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
@M0therofdragons
@Takingontheflab
@PastramiNoRye
@Stayathomegardner
@Justcallmecaptainobvious
@Totalshambles
@Bumbledee
@anewdispensation
@Patapouf
@Prettybird
@Teethiepegs
@TimeIhadaNameChange
@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
@Babymamaroon
@MaudesMum
@Mixitupalot
@NorthernSpirit
@ChoosandChipsandSealingWax
@Bookaholic37
@gillyweed
@Poorbuthappy
@Witsend101
@DiscontentedWoman
@Margaritawithlime
@bluelefant
@takingwhatineed
@PineappleSunglasses
@DressingGown
@Pandoraslastchance
@Underthebludgeoningsofchance
@Kilojules
@dancemonkey21
@Oneborneverydecade
@Definitelymaybeee
@102Otto
@ANewDawnANewDay
@MarmaladeTeepee
@Sunshinesky1981
@Chachachia
@Tomliboosrule
@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.

@Ratherchillyinhere glad you're feeling so motivated!

Just a heads up though - when we start properly next week you need to drop the BPC for breakfast. We really don't recommend it as a breakfast substitute as there's not really much nutrition in there.

@Frty

I kind of switched over a few days ago and am finding it remarkably easy so far. Am having a headache atm, so think this is the dreaded keto flue. Have bought some keto sticks and am in moderate ketosis. All very fascinating. I’m finding it all way too easy so far and don’t trust this will work at all!

For the carb flu - you need sodium, magnesium and potassium. The most critical of these electrolytes is sodium, so you need salt. Cook with it and add it to your food. On this WOE you need to embrace salt, just like we do fat! I realise this is counter to everything you've been told over the last 40 years or so, but it's really important.

... especially if you've been drinking all the water you need to. Which brings me to my next point. If you've been drinking all the water, then the ketostix really won't be showing up a true value. If you've got carb flu symptoms then you know it's working!

I'm glad you're finding it easy. Once you've switched to fat-burning completely you'll find it even easier, as you simply won't be hungry between meals.

And yes, trust us!. It really does work.

Thanks so much Biwi. Will add salt! I think I have some magnesium supplements kicking about somewhere so will take these as well.

For anyone who is new to this it really does work, if you follow the rules. And that does include plenty of fats.

My food for today (a couple of posts back) looks a bit like diet food, however... This morning I've stripped the chicken from last night's dinner. The bones are boiling to make soup and the skin is crisping in the oven for a pre-lunch snack.

The chicken meat for my salad will be coronation chicken with a sauce made from mayonnaise and full fat Greek Yogurt, and the salad will be dressed with olive oil.

The soup will be chicken stock blitzed with left over veg plus a big dod of butter to make it really creamy and luxurious. I possibly won't want much of the veg stir fry so the rest will be lunch tomorrow with fried egg.

I'm snacking on chicken crisps today because they are irresistible but this way of eating truly leaves me satiated and I only snack out of boredom, not hunger.

DS's school work today includes a project on a healthy diet. Gritting my teeth through teaching him that a healthy diet involves loads of carbs and hardly any fat!

Thanks @BIWI. I was struggling to conceive my second before I lost all the weight so you could even call her a Boot Camp baby! Glad I didn't quite put it all back on but I'm done having babies now so ready to get it all off again for good.

Today's meal plan for me is:

Breakfast: ham and cream cheese roll ups
Lunch: home made chicken soup with loads of butter and cream
Dinner: beef chilli with cauli rice, full fat Greek yoghurt and cheese

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal I tell my son that the science on diets has changed, but the information hasn't made it down to what they teach in schools yet. So we have a conversation about how fats aren't actually bad like everyone used to think etc... I guess it depends how old they are as to how you frame it. My DS is 6.

[quote Discoballs]@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal I tell my son that the science on diets has changed, but the information hasn't made it down to what they teach in schools yet. So we have a conversation about how fats aren't actually bad like everyone used to think etc... I guess it depends how old they are as to how you frame it. My DS is 6. [/quote]
Did the same to be honest - he's 6 too - but also stressed that it's a bit different for energetic, growing children like him who burn off the carbs faster.

He's fussy enough as it is, if he swears of pasta, bread and potatoes he'll be on an entirely sausage-beard diet.

The thread is so busy! Really inspiring and positive.

Well the avocado gods have supported this woe, wanted one on toast on Sunday prior to starting but they were all like bullets. However, just had a perfectly ripe one with my lunch 🙏 .

I appreciate it’s only 12:02, was hungry!

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal I think we must have the same child on time share.

Discovered that Yumchaa have a "buy two, get one free" on their amazing loose teas, so have stocked right up. A lot of the berry and fruit ones are lovely cold with a dash of sparkling water too, so I'll be using them to scratch both my fancy hot drinks and fizzy soda urges!

