Week 3 - Jan '21 Low Carb Bootcamp - time for Light?

[BIWI]

Well thanks to all the chat, I've had to start this week's thread earlier than usual

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for you to declare all

You now have a choice: you can move on to Bootcamp Light, which means you can re-introduce nuts and seeds, some fruit and alcohol - all in moderation.

However, also bear in mind that weeks 3 & 4 are notorious for little or not weight loss and this is nothing to do with moving on to Bootcamp Light. It's just something that seems to happen.

So it's up to you. You can stay on Bootcamp if you wish, or move on to Bootcamp Light, or a hybrid - so you do Bootcamp during the week but relax into Bootcamp Light at the weekend.

Whatever you decide - good luck! Here's to a good week ahead.

Morning all.

@MrsOmelette anxiety is awful, I really feel for you. If it helps, during last bootcamp, my mental health really improved and I was able to stay calmer and felt stronger iyswim? KOKO and we are all here if you need to talk.

My period has arrived today! So I'm wondering if that has caused my gain that I saw this week? I'm having to get used to periods again having not had any (implant) for 3 years!! It's so funny how this woe affects all of your hormones!

Anyway, plan for today-

L cheese salad with mayo
D meatloaf with FLGV

ALL THE WATER!!

MrsOmelette anxiety is really tough; try and take some time to take care of yourself.

@MrsOmelette sorry to hear you are having a bad time.

@Ninkanink thank you for you reply about beetroot. Roasted it up with cauli, lots of oil, salt and fennel and cumin seeds. Now frozed so I can add a sprinkle to salads. I agree about the wide range of nutrition. Avoiding fruit makes it harder to get those dark colours. I have a red cabbage sauerkraut on the go as well.

@StuntNun a separate fasting thread would be good. Then you could have some good links in first post so that people can read up too? I am getting back into it as I am so close to my goal weight, but if you are at the start with lots to lose it might be off putting.

@BIWI in response to some people talking about maybe overdoing it on water/low sodium/ electrolytes I drank a bit less yesterday. My target is 2.5l and I think to be honest I was probably already doing that, but upped it. On Tues I felt really rough and was drinking more and more water, adding salt and lemon but feeling worse. I wonder if I could be over doing it? I definetly got to 2.5l yesterday but focused on thirst. Wondered if adding the salt was making me more thirsty and then in a funny cycle. So keeping salt in my coffee, lots on my food and then only go for a salty water if I feel I need it.

Plan for the day

1. Dont lose temper with homeschool and remote teaching!

B fasting. One cup of tea, black coffee, water
L goats cheese salad with a little roast beetroot and a few (5?) pecans and an oily dressing
D sausages, braised fennel and leeks topped with parmesan (stolen from someone here might be @pinkpinkeverywhere) and some roasted kale. Greek yog after if I feel like it's not enough to get me through until lunch!

@Doilooklikeatourist my face is a mess at the moment. I’ve decided it’s all my carb sins of the past years oozing out.
Normally this WOE clears my skin like nothing else so I’m actually suspecting it’s a rebalancing of things going on and isn’t helped by the changeable weather. Slathering myself in the gentlest of creams as anything at all makes me sting and react at the moment. I look like I’ve been sleeping with nettles most days.

Those suffering with skin complaints I find skin food by weleda great for soothing dry redness. It is super thick though so not so good for oily skins. Smells lovely too!

Margaritawithlime

I only use almond oil on my face for cleansing and moisturising. It's very gentle and, obviously all natural. Bought it from the cooking oil section in Sainsbury's.

Might be worth a try?

@MrsOmelette sympathies and strength to you, I've been there and it's horrible.

Agree with @Bestbees Weleda skinfood is the business - it comes in a lighter version too. I switch between both.

@StuntNun I would love a fasting thread.

I've had a 3 ib whoosh (just at the end of week 5) which means I am very nearly below 10 stone for the first time in my adult life! I am amazed.

Dinner was an old favourite

Leeks softened in olive oil
Griddled halloumi slices
Squeeze lime juice over, sprinkle with cumin seeds
I used to have this with rice but cauliflower rice is good with it, it it's nice on its own.

@Ratherchillyinhere oh that’s a good idea! I might add that to the weekly shop.

Morning All!
Super stressed with work and family atm (aren't we all) so I'm not posting as often as I promised myself but I'm still hanging in there (actually, not hanging at all, getting on with it very nicely, thank you very much).
I find having very structured meals and no alcohol really helps with stress, I am a lot calmer than I would normally be under similar circumstances.
I shall not venture over to AIBU, who needs more aggro in their life!
Good day to you all!

So sorry to hear that @MrsOmelette :(. I suffer with anxiety too and it’s really tough. I do find this WOE helps - avoiding the ‘ups and downs’ of sugar highs etc. And it’s old hat but exercise and short-term plans that I can control keep me feeling positive.

I have found crochet/knitting quite calming because it keeps my hands busy in the evening and gives me a vague sense of purpose. It also keeps me off my phone which I think is good. Although I’m quite close to finishing my blanket now and I’m not sure I’m emotionally ready for it to be done!

I’m another one who suffers with severe anxiety, so you’re not alone, @MrsOmelette. Hope you find some equilibrium soon.

I also find this woe helps me - moods are regulated, no dramatic highs and lows, and my hormones level out nicely.

