Week 2 - Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp - the first weigh-in!

[BIWI]

Morning all.

Sorry if you're chomping at the bit to announce your loss this morning!

Here's the spreadsheet

Some great losses already posted, so well done.

But don't despair if you haven't lost as much as others. Remember, this isn't a competition. We're all here with different startpoints, and everyone loses at a different rate anyway.

@Midlifemission

Here's a previous post from @StuntNun:

"As far as cholesterol goes, this WOE raises your HDL which is the good one that you want to be high, and lowers your triglycerides which you want to be low. It also raises your LDL which is the bad one BUT it shifts your LDL subtype from the dangerous small dense subtype to the large buoyant subtype which is either neutral or beneficial to your health^

@Midlifemission high blood cholesterol levels are a risk factor for heart disease so people were advised to limit dietary cholesterol in order to lower their blood cholesterol. However there's no link between dietary cholesterol intake and blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is an essential substance for your body to function therefore it is tightly controlled. If you eat more cholesterol then your body produces less; if you cut out cholesterol then your body produces more to compensate. So it doesn't make any difference at all how much cholesterol you eat. It's possible that saturated fat could raise your blood cholesterol however the studies carried out to date give mixed results. One potential issue is that studies don't differentiate the source of saturated fat so a ribeye steak is considered the same as a doughnut. As low carb enthusiasts we see sugar as the big villain but the mainstream viewpoint is that sugar is only implicated in tooth decay and is otherwise benign. It doesn't really matter though because what the studies don't show is any association between saturated fat and heart disease. So long story short I know, too late most people don't have to worry about increasing their saturated fat or their cholesterol intake. There are some people with familial hypercholesteraemia who have chronically high cholesterol that may choose to emphasise monounsaturated fats and fish oils in their diet instead of animal fats however this is based in the precautionary principle rather than because we have any evidence they should limit their intake of saturated fat and cholesterol.

@BurningGubbins

Why are you eating chia seeds though? They're not allowed in the first two weeks of Bootcamp!

I would try and cut down on the dairy, to be honest, as you are eating quite a lot of it. And concentrate on getting your carbs mainly from veg and salad.

At the end of the day 1.5lbs isn't a huge amount, so it could just be a daily fluctuation. It could reflect where you are in your menstrual cycle (assuming you're not post-menopausal!).

Day 3 here, still going ok. Finding I feel a bit 'empty' a lot though, which I don't understand - I am largely eating the same way as I did before, as a long-term low-carber, but without all the non-veg carbs and the sweet stuff (and the evening wine which inevitably lead to crisps) and drinking loads of water. Maybe I need to be eating more, since I don't eat breakfast, or adding more fat on top of what I am already adding. The empty feeling isn't unmanageable, just a bit annoying. Sure it will settle. Will have some shoogled sprouts and see if that helps.

On the plus side I can already see my tummy bloating reducing and the scales shifting slowly down.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously what could you have had instead of the chocolate? I know it sounds strange but I find cheese a good alternative. I think it's something to do with the mouthfeel and the fat content. If you really want something sweet then there are low carb herbal teas with a sweet flavour such as Teapigs chocolate mint or Twinings Spiced Apple or liquorice. How about next time you're feeling that way you have a piece of cheese, or whichever alternative works for you, and then see how you go. Then if you really can't resist the chocolate at least you've tried. This way of eating is good for regulating hormones so you should find in a month or two you aren't experiencing the cravings any more.

@BurningGubbins the chia seed could cause a bit of water retention. I find all those things: almond flour, coconut flour, flaxseeds etc. make me bloat.

Glad you're with me on the celery conspiracy @ShagMeRiggins 

@Superspecs I used to have unsweetened almond milk in my tea but couldn't stand it in coffee so I switched to black. It doesn't take that long to get used to it actually.

@BIWI I suggested the chia seeds to @BurningGubbins because of an ahem digestive issue.

@BIWI thanks - I’ll try reducing the dairy, as I say though, I have been having more than that without issue. Frustrating if it’s a problem now! And yes, the chia seeds were only those 2 days to see if they helped get things moving again as I’ve been having trouble in that department the last couple of weeks. Not sure they have worked tbh.

Thanks StuntNun . I do have some nice teapigs tea. I think what I'm finding hard is that this is the first time I've given up artificial sweeteners. Usually I'd allow myself the chocologic or a diet coke because both are low carb and not high calorie. It was only one line so I think that's better than it could have been. I do believe that sugar is addictive, not quite on the same way as cigarettes but enough to be quite hard to just stop and not have any setbacks.
Biwi the telling off is why I joined. I thank you also for trying to keep me on the straight and narrow. Determined not to cheat again

@CrepuscularCritter

I only started on Monday and so far, so good. But is anyone else having the gurgliest stomach ever? It's fine when working from home, but yesterday and today when I was in the office it was so loud! I dont feel hungry though, which is great. I

I get this too! Mine is audible to people close by 😂

Hopefully your day improved and your resolved strengthened @itsmeagainagain. There is a whole wave of thinking that says you should "sit" in your discomfort and look at it like an outsider, acknowledging it and the way it makes you feel. It can be interesting even sometimes to say out loud "I am not hungry I am just bored/tired/ sad and this is okay" it does sometimes work...
Also @ponygirlcurtis I too feel a bit empty but likewise I feel less heavy about my middle. It does feel like a diet as I am trying to be good about cheese (I can inhale cheese) and am not a huge carnivore by nature. However I am loving spinach and other veg cooked with butter and also lots of scrambled eggs with a little cream and smoked salmon/ham.
Am in Ireland so our lockdown kicks in from tonight so there will be less options to be out and about but I have been to the library and stocked up on some good books to get me through these long evenings.

