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
@NoraEphronsNeck
@Rshard
@Astreamrunsthroughit
@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace
@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
@NisekoWhistler
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@Takingontheflab
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@Stayathomegardner
@Justcallmecaptainobvious
@Totalshambles
@Bumbledee
@anewdispensation
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@Prettybird
@Teethiepegs
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@Wanderfar
@Jollyholibobs
@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal
@ZiggZag
@BrassicaBabe
@StuntNun
@Grassisjewled
@1WayOrAnother2
@venusandmars
@Almahart
@IncurablyCurious
@LyraLilly
@Timeflyin
@Stuckinstressville
@LittleMy77
@MuddlingThrough1724
@MrsOmelette
@lgalb5
@MummyPigsKnickers
@Ifeelmuchlessfat
@PinkSubscriber
@Gracie70
@Jackblackcat
@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously
@Doilooklikeatourist
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@Mixitupalot
@NorthernSpirit
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@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.

Morning everyone. I’m not on the spreadsheet as trying to avoid weighing this year, as it makes me very obsessive very quickly. Christmas treats have all been eaten, and am now on the healthier but still carby stuff - basically eating up the fruit bowl. Aim for today is WATER.

Oh, and the spreadsheet is a group one, so you should see everyone's names, not just your own.

@Takingontheflab

Have you checked out the dessert recipe thread? lots of lovely ideas here

Thank you BIWI for keeping going with this, and thank you to everyone who posts. Each time I read I get inspiration to try a new recipe, or motivation to keep on track, or a reminder of the consequences of going off-piste. It all helps.

I've got a milestone birthday in the summer and I'm hoping that this bootcamp (and hopefully a May one) will undo the lockdown damage and see me enter my next decade feeling fit, and in good shape.

So, B - boiled egg
L - salmon and cream cheese pate and salad
D - roast chicken, broccoli, green beans, butter

@IncurablyCurious good luck - I agree that doing everything at once would probably be a bit much!

Similarly @BrassicaBabe - no booze or fags and low carbing is a really hardcore way to start 2021! Good luck to you too

Could someone please add my weight to the spreadsheet, not sure why I’m having trouble editing as I’ve used it before.
Start date 04/01, weight 286.2lbs

I started a week ago but quite gently, have had soft fruit and cream.

I really like making soups. Some ask for potato as a thickener, what can I substitute- celeriac?

@ChristMyArse

Anyone know how to get the spreadsheet on to google sheets? I've downloaded the app but no matter what I try I can't get it to open in the app itself?

I'm really sorry - I never use my mobile for MN so I can't help you with this one. Perhaps other Bootcampers can advise?

@LostaraYil

I've been slowly getting back into it this week and have lost a bit, but I'm looking forward to some structure and accountability. Bring on the Big Stick!

Oh don't you worry. It's already twitching to go ...

@Justcallmecaptainobvious

Need to find time to go through the recipe ideas and make myself some really detailed meal plans, with plenty of snacks!

Hopefully you'll only need those snacks during this week - once we're into full-on Bootcamp you really should find that you're not hungry between meals at all. And, I promise you, you may even find yourself forgetting to eat even at mealtimes. Honest!

@ShagMeRiggins that's right - we're using this week to ease ourselves back into things, allowing people to 'cleanse' their cupboards, prep, plan and generally learn about low carbing before we have to get on the scales start properly on Monday.

@Jollyholibobs

That looks lovely!

There is a version of that recipe in the vegetarian recipe thread, but also one on the meat recipe thread - I've amended the original recipe slightly - I have found that using an egg white in the base helps to make it a bit firmer, and use the extra yolk in the filling. I've also used shallots and Gruyère. (And added lardons for the meaty one)

@AthelstaneTheUnready

Plus... like poor Brassica I also gave up drinking at the beginning of the month (WAAAAAAAAAAH), and gave up smoking last week, and am doing the January 30 days of yoga... so an extra week to accustom myself to all that before focusing on diet works well for me this year

Sorry - I meant to include you in the post above to @IncurablyCurious and @BrassicaBabe! Well done for giving all that up - what an inspiration you will be. You will, won't you?

Above all, thank you very much for the work you do on the spreadsheet. It's really, really appreciated

@Laska2Meryls

Thank you for posting that! Yes, WATER, WATER, WATER!

It's really important on this way of eating and you will find it does make a difference to weight loss.

However, once you're drinking all the water (and there's a table in rule 6 to show you how much you should be drinking daily), you need to be very careful that you keep your electrolyte balance up. In particular, you need to make sure that you're using plenty of salt for sodium - cook with it and add it to your food.

