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.

Also missing Buttermint tea @Prettybird.
The ingredients for the Twinings one were mint and vanilla. I have found a sprinkle of vanilla powder improves ordinary mint tea and am experimenting with different mints to find a similar one.

Oooh - good idea. I might have to order some vanilla powder

Pukka 3 mint tea is very nice.
Bake off was hard last night - had to go to bed to prevent raiding of the packed lunch penguins!
Not totally certain what my meals will be today. I think turkey mince tacos but with avocado salad instead of taco shells. Breakfast will be Greek yoghurt with cinnamon.
I was sloshing yesterday, so think I did okay on the water front - it helps to know that it is essential for the weight loss and that not doing it will stall progress.
Hope everyone has a good day.

Oh my goodness me - no more Buttermint - that was one of my favourite discoveries from a previous boot camp and I am working my way through quite a large supply - I will definitely be trying the vanilla powder @1WildTeaParty - thanks so much for the tip!

Agree Pukka three mint is nice . I am now going to see if there is anything else on Ocado I can try to fill the buttermint gap when I run out.

@BIWI - that's kind to ask re the stress (it might be a long post though...)

I guess its important to realise that eating emotionally is a big thing for some people (me) but sabotages things. But what I am learning is that this WOE (and drinking water and taking my vits / pain meds) is the ONLY thing that makes me feel better. The cake / carbs sure don't!

For those who miss Buttermint tea, I can highly recommend Hooglies brand tea - I love the chocolate one and I've ordered a few flavours to test in my next Ocado order so I will report back!

[quote 52andblue]@BIWI - that's kind to ask re the stress (it might be a long post though...)

I guess its important to realise that eating emotionally is a big thing for some people (me) but sabotages things. But what I am learning is that this WOE (and drinking water and taking my vits / pain meds) is the ONLY thing that makes me feel better. The cake / carbs sure don't![/quote]
Very true. And it's what makes dieting hard. It's always very telling people who don't have the emotional connection with food (and often really aren't that overweight) because they tend to start their posts with something like ^"it's easy, you just need to " when it's often really not easy at all.

Same with addictions/disorders - you don't have to smoke; you don't have to drink alcohol. But you do have to eat food!

Supper last night turned out to be sausage casserole after DH came home brandishing a bag of macaroni and saying he thought he'd make me macaroni cheese as a treat because I love it. Well, yes I do sweetheart, and I know you're massively stressed at work, but do you remember the big conversation we had at the weekend about how I was going back on low carb seriously...? Bless him, he loves food and he loves cooking and he makes some really complicated and delicious stuff, but this is the man who once suggested spaghetti bolognese because he didn't realise spaghetti was pasta, he thought it was something separate.

Two pints and a mug of hot water down. Not sure whether to have leftovers for lunch or soup or another vegetable omelette. I think there's enough leftovers for two, so I'd probably better freeze those.

BIWI - yes, exactly!
I think the lightbulb bit for me is that this WOE makes me feel better, so stress is easier to cope with. I am not very good at self care (ie half the time I don't even take my pain meds like I should) so that's a big lightbulb for me. I am WORTH being careful and mindful about what I put into my body. Fresh veg, whole proteins, a little fat / fruit / nuts (later, I know) and lots of water are what I need (deserve?)
I've just had 2 eggs, fried in butter, with last nights leftover broccoli.

(gawd, I do go on, sorry!)

Rediscovered my love for cucumber water! I'm struggling to drink that amount of eater, I felt like I was constantly fluffing yesterday but have easily done 1l with 5 cucumber slices, it's so refreshing.

B Fasting
L Cheese and Mushroom Omelette
D Lamb Chops with Celeriac Dauphinois and veg

I love cucumber water Zizz and I have half a cucumber in the fridge. Great idea!

Midlife Teapigs chocolate and mint tea is divine if you want a sweet treat without the carbs.

Gosh this thread is racing along! And it's my favourite distraction from working

@52andblue I love leftover veg with fried egg. My dh is wfh but the rule is he has to sort his own breakfast and lunch (as he would do if he was working in the office). Every day he chooses boring beige food - cereal, sandwich, pasta etc. If he's in the kitchen at the same time as I'm having my lunch he looks enviously at the vibrant colours of my salads, or salivates looking at my heap of lightly curried veg in butter, topped with a fried egg. 'Just left-overs, dear' I tell him

B - creamy coffee, ham and cheese rollito, avocado
L - something with eggs
D - moussaka with buttery broccoli and green beans

The moussaka recipe is amazing. It's near the top of the 'meat' recipe threads but I've posted it here in case people can't find it easily. It makes a huge amount, so we'll have it tonight, some will go in the freezer for another night, and there will be enough left over for me to have for a couple of lunches (with left-over veg and maybe a fried egg )

IPD (Idiot Proof Diet) Moussaka
500g lamb mince
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons tomato puree
100ml water
1 large aubergine
olive or groundnut oil
3 eggs
300ml double cream
200g Feta cheese

• Pre-heat the oven to 180/GM4
• Fry the lamb mince until starting to brown, breaking up lumps as it fries
• Add the onion and garlic and continue frying until the onion has softened
• Stir in the oregano, cinnamon, tomato puree and water. Bring to a simmer and then cover and cook for 20 mins over a low heat
• Slice the aubergine, brush with oil and grill, fry or griddle until softened but not mushy - it should be golden coloured
• Stir the meat and if it still looks a bit too liquid, simmer with the lid off for 5 minutes or so
• Beat together the eggs and cream and stir in the crumbled Feta
• Layer the aubergine over the meat and pour the Feta custard over the top
• Bake in the oven for approximately 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown

I love that moussaka recipe.

