Happy Christmas Bootcampers!

[BIWI]

Morning all.

We've completed our ten weeks - and I can see from the Spreadsheet just how well it's gone!

But just because the ten weeks are up, doesn't mean we have to stop. So here's a bright, shiny new chat thread for us to keep chatting and supporting each other.

@ChristMyArse it's the last recipe on page 4 of the low carb meat recipes thread, here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/low_carb_bootcamp/3148498-Low-Carb-Meat-recipes-beef-pork-lamb-venison?pg=4

I leave the mushrooms out because I'm not a fan!

@ChristMyArse

Here you go:

Cheeseburger pie

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
Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
salt & pepper to taste

1. Fry mince, onion and mushrooms together until cooked season to taste, add a few shakes of 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.

Good evening all - hope people are coping ok with the lockdown news .

This thread is great it's good to hear how everyone is getting on and people building up to full Bootcamp.

I weighed in today and am over the moon not to have gained - this will be the first time ever in my adult life I haven't chucked a load of weight on.

I have set myself a new goal and can't wait to get back to it properly .
I must confess there is a large G&T being consumed tonight to take the edge off the news.

@ZiggZagg that dress is beautiful what a motivational goal !

@ChristMyArse love your user name and welcome

It's great to have new people joining us. I imagine lots of us are determined not to repeat the weight gains of last lockdown.

Also welcome @MrsOmelette

I'm so impressed that people managed to stay the same over Christmas

ChristMyArse I try to have veg at every meal. So maybe for breakfast an avocado, or egg with fried mushrooms, or Omlette with left over brocoli, or vegetable soup.

Then a couple of portions of veg or salad at lunch, e.g. coleslaw alongside a green salad (with olive oil) and another two portions for dinner.

I have a chart with pictures of all the veg on it to give me inspiration and remind me of the variety.

Hi all. Am really struggling. Teir4 and now lockdown is causing me so much distress. It appears I'm not yet past the "panic eating" when blind stress kicks in. I'm frustrated with my, upset, wanting to be in control and annoyed at my xmas gain, and yet totally lost and feeling weak. I just don't feel like i have anything worth getting up for at the minute. Facing homeschooling for 6 weeks on nightshifts, day work and study. I barely scraped last time. I think it might actually break me this time

Takingontheflab it sounds as if you’ve got so much to deal with, it’s understandable how you want to react and turn to food. After all a lot of of us are on this thread because we do just that.

I’m hopeless with knowing what to say, but I read on here in the first lockdown, that we don’t have control over much in this situation, but we do have control over what we eat. That really stuck with me. For me, mega planning, lists, menus, targets etc help me feel a little more in charge. Plus I really try to focus on the delicious things I can eat, rather than worrying about what I’m missing out on. Or saying to myself, when I get to x point, I may have x treat, but I never do as the feeling is good enough!

Take care 💐 I know it feels like we have a personal and collective mountain to climb, but we can do it.

It's shit isn't it, Taking? Homeschool nearly finished me off the first time round and I gained a lot of weight. I'm determined not to do the same thing this time. What treats can you turn to that aren't carby? I know a steak always cheers me up and if I have that to look forward to then I won't reach for the carbs. Can you plan your favourite foods for the next few days? Remember how much you enjoyed your salad yesterday, what else would you enjoy as much? And if you really feel the need for something sweet, can you choose something that's low carb? I love this dark chocolate mousse with some fresh raspberries and double cream as a low carb treat. Chin up, Taking, you're not alone.

Thank you everyone - much appreciated.

@Takingontheflab please be kind to yourself and take it one day at a time - 1 hour at a time if it helps.

We are quite lucky in the fact that our kids are teenage age and nursery age so we don't have primary age to home school. We have decided to keep the LO off nursery for 6 weeks as I'm in the vulnerable category.

This said all of us being in the same house constantly certainly takes it toll, especially as the teenager is a moody sod hormonal!!!

Thanks for the cheeseburger pie recipe again BIWi , I am definitely going to make this .. Didnt someone suggest adding some picked jalapenos to this ? Maybe using sone of that Mexican - type chilli cheese may be good too! Stunt nun that mousse looks so good !

