane for the BB Goals. What are we now, seven strong? That’s enough to maintain daily support and accountability, yes?

BIWI at the end of each bootcamp I am reminded that you resemble what I and fellow actors were like after the run of a show. It is exhausting, emotionally draining, full of second-guessing and how we could have made things better to avoid bad moments.

But here’s the thing—we always did the best we could, and we put on a great show. Maybejot all the critics raves, but there were plenty of great reviews and the show had a long run. In fact, some are already clamouring for an encore, extended run, or revival (choose your metaphor).

This year’s Campy Award for Best Big Stick goes to BIWI.

And yes, I realise how twee that all sounds. Don’t care.

When you say you’ve upset people, how many are you talking about? I only remember a couple that took the hump. That’s a tiny percentage of all the boot campers.
I think if you put a disclaimer in your opening post that advice is given without a sugar coating - pretty much what you’d expect on a LC diet!

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm in for BB. I'd love to be down to 10.7 which uncannily is 7lbs (well nearer 9 after this weekend but that needs to be undone pdq). At 10.12 I hit 'normal' BMI so it will slow I'm sure so I'd be happy with 10.10 at start of next Bootcamp

There we are. I've written it down so it must be the law 😂.

Saw Ben Fogle tonight. He was lush

Oh and @BIWI it must be hard to be the bad cop but I think you do it in a very caring way already. Matter of fact but caring 👮‍♀️

Yay, venusandmars joining BB Goals. Now we are eight?

I remember your Big Stick moment and it was dicey viewing, BUT only because I’d been around long enough to have an idea of how it would be received. I also had enough experience to predict how it could be smoothed over, which it was.

That is a credit to you and to BIWI, and the rest is history. A successful history.

BIWI you didn’t ask for compliments (though you are richly deserving), so here are a few off the cuff ideas if you want to consider changing your approach (an approach that has worked very well for many, many mumsnetters, by the way):

INSTEAD OF “Cake isn’t allowed on Bootcamp! Have you read the rules in the spreadsheet?”

TRY “What a shame. I understand. It’s so tough to give up cakes, especially in the first week of a weight loss regime. We’ve all been there. By the way, how did that chocolate cake help you with your weight loss goals?”

CONCLUSION: Softly softly approach that may seem passive-aggressive to some, but it will give enough sympathy to work for others.

——————

INSTEAD OF ...aww hell, I can’t really think of anything right now. Can’t be bothered to find other examples.

Honestly, you could go all sweet with yin language (which is and can be very effective), but it doesn’t seem true to you, or what I think I know of you. Not in this role, as a leader of a weight loss forum.

You’re direct here. You’re human. You’re committed to us all (god knows why). You’re doing this in your way, the best you can.

Remember that for every Big Stick you use, there are many others who come along with soothing words and support.

You also provide loads of support, but it gets lost in the Big Stick Legend. Your role is The Leader, The Big Stick. It doesn’t have to be, you can change it, as you’ve suggested.

But that’s how your role has evolved. Some might see it as threatening or unkind or challenging or unsupportive. I certainly don’t see it that way.

I see you as someone who has a clear commitment to helping others achieve better health and—dare I say it—happiness, through your time-consuming voluntary efforts on an international and anonymous forum.

Get yourself a gin and write that book and retire.

Yay, SummerSazz on board with BB Goals. Nine and Counting.

Count me in too. I’m going for 7 off BB.

Another one going for a 7 lb loss BB. That will take to me 144.
I have a beach holiday in the middle of that, but will do best to stay on track!

I'm in tooooo! 7 weeks of BB and I'd like to shift 7lbs (realistically) from the 22lbs remaining before I reach my ultimate weight.
Losing 10lbs would be amazeballs but unlikely as i seem to lose weight at such a sluggish pace.

Personally I’m into the big stick approach. People need to learn there is no reward without effort. Many are used to being allowed to “cheat” on conventional diets and buying cheat foods ie fake foods but Keto is quite all or nothing.
I’ve mentioned the language of addicts before but the people who can’t take the truth are addicts who aren’t truly ready to make that sacrifice and quit sugar

We have, Bootcampers, lost 765lbs between us this BC. About 55 stones

That's amazing! Good work everyone

I'm in for BB with the goal of reaching my next mini target, which is under 80kg and 15% of weight lost. It's about 7lbs too, depending what the scales say that day!

I do have a few days away at Easter but plan to KOKO as much as possible.

Yay Condamine chocolateavocado Dia and MrsF for BB Goals.

I got a good thwack with the big stick when I first started Bootcamp. It's not pleasant but often it's just what's needed. I would say that every Bootcamp is different and we have had ones where people start cheating right from the beginning. That either makes others feel they can/should be able to cheat, or it makes people feel bad because they can't get away with cheating while others seem to be able to. So my feeling is that the big stick is needed for the good of the Bootcamp group as a whole, to keep us on the straight and narrow. This isn't a forgiving WoE and the rules are there with good reason and years of experience behind them.

All good thoughts and suggestions - thank you. I do appreciate that. For me, it's a combination of being a bit of a wuss and hating confrontation with a very strong drive to be a 'good girl' and seek approval. None of which is actually very healthy!

But it has really been bothering me, hence considering not doing Bootcamp any more.

I like the softly softly idea @ShagMeRiggins. I'll have to work on that in future.

And I can't believe I actually used the Big Stick on you @StuntNun

"But it has really been bothering me, hence considering not doing Bootcamp any more."

Now that really annoys me. All the good you've done, for so many years, for so many people, undermined because a few precious souls can't bear to be told off, having known what they were signing up for. How dare they.

Sigh. But I know you don't want this to turn odd, BIWI, so I'll give it a rest. Just bear in mind that the person whining loudest is not always the victim.

Ok. I'll shut up now and just get on with it

Actually I think you should get stricter BIWI. Start really shouting at people, even when they are following the rules. Just ranting and frothing incoherently. Like many of the people on AIBU

I'm also in for 7lb off before next BC. I'm on a beach hol end of May so I want to lose that amount and tone up too so I really must start going to the gym. BIWI if you could shout at me about that too i'd really appreciate it (you make it like the monty python sketch about going to somewhere just for abuse)

BIWI you are direct - not unkind.
People who respond badly usually do so because they know that you are right... but don't want you to be.

I'm delurking just to say thanks so much for all the hard work and dedication that goes into these threads with a special big thank you to BIWI.

This WOE has been a complete revelation to me and it's the only thing that has helped me to shift the pounds. I'm officially going to join in BB and aim for a 10lb loss.

So glad to see so many on the B.B. goal bus! Been at a meeting today with lunch provided which I was dreading as it’s inevitably sandwiches but it was actually really good; a big salad with a homemade coleslaw and a steak and Stilton pie thing of which I just ate the filling.

Are we still weighing in on Monday ?
No pressure 😀

I will be, doilook - need to take this seriously!

I get something out of every BC - this time it was the additional health push to give up smoking, and the wonderful Chicken with Freddy recipe - but I still have the lbs to lose!

Loves chicken Freddy !