Week 3 - Sumer 19 Low Carb Bootcamp - Bootcamp Light?

[BIWI]

Morning all. Today sees the start of week 3, which is when you can, if you wish, move on to Bootcamp Light. This means you can now introduce some fruit, some nuts and seeds and alcohol in moderation.

Note the bold formatting!

However you don't have to move on to Bootcamp Light if you don't want to. If it's working for you, then by all means stay on Bootcamp. Some people choose to do Bootcamp during the week but take a more relaxed approach at the weekend.

Here are carb counts for fruit - you can see that most of them are pretty high. These are taken from Sainsbury's website and show the amount of carbs per 100g:

Canteloupe melon 4
Raspberries 4.6
Blackberries 5.1
Galia/Honeydew melon 5.3
Passion fruit 5.8
Strawberries 6.1
Watermelon 6.8
Peach 7.5
Plums 8.8
Papaya 8.8
Nectarine 9
Blueberries 9.1
Pineapple 10.1
Kiwi 11
Apples 11.8
Mango 14.1
Lychees 14.3
Grapes 17
Pomegranate seeds 18.7
Banana 23.2

When it comes to nuts and seeds, these too vary widely:

Brazils 3.1
Walnuts 3.3
Pine nuts 4 (but beware - toasted pine nuts are 10)
Macadamias 5.3
Pecans 5.8
Desiccated coconut (technically a fruit!) 6.4
Almonds 6.9 (smoked almonds are 7.7)
Monkey nuts 9.3
Peanuts (salted) 10.9
Fresh coconut (from the chilled cabinet) 15.2
Cashews 18.1

(These carb counts for either salted or unsalted)

Seeds:

Sesame 0.9
Poppy 4.7
Chia 8.6
Pumpkin 15.2
Sunflower 16.4

As far as alcohol is concerned, the best drinks are clear spirits (gin/vodka/whisky/rum) but you need to be careful what mixer you're using. Soda is by far the best option, but if you want something else, you'll need to go down the artificial sweetener route to keep the carbs low.

Dry white wine and Champagne are OK, and red wine. Avoid beer and cider.

DoIlooklieatourist I don’t use any app, but how much is your goal per day?

I drink two full glasses first thing in the morning and one glass last thing at night. I also make a point to have one glass of water every time I prepare a meal, so that’s at least two more in the day (so I know I’ve done more than a litre per day just in water). Two cups of coffee in the morning, at least four cups of tea throughout the day, then two herbal teas in the evening, so I get mine that way. When I’m at work I have a 500ml bottle that I keep on my desk and just make sure to empty it throughout the day.

I managed to get half a litre in before getting up this morning so today is already looking better than most of this week.
I did a quick weigh in first and am 3.5 pounds up since Mon so I think the water gods might be making their point

Motivationally I really need to start seeing regular losses again. I’m a couple of months in proper LC and everything has slowed right down. I know that this is normal for me, and I know weight loss not linear blah blah blah, but (probably like a lot of people), my body has certain default plateau settings, and I’m currently in one which is the 11.7 mark. The next one down is 11.3. Then 10.11. And since 2004 the lowest I managed to get to was about 10.9 I think, which only happened once and I sometimes wonder if I imagined

So whilst I’m happy that it’s going down, if slowly, my hard to please brain won’t acknowledge any real kind of achievement or progress until I get past that lowest point. Out of the 11’s feels like the stuff dreams are made of at the moment!

I sometimes think my body likes being this weight (which is about 3 stone heavier than it should) because it really drags it’s feet letting go.

Anyway, massive getting off my chest exercise over, my mantra this weekend is ‘water for weightloss’. Going to take a massive water bottle with me. We’re mostly just lounging around at the holiday let, rather than out and about, so I won’t be able to use lack of loos as a reason not to get my water in!

Morning everyone!

Glad the Buttermint was a hit with most. Its my favourite thing at the mo and i'm on my 2nd bottle of water already!

