Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp - the lucky 7

[BIWI]

... no idea why 7 is supposed to be lucky, but let's hope it is for us!

Here's the Spreadsheet

If you haven't visited the spreadsheet for a while, or really had a good look at it, can I suggest that you have a good browse of it now? There's lots of really useful information there.

Why do I suggest that? Because it's easy to get complacent or to lose enthusiasm this far into Bootcamp - but yet we still have 4 weeks to go, so it's important to hold your resolve.

Hopefully the scales (or your tape measure/favourite item of clothing) have been kind to you this week - but if not, have a think about why. Have you allowed carb creep? Have you been cheating? Have you slipped on the fat/water front?

Anyway, hopefully all is good, and here's to another positive week

Wow, some fantastic losses again - over the week and longer term.

I’ve managed a 2lb loss taking me a sniff away from a stone since the start. I’m really thrilled with that. Then it’s another 2lbs to my first target of 11stone, which is where I was last Christmas (and the Christmas before and the one before that - aaargghh!)

Struggling a bit due to mock GCSEs/results being incredibly stressful, and my default is to fall into a jar of Nutella. Trying to keep drinking lots of water but have to admit to a few biscuits.

That’s so good to read @20bloodypounds. I have taken a screen shot.

I have had a bit of a bad day with carbs because I ate an apple. I had a job interview and I thought the carb boost might help my mental energy. I then choked on it so I think that’s probably a lesson from the universe.

Now having a glass of red wine - which I don’t normally do midweek.

Breakfast - creamy coffee
Lunch - cauliflower soup
Snack - apple
Dinner - chicken thigh, aubergine, courgette, onion + red wine

I’m having an experimental dinner tonight of kielbasa, cabbage, celery and leeks in the slow cooker with butter, stock and caraway seeds. I’m going to serve it with leftover celeriac dauphinois which we had with mackerel fillets and flgv last night.

Lunch the last 2 days has been big mushrooms stuffed with herby goats cheese and sour cream served with slow roasted thyme tomatoes and a rocket salad with lemon and oil dressing. So so good that I’m off to Lidl tomorrow to get more mushrooms while they are still on special offer.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously I can only think of two circumstances where someone might actually need carbs. (1) A person with diabetes who is going into hypoglycaemia. (2) A bodybuilder whose workouts are so strenuous that gluconeogenesis isn't fast enough to keep up with demand. Any other times then it will just be sugar or carb cravings. PMT is the most obvious example but any form of stress, e.g. lack of sleep, can give you cravings.

Thank you Biwi and StuntNun. I had some almonds and a slice of corned beef and have now held out til dinner, which is chicken and vegetable curry with konjac rice.

Dinner tonight. It's a big portion but being full up meant I could disregard the warm gingerbread, Nutella and ice cream sandwiches I made everyone else for pudding

@Rshard and @Lyrata I've just gone back to read the chat I missed before submitting. That's great, what are you studying? I'm actually finding it more difficult the older my DC are getting! DP is studying the same degree as me and wants me to study full time with him next year to get our degrees finished. He's crazy 😂

Takingontheundead

What is that Buffy? Looks yum!

I decided to weigh in today, my head feels slightly clearer and I've been sticking to it and just concentrating on my meals. I feel better for not daily weighing, even though that was working well for me before. Hoping I can maintain my strength and resist them further.

Anyways, official weigh in and I'm 179! Can't believe it really. To think I was 223 just 6 months ago.

Thanks, it's such a delicious winter meal. Add sliced / chopped corgette, green pepper, celery, leek, baby plum tomatoes, shallots and mushrooms to a large roasting tin. You can choose any veg you prefer. Drizzle olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano and thyme then mix through the veg. Place whatever chicken pieces on top (it's best with skin on thighs), sprinkle of rosemary then top with whichever nando's sauce you prefer. I usually use a whole large bottle of lemon and herb (it's still got a nice kick but not too hot). I also shove a couple thick slabs of butter under the chicken to up the fat. Then shove in the over for around 45 minutes. The chicken will need to be turned after about 30 minutes. I eat it with the pouches of microwave cauli rice while the rest have it with rice.

Brilliant that things are starting to happen again for you for the better! I hope all the stress at work is calming down too, a little bit chill time can make a huge difference.

Ooo is nandos sauce quite low carb??

Honestly stress situ is still very very high but I'm doing my best!!!

I am also intrigued by the Nando’s sauce. I eat a lot of chicken and vegetables (my portion sizes are easily as big as yours so don’t feel bad!) and would be nice to jazz it up.

My degree is in Behavioural Change, Buffy.

I haven't weighed myself for a couple of weeks as my scales are broken, but I can feel I am losing weight - yoga poses where my stomach would get in the way are getting much easier to do 😂

Good work on all the losses everyone :)

Takingontheundead

Ooo is nandos sauce quite low carb??

Honestly stress situ is still very very high but I'm doing my best!!!

Yeh, I knew the medium sauce was very low carbs but was delighted to see my fav lemon and herb was only 1.2g p/100g.

Aw you'll smash it, everything will fall into place and all the stress will have been worth it! You're doing great!

