Final Week of Low Carb Bootcamp ... or is it?!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Spreadsheet is here

This was, initially, supposed to be the last week of a 'short, sharp shock' Bootcamp. However, I know that many of us have really got the bit between our teeth and it seems too soon to stop!

The very lovely Guardian of the Spreadsheet @AthelstaneTheUnready already took the precaution of adding a few extra weeks to the spreadsheet, so at the moment we're all set to go up until w/c 20 July.

If, though, you only signed up for 5 weeks and feel like you're being lured into a false promise, obviously you can still have this as your final week

Whatever you decide - welcome to week 5.

Hopefully the doldrums of weeks 3 & 4 will have passed, and the scales will start to move again.

Remember to KOKO - put down all those slices of cake and cheesecake - and stay focused on cutting the carbs. Don't forget to keep your fat intake high, and keep an eye on the things we've introduced in Bootcamp Light.

Good luck

Brilliant @MarkRuffaloCrumble

Now look @nowlook! Tomorrow is another day, as someone once said. You've given your head a wobble, and already got back on with things!

That cauliflower/chicken alfredo sounds lovely - will give that ago.

I made something last week that was delicious, even if I say so myself! In my own head I called it Mexican chicken, because it's essentially chicken in a tomato sauce inspired by tomato salsa, but it's then covered in a cheese sauce and baked in the oven.

Rough ingredients, to serve 4:

4 chicken breasts (skin removed)
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 onion or 3-4 echalion shallots
2-4 cloves garlic (depending on size/your preference)
1 green chilli (with or without seeds, depending on how hot you like your food)
juice of half a lime
juice of half a lemon
half a pack of fresh coriander
at least half a 350g pack of mature cheddar
300ml double cream
butter
olive oil
salt & black pepper

Method

• slice the chicken breasts lengthways (3-4 slices per breast)
• melt good chunk of butter in a large sauté/frying pan, and gently fry the chicken breasts till they're browning, and cooked all the way through
• season with salt and pepper, and then using a slotted spoon transfer them into an oven dish

Next make the 'salsa':

• slice/dice the onion/shallots and in the same pan you fried the chicken, gently fry until soft
• peel and finely chop the garlic; chop the chilli and add both to the pan
• season with salt & pepper
• add the tomatoes and bring to the boil; simmer till it's reduced, and when it's thick, chop the coriander and add this, along with the lime juice
• pour this all over the chicken so it's evenly covered

Cheese sauce:

• grate the cheese
• bring the cream to the boil, and then add the cheese
• on a medium heat, stir till the cheese is melted
• season with black pepper and the lemon juice
• pour this all over the top of the tomato salsa

Bake the whole thing in the oven till the top of the cheese sauce starts to brown

You can, at this point, add more grated cheese on top, to add an extra 'crunch' to the top. Put it back in the oven, or under the grill, till it browns nicely.

I don't even like the fecking dress-made me look like Alice in Wonderland's fat aunt even when I was under 9 stone.

if you’re gonna beat yourself up about it, at least pick a dress you like!! You’ve done amazing to change your lifestyle for the better and stick to it this far. Put the dress in a charity bag and celebrate how far you’ve already come

@MarkRuffaloCrumble

You're right, of course.

I want to find a bespoke charity that helps women who need dresses for a variety of occasions but can't afford them- then I'll happily give much of my old stuff away.

It's completely off-topic, but I have a wardrobe full of designer black-tie and professional wear which, even WHEN I get down to my happy weight, I won't wear because I'm older now and my shape has changed. Vivienne Westwood corset dresses (one of which was owned by Katie Melua- remember her?!- when I bought when pissed at a charity auction); a divine Chanel tweed pencil skirt; the perfect Paul Smith black skirt suit with buttons (like on a wedding dress) all down the sleeves. Sigh.

I don't want to Ebay them, but don't know exactly why

All and any suggestions welcome!

Maybe I should set that charity up!

Do it nowlook!!

Maybe I should set that charity up!

There’s an idea! Imagine if you came out of this not only healthier but with a brand new venture?!

Nowlook I am convinced that it is only clothes (and comparisons to other people) that make me really loathe myself. When I am naked, I feel okay, I see an imperfect perfect body that has borne and fed children had accidents and operations, it’s me and it’s beautiful in its own way. Even when I’m bigger, I can think, ooh need to lose a bit of weight but that’s about it. Then I put on a bikini, which is barely any more coverage, and I start to feel genuine disgust and rage at myself for being so ugly. It’s irrational I know.