This thread is moving so fast! Really nice to see so many meal plans too, I keep making notes of things that I want to try

Had some horrible leg cramps last night, which I know is a sign my electrolytes are out of whack. Need to rummage around and find the powders I got when this happened last bootcamp to nip it in the bud.

B: Coffee
L: Chicken mayo salad
D: Steak w/chimichurri, and FLGV.

I had my lunch at about the same time @Rshard !
Cheese and spring onion omlette , with home made coleslaw

@venusandmars how do you make your coronation chicken please?

[quote Discoballs]@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal I think we must have the same child on time share. [/quote]
So that's where he goes off to!

Glad you could make sense of what I was trying to say despite "sausage-based" being auto-corrected to "sausage-beard." WTF is a sausage beard???

@Oneborneverydecade

Mix 2 tablespoons mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon full fat greek yogurt and a splash of red wine vinegar
Add spices (mild curry powder, ground coriander, ground cumin, garam masala, turmeric, fenugreek etc.
Add chopped celery, chopped cucumber (sometimes a few chopped grapes but don't tell BIWI )
Add chopped cooked chicken and chopped green coriander / fresh mint

I don't add the traditional mango chutney or raisins, so not really coronation chicken, but an approximation.

Sprouts roasted in butter with a bit of chorizo and cheese on top for lunch here. Yum. Not sure what supper is yet, I don't think DH has decided.

I hope the easing in week is going well for everyone. I am on day two of low-carb and trying out various meals and recipes. Recipe also on vegetarian recipes thread! Here’s one we had for lunch today:

South Asian style Savoy cabbage - 4 servings, can be five if eaten as a small side.
1 Savoy cabbage 🥬
75 grams sweet potato
100 grams frozen petit pois, you can use any kind of peas
1 1/2 tbsp ghee
6 cherry tomatoes, you can use one large tomato
1 tsp ginger paste or freshly grated
4 cloves
4 cardamoms
2 bay leaves
2 tsp turmeric powder
You can also add chillies if you like the heat, I didn’t because my 2-year old eats what we eat.

You can use any green cabbage but savoy wilts easily and is needed for this recipe. Bear in mind Asian recipes always go for mixing ingredients to get one homogeneous outcome and not standalone textures of various ingredients.

Finely chop the cabbage
Chop the sweet potato in chunks
Heat the ghee in a wok or heavy bottomed pan
Temper the spices along with the ginger
Add the sweet potato first sauté and then add the cabbage
Add the salt and turmeric to the cabbage
Stir fry until you see the cabbage has started reducing, then add the peas
Once the peas have mixed in cover and keep in low heat with occasional stirring.
It’s cooked once the sweet potato pieces break easily

This can be substituted as a warm salad or side as we did with grilled chicken and raita.

The carb content will come to around 16-19 grams so definitely eat it as a side, but can be lowered if you eliminate the sweet potato. Pumpkin or celeriac as a substitute would be lower in carbs as the recipe does need a little bit of mushy veg and I had to put it in for said toddler.

Just a heads up though - when we start properly next week you need to drop the BPC for breakfast. We really don't recommend it as a breakfast substitute as there's not really much nutrition in there.

I know.

I don't usually eat breakfast. I was really just trying to get myself used to having something more substantial than a cup of tea before lunch!

Although smoked salmon and scrambled eggs while I'm working from home sounds good...

@Ratherchillyinhere thank you for your suggestion of salt to take away the bitterness of coffee. I don't use sugar but I need to drink it black - tastes way better with the salt. Increases sodium as well so win, win!

@Ratherchillyinhere if you don't usually eat breakfast I don't think you're required to start, even for the first 2 weeks of BC

Chicken skin crisps?? This will be a whole other mindset for me!!

I started the day off well with scrambled eggs with butter and spinach on the side.

But lunch went downhill - quick lunch while busy wfh'ing became sandwiches

I need to be better prepared.

@Ratherchillyinhere what's a BPC?

Oneborneverydecade

Ah that makes sense.

Thanks.

Bumbledee

Bulletproof coffee. I tend to just make mine with double cream and a teaspoon of salted butter or rock salt. But some people put coconut oil, eggs, all sorts in! Never been able to get my head around drinking raw egg though... 🤢

BPC = Bullet Proof Coffee

A mix of, iirc, coffee, coconut oil and butter, whisked together.

If you read the American advocates of it, you need special "organic grass fed butter" (like most of ours is, most of the year ) and organic coffee

The most I've ever done is whisk in some butter to my coffee which tastes surprisingly good.

Razzlefrazzle

Yay! 😊