Lyrata

I am also intrigued by the Nando’s sauce. I eat a lot of chicken and vegetables (my portion sizes are easily as big as yours so don’t feel bad!) and would be nice to jazz it up.

My degree is in Behavioural Change, Buffy.

You should definitely give it a try. I followed a cheap mundane recipe and gradually added things until I came up with the pre-low carb version but it was easy to switch the veg to low carb.

Haha everyone seems to be doing such interesting degrees! My last module I spent a year learning how to teach math to 5 year olds by knowing the different mistakes they can make 😂
I did study psychology in college and my degree has psychology integrated into it so touched on behavioural science a little. Fascinating stuff!

I'm obviously a piglet as that portion doesn't look big to me!

I've been stuck on 11'13 for so long. This in no way relates to the above. Bored now! (#Buffy).

My degree is in Business Management and Leadership buffy, my dissertation is currently paused as I started a new job in October but picking it up again at the end of January.

Very jel of everyones degrees! I have a weird complex about not having one, but i hate hate hate distance learning and work commitments prohibits me from taking on uni (and thanks to covid its all online now anyways!) And even when I convince myself I can make it work, I realise there is sod all reason to do it because I already earn very well without one 🤷‍♀️

Behavioural science sounds RIGHT up my street through!

So disappointed that I have basically stayed the same since the end of week 2. Ping pong pound over and over. It’s getting boring...!

I know what you mean takingontgeundead, I haven’t done university the conventional route, first one and this one both through work and had a bit of complex about it too. I agree though, that many people do really well without them!

Just jumping back in.. I have been pretty following the low carb lifestyle but not really making enough effort to actually kick start another losing period.. i.e been having wine and the odd higher carb veg and odd square of choc and some nuts. I am actually about 3 pounds down from the end of summer bc when I lost over a stone, but restarted properly again on Monday and another pound off this week so far ..
So in lots of ways I can feel comfortable that 'maintence' does work! , But I really would like to get most of me remaining 10lbs I d like to lose off.. so here I am again back on BC Wk1 strict !!
.

@Totalshambles

So disappointed that I have basically stayed the same since the end of week 2. Ping pong pound over and over. It’s getting boring...!

Sorry to hear that - it's frustrating when that happens!

Why not list out for me what you've been eating and drinking over the last few days and let me see if I can spot anything

Morning all and thanks 20bloodypounds for that great post.

For those wondering about doing degrees, later in life, my daughter is at University doing a MPhil and the oldest person in her college who started this year is 78, who after a successful career and I presume retirement has now just returned to study a completely different degree. I think it’s brilliant.
Unfortunately due to Covid there has been no parental mingling, so I can offer no other info 😀 .

Today
B Greek yogurt
L soup
D chicken stir fry

Biwi thank you!

So yesterday
B - fasting
L - 3 m&s rollitos, 6 Brussel sprouts in butter and salt, two romaine lettuce leaves with some ham and full day cream cheese. Two tablespoons full fat Greek yogurt with a teeny (literally about 1/4 teaspoon xylitol)
D- two chicken thighs with skin on, 6 Brussels in butter one romaine lettuce leaf. One big tablespoon (maybe two small ones) of mascarpone with 1/4 teaspoon xylitol

1.5 square 65% Lindt choc
Loads of water (well over 2l plus three herbal teas and two coffees)

Very similar the day before. Very similar most days except sometimes the meat/protein comes from a cooked dish like cheeseburger pie or moussaka etc but always veg like sprouts or broccoli.

Any ideas where I am going wrong? Thoughts very gratefully received!!

Random post

(Ignore - just checking I could upload photos as I haven't been able to do for the last 10 days or so!)

Cute cat!

I have no idea what is wrong - I am 12.3 stilll - this is so disheartening!!!

Do I give IF a whirl - start eating less, LCHF veggie? I am at my witts end!!! I can't drink any more water 4litres a day, lots of veg, lots of fat, little processed meat - please can someone assist as I have had to re-jig my goal from 11st. to 11.7 by Christmas - very disheartening!!!

thanks, i'm just feeling low!!

@Totalshambles

Biwi thank you!

So yesterday
B - fasting
L - 3 m&s rollitos, 6 Brussel sprouts in butter and salt, two romaine lettuce leaves with some ham and full day cream cheese. Two tablespoons full fat Greek yogurt with a teeny (literally about 1/4 teaspoon xylitol)
D- two chicken thighs with skin on, 6 Brussels in butter one romaine lettuce leaf. One big tablespoon (maybe two small ones) of mascarpone with 1/4 teaspoon xylitol

1.5 square 65% Lindt choc
Loads of water (well over 2l plus three herbal teas and two coffees)

Very similar the day before. Very similar most days except sometimes the meat/protein comes from a cooked dish like cheeseburger pie or moussaka etc but always veg like sprouts or broccoli.

Any ideas where I am going wrong? Thoughts very gratefully received!!

Well for a start, you probably have very little weight to lose! I've just checked the spreadsheet, and you're around 8.5 stones, so that's pretty light/slim!

How tall are you?

What is your target?

It could, simply, be that this is the weight your body wants to be, quite naturally.

It also looks, though, like you're not really eating very much. One lettuce leaf?! 6 sprouts?!