Leaving Lockdown Low Carb Bootcamp - week 6

[BIWI]

Morning all

So here we are in the new, unexpected second half of Bootcamp!

Spreadsheet is here

Hopefully everyone should be in the swing of things now, and also hopefully we've left the doldrums of weeks 3 & 4 behind us, so should be seeing steady losses.

If things aren't going the right way for you, have a good, hard look at what you've been eating and drinking. Make sure you haven't allowed carb creep - and also that you're following the rules!

If you've moved on to Bootcamp Light, make sure that you're keeping an eye on the amount of fruit or nuts/seeds and alcohol that you're allowing. Remember - always in moderation!

Here's to a good week for us all

Wow thinkingabouttomorrow, an NSV and SV!

Could you mix up the salads a bit blusteryshowers? I have halloumi sometimes with little bits of bacon, salmon and avocado, just grated cheese is one of my current faves.

That’s amazing ragwort! Well done.

It might be worth posting a couple of your daily menus for the wise folk here to comment on?

Elizabeth you could try Cheesies? They are puffed cheese - they do them in Sainsbury’s Look for them with the pork scratchings, or there’s an online company - have a google.

Wow devoncreamtea I'd never heard of them! That's exactly what I need!! Will go to the supermarket for them today. Thank you!!!

2lbs on overnight. Damn you dairy cauli cheese! Still seeing a 9 despite the 2lb which is nice though!

Will catchup with full thread in a bit.

Nearing the end of my first week. Thanks for all the tips and advice.

I am amazed at how little I've felt like snacking. I used to have a dip at 4pm and from there on my eating would be near constant and not always healthy. Now I make a cup of tea and look forward to dinner.

My favourite lunch is a big salad with tomato and mozzarella and either prosciutto or tuna mayo on the side. Sometimes with half an avocado too.

The scales haven't moved as much as I was hoping in week 1. Been weighing myself constantly and I lost 3lb in the first two days but have then been at or slightly up on that. Going to have a good effort today to eat well and move more before the official weigh in.

But whatever happens I feel like I can keep going with this WOE and if it's a 1-2lb a week average weight loss I might be at 11st by my birthday in the autumn. The last time I was 11st was six years ago.

ElizabethHoneysuckle - well done on getting to the end of the 1st week. Are you having enough water and fat?

And (before BIWI appears with her Big Stick ), a wee reminder that not only are nuts not allowed in the 1st 2 weeks (unless your veggie) but also peanuts are also amongst the carbiest of nuts

Feeling a bit "meh" is pretty normal while you fat-adapt (aka "Carb Flu") and your body learns to get its energy from fat rather than carbs as the primary source. Some of us don't get it, others get it for a couple of days and for an unlucky few it can be a week or so.

NB: the water is an essential part of this WoE goes off and gets a class of water as I've been a bit remiss the last few days and it's showing on the scales

I’m 1lb and 1 oz off the next stone- it has been a sloooow process so I hope I can get through the temptation of a bbq birthday party for my bro today. Should be ok with the main- it’s just the cookie cake that will be sooooo tempting.
Agree that I’ve been remiss with water drinking so defs need to be better at that this week!

Morning all, I'm away at the moment, with no scales. Won't be able to weigh until Wednesday probably. All going pretty well, except yesterday I did a marathon day of driving - about 7- 8 hours with only an hour's break and frustrations around punctured tyre, so ended up eating a packet of mixed nuts. It was only 150g, but are shockingly dense.

Thanks prettybird, I think not enough water might be a problem. Must drink more. Eek I didn't know nuts weren't allowed in first 2 weeks. I was off to sit in the park with friends and needed a snack to take with me and it was all I could think of! But off to buy cheesies shortly. I guess something like cubes of cheese might've done the trick too.

Also will have to think of a variety of ways to get more fluids in (apart milky tea and coffee). I do drink plain water, but sometimes find it hard to get enough down.

There are various ways to drink more water: have a glass or two every time you go to the loo (which creates a virtuous circle ); have herb teas; make up a jug of flavoured waters (eg with slices of cucumber and/or mint). You'll get into the habit

Personally, I find the Cheesies too strong although they are nice and crunchy but I'm thinking of trying to make my own with a milder cheese.

To PP asking about salads, I've made sure I had different salads each time so:

Parma ham and goats cheese

Greek salad with olives and feta

Mozzarella and sun-dried tomato

Coronation chicken made with half mayo/half yoghurt.

Tuna and coleslaw

Sorry posted too soon.

Chicken pesto

Chicken and avocado

Ham and soft boiled eggs

All of them with a massive fluf of oil and varying the base salad leaves and veg.

Happy to report that I survived super-carb-craving Saturday and am back on the wagon, shaken but undaunted. Scales haven't shifted too much in the wrong direction, either. KOKO.

@ElizabethHoneysuckle

Thanks prettybird, I think not enough water might be a problem. Must drink more. Eek I didn't know nuts weren't allowed in first 2 weeks. I was off to sit in the park with friends and needed a snack to take with me and it was all I could think of! But off to buy cheesies shortly. I guess something like cubes of cheese might've done the trick too.

How did you not know this?! Have you not read the rules?! Go and check them out - they're on the spreadsheet which is linked to in my OP.

Why do you think you're finding it hard? Are you suffering from carb flu do you think? That will only be temporary - just make sure you're getting your electrolytes, so sodium, magnesium and potassium. Salt is a key one.

Please don't snack on things like oatcakes - and avoid the carbier nuts (when you're allowed to eat nuts!) too. All you'll be doing is prolonging the transition from carb-burning to fat-burning.

Lunch ideas

I like soups and have got over the need for bread (though have occasionally had an almond-flour cheese and chive scone - one of the bootcamp lite recipes)

Salads are ok but I do like hot food sometimes
-reheat last night's leftovers
-or go for roasted veg with a dip. Roasting takes 20-30 mins is as easy as you make it. Our favourites:

crispy tenderstem broccoli in olive oil and sea salt

raddishes are a different animal roasted

diced oiled kolrabi

cauliflower florets oiled and sprinkled with salt and curry powder and cooked till crisp. (Even frozen ones are good.)

batons of courgette dipped in egg and then seasoned almondflour/parmesan

asparagus tips oiled and wrapped in thin slices of bacon

celeriac 'chips' with oil and paprika

Taking, I'm so impressed with 19lbs down! You're doing great. Ragwort, my DH drinks every night as well and I managed to pretty much resist for the first 4 weeks but as soon as he's seen me having a couple of drinks he's forever offering to get me a drink and it's hard to say no so my resolve has been slipping.

After a messy couple of days I'm feeling more on track today. I think eggs are the answer for me, they knock my appetite out so much that it makes it a lot easier. I did vegetarian low carb many years ago and actually lost so much that it scared me when I noticed how thin I was. I was mainly eating spinach, eggs and cheese and got so sick of the food that I barely ate. I'm sure it's possible to do it well but I fell into a pattern of a few things I could easily cook. It put me off eggs for ages but I like an omelette now or occasionally scrambled eggs.

Sorry BIWI yes I did read the rules, multiple times, I don't know why No.9 rule didn't stick in my head or I didn't process it or something. Go easy on me! Feeling a bit stung by your reaction.

More lunch:
Eggs are for breakfast here rather than (or sometimes as well as) lunch- but I do like Spanish omlette (with celeriac and shallots rather than potato and onion) or the variety of recipes for egg 'muffins'.

a parcel of fish cooked with a few veg + butter/ lemon or chopped chorizo - is quick doesn't create washing-up (and is good hot or cold)

tinned sardines with poached egg on top - on left-over veg reheated

There is a recipe for scotch egg made with minced pork and sage, wrapped around a boiled egg, coated with egg and parmesan and baked. I'd like to try it.

I did warn you about BIWI's Big Stick ElizabethHoneysuckle

BIWI is rightly passionate about this WoE - but as she will remind all of us including herself , it is only works when you follow the Rules

We almost all of us fall off the wagon every so often and each and every time it gets reflected on the scales

Salads are ok but I do like hot food sometimes

WildTea your roasted veg suggestions sound gorgeous and you’re so right—I often forget how simple it is to chop, oil, season with whatever, and bake for 20 minutes. Some great “salads” could be created that way.

As for hot salads, one of my absolute favourites was the Hot Thai Beef Salad from the Idiot Proof Diet. I’ll try to photograph the recipe and upload.

Meanwhile, I started my day with two small packs of Cheetos (14.6g carbs total), for no reason whatsoever.

I haven’t been posting much but have diligently caught up with the thread and want to say this has been a particularly interesting conversation for bootcamp.

You’re all rather cool and lovely.

We all watch out for the swing of the big stick @ElizabethHoneysuckle. I bet you remember rule 9 forever now :)

(It seems that this isn't a forgiving way of eating - if you deviate, you go back into the carb-burning rather than fat-buring mode and you fail. It isn't like calorie-counting where you can just adjust your week's calories and carry on. Cruelty can be kind! )

Gosh this period is really ouchy.

I've had a big cube of manchego this morn, 6 or so almonds a bit later. Had seabass in garlic butter with loads of kale, one shallot and 3 cherry tomatoes sliced.

Then i caved and had 1/3rd of DDs millionaire shortbread and a mini pork pie.

I'm gonna close my eating window (not remotely hungry, just mouth hungry 🙄) and chug the water to compensate.

Weird day

@ElizabethHoneysuckle

Sorry BIWI yes I did read the rules, multiple times, I don't know why No.9 rule didn't stick in my head or I didn't process it or something. Go easy on me! Feeling a bit stung by your reaction.

Don’t worry, it’s okay. We all miss things when starting out, and if you look at BIWI’s post again it’s really just a series of questions to gather more information about how you’ve approached BC so she can help.

You’re obviously entitled to your feelings and I probably shouldn’t step in, but I want you to feel good about this WOE because it works for almost everyone and leads to a life of better health, great pleasure with food, and looking smokin’ hot.

The only way to lose weight is to have BIWI beat you till you're skinny.... welcome to the club Elizabethhoneysuckle