I am pleased to report another 1lb off but I definitely have a touch of carb flu! Yeuch.. out with the magnesium tablets . I also find water with a squeeze of lime juice and salt helps

Feck. Only the second day of "normal" and I'm already stuff for ideas for tonight's family dinner offering. Isn't meal planning the most boring thing EVER?!

4lb of Xmas weight gone since 1st. 5lb to go

I'm struggling with the idea of kids and homeschooling too. Don't actually have the headspace to process it at all. But already I'm still in bed with my laptop on my knee. This CANNOT continue like it did last time. Well, if can, but it would be really better if it didn't

Morning all, very grateful that we have this thread and so well done to everyone who managed to navigate the festivities so well.

Also a huge hug to those now struggling with lockdown, it really is pants and trying to work and homeschool little ones is so very very difficult.

We are shielding our dd2, so all food shopping is online and life seems very small, I am so grateful that we are allowed to exercise with one other as a daily dog walk with a friend will definitely help to keep my sanity over the next few months, even though it is cold, grey and wet here today.

I made a fab lamb curry last night , I’m not sure how the spices are for carbs, I basically made a homemade rub from a Jamie Oliver cook book, then fried that in butter and added a tin of tomatoes, slow cooked for an hour and a half and then added the lamb and cooked for another hour and a half. It’s called Peters lamb curry, if anyone wants to google it, after all the Christmas food it was lovely to have something different to eat and this is an easing in week after all. I did have to stop myself wanting some of the leftover chocs, I think having this week as an “easing in” week is a fab idea Biwi

Anyway today
B Greek yogurt
L homemade veg soup, with grated cheese
D Leftover lamb curry with roasted green beans

Water, 2 coffees and lots of Teapigs herbal teas

I’m so sorry for everyone struggling with the lockdown news. It’s so depressing. @Takingontheflab, you poor thing! I’m so sorry that you feel weak and lost - because from everything you handle it sounds as if you are actually very strong and capable. I hope that soon you feel that way.

I read somewhere that it’s not about having a lot of strength all the time anyway: it's about organizing your life so you don't have to use strength/willpower all the time.

I don’t know quite how that would look for you, but is there any way you could give yourself a day to meal prep and get some great freezer options ready to go? Or stock up on low carb snacks you like? I bet that if you did give up, when you looked back on all this (which will eventually come even if it feels distant right now) you wouldn’t be saying ‘oh, chocolate really got me through that’ - you’d probably just feel grumpy with yourself! YOU are the thing that’s going to get you through this, and so you should give your body what it needs to be at it’s best. I’m sure there will be cheat days but I think one thing that we all have in common here is that when a cheat day becomes a cheat week, we all feel pretty horrible.

You’ve already done so well. When spring comes and the weather is nice again, things will be a lot more positive and we will all be ready to reenter the world looking fantastic if we put the work in now.

Sorry for the long ramble - I hope that doesn’t come off as preachy and that perhaps some of it helps.

I’m feeling back on track with this WOE again today. It has been a really bumpy ride since Christmas with days when I feel strong followed by days when I feel a lot of emotional hunger, restlessness and cravings.

I chose to take two days off for Christmas and broadly stuck to it but I did really go mad on those two days and having gone through this, I’m not sure I’ll do the same next year. I’ve talked before about having infrequent cheat days over my 4 months of low carbing but they were actually cheat meals. I’ve realised now that there is a very big difference in one higher carb meal vs. two solid days of eating carbs constantly. The (infrequent) cheat meals didn’t seem to derail me in the same way the Christmas cheat did (not that I am recommending anyone cheats!).

Anyway, god this is a long message, but I am basically very hopeful that I have turned a corner because I really valued the sense of peace and satiation I had with this last year.

Breakfast was some leftover smoked mackerel plus a coffee with cream
Lunch will be my slow cooked sausage soup
Dinner will be lamb, olive and courgette ragu with roasted courgette, tomatoes, aubergine and pepper.

I love this woe... Yummy vintage cheddar and ham omelette cooked in butter with big dash of chilli sauce for brunch ( chilli head here!). Avocado for mid pm , Duck breast and veggies planned for dinner.. Le Yum!!

So grateful for this thread. Thank you all. I tossed and turned alllll night. Didn't fall asleep until 4.30 and then had to be up at 6. Feeling extra wrecked but so far have just had cheese and a tiny bit of sweet picalily. Not really sure what to do with myself. Maybe I might make cheeseburger pie later? I thought it was a bit weird last time but nice, so maybe I can do that.