I'lll be posting in more detail about electrolytes/carb flu a bit later.

Thank you BIWI and Athelstane!
Never low-carbed in my life, I normally need to absolutely starve myself to lose weight (peri-meno) so am intrigued to see if this works better for me. I've read quite a lot of research on the effect of insulin in middle-aged women and am certainly convinced by the science.

@Cactusowl

What kind of soup are you making, and why do you need to thicken it? If you have enough veg in there, surely it would be thick enough?

Are you blitzing the soup, or leaving the ingredients/veg whole in the stock/water? If that's the case, then you could blitz some of the veg and re-add it to the liquid, which will thicken it a bit.

Otherwise, just use less water/stock to keep the texture as thick as you want.

@Frty

Thank you BIWI and Athelstane! Never low-carbed in my life, I normally need to absolutely starve myself to lose weight (peri-meno) so am intrigued to see if this works better for me. I've read quite a lot of research on the effect of insulin in middle-aged women and am certainly convinced by the science.

Welcome @Frty! I'm glad you've read the science, and have been convinced by it.

I can promise you that it will work, without you having to starve yourself. And I can also promise you that being peri will not stop you losing weight. It's possible that your rate of loss might be a little slower, but it will still happen.

Re the water: if you are drinking plenty/your allocation and find that you are still thirsty and/or have a dry mouth, that's usually a sign that your electrolytes are out of balance

I try to make every second pint glass of water an "electrolyte" one (I just use a generous shake of Lo-Salt and a wee squoosh of lemon juice). It also helps me count how many glasses I've had and so keep on track

@AthelstaneTheUnready

Hello all old and new bootcampers!

I like this idea of a mentally-squaring-up-bootcamp week. Weaning off December's comfort food a bit more gradually.

Plus... like poor Brassica I also gave up drinking at the beginning of the month (WAAAAAAAAAAH), and gave up smoking last week, and am doing the January 30 days of yoga... so an extra week to accustom myself to all that before focusing on diet works well for me this year.

Hello all! I'm new here but not brand new to low carbing. I am also quitting smoking this week, cutting down on wine and also plan to start yoga , so alot of changes ! Really glad to find this group for support , thank you and good luck everyone

@biwi for example a broccoli and cheese soup I make, the recipe calls for potato but of course I could just add less stock!

Should of thought of that myself

Thanks @BIWI and @AthelstaneTheUnready for your time and effort. I didn't do too badly during lockdown 1 but have ballooned since November. Hardly anything fits me and my face is puffy and grey. Lovely I stepped on the scales last week and was horrified so I think I will use this easing in week to follow the WOE as much as possible and hold off facing the weigh in until next Monday.

I will try my best with the water but I am a coffee junkie (decaf so not so bad but always add lots of oat milk) I need to find an alternative.

Good luck everybody - we've got this. We can all feel so much better by the time this lockdown ends

@Cactusowl

Should of thought of that myself

Don't worry - moving to a low carb WOE will challenge a lot of thinking/beliefs!

Morning all,

Another one starting today, actually I also started last Monday but failed from Friday evening onwards so that’s something not to do this week!

Was rubbish in the last boot camp, I could make all sorts of excuses but mainly me being rubbish. Which only sabotages myself. Something else to avoid.

Thanks BIWI and athlestane, looking forward to it

@Razzlefrazzle I'm a coffee junkie too. Can you try drinking it black? I always find that the reality of drinking it is much better than my 'fear'!

But definitely avoid the oat milk as it is really carby. (6.7g per 100ml compared with 4.8g for semi-skimmed milk)

Just poking my head in to say hello. I’m not on the spreadsheet and probably won’t do the strict part of bootcamp as I’m more or less at target (but would like another 2lbs off if possible before I begin maintenance).

I Have lost over 2 stone eating LCHF since August and find it quite easy now. I love the food you can eat and don’t miss bread, pasta, rice etc at all. I do miss some higher carb bread and fruit and despite my best efforts, my God I miss sugar. But even that has reduced - I don’t crave a full sized Snickers followed by a packet of chocolate buttons these days - I crave 3 or 4 Celebrations or a mini pack of chocolate buttons and know that that would be enough.

I maintained my weight loss over Christmas by mainly eating LCHF but allowing some deviations and treats. Since the. I have lost another 2lbs.

I seem to eat quite a lot more in general than most people on these threads and I am pretty sure that I eat more carbs per day too. However, I still lose weight fairly. That may just be luck or it may be because I exercise (gym 4-5 times per week when it’s not lockdown or 5K run 4-5 times per week when it’s not).

Good luck everybody!