Something I have had to really make a conscious effort to stop is trying on clothes I know don’t suit me. I always love halter necks on other people and over the last 30 years I have continued to buy them and feel shock and fury when I put them on and see how bloody awful I look. I have had to accept it is my body shape and there is nothing I can do about it. But every year I find myself lingering over a halter neck thinking ‘maybe this time....’ it’s the definition of insanity. Then I put on a low v wrap dress and all is restored.

I’ve made a real effort to style myself in only things which flatter me. End at the right length, feel comfortable, colour makes me feel happy etc. And also to stop comparing myself to petite/big boobed women. I think the aa mantra works well here ‘grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference’.

There is a real visceral hatred we only seem to reserve for ourselves and usually for things we wouldn’t even notice in other people.

Sorry - that was all rather philosophical! Spent the afternoon with the kids walking/biking along Bexhill-On-Sea and now feeling rather zen. The sea seems to turn me into a Poundland Seneca

Your wardrobe sounds similar to min Nowlook, I have a whole wardrobe full of smart work and evening wear and, while it all still looks nice on me and it’s actually how I like to dress, I just have nowhere to where it. If I even wear a shirt with jeans it gets comments from the mums at school. I suppose I’m keeping it because it’s a reminder of the me that isn’t a mum. The me that has a bit more to give and I don’t want to give that up - oh Christ there I go again

I’m enjoying your philosophical musings Mrs K!
I have the opposite problem because I look like an absolute scruff bag all the time 😬 even when wearing nice clothes - I’m like a scarecrow!! I think I just have never worked out how to dress!!!

In 'normal' times I wfh and work at / attend events. My wardrobe is either a load of sloppy comfy things, or a bit of strycture and sparkle. I struggle with the in-between nice lunch out with a friend, which neither outfit suits!

My lovely uncle died suddenly this afternoon. They tried to save him for some hours - so I suppose it wasn't that suddenly.

I find myself remembering so many childhood things and drinking a glass of whisky tonight (his choice under stress rather than mine). A very little has had a powerful effect.

We didn't meet so often in recent years but he was always out there- being dry and witty and songful and winding people up. His absence seems huge- even from far away. His family are bereft. Death is such a waste.

@MrsKoala

Nowlook I am convinced that it is only clothes (and comparisons to other people) that make me really loathe myself. When I am naked, I feel okay, I see an imperfect perfect body that has borne and fed children had accidents and operations, it’s me and it’s beautiful in its own way. Even when I’m bigger, I can think, ooh need to lose a bit of weight but that’s about it. Then I put on a bikini, which is barely any more coverage, and I start to feel genuine disgust and rage at myself for being so ugly. It’s irrational I know.

Something I have had to really make a conscious effort to stop is trying on clothes I know don’t suit me. I always love halter necks on other people and over the last 30 years I have continued to buy them and feel shock and fury when I put them on and see how bloody awful I look. I have had to accept it is my body shape and there is nothing I can do about it. But every year I find myself lingering over a halter neck thinking ‘maybe this time....’ it’s the definition of insanity. Then I put on a low v wrap dress and all is restored.

I’ve made a real effort to style myself in only things which flatter me. End at the right length, feel comfortable, colour makes me feel happy etc. And also to stop comparing myself to petite/big boobed women. I think the aa mantra works well here ‘grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference’.

There is a real visceral hatred we only seem to reserve for ourselves and usually for things we wouldn’t even notice in other people.

Yes!! Why is it that i quite enjoy myself Naked and can be fully accepting... but put on clothes and all of a sudden its all just self loathing and shit?

wildtea I'm very sorry for your loss. Go easy on the tipple, grief feels shittier with a hangover

Sending for you 1WildTeaParty Hope you and your family have lots of support Xx

1WildTeaParty and
You've toasted with his tipple, now toast with your mug of tea. Death in this time is so strange... more poignant, less normal, and when we all just need a hug, it seems so difficult.
Dwell in your thoughts and memories, feel the richness and the joy of them. They might make the absence feel stronger (and therefore more sad), but those memories are what keeps your uncle vibrant and close.

for you, @1wildteaparty.

Very sorry to hear your news @1WildTeaParty

Week 6 chat thread is here

Thankyou all. (One glass was enough. I am a low carb lightweight with drink these days).

Sorry to hear about your dad @BIWI that's appalling!

@MrsKoala Thank you for the musings. I hope to have your outlook one day. Right now I'm fairly disgusted with what I see in the mirror, naked or not.

@1WildTeaParty Sorry for your loss

@1WildTeaParty how shocking for you! I’m so sorry to hear

158.2 this morning. So right direction! That’s half a stone off now since bc started. Tired today so will check back in with (hopefully!) a bit more energy tomorrow!