@Lyrata last night I ordered a cross stitch kit. It has probably been 30 years since I last sewed anything other than a button. I thought it would help me relax and when your hands are occupied you can’t reach into the fridge. Have you ever tried @MrsOmelette. I am following boot camp light. I am concentrating on maintaining weight and my goal is to be half a stone lighter by the summer. The scales are down 2lbs today. Yesterday I realised that I had stopped drinking water. One glass cold and one mug hot downed this morning already.

Hearing people talk about anxiety makes me think about whether there is a link between people who are more insulin resistant and anxiety, resulting in carbs to medicate then being overweight then this woe being good. Thinking from evolutionary perspectivity survival anxiety = need to eat more to build stores of fat to survive in times of famine?

I've just bought a jar of kimchi and realised I've not got the faintest idea what to do with it. Any ideas?

I'm also a bit cross with myself as I made a very nice supper last night but entirely forgot that tomatoes aren't really allowed. It was an aubergine roasted in halves with lots of garlic - so you scoop it out when done and have a lot of lovely garlicy aubergine mush, and then combined with a combination of roast plum tomatoes and mushrooms, and some parmesan sprinkled on top. What could I substitute for the tomatoes next time??

Marinate meat in chilli/garlic/ginger/spring onion, then grill or roast, slice thinly and have it in lettuce leaves with kimchi.

Or make kimchi omelette.

Eat it as a side with any oriental dishes such as stir fry.

@Bestbees

Hearing people talk about anxiety makes me think about whether there is a link between people who are more insulin resistant and anxiety, resulting in carbs to medicate then being overweight then this woe being good. Thinking from evolutionary perspectivity survival anxiety = need to eat more to build stores of fat to survive in times of famine?

It's an interesting thought, but there's also a lot of anxiety across MN as a whole. I've always thought there must be a strong link between people who look to forums like this and depression/anxiety based on the prevalence, but it's complex.

@MrsOmelette you have my sympathies as yet another fellow sufferer. To be honest, when it gets severe, I swear by beta blockers. They make a massive difference to just keeping afloat.

Food yesterday:
Chicken thigh stir fry with FLVG, baby sweetcorn and water chestnuts, cooked in sesame oil

Scales this morning see me down a pound, so my lightest yet. @BIWI I will continue to shun dairy and see if magic happens. Thank you!

@MaudesMum

I've just bought a jar of kimchi and realised I've not got the faintest idea what to do with it. Any ideas?

I'm also a bit cross with myself as I made a very nice supper last night but entirely forgot that tomatoes aren't really allowed. It was an aubergine roasted in halves with lots of garlic - so you scoop it out when done and have a lot of lovely garlicy aubergine mush, and then combined with a combination of roast plum tomatoes and mushrooms, and some parmesan sprinkled on top. What could I substitute for the tomatoes next time??

Kimchi burgers! Lush. Nice burger, cheese, bacon, kimchi, wrapped in lettuce. Salivating at the thought.

@MaudesMum it’s perfectly fine to have tomatoes. That rule about moderation is really there just to stop people from eating piles of them daily.

[quote Doilooklikeatourist]@Dailyhandtowelwash I’ve made fresh cauliflower rice , which tastes much nicer and is less soggy ( especially when pan fried in butter) but the frozen packs from Tesco are much easier !
They gave DH a really dodgy tummy though , he refuses to eat them now

Roast chunks of cauliflower ( or broccoli ) are really good too

My rosacea has really flared up , had the Blepharits ( sp ) on my eye and now my cheeks and nose are really hot and rosy , hope it will go soon , anyone else had this ? Or is it just me
Have googled , may be down to cheese , though I haven’t had a huge amount , will get some nice face cream form Boots ( if I’m allowed in , is Boots essential ? ) or I’ll try the pharmacy in Tesco[/quote]
Hi, how long do you cook your cauli rice for you in a pan? I tried the other day (using freshly grated cauli) and suspect I overcooked it as it turned out mushy?

@pelosi, thanks! You've reminded me to say thank you for the cauliflower rice info. No Tesco here unfortunately - I wonder if Waitrose might have anything similar. But we have a small selection of their items so often the more exciting/'modern' items aren't available anyway.

@Dailyhandtowelwash Ooh, that's a brilliant thought - I've got some v, nice burgers in the freezer - that's supper for tomorrow sorted! And @Ninkanink - thank you - I may just change the mushroom to tomato ratio next time, to be on the safe side.

Morning all. Quick question between patients and then I'll catch up later.
Had a wierd emotional crash this morning, just feel really sad and down and almost tearful. Went to the wrong site at work, then when I went to the right one I'd left my ID and phone behind and had to go back! Nearly had a proper breakdown but held it together.
Very unusual for me, not the same as my PMT feelings as I'm quite good at recognising them now (and I'm not due yet).
Is it possible it's some kind of crash related to the low carb? Never happened when I low carbed before and I've done plenty of fasting so my body is well used to running on fat stores. I will admit to being stressed and overworked, but I don't usually react like this!

I like briefly frying fresh cauliflower that I've blitzed in the food processor with plenty of butter and then seasoning well. A sort of cross between "rice" and "couscous".

@pelosi
I just pan fried in butter for a couple of minutes , then , off the heat I popped a lid on top and it kept hot and probably carried on cooking
I think its just luck , as some caulis will be fresher than others and it will also depend on how small the “ rice “ is
Less time is best I think , al denté ✅

[quote Dailyhandtowelwash]@pelosi, thanks! You've reminded me to say thank you for the cauliflower rice info. No Tesco here unfortunately - I wonder if Waitrose might have anything similar. But we have a small selection of their items so often the more exciting/'modern' items aren't available anyway.[/quote]
No worries, but I don't think that was me!