@CrepuscularCritter me too!! DH kept asking if I was hungry last night, I genuinely wasn't but it was all gurgling away

Had no breakfast today as I have fasted 16:8 for a long time.

Lunch was some cucumber and cheese (didn't feel like anything more).

Cooking Beef Balti with Cauliflower Rice for tea.

Currently half way though my water, the weeing has started to settle down now!

Back to work tomorrow after a month off so have prepared eggs and salad with mayo for lunch and will have beef in the slow cooker for when I get home.

ZiggaZiggA I'm thinking of all those stomachs rumbling across the nations. But seriously I'm glad you're not hungry and dinner sounds delicious. Here I've put chicken in the oven, and DH is currently trying to peel a celeriac for me. Spinach and kale as well, I think.

I was so pleased with this I had to show it off - slow cooked pork belly and an absolute tonne of spiced buttered cabbage and broccoli.
HM leek and celeriac creamy soup for lunch( using up some wilted veg)

Both ridiculously tasty. Game on !

That looks lush, NorthofAmazing - I got hold of some pork belly too, not sure I have done it right but hopefully will taste as good as yours looks.

@BasicMadeira glad you have some books to keep you occupied, hope the lockdown isn't too difficult for you.

[quote StuntNun]@VeryLittleOwl the sodium in the baking soda could easily cause water retention. I hope you make a speedy recovery.[/quote]
Thank you, StuntNun, that could well be it - I've just had a shower and my stomach looks like a sodding beach ball! If it's not better tomorrow I'm caving and ringing the surgery to see if they can test to see if I need antibiotics, because that'll be 5 days of trying to flush it through with loads of fluids.

Lunch was roast chicken and vegetable soup, supper is meatballs in a tomato and vegetable sauce. Found that the soup wasn't quite enough for lunch and needed a Babybel at 4.30 to fortify me enough to take the dogs out in a light 35mph breeze with horizontal rain in it!

Just about to read back over today’s posts, but do any of the bootcamp experts know if increasing dairy often causes spots/acne to flare?

My skin is still more oily than usual and I’ve got numerous spots. Fortunately they aren’t the deep hormonal sugar fuelled ones and each one is healing quickly.

@BIWI well I had only started Bootcamp on the Thursday, but I was mostly low-carb before that (with some butternut squash added) so I suppose I shouldn’t have expected the whoosh. I may have already had that!

I did eat about 1kg of FF yogurt across the week so 150g a day - and then cream in my coffee, so it may have been dairy.

Other than that mostly vegetables (aubergine, courgette, onions) and chicken.

I’m very hopeful for better results this week as it will have been a full week of bootcamp.

Breakfast - coffee with cream
Lunch - roast chicken with artichokes and courgette
Dinner - moussaka with roasted broccoli

Dinner was spicy turkey mince cooked with cauliflower rice, leek, shallot, red pepper, celery mushrooms and a tin of tomatoes. Only had a small bowl but because it is low fat I added some grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Am a bit concerned about the dairy today since I also had a small chunk of feta with lunch.
Will try to go dairy free tomorrow, for balance.

I agree with PP about having options when things don't go to plan. Today is one of those days for me. DH has just ordered an Indian; I'm having tandoori lamb chops and sag paneer 😋

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously I'm sorry but picturing you guiltily hoovering up a line of low-carb choc is hilarious!

Today was good:
B: Ff fage yogurt
L: mushroom and Boursin omelette
D: roast chicken breast (skin on) with roast sprouts and roast radishes with truffle mayo.

Roasted radishes are my new best friend- super low carb, and they turn sort of caramelised and fudgy like a roasted new potato!

Koko everyone

On the subject of quick meals - Sainsbury’s have a slow cooked beef brisket in bone marrow sauce and it is ridiculously delicious. And 2.4g carbs per portion.

@fizzfridays we all need something to giggle at these days. Glad to have been of assistance

Ooh Teddy that brisket sounds good I'll have a look for that! Considering getting some tinned steak in as recommended up thread too, I always liked that as a kid.

I'll not bore you with my repetitive breakfast and lunch but dinner was kedgeree and it was great. It's a bit of a faff for a weeknight if I'm honest but trying to clear the freezer out so the fish needed eating. It was even more of a faff than normal because I made the cauli rice from scratch. The recipe is on the fish stickied thread, there are a few versions obviously I think mine is the best

Also thank you for the roasted radishes tip. On my shopping list for tomorrow

@BasicMadeira

Hopefully your day improved and your resolved strengthened *@itsmeagainagain*. There is a whole wave of thinking that says you should "sit" in your discomfort and look at it like an outsider, acknowledging it and the way it makes you feel. It can be interesting even sometimes to say out loud "I am not hungry I am just bored/tired/ sad and this is okay" it does sometimes work... Also *@ponygirlcurtis* I too feel a bit empty but likewise I feel less heavy about my middle. It does feel like a diet as I am trying to be good about cheese (I can inhale cheese) and am not a huge carnivore by nature. However I am loving spinach and other veg cooked with butter and also lots of scrambled eggs with a little cream and smoked salmon/ham. Am in Ireland so our lockdown kicks in from tonight so there will be less options to be out and about but I have been to the library and stocked up on some good books to get me through these long evenings.

i like that @BasicMadeira I might even write it down over and over like a detention next time! I'm feeling so much better and its all thanks you lovely lot for all your encouraging messages so thank you very much for that. I didn't cave and eat a shed load of crap like I normally would. Have had a lovely dinner of ribeye steak and buttery garlicy mushrooms tipped with rocket and parmesan delicious... am trying to make up for the lack of water too.