Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp - week 6 already!

[BIWI]

Morning all

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for its weekly outing.

Don't forget to check out all the different resources on the spreadsheet - it's a huge mine of information.

We are now past the half way point - so only 5 more weeks to go until we get to Christmas!

But that means there's still time to lose a good chunk of weight, if we all knuckle down and get on with it.

to us all!

@Ifeelmuchlessfat

Really good to see more inspirational photos, isn’t it great when it it starts to make an impact!

Can I ask if it’s possible to eat too little? I’ve been having the same sort of quantity for around a month now and I’m just not needing anything else. Would you mind telling me what you think please?

B: 2 mugs green tea
S: creamy coffee after 12
L (around 2.00pm) 2 egg omelette with loads of butter, Parmesan, mozzarella, cheddar, and lots of leeks and broccoli

Maybe another coffee, or tea with milk
Herbal tea
Water!

That’s it.

Very occasionally I’ll have a couple of spoonfuls of Greek yoghurt with a couple of Brazil nuts and a few seeds.

It doesn’t seem much but I’d be eating when not hungry if I had more. Maybe the amount of butter I use gives me the necessary calories

I'd be pretty worried about this amount of food if you're eating like this all the time

It sounds to me like you're using your creamy coffee 'snack' (interesting that you use that word to describe it) to satisfy hunger, whereas you really should be eating.

I worry that you have a dysfunctional relationship with food - could this be the case?

I see from the spreadsheet that you have a fair amount to lose. Please don't think that by cutting out food/calories like this that you will lose more/more quickly - @StuntNun has already posted about OMAD (one meal a day) being less effective in weight loss than two meals.

Maybe the amount of butter I use gives me the necessary calories

Interesting you mention calories, Ifeelmuchlessfat. Are you still thinking that way?

I hope you don’t feel “got at,” but you did ask. You seem to have done a great job losing—30lbs is brilliant—but I wonder why you posted about your menu.

Are you feeling dissatisfied in some way? Bon courage.

Thanks both for your comments, not feeling got at at all.

I have never eaten very much really, I have lipedema and carry a lot of weight in my legs and so am heavy, but I’ve had a pretty healthy diet all my life apart from wine, which I love. During both lockdowns though I’ve given up alcohol completely, and therefore the snacks that go so well with it, and so am losing my wine belly.

I’m not not eating to lose weight, iykwim, although it might be contributing to my loss. I’m just not hungry. All the bloody water fills me up too
I could give up the coffee though, and eat something with a cup of tea perhaps, if you think I should. I cook for my dd and dh in the evenings but never fancy anything myself.

I used the word calories but probably should have said vitamins etc. I’m certainly not short of energy, I feel better than I have for years.

For what it’s worth, your 15k steps put me to shame.

I don’t know if it’s an invention or not but I made a lasagna version of the IPD moussaka using courgette ‘coins’ and aubergine slices (both about 1cm thick). I roasted them thoroughly in small batches and dried them by spreading them on kitchen towel layers so it’s quite labour intensive.

I also made the cheese sauce using whipped egg whites, feta and spinach (with the water thoroughly squeezed out).

It was super nice. The feta and spinach was very distinctive as compared to the lamb mince layer, and the courgette worked really well.

I had it tonight with aubergine and courgette on the side.

@Ifeelmuchlessfat two eggs is nothing! I know they say no MFP on this WOE but if I were you I would calculate the amount of protein and vitamins you’re getting with your daily food, for your own peace of mind if nothing else. Then you won’t need to worry about not eating enough depending on what it says. But I feel like with so little variance, there’s a chance you might not get what you need in the long term.

@Ifeelmuchlessfat that doesn't seem like enough food. If your creamy coffee filling you up maybe it would be better to eat something nutritious instead as there might not be enough vitamins and minerals in your daily intake. That's why we don't generally recommend the likes of bulletproof coffees on Bootcamp, because they're nutritionally poor. As a rule of thumb I would say you shouldn't drink your calories. This covers creamy coffees (one's okay but some people drink them all day long), bulletproof coffee, alcohol, and people drinking cream straight from the pot - really not a good idea for weight loss!

