Week 5 - Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp - the end of the first half

[BIWI]

Morning all

This week sees the end of the first half of Bootcamp. The last two weeks may have been tough going, as you might have seen weight loss slow or even stop.

But this has been an important transition period, as your body has been switching from burning carbs for fuel, to burning fat. So from now on, the weight loss you will see will be entirely fat. And hopefully from week 5, you should see the scales showing a weekly loss too!

By now, hopefully, you have also have become a bit more accustomed to low carb eating, so that it's becoming a bit more of a habit. Once things are habitual, it's a lot easier to stick with things, as they're more routine.

Anyway, here's the spreadsheet for this week's 'confession'!

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Athelstane you ok hun? 👀

mrsKoala That also made me laugh, apologies, but it was the ripped tights and snotty face that resonated with me.

itsmeagainagain hope your okay today, I’ve been through it myself and it is horrible, however well it is handled, DH has also been through it once. In both cases we ended up better for it, because it forced change. Personally, it led to a much better work life balance, which I will be forever grateful for. However, I know it can really knock your confidence and in a sort of boot camp way, you need to constantly tell yourself “it’s the role that is made redundant, it’s not personal”. I have everything crossed for you to find a new, much better role, very soon.

Just wondering how @Takingontheundead is doing? Hope all is well as I don’t think you’ve been around for a bit, unless I’ve missed your posts?

Didn't expect much from trying on my size 14 shorts today as I think I've only lost 5lb in the last month. At the risk of sounding daft what's the science behind losing inches but not weight?

@itsmeagainagain hope you're doing okay

@mrskoala what a huge achievement. I'm 3st down but fully aware I have 2.5st to go to get to my lowest adult weight

My brother is getting good results from a meal replacement woe. It suits him as he sleeps in a truck 4 nights a week. I would much rather be eating steak with creamy dressing and veg though!

@stuntnun can you explain more about 20/4 being better than omad please. My neice seemed to be having success with omad (till she went off the rails). I managed 2 days last week but sts at Monday's weigh in. I do seem to be a bit stuck

Wow @Oneborneverydecade that's amazing progress! You must be delighted. You look like an apple shape from your lovely slim legs and even it is just inches off your middle that is so good for your health. Us apples can have unhealthy hearts

Excellent photo comparison Oneborneverydecade!

And I ain’t StuntNun, not even close, but is the answer...glycogen stores?

We do keep banging on about this, BIWI and the other experiences Bootcampers. I’m sure you just want to understand but you really do need to trust us when we say:

1. Weight loss is not linear

1. Scales fluctuate wildly, as does body weight throughout the day

1. Scales are only one indicator of body changes throughout weight loss—look at inches, clothing, previously buried body parts

1. It works so KOKO

Thank you both.

I'm just curious @shagmeriggins I'm definitely going to koko

@basicmadeira can your body shape change? I used to hate my thighs, now 3 kids later all the weight piles on my belly and my thighs are slim by comparison

Dinner...

Had anyone got any good ideas of what I can mix into mayonnaise to make it taste more exciting? I’ve done garlic and lemon and horseradish was surprisingly nice (only needs a little bit so gone for carbs). What else?

@Jdhshekr

Had anyone got any good ideas of what I can mix into mayonnaise to make it taste more exciting? I’ve done garlic and lemon and horseradish was surprisingly nice (only needs a little bit so gone for carbs). What else?

Chopped coriander, cucumber and squeezed lime

@Jdhshekr

Had anyone got any good ideas of what I can mix into mayonnaise to make it taste more exciting? I’ve done garlic and lemon and horseradish was surprisingly nice (only needs a little bit so gone for carbs). What else?

Dijon mustard Wholegrain mustard Pesto Lime, chilli and coriander (Small amount of) tomato ketchup

I think as we get older the middle attracts more weight but I suspect that there was never anything ever wrong with your thighs! @Oneborneverydecade so maybe our shape doesn't change just our perception of it?

Great photos Oneborneverydecade

I had my own NSV earlier when someone commented on my weight loss... felt great!

Today's meals are rather sedate, a relief after last night's fiasco.

B - black coffee
L - bacon, mushroom and cheddar omelette with big salad of baby spinach and a few cherry tomatoes on the vine, mayo on the side.
D - beef and veg curry w cauli rice, may have some ff Greek yoghurt on the side to up the fats.

Found an old veg recipe of sorts in notes on my phone, no link or credit I'm afraid - maybe I saw it on here at some stage! I've never even tried it but sounds good.
Anyway here it is...

Blitz blue cheese in a food processor with soured cream, a splash of white wine vinegar, olive oil and a little Dijon mustard; season. Drizzle over winter salads orroasted Savoy cabbage wedgesfor a different winter side dish.

Here's another sexy veg one from Darina Allen's Ballymaloe Cookery Course. I think it'd also work well with broccoli or green beans...

Cauliflower with Anchovy and Chilli
1 medium cauli
110g onion (or shallots) finely chopped
1/2-1 red chilli de-seeded and finely chopped
4 anchovy fillets chopped
2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
3 tsp red wine vinegar

Cook cauliflower. Meanwhile, sweat the onion in the olive oil over a gentle heat for a few minutes. Add chilli and continue to cook until onion is soft but not coloured. Add anchovies, parsley and vinegar, stir to heat through, pour over the hot cauliflower and serve immediately.

Fab photos, Oneborneverydecade!

Lunch today was leftover sausage casserole, supper's chicken with bacon and leeks and FLGV.

Loving the mayo suggestions and that blue cheese dressing sounds fit.

@ShagMeRiggins

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Athelstane you ok hun? 👀

yes. just rubbish. but fine rubbish.

@EarlGreyHot that blue cheese sauce sounds utterly fabulous. I have justt amended by shopping list for the weekend.

B buttery scrambled eggs
L lettuce , cucumber, ham , smoked cheddar (mmmmm very nice ) mayo. Olive oil and sea salt crystals
D sausages , celariac and butternut mash , green cabbage , leeks and mushrooms
Didn't go shopping , as I knew I'd buy a bottle of wine if I went to Tesco , went for a walk with DD , then carried on with the post firebreak room project ( need to buy a rug not wine )

Doilooklikeatourist impressive wine swerve

@jdhshekr my DH makes a lovely blue cheese mayo cream dip. I had some today on crispy bacon and salad

@earlgreyhot that cauli recipe sounds great - I've sent it to my in house chef

And great nsv!

@Rshard we tried the scallops your way (the cheese and chorizo swung it) and they were bloody lovely.
I would have taken a photo but I was too busy eating

Thanks @AthelstaneTheUnready - I wasn’t sure if you were on here to ask about the spreadsheet.

I agree that blue cheese sauce sounds good. I’m never sure about winter salads and tend to avoid them but I may give one a try with this.

Been really hungry today. Breakfast was chorizo, green pepper, leeks, spinach and eggs. Lunch was leftover spicy lamb mince with veg and griddled aubergine. Dinner was sausage casserole, turnip mash and buttery Savoy cabbage.

I'm making cauliflower and Stilton soup for supper tonight. I was supposed to use a scraggy old cauliflower that I'd spotted in the fridge last week and some ancient Stilton that I'd also noticed - but when I went to get the cauliflower out, it was beyond scraggy Fortunately, I also had a fresh cauliflower that I could use instead

Used some ancient pheasant stock that I found in the freezer (spot a theme here )

It tastes nice though. Just waiting for dh to have a bath, so that we can eat. I still have some of my home made low carb bread that I can toast, to accompany it. (Dh has a loaf of freshly baked sourdough).