B - sausage and bacon
L - salad with salami and cheese
D - Lamb kofta with salad and tzatziki

Was super organised last night and made the Kofta mix up so its ready to roll and fry/grill/oven tonight! Can't wait. I kind of threw spices in so I am hoping its not TOOOOO spicy as DH isnt a Chilli head like me :)

Right better go - have a good day all X

Ooh you’ve just reminded me to try it cold, thanks Wana. Kofta mix sounds yum too!

Setting off shortly, got lots of low carb food for brunch/snacks but otherwise will be take away-ing. Am so determined to stay on track. Have a bottle of fizz just in case I really want it, but the aim is to abstain AND GET THAT BLOODY LOSS ON MONDAY

aaaaaand...

Welcome to flowers and tix btw

Tink even!

@Doilooklikeatourist I'm using the waterlogged app to track water. You can set your own glass or bottle sizes to track quickly. I really like it.

@Stuntman the almond milk latte and had in Costco was the same. So sweet I almost spat it out in school. Tried to find the carb count on line but no luck.

Regards the water. I fill a 24ounce water bottle, a 15ounce flask of mint tea and a mug of black tea. To be drunk before midday. That's just under a litre and a half. I then refill all and drink by around five. I get through the other just over half litre during the evening with fizzy water/ tea/ water/mint tea as I fancy it. I also take a flask of mint tea to bed and sip as and when during the night.

(Still catching up on the thread)

I had not and had.

And I don't go to school but I did nearly spit it out in shock.

Re almond milk, most coffee shops will use alpro almond milk which to my taste, is yucky and sweetened. Even their non sweetened version tastes horrible. Plenish almond milk is ok. I love their coconut milk but it’s far higher in carbs. The only one I can stomach to drink from a glass is the Califa one. V expensive but unsweetened and delicious. They also do a choc version, which although higher in carbs is still very low carb compared to standard choc milk shake. I get mine from Sainsbury’s.

@Stuntnun I reside in a touristy town with many many coffee shops and have found on asking that the chains used sweetened milk alternatives but the independents are happy to give me cream with an americano. The independents make better coffee in more sensible sizes and as one notice board pointed out pay all their taxes!
I seem to recall from other threads that losing weight can disrupt your periods and whilst mine are less painful and I didn't have the urge to kill my OH beforehand I am ovulating early can anyone confirm this. Am old enough to be menopausal but family history suggests I have about 10yrs left of fertility.

Also a butter mint tea can and like the yogi caco chai ones. Lovely with a little almond milk. Fan ducking autocorrect

I tackle water by using a half litre bottle, I tend to have one first thing, two more before lunch time and then two more afternoon/early evening. I also have one tea in the morning and perhaps a black coffee too. This woe has massively reduced my tea drinking.

When I started this woe I switched to a almond milk cappuccino but quickly found them too sweet, black coffee/Americano now

Breakfast - coffee and Greek yoghurt (getting bored so need to pre boil some eggs for next week as I eat breakfast at work mid morning)

Lunch - mixed leaves, salted beef slices, Brie

Dinner - bolognese and grated cheese on a bed of spinach. Strawberries and cream for dessert as hosting for my parents.

Water, water and... tea (it's my one cheat)

Yes, MofD, tea is my cheat too. I don’t know how to go about giving it up. I only have a small dash of milk in it though so my 2 to 3 cups daily are probably like 1.5 normal amount of milk in tea. I don’t know what I could take instead. I don’t like coffee at all nor do I like fruit tea (reminds me of trying to bring on labour with copious amounts of raspberry leaf tea) I don’t think there’s such a thing as low carb hot chocolate so I guess I’m sticking with tea.
Maybe I’ll tackle my caffeine addiction once I’ve broken my reliance on carbs. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have 3 primary aged dc, caffeine is an essential part of my life I did quit for lent once but felt no better so went back to it.

If my weightloss stalls then I might consider it but for now I'll keep my 2 coffees and 3 tea habit.