Yes I think you’re all right, 20bloodypounds I like the idea of soup. I’m going to make a batch, I’m just being lazy really. I have an infinite capacity for boredom, and can literally eat the same thing every day. I had a tuna salad every day when I was pregnant with ds, my dm would despair. He turned out ok though

Used to eat an avocado a day during the summer but having fewer salads now... but I do love soup on a cold grey day.

Also need to eat earlier, otherwise I really won’t be hungry before 7ish and I don’t like to eat after that.

Thanks all.

Checking in with today's food. B - 2 sausages (from the butcher, so very high meat content) with boursin.
D - 2 pork belly slices with home made coleslaw.
Snack - 3 squares of 85% dark chocolate. This is because I was watching bake off and was craving cake.
Also plenty of liquid!

Have decided not to weigh more than twice per week - I think that's healthier for my state of mind, but I find it hard not to.
Have had a lot of stressful things going on at home so good has been very boring as I just don't have the head space to think about making interesting things.

I think I’ve been overdoing it on the portion sizes and creamy meals so am going to tighten that up for a while. I have put on for the last 3 days!

Morning everyone. Despite having lost only 900g (!!!) in the 5 weeks of BC with a slip or two, I am officially the lightest I've been since I started tracking after having DC. SO annoyingly at 70.3 and I so so so want to get to 69.9. @Ifeelmuchlessfat I think I have some lipedema too - at least, my top half is very noticeably slimmer than my bottom and I've always had tree trunk legs and cankles, but I don't know much about the condition. How does one go about getting diagnosed and is there anything that helps? I hope you don't mind me asking.

I know its only Wednesday but there was a flicker of an 11 on the scales this morning. Jumped off in shock, reset, and stepped very cautiously back on - nope 12st. dead!!

Ah well at least I know the scales are "thinking about it"

todays food will be:
B - Salmon, spinach, olive oil, two boiled eggs with butter and a creamy coffee - usually black but i was cold and sporadically feel the need
L - Green soup: butter melted, onion and garlic softened, two courgettes, 1 leek, and some questionable cabbage, couple of handfuls of kale, cook gently, one chicken stock pot, and all the water in the kettle, bring to boil, simmer for the length of time it takes to tidy up kitchen, blend till smooth, and add all the cream left in the fridge - about half a large carton. into bowl and serve with drizzle of olive oil. Bloody delish - and I reckon three large portions which is lunch till Friday sorted!
D - Roast Salmon, Broccoli and shoogled sprouts!

NSV think all the salmon is beginning to show on my skin - about 3 years ago I read a thing about a portion of salmon (any oily fish would work - I like salmon) a day for a month really makes a difference to dehydration and how skin looks and tried it - really worked - this morning, glanced in the mirror - well I peered very closely at my face in an unforgiving magnifying mirror and thought "mid-forties and I'd do me" - now this could be also down, to lack of refind carbs, lots of water, and very little booze, compared to Lockdown 1 - but i'm taking it!!

Have a great day everyone!!

Mimosa1 don’t mind at all. It needs publicising frankly as so many women are unaware of it and struggle for years. Many GPs know little about it too, despite it being on the NHS website now. There are a couple of really good fb sites, one dedicated to research into the surgery suitable for treatment, and another which is more for support and education. Message me or have a look around in there. You do sound like you have classic symptoms.

There are various things advised, something called Manual Lymphatic Drainage (a kind of massage) compression clothing and a low carb or keto diet. You can’t lose lipo fat, only have it removed, but you can minimise its effects.

The pounds haven't changed much , but the belt has been done up !
Couldn't wear it for more than about 2 minutes , but it's progress

@plumstone you are my weight twin 😂 managed to get under 12 on Monday and it’s just hit 12 again today... I know it’s a daily fluctuation but seeing an 11 felt soooo good!

