Jan '21 Lockdown Low Carb Bootcamp - the Easing-in Week

[BIWI]

Evening all

@Cactusowl
@Hopeislost
@Sunseed
@LostaraYil
@LarryUnderwood
@Turnedouttoes
@Lyrata
@Ninkanink
@Whojamaip
@SilverStarburst
@BurnherSmurf’s
@Cheeseisthebest
@Laska2Meryls
@Candle
@MrsGarethSouthgate
@MysweetAudrina
@LazydaysofSummer
@OneFootintheRave
@Enoughis
@Rubyred44
@NotwatchingSpook
@Howdidthathappen1
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@Rshard
@Astreamrunsthroughit
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@Frty
@VeryLittleOwl
@Motivateinmotion
@Linnet
@FixitupChappie
@Mybestusername
@ChrissyCarol
@WitchWand
@Camellia18
@CardoMondo
@Threeoleary
@Itsmeagainagain
@MsAwesomeDragon
@Christmyarse
@52andblue
@MilesJuppIsMyBitch
@oscarandelliesdad
@SofieGraabol
@RitaEllen
@Razzlefrazzle
@Cokie3
@EarlGreyHot
@Livelongandprosper
@SummerSazz
@CeibaTree
@Basic Madeira
@Potas
@MasterFlamingo
@Polecat03
@MisterMilo
@Eskimodesert
@Devoncreamtea
@Latebloomingleo
@1stMrsF
@cakeintherain
@pelosi
@ToastCosILoveIt
@AlwaysUtterChaos
@Cowgurl
@missboots
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@Stayathomegardner
@Justcallmecaptainobvious
@Totalshambles
@Bumbledee
@anewdispensation
@Patapouf
@Prettybird
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@Wanderfar
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@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal
@ZiggZag
@BrassicaBabe
@StuntNun
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@1WayOrAnother2
@venusandmars
@Almahart
@IncurablyCurious
@LyraLilly
@Timeflyin
@Stuckinstressville
@LittleMy77
@MuddlingThrough1724
@MrsOmelette
@lgalb5
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@Ifeelmuchlessfat
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@Gracie70
@Jackblackcat
@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously
@Doilooklikeatourist
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@gillyweed
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@Chachachia
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@BuffyTheBuffetSlayer
@CisMyArse
@Ruple
@Datacolour
@AbagailsFancy
@felippertyfeck
@RatherChillyInHere

This is the full list of those who have signed up. Hopefully you're all on The Spreadsheet of Fabulousness (unless you said you didn't want to be!

Remember, weighing in tomorrow is not part of this week, although if you want to, you can put your weight in the 'original start date/weight' columns

Thanks must go, as always, to the very lovely @AthelstaneTheUnready for setting up the spreadsheet. You'll see this time that we've amended it slightly so that you can record loss for this Bootcamp as well as since you started, for those of you who started earlier.

If your name isn't on the spreadsheet, don't panic! Just add it to the bottom of the list. Don't try to insert it in the right alphabetical place - Athelstane will do that later.

If you are on the spreadsheet, but don't want to be, send me or Athelstane a PM and we'll remove you.

Whatever you do, don't touch the blue cells!

If you're using a mobile to access the spreadsheet, you'll need to download the Google Sheets app.

Evening all,

Today has been a good day food wise.
B - last nights left over roasted veg in an omelette with cheese and sour cream on top
L - salmon with lettuce, cabbage, spinach, cucumber mixed in Mayo.
D - Greek yoghurt with cinnamon.

Nearly at my 4lts but by god it's been a struggle today.

I have a question regarding exercise. I know that 95% is diet, but I literally do no exercise apart from to go up and down stairs to wee, and that in itself is an effort because of my back. Is it possible that sitting on my arse the livelong day will slow weight loss considering I'm so immobile?

And Happy belated Birthday @plumstone and Happy Birthday @52andblue

I hope you both had a lovely day!

Hi all

I'm easing in rather than full on this week but amazed to find I'm not getting hungry - I still want to snack but it's boredom so I need to sort that.

I know we should avoid sweeteners but, thinking past the first two weeks, how is this for damage limitation if I need a gin and tonic after a day homeschooling?

@SilverStarburst

Hi BIWI, am late to the party as usual but just wanted to know if cauliflower cheese is ok after the first two weeks, as flour used to make the roux?

No! No flour allowed on Bootcamp at all.

But you can make a lovely cauliflower cheese using just double cream and grated cheese.

This will make enough for 2-3 people (double the quantities if you're making for 3+)

300ml double cream
at least half a block mature cheddar, grated
juice of half a lemon
freshly ground black pepper

Pour the cream into a small saucepan and bring to the boil
Add the grated cheese and stir till it melts
Grind in the pepper and add the lemon juice and stir till all is incorporated.