For those struggling with milk to stretch for tea and coffee have you tried butter in your coffee. I just add a teaspoon of salt free good quality butter to my espresso type coffee and then give it a whizz in the nutribullet, it is very similar to cream

I had an amazing almond milk latte from a plant based cafe last week, I want to go back and ask what milk they use, but fear it will be sweetened almond milk, as it was so nice and tasted like amaretto!

I was at the Cricket World Cup yesterday, so had a planned day off, it was an experience we probably won't repeat and I wanted to enjoy it and not worry about what I was eating and drinking, I didn't go crazy but had a couple of pimms, chips and an ice-cream. Back on it today and going very low carb for breakfast and lunch (i.e no veg) as I find it helps me get back into low carbing, then for dinner planning duck breast, celeriac mash and sprouting broccoli can't wait! The thought of my delicious dinner will hopefully stop me picking at the kids pizza leftovers!

@Notwatchingtvtoday, thanks but I don’t like coffee and somehow the idea of butter in my tea just doesn’t sound at all appetising.
And yes, MofD, snap to the 3 at primary and another at senior school. I need caffeine to function amidst the chaos each morning.

@strasky22 it might have been the roasted almond milk, which you can buy unsweetened, it's very good in coffee.

L cheese omelette
T sloppy Giuseppe style pizza with cauliflower base , have made semolina and flour dough for rest of family

Drinking my water with lemon in mainly as had a kidney stone a few years ago and never want another one.

Another tough day in London, took the boys to the Manga thing at the British Museum (very good, all those with Manga obsessives at home). Sparse pickings in the pizza hut salad bar (we had to go there as boy 2 requires GF pizza and that's his fave.) So staggered through with a selection of rocket, cucumber, a tiny bit of coleslaw and 4 cherry toms. Also I seem to be experiencing a bout of symphysis pubis thingy, which is weird in a non preggers person. So now I am on the sofa with tea and cheese whilst himself does their tea.

Early lunch. Leftover corned beef hash. Feeling very nauseous so not planning on eating anything else today. Even struggling with the water

ShagMeRiggins - I'm not sure whether to be proud or about your comment about my use of MN formatting

I do find it annoying that I can't use Strikethrough on FB . It is possible but it's a real faff.

Thanks for letting me join .
Am familiarising myself with the spreadsheet .
My issue is I'm a single parent and also in a quite demanding job . I leave the house at 7 and get in at 7 and am often on call over the weekend .
When j get in all I want to do is eat and see my dc and go to bed so time is not on my side for meal prep .
Does anyone have any meal ideas that really don't take long to prepare . Grab and go type food for work lunches and quick to make for evening meals .... or even buy ! I haven't even got time at the weekend to prepare next weeks meals and have to catch up with the house and other boring but essential stuff ! X

G

Have a look at the various recipe threads for inspiration

Omelette/scrambled eggs are a quick "go to" meal if you are short of time. Throw in some veg (mushrooms ugh, but that's my personal opinion , shallots, asparagus, courgette) or have salad alongside.

Fried lamb or pork chops/steaks are easy and quick. Serve plenty of veg alongside - with potatoes, pasta or rice for your dc if you feel they need it.

Others can also recommend ready meals that are low carb.

For lunches I’d definitely do salads. That’s your quickest, easiest option.

Or you could make one big veg omelette or tortilla, divide into four and that’s four lunches done, just buy some M&S low carb snack packets (3 for £7) and have half of one packet alongside each day, plus you’ll have a full one for the last lunch.

Dinners, you can get low carb ready meals.

Soups are great.

If you have egg based meals for lunch you can easily do quick, nice salads for dinner.

Chef of the Year* here says: I'm often down to 20 mins prep or less, so I use the microwave for veg a lot. Chop it, stick it in a bowl, cover with butter/salt/pepper and blast for 4 minutes. Works with everything from broccoli to mushrooms to garlic to cauliflower to leeks etc etc.

In those four minutes you can usually sear fry a slice of whatever meat you have in the fridge. Or, my usual, chop chunks off whatever huge roast you had at the weekend and give them another 30 seconds in the microwave on top of the veg.

• hardly sophisticated, but works for my late home evenings.