Week 4 - Low Carb Bootcamp - how much chatting?!

[BIWI]

So much chatting, I've had to start a new thread.

here's the Spreadsheet of Absolute Fabulousness

Remember, this week (like week 3) is notorious for seeing little or no weight gain, so please don't panic if the scales aren't moving for you - always assuming, of course, that you have been following the rules 100%!

Also, the Very Amazing @StuntNun has started a thread about fasting. Fasting isn't a regular part of Bootcamp, but it's a tool that you can use in your weight loss 'journey' (sorry for the cliché!)

have a look here, and think about if it's something you might want to incorporate into Bootcamp

I hope very much that things are going well for you, and that you're into the swing of things low carb by now; but as ever, post any questions/issue here and let's see if we can help.

BIWI I am having lots of salt with food but none in water.

I di eat lots of salmon, avocado, yoghurt and spinach.
Hmm dont think I've got Covid, hadn't really thought about it!
Maybe I do need magnesium and potassium supplements? Will see what's % is in my multi vits, if there is any of those in there at all!

Just caught up. Meals sound so delicious. And you guys are hilarious. Definitely had some snort into my hot water moments! I'm another foodie. I can talk, eat, and dream food all day. We tried to buy a meatzza pizza yesterday as DS had a hankering for the real thing. Couldn't find it so did some spicy chicken wings in the air fryer which has been languishing away in a cupboard for 7 years, but thanks to all of the chat on here, has now been given pride of place in the kitchen. The wings were absolutely fabulous served with an avocado and coriander salad. I preferred it to having pizza and the bloats that come from carb heavy meals.

@Ninkanink for some reason I've developed a craving for pizza! I hope you enjoyed yours?

I bought some low carb flour from the site recommended and I'm going to have a go at making my own pizza later.

@wanderlove

So you did lose in the first week - am I understanding that right? If so, then you know it works! As @Ninkanink says, just KOKO - it's too soon to start tweaking. And you certainly don't want to start depriving yourself of food at this stage. One thing I would say is that if that day's food is typical, you aren't eating enough veg. That's non-negotiable on this WOE!

@SilverStarburst - I don't know how tall you are, but you weigh less than 9 stone, so a) you probably don't have much to lose and b) weight loss will be slow if you're near your target. It's very common, I'm afraid, for people to see little or no loss (and even a gain) in weeks 3, 4 and even sometimes 5. KOKO! Your food looks fine. Hopefully you're eating plenty of fat? Are you having an oily dressing on your salads?

@venusandmars I didn't think you were insensitive at all! I think we probably all salivated with envy at your meal.

@RagzReturnsRebooted If you're going to have a McDonalds, then I'd just go for what you want and leave the bun. (Perhaps not a filet o' fish as it's breadcrumbed). I found myself having a craving for a Big Mac just yesterday for some reason! Thankfully we don't have one near us as I was sorely tempted. (No idea what's going on in my brain right now!)

@ChristMyArse

Sounds like my house. Except it's football/rugby/cricket/golf ...

@BustleInYourHedgerow

B: avocado with cheesy Scrambled eggs
D: Leftover chicken curry with cauli rice

Sorry you didn't enjoy the cauli rice. Did you make your own or was it pre-prepared? If so, was it fresh or out of a packet? The packet ones are horrible, IME.

@Bestbees

D-valentines blow out: haloumi with caper mustard dressing, rib eye with celeriac dauphiose and brocoli, chocolate mousse, cheese and half a bottle of sparkling and a couple of brandys

However got on the scales this morning and I am 3.5lb up!!!

That will be because you have re-filled your glycogen stores. Be super strict today, drink lots of water and, if you can, do some exercise to use it up. Or more exercise if you already do exercise!

@ListenLinda get your mum to join us! (Ex-Leeds girl here - do you live there or just support them?)

@cheeseisthebest

I di eat lots of salmon, avocado, yoghurt and spinach. Hmm dont think I've got Covid, hadn't really thought about it! Maybe I do need magnesