2020 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp. The first week!

[BIWI]

Welcome all.

Well what a strange year this has been! If you're anything like me, food, meals and eating have been all over the place. And that's before we think about the booze.

I found lockdown an odd mix of feeling like I was on holiday but it was also the end of the world. So what was the point of worrying about my diet?

I am lucky, relatively, in that we don't have small children to worry about educating. We also have a nice house and garden, and as me and DH have recently retired, don't have to worry about work. So we were very much advantaged over many people.

But still, the diet/drinking was all to pot. And with the inevitable result.

So we're now in the run up to Christmas - traditionally a time when diets go out of the window, and we start to indulge ourselves. Who knows what's going to happen this year though?!

So with that in mind, it's a good time to try and be focused and aim to have a bit of discipline! This Bootcamp, as with most others, will last for 10 weeks, which will take us right up to Christmas week.

(I truly hope that we'll all be able to spend Christmas with our loved ones, but who knows?)

With grateful thanks to @AthelstaneTheUnready, here is the Spreadsheet of Exceptional Fabulousness .

You should find that you're on the spreadsheet. A couple of things:

• if you don't want to record your weight every week, that's absolutely fine. Just don't do it!
• if you're not on it, just add your name to the bottom - don't try and re-alphabatize it - we'll sort it out later

The spreadsheet isn't just a place to record your weight though - have a good look at it, and the tabs - there's loads of information on there, including a veg carb counter and lots of stuff about low carbing in general. You'll also find Bootcamp rules there.

Thanks @AthelstaneTheUnready
Today's Greek you for breakfast and salmon with spinach and butter was delicious. I am finding it hard (already) to not have that sense of fullness after a meal. I am satisfied but not stuffed. It's a good thing I know but an usual feeling for me.

Really missing something sweet at the end of the meal. Broccoli soup and cheese crackers, yummy as they are, just don’t feel like a complete meal without something else, some chocolate, fruit, something. Going to distract myself. Anyone else struggling with that?

That does change Totalshambles You stop craving sweet things in the same way.

Sometimes, if I'm wanting to "treat" myself, then I'll have a spoonful of clotted cream or some Greek yoghurt with a sprinkling of cinnamon or vanilla powder. Your taste buds do adjust - clotted cream now tastes positively sweet to me

If your fat is high enough you shouldn't be feeling hungry or craving sweet- it sounds like you're not eating enough. Soup wouldn't do me at all. Don't subconsciously keep calories low either... kcals will naturally sort themselves as you adjust x

I don't have a sweet tooth really so lucky I don't miss puddings or fruit as I've never bothered with them. What I do miss is bread. I love a sandwich and lettuce doesn't cut it as a substitute really (although I do like it as a taco replacement!). I've made cloud bread in the past so I can have a bacon sandwich and its fine just a bit too eggy. My neighbour is doing keto and gave me some seriously low carb bread which is in my freezer but I know that's not allowed on bootcamp so I will restrain myself!

Totalshambles this is a pretty normal reaction, which is basically the point of the first two weeks of Bootcamp being so strict.

Your body is going to get data salted (actually fat-adapted but I’m leaving in the typo for a laugh ). So you won’t be hungry all the time from those spikes we get when we eat carbs.

Your body will also lose the sugar addiction, and let’s face it, carbs are sugar mostly, whether it’s ice cream or bread. So you won’t have those cravings and will stop thinking that a meal isn’t complete without chocolate at the end.

Honestly. Follow the rules and notice the changes. It’s fascinating stuff.

In the meantime, why not a bit of yogurt and cinnamon to satisfy you in the evening?

Not for now as its early bootcamp days but I know BIWI just found a great bread alternative...

Now it’s cooler, this makes a nice lunch if you fancy something warm. Also good for leftovers is made a side dish

Just checking in for accountability.
I'm a long time Boot camper but rarely have the time to post. I did really well last BC, but have slipped up a bit since then, and need to be here to get back on track.
Thanks to BIWI and co. and all the contributors, for all your inspiration and helping keeping us motivated and in track. Like others here I find this really helpful.

@AthelstaneTheUnready I'm so sorry to be so tardy, I was on the signup but name changed, couldn't add from phone then had shocker of a day. 11st yesterday, would love to lose 10lbs.

cheese for brunch, will have salad with homemade caesar at about 4 (have always had incurable munchies at 4) then chicken and veg.

Good for you on the restraint, Titsywoo.

I’m seeing some great choices being made, which isn’t always easy. Who was it that threw out ice cream yesterday, was it Takingontheworld?

Remember, this is DAY 2!! And I know if you’re not used to it, it’s a big adjustment, but it’s DAY 2!!

Everyone can do this. Focus on the lovely foods we can eat, everyone. How many weight loss plans allow cream, cheese, butter, oils, mayonnaise? We eat high fat mince, not lean, we can have steak and lamb, not poached fish and skinless chicken ! We can have bacon and sausages, all without having to fuck about and weigh everything and live like a human calculator counting so-called syns or calories! Where is the pleasure in that?

That looks lovely, Rshard. I’ve always thought of halloumi as a bit of a Bootcamp hero

Can’t remember if I posted this earlier but hiya to Summery1 nice to see you again and commiserations to AthelstanetheThumbless.

I just bought two new brands of pork crunch at my corner shop to taste test, and not loving either of them. Time to invest in some Cheesies...

WATER!!!

@Searchesforhipbones, no problem, on now

I did! I threw the ice cream and promise I didn't dig it back out 🤣

Still going strong today. I'm away this weekend so a bit worried about that, but I will do everything I can to keep things on track.

Thanks everyone, I will just have to wait for the choc cravings to leave (think it’s more habit than anything)! Off to raid fridge for some cream/yogurt!!

@Takingontheworld

Not for now as its early bootcamp days but I know BIWI just found a great bread alternative...

Yes I did and it's amazing. But it's so amazing I'm a bit sceptical about its low carb claims. There's another thread running about it with a couple of people who are diabetics, so taking their blood sugar levels regularly. I'm waiting to see if it has any impact on them.

I'm hoping very much not, because I've really enjoyed the product!

@Rshard

Now it’s cooler, this makes a nice lunch if you fancy something warm. Also good for leftovers is made a side dish

I've made that halloumi and broccoli dish a few times now Rshard (and have the picture saved on my camera roll). It's lush

I can pick away at the cold leftovers too - they're also delicious. And as dh is not particularly keen on broccoli, it's enough for a few meals for me. ok, maybe just two

Re bread alternatives, I'm still mourning the withdrawal by Lidl of their low carb rolls

After the first 2 weeks, they were good for an occasional treat, especially toasted.

@Paisleycountry1985 I have crohn’s and IBS, and find I can eat far more veggies when low carbing than I can eating “regular” diet. I’m not sure why. My symptoms are a lot better when on low carb high fat, despite eating way more veg/salad. Hope you find the same.

Last time I did this I made low carb bread with almond flour and grated mozzarella. They really hit the spot.
Can't find the recipe now and obviously not on bootcamp...

I have just had roasted kale and mushroom with chorizo, parmesan and olive oil.
Bloody lovely

Ooh I missed this until now! I was on the leaving lockdown one (hello to anyone who might remember me) and i am pretty much floating around my goal weight from that time but wondering if it’s time to get back down even further. I feel slim now but with a couple of tummy rolls that could go. Not sure if that will motivate me enough. Since lockdown I’ve left DH, sold the family home, moved towns, moved schools and am in a totally unfamiliar situation including staying in an Airbnb with no oven so meals have generally been brunch or lunch out followed by picking random items in the kitchen for dinner. I loved having the support of you all last time though.

[quote Montybojangles]@Paisleycountry1985 I have crohn’s and IBS, and find I can eat far more veggies when low carbing than I can eating “regular” diet. I’m not sure why. My symptoms are a lot better when on low carb high fat, despite eating way more veg/salad. Hope you find the same.[/quote]
Thank you for replying and it's good to know.

I love Broccoli and cabbage so hopefully I will be able to eat them again without worry.

Just checking into the new thread - great to see how motivated everyone is! Hopefully it will keep me on the straight and narrow. As it’s getting colder - I like soup for lunch - does anyone have any good low carb recipes - this week I’ve had roasted cauliflower and garlic. Is homemade tomato soup too carby? I was thinking of broccoli and leek for my next one but interested in what everyone else is having?
Lunch - soup and side salad (and some cheese)
Dinner - baked spiced salmon with salad and yoghurt dressing

Have a good day xx

@Randomfatty

I really like celariac & bacon. Fry leeks and garlic till soft, add in cubes celariac and cook for 15 mins or until it starts to soften. Cover with chicken stock and simmer till the celariac is almost falling apart. Blend, I like to stir in a spoon of full fat creme fraiche. Top with crisp fried bacon, and if you’re feeling fancy, basil oil (just whizz up basil and EVOO). It’s suuuuper comforting in this weather!

[quote TeddyIsaHe]@Randomfatty

I really like celariac & bacon. Fry leeks and garlic till soft, add in cubes celariac and cook for 15 mins or until it starts to soften. Cover with chicken stock and simmer till the celariac is almost falling apart. Blend, I like to stir in a spoon of full fat creme fraiche. Top with crisp fried bacon, and if you’re feeling fancy, basil oil (just whizz up basil and EVOO). It’s suuuuper comforting in this weather![/quote]
Ooooooooooo