There's a similar one for cheeseburger pie, which uses the same egg/cream/cheese topping, but I think also uses mayo.

I'll see if I can find it.

@20bloodypounds thank you for the moussaka recipe! It’s my absolute favourite meal and I’ve been craving it. Will have it for dinner tomorrow.

Brilliant recipe, thanks!

We are in a really stressful situation right now in that we are trying to sell two houses, to buy one normal one (really complicated situation), our house in London which has a eye-watering mortgage is failing to move (price already reduced etc etc sorry I know it’s not the property diy page!) anyway the stress is making me want to emotional-eat the pain away! I find sugar a very effective ‘emotional sedative’ but it’s a crutch I have to stop relying on.

Breakfast: mozz, avocado and generous olive oil, water and black coffee.

Thanks for the moussaka tip - I have lamb mince x 2 in the freezer

Someone mentioned digestive issues yesterday (I can't remember who, but they needed to take immodium). I'm having a similar issue this morning, and have had to visit the bathroom 3 times in the past hour. I'm at work, as a teacher, and need a quick fix for that. It was ok when I was teaching year 13 as they can be left for a few minutes while I pop to the loo, but years 7-11 are a different story!! Any ideas? Bearing in mind that I am currently at school and popping to the shops would be tricky to fit in (almost as tricky as needing to go to the loo all the time).

I am suddenly ravenous today so have just had a huge owl of left over taco mince I've refried in oil, added sliced broccoli and baby corn and piled with cheese (grated on that tiny setting that makes it look like mountains) and a huge dollap of sourcream. Hoping the fat hit sorts me out!

Hangover finally gone. 4days later

Checking in today, feeling very uninspired but will go shopping later to find lots of LC treats..

Spent last night at my blokes house, I go once a week and it's become a thing where we have a couple of glasses of wine and a very as hoc dinner... I need to plan a bit better but we're usually tired from work and it's just easy to pop to the local co-op and pick something up..
So in the end I had beef hotpot, gave him all the sliced spuds... It looked very sad! Loads of green beans and asparagus with butter. Was still hungry after but just drank loads of water and a sleepy tea from aldi, didn't mind too much.

I'm going to try to make soup today, got pumpkins and courgettes in the garden to use up. Hoping I can take it for lunches as salads just aren't cutting it, we have to keep all our windows and doors open in my classroom and I'm bloody freezing all day!
So far I've had a late breakfast of scrambled eggs in butter, will try not to have anything till dinner at about 5. Going for a run in a mo and I'm hoping to find time to use my Cross trainer and hula hoop every day, just for 20 mins.

I've saved that moussaka recipe, looks lush.. Will also be looking for alternatives to buttermint tea, I found a biscuit tea which I like...

Quick question, I drink oat milk in tea and coffee, as normal milk bloats me... Is it OK?

Cheeseburger pie

This is taken and adapted from this site

Ingredients:

500g minced beef
50g finely chopped onion or use shallots for a lower carb result
150g chopped mushrooms
100mls double cream
2 heaped tablespoons of mayo
150g mature cheddar grated
3 eggs
salt & pepper to taste

1. Fry mince, onion and mushrooms together until cooked season to taste, add Lee & Perrins sauce

1. Place in a greased pie dish*, flatten with spoon

1. Beat eggs and then add mayo, cream and cheese

1. Pour over the top of mince and bake in oven Gas mark 5 for 20 to 25 mins until set and golden brown

This freezes very well.

Lovely with salad, cauli mash, or stir fry (Great in lunchboxes)

• the first few times I made this I mis-read the instructions and was putting the mince mixture into a casserole dish. It works, but not as well as if you put it into a baking tin - a bit like one you'd use for making brownies. Then the final result is something more solid, that you can cut into squares.

@BIWI
I know I didn't eat much, I'm still feeling a bit shite from my cold and I've not really stopped low carbing all year. I hoped I got some vegetables from my soup, but you're right, I need to be more mindful, thank you!

morning - dreaded period has started so I feel miserable in pain, and want lots of - but don't have any

Lunch - homemade cauliflower soup and maybe some cheese and salami
Dinner - stuffed aubergines with tuna and cheese, and salad

I'll also be making some homemade herby mayo later today as well.

thanks for the soup ideas @TeddyIsaHe I'll try that one for next week

Morning everyone

@BIWI thanks for the thread, I tried to add myself to the spreadsheet, but failed. Could you add me please. Starting weight 139lbs.

I’ve RTFT with a notepad taking notes on all your meal ideas. Looking forward to trying them all.

I’ve not done Bootcamp before, but have done low carb a few times and it works so well for me. I’m a sugar addict. The more I have the more I want. It causes acne and stomach ache and I’m too hooked to get a grip. A few weeks of low carbing in August has really helped me lose the Covid 10 I’d put on. The last two weeks I’ve been stress eating all the bad stuff and don’t want to slide backwards.

Also been doing 16:8 for a while so often don’t have breakfast.

@Stegasaurusmum

I'm afraid oat milk is too carby - Oatly is 6.7g carbs per 100ml, and Plenish's oat milk is 7.8g per 100ml!

For comprison, whole cows' milk is 4.7g carbs per 100ml, so you'd be better off having that!

(This shows why it's a good idea to avoid milk wherever you can, as 100ml really isn't very much, so you could be adding a lot of carbs to your day if you're continuing to have it in tea and coffee)