Pour over your cauliflower, which you will have boiled previously (broken into florets, boiled in salted water for 7-8 minutes till just tender), in an oven dish. Scatter over some more grated cheese (a generous handful or two) and then bake in a hot oven till it's bubbling all the way through, and the cheese on the top is nicely browned.

@CalendulaAndRoses of course you're not too late! Just jump in - and welcome

Oh, also, the courgettes reminded me - I have a question. I recently had to cut nightshades - tomato, aubergines, peppers, chillis, paprika - out of my diet after I had some tests run and my doctor told me that a reaction to them seemed to be the thing triggering the horrible rashes I used to get, and was potentially causing my immune issues to flare.

I've felt much more normal since taking his advice (though earlyish days), so definitely worth trying, but bloody hell, I miss them. People keep posting about the amazing moussaka, and I'm so jealous! Searching the internet seems to result in a lot of "replace with courgette!!!" which just doesn't always hit the mark. I was wondering if any of you lovelies had any suggestions for things to use instead?

Ideally, I'd love another veg I could puree and use to make and flavour sauces, ragus, and casseroles (tomato substitute - I'm trying mushroom at the moment and it's ok, but not quite rich enough), and any other suggestions for substitutes for the others for everyday meals?

@Razzlefrazzle well it's better than a) full sugar b) battering your children!

Stevia is supposed to one of the most natural artificial sweeteners, but it can cause digestive upset, so just be careful.

And obviously, you need to know that all the time you're drinking alcohol, your body is using that for fuel instead of fat. So it's not just about the sweeteners.

thank you for the birthday wishes @ChristMyArse
I have had a sizeable weight loss over the last 2.5 years (tho gaining a bit back hence here!) and I am on crutches so pretty immobile.
Take heart, you can still do it if you cant move much x

Is it too late to join the boot camp? I’ve been ketoing with husband since last year but don’t think we’ve been doing it correctly! Too many nuts I think 🤔

@52andblue

thank you for the birthday wishes *@ChristMyArse* I have had a sizeable weight loss over the last 2.5 years (tho gaining a bit back hence here!) and I am on crutches so pretty immobile. Take heart, you can still do it if you cant move much x

Thanks so much, that's really encouraging!

@venusandmars thanks for taking the time to post that. Very inspiring!

I've felt MUCH less hungry today and haven't snacked today, which is probably the first time since lockdown 1 began!

B: creamy coffee
L: chicken sausages, cucumber sticks, hard boiled eggs, lots of mayo
D: chilli bowl with lettuce, cheese, jalapeños, homemade guacamole.

@BIWI

I doubt very much, though, that you'd only be consuming 100g of the soup! The pot is 600g/ml, and so a portion would be half of that - so you'd be eating 9.3g carbs.

If that's all you're having, then it's not actually too bad.

Oh yeah, that's not much soup!  it's bloody lovely though, especially nice with thick yog stirred through and swirl of oil. Half a pot would be plenty. Perhaps with some cheese grated on top... thank you @BIWI!

@Hello2021bye2020

Welcome!

@BIWI thanks I will make sure I don't drink to many, unless constipation becomes a problem

You're dealing with a desperate woman here - how about this alcohol free gin which actually doesn't taste too bad? I can't post the nutrition details because the phone won't pick them up but it's 2.5g carbs, 0g sugar, 7cal per 100ml.

I'm hoping I can cheat with this...

Trouble is, you'll still be drinking that with artificially sweetened tonic - so it's really not a good idea.

@Razzlefrazzle how about something like this as an alternative? Lime and Sparkling water It avoids the sweeteners and the sugar. However, your body will always use alcohol as its first fuel, so while it is burning up the alcohol it's not going to be burning up fat.

@ChristMyArse re exercise. For the past year I've been doing 10,000 steps per day (on average) everything pretty consistent. Over the past 2 months I've been losing one pound a week - also pretty consistent.

During the last 3 weeks dh and I have been involved in a 'game' which has doubled my average steps and I've been easily doing 20,000+ per day. And eating the same as I usually do.

Impact on my weight has been zero!!! Continuing to drop about 1lb per week on average.

I'm sure that I'm fitter, I'm sure that my legs are stronger, but weight-wise: nada!

However, I sleep like a log! Which has to be good metabolically.

Well, we may have reached a new low on the theme of "family members suddenly taking an interest in vegetables they previously would have shunned but now they're suddenly precious to you they're all over them..."

Came down into the kitchen earlier to find one of the cats helping herself to my lovely roast cauliflower with chilli and cumin. I mean...really?