Yes it really will have to be one day at a time. I'm by nature very resilient and find ineffectiveness and helplessness very triggering (hello childhood issues!) As its deeply ingained in me to just survive. Do what needs to be done, react quickly, adapt and rely on no one. But I find as i get older and more aware of my own psychology that I'm having times where I feel frozen and overwhelmed and unable to organise my thoughts. Then my survival brain kicks in and i crack on. I can feel that shift happening today. Unfortunately the downside to this is that I think i come across as perpetually strong and not in need of support, so it can feel pretty lonely in times of crisis.

Anyways, hows that for a ramble!

Next door have built a concrete gym in the garden. Might ask her to teach me how to lift. Maybe i can pain my way through this 🤣

The kids already want to bake. Argh!

❤️❤️❤️ to @Takingontheflab (and anyone else who’s in despair atm - it’s a shit time for so many people 😔😔).

On avoiding stress and sadness eating, I agree with what others have said - find something that is a real treat for you, that is at least lower carb than falling face first into a vat of sugar/carb/wine/etc. I’ve just proactively ordered a few things in the Whittard 70% off sale - a trio of flavoured coffees, a ‘feast of teas’ box, and a chocolate & orange spiced tea. Tbh I didn’t even check - the last one might have sweeteners in it (sorry BIWI ), but I reason that a little bit of sweetener in a cup of tea every few days or so will be a lot better in the grand scheme of things than most of my usual food & drink go-tos.

I sometimes mindfully have a square of dark chocolate with a generous scoop of peanut butter on top, if I really need that comforting ‘warmth’ of a properly indulgent sweet thing. I find it keeps the emotional cravings at bay quite well.

I also confess that on a really bad day here & there I might have a glass of tonic water with a slice or two of lemon or lime - again, because if I’m desperate and if I really don’t have the strength that day to resist (most of the time I do, and can distract myself with something else, but sometimes it’s just too much), I would rather have that than a drink of alcohol (because often if I’m very sad or stressed or angry, alcohol goes hand in hand with snacking on the wrong things, and too much of it!).

I think for me the key through this bootcamp, with everything else going on - and there are more things on top for me, over & beyond lockdown - is going to be to be kind to myself, to really work hard at self care, and to be realistic about sometimes needing a little bit of comfort.

@Takingontheflab

I think i come across as perpetually strong and not in need of support, so it can feel pretty lonely in times of crisis

I think a lot of us are like that, especially if you're someone who's working, running a house/family and bringing up kids!

But you're not lonely as you have us! . And you've already, in your own way, asked for help/support which you will get in spades.

I'd agree with @StuntNun - take some time/plan some time to sit down and do some meal planning. Not the usual, but get your cookery books out, or browse some low carb web sites (Diet Doctor is very good for this) and work out some extra lovely meals for the next week.

I'd also make sure that you plan in some time for yourself. Time out each day which is just for you to do whatever you want. That could be:

• go back to bed for an hour in the afternoon
• read a book/magazine
• go for a walk/run (or something outside)
• download a new podcast or two (you can listen to those while you're out walking/running)
• organise a zoom call with your best friend(s)
• find something on telly that you would love to watch, that's not the choice of your other half/kids
• plan some time in for whatever hobby you have/have abandoned/would like to take up

... but whatever it is, and above all, make sure it's something that is about you and not anyone else in the family!

I absolutely get where you are with the Lockdown feeling - although thankfully I don't have children to have to manage/home-school. First time around it felt like a combination of 'we're all on holiday' and 'we're all going to die' - so food choices were terrible, and alcohol consumption was ridiculous

The very lovely @ShagMeRiggins (who hasn't reported for duty, I note ) ran some fantastic zoom sessions about style, and I wonder if we could sort something else out - doesn't have to be the same thing, but possibly a zoom chat one evening about life, the universe and everything?

I’ve been awol for a while—nothing amiss, just popping around other areas of the board and reading news rather than mumsnet and basically having a lovely Christmas and new year with m family.

So...! Now officially back to work and was just thinking yesterday that I want to follow up with those from last time who missed the dates I offered. So I’ll be in touch and maybe something else (like a Zoom Quiz?) don’t know.