Thanks @Ifeelmuchlessfat I'm off to check it out. I remember my mother having some yellow boots that filled with air and compressed her legs when I was a child. I'd forgotten all about them til now... her legs got much slimmer post menopause. I wonder if mine will too.

@itsmeagainagain i hear you!! an 11 is such a boost!!!!! about ten years ago - I used to swing between 10.13 and 11.1 - seeing that 10 was the ultimate motivation - oh to have that number issue now - however thinking long term - it will happen!!!!

@plumstone yep I’m the same! Used to be a 10 I wanted to see on the scales 😂 I’m sure we can do this 💪 how tall are you?

Mimosa wow that was quite advanced to have such treatment. My mother and grandmother didn’t have it so I think it must have been my paternal grandmother. My dd is 14 and just developing it which is so sad for her. I haven’t told her yet as she’ll google it and panic, will just make sure she can have surgery when she’s 18 if she wants/needs it.
For some women it can really affect the quality of life.

@Doilooklikeatourist great results!
Looks like a tiny belt too!

@itsmeagainagain I am 5ft 6, how about you, Its a frustrating height - tall enough not be "short" but not tall enough to "carry" 12 stones well at 11st, I can wear a 12 in bottoms and a 14 in tops - all my weight is boob - its mental!!!! my waist gets smaller and I become one box of red hair dye away from Jessica Rabbit!!!!! Wierdly though at 10.6 I sort of even out and become a 12 all over - only been that weight once - and It was strange, I literally got there and was like - OK so that's done lets start eating all the food again - Like I don't want to be slim!!!!! Definitely my problem is in my head - however now i seem calmer about the whole weight loss thing - and more about this is long term - menopause is on the horizon, so its lets get this sorted now before the night sweats and mood swings. I'm 45 in a couple of months, relocating at Christmas, and will be buying a new flat in Spring - I really don't want to be dealing with my sqidgyness as well!!!

We can do this!!!

@plumstone I’m also 5’6 👍 😊 I’m the opposite to you though... I’m a proper pear shape so hips and booty 😂 and now thanks to children a belly 😞 I done it a weird weight because I don’t look fat as such and I have to lose a lot for people to even notice it which let’s be honest is what we want sometimes! 😂 well I’m glad we’re at similar stages I can stalk your progress in a non weird 😉 😊

Find it not done it 🙄

@itsmeagainagain I concur on the weird weight - lots of people tell me that I don't need to loose weight just tone up!!! however my BMI and doctor tell me 11st would make me healthier!! I also would like to feel confident in colour next summer, I currently wear black, black, sporadic charcoal grey and for a night out that exciting colour of navy blue. Would love to wear a paid of ankle grazer blue jeans, and a bright orange vest top and not worry about "spillage" I also truly believe I would tan better if I was thinner - right now I practise pale and interesting as in the sun I go blotchy and its not a good look!!

Agree that I don't "look" fat as such, just Squidgy!! I also find exercising easier when I have about a stone less of me to move.

Stalk away what is your target!! mine is 10st 7 - 10st - I like a 7lb window for movement!

@plumstone totally with you on the clothes thing. I’m fairly good at ‘dressing for my shape’ but I want to wear things I love too without holding my tummy in etc... my goal is 10 stone on the nose. I did get down to 9 stone 10 lbs for my wedding but that’s not sustainable... I’d actually be happy with 10 stone 5 ish. I know I’ll start looking noticeably slimmer at 11 stone too so will also be very happy with that! All the best for a good Monday weigh in 👍

I am also in the 5’6” club, and I think most of my weight is on my bum. I’m 1/4 Jamaican which I think gives me that shape.

I started at, I think, 11 and a half or thereabouts (was too scared to weigh) and am now down to ten and a half. I would like to be 10 stone - but also just generally fitter. I worry all my (limited) muscle turned to fat when I was ill with Covid.