I'm doing 5:2 today, so only had a massive feta and spinach omlette at tea time. Weird thing, though: I feel hungrier on my fast days than normal, not less hungry! Actually caved in and ate some tofu straight out of the packet just now.

Also, I'm 10 days in and feel like I still have reduced energy/ carb flu, even though I'm drinking shedloads of water, sometimes with salt added. Is this normal?

Sigh

Thanks @BIWI and @venusandmars. I think I'm going to stick with sparkling mineral water but dress it up in a nice glass with lots of ice and a garnish. I think it's more the sense of a treat that I want than the alcohol anyway

Wow this thread is moving fast! Thank you Biwi and stuntnun and Athel and anyone else involved in running this, it's helping me get a grip on my weight and feel like I have some control at the moment! Thank you for giving us your time.

I'm 3monthsbin and still getting awful cravings around my period for sugar and crappy carbs, my hunger is limitless as well! I feel like my body is telling me it needs something (toast and chocolate 🙄?) But don't know what?!

Hi all, hope you’re all well.
I’ve followed along a few bootcamps now and did one in the first lockdown. Was a revelation and thank you for all the information, it was really helpful!
I’m going to be following along with this one too if that’s okay, been following the rules since Monday.

I do have a question if that’s okay? First time I did this way of eating, the carb flu kicked in fairly early on, possibly day 2-3. I’m now on day 5, and feel great! Sometimes get a mild headache that can be ignored. Have I avoided it? Does everyone get it? Or is it going to kick my arse when I least expect it!

@IncurablyCurious

Oh, also, the courgettes reminded me - I have a question. I recently had to cut nightshades - tomato, aubergines, peppers, chillis, paprika - out of my diet after I had some tests run and my doctor told me that a reaction to them seemed to be the thing triggering the horrible rashes I used to get, and was potentially causing my immune issues to flare.

I've felt much more normal since taking his advice (though earlyish days), so definitely worth trying, but bloody hell, I miss them. People keep posting about the amazing moussaka, and I'm so jealous! Searching the internet seems to result in a lot of "replace with courgette!!!" which just doesn't always hit the mark. I was wondering if any of you lovelies had any suggestions for things to use instead?

Ideally, I'd love another veg I could puree and use to make and flavour sauces, ragus, and casseroles (tomato substitute - I'm trying mushroom at the moment and it's ok, but not quite rich enough), and any other suggestions for substitutes for the others for everyday meals?

@IncurablyCurious I can’t eat nightshades either and it does make this way of eating difficult. Before starting low carb I used to make batches of a fake tomato sauce (to use for bolognaise etc) using beetroot, carrot and butternut squash with chicken stock, herbs and spices and olives (there are a few recipes for this if you google). However, those three veggies are all too high carb for this way of eating really. It might be ok if only us d once every couple of weeks or so though? I am nearly at my goal weight so once I hit it I’ll make a batch and see if it affects my weight.

I've been asked to make fajitas for tea tonight.

It's not something I normally do and don't want to get a shop bought spice mix because of the sugar. I'm thinking that oregano akd paprika/smoked paprika would work? How does that sound? Any suggestions?

Obvs, I'll he havingine naked (no tortilla).

Which means today's food looks like this...

Brunch - bacon and eggs

D - naked fajitas with peppers and green salad.

Ratherchillyinhere fajitas are nice in a crunchy lettuce wrap. If you buy little gem or romaine it's stiff enough to take a proper amount of filling so you can pick it up and bite it like a proper fajita. Iceberg works too.

Ratherchilly I make a "taco bowl" by putting shredded lettuce in a bowl and having all the other stuff on top of that. I suggest looking at the ingredients in a ready made spice mix and then making your own version without the sugar.

Linda not everyone gets carb flu, especially if you're keeping up with your electrolytes. It also depends on what your diet was like before going low carb.

Gillyweed are you giving in to the cravings or are you able to muscle through? I always crave crisps at my TOTM so I find the salt and vinegar pork scratchings work well as a low carb substitute. If you crave chocolate then would a high cocoa chocolate work instead? I like the Sainsburys 85% one that comes in individual 25g bars. It's too high cocoa for me to overeat but hits that chocolate craving. Otherwise you could just try and fill up on something else that's low carb. I find a bowl of Greek yogurt with some double cream and maybe a few berries (if we're on to Bootcamp Light) is a good cheerer-upper.

Crackofdoom it sounds like you need electrolytes. Try adding a squeeze of lemon juice and salt to your water. Or the Zero electrolyte tablets or the electrolyte powder if you want to avoid artificial sweeteners..*

Incurably you could try dried mushrooms, such as shitaki or porcini or mixed, that you rehydrate with warm water then use both the mushrooms and the water to make up your sauce.

Patapouf Seriously Low Carb bread.