Also happy to report that I STS over the holidays. Allowed myself to be in maintenance rather than on plan mode, which worked, but while the weight is done, the stomach is so bloated. Amazing effect on my figure. Not in a good way.

It's interesting how lockdown affects us all, and in different ways.

My dc are grown up so I don't have those challenges, my biggest lockdown challenge is boredom. Complete and utter boredom, and with it lethargy, and with those guilt and my go-to answer in the face of boredom, lethargy and guilt is gin and soda and crisps

I'm self employed in a sector that has been decimated since March and my business structure means I've had no income, no furlough, no government grants. The phrase "if you want something done, ask a busy person" could have been written about me. Previously I was full on with work, plus a role as industry spokesperson and trainer, plus voluntary role related to a hobby, plus, plus, plus... Now without the busy-ness nothing seems urgent so I put it off, and put it off until it's almost not worth doing. I feel guilty because my dh is extra busy at work (at home) and my dc are overwhelmed with home-schooling my dgc, plus working, studying, managing life. Meanwhile the restrictions mean I can't do anything to help and I feel useless.

OK, enough of that! I find it particularly hard to be motivated into action at this time of year but have recently found a sort of on-line orienteering thing called TURF I've downloaded the app onto my phone and it uses GPS to identify all the 'zones' in your area. You get points for 'taking a zone' then additional points for every hour you own that zone before someone else comes along and steals it from you. You have to ignore the crazy people who are at the top of the leader board and who cycle through the night to get zones.

I have set myself a modest target, and use it as motivation to get out every day and to walk a little bit further. Dh and I have been to several new local areas (all within the permitted covid rules) and my young primary aged dgc are very enthusiastic to walk with me especially if I am stealing a zone from dh

@Takingontheflab I found some of the recipes here quite inspiring. I tend to keep away from the desert and snacks items, and choose carefully around breakfasts as some recipes have sweeteners, and certainly too much nut product for strict bootcamp.

Lunch is avocado and salad. Dinner will be salmon and veg, and I'm making slow cooked lamb for tomorrow. Inspired by all the lamb posts.

@ChristMyArse I have a teen and a toddler too (with one in between). We don't see much of our teenager but when we do he's highly emotional. We see a lot of the 2yo ut she's definitely less work, what do you think?

@Lyrata I agree, I don't think I'd risk relaxing my woe again any time soon as I'm really struggling to pull myself back into line. I'm definitely not at the sitting naked in the corner at midnight surrounded by chocolate wrappers stage as I feared but without sticking to the rules I won't lose my final stone.

Just received some of those knitted trousers I bought in the sale - omgoodness they're so comfy. But are elasticated waistbands dangerous?

@ZiggaZiggArrgggghhhh sounds good

@ChristMyArse @Oneborneverydecade I also have a teenager and a toddler! Very lucky that the teenager seems to have knuckled down and has attended all online classes today! 3 year old is in nursery, it's the only way my boss will let me WFH

Anyway I had a 3lb loss on the scales this morning, which has spurred me on! A liter of coffee and a liter of water has made very positive today!!

venusandmars what an amazing website! There’s loads there I hadn’t thought of. Everyone should definitely check it out!

And Oneborneverydecade hahaha what a great mental image - that is my EXACT fear too. I’m such a horrid, furtive glutton at heart. Yesterday I was eating peanut butter out of the jar by 8am and then bought a packet of raspberries at the supermarket and ate them in ginormous handfuls on the side of the road. Luckily the urge to snack has gone away again today, and I’m crossing my fingers it’s gone for good now I have my food prepped and ready to go.

Checking those websites now!

Thanks so much for all the kind words and time taken for me today. Love you campers.

Also this actually made me snort my drink @BIWI
"First time around it felt like a combination of 'we're all on holiday' and 'we're all going to die' - so food choices were terrible, and alcohol consumption was ridiculous"

Like literally so accurate 🤣 this time there is no holiday vibe and we know we're probably gonna live so eating has consequences! Shite combo.

Redid yesterdays salad and pimped it up with avo and extra oil to try and curb sweet cravings. Thanks for the push 💖

I forgot to go and get cheeseburger pie stuff but I'm gonna stop off and shop on way home from night shift as I've run out of greens too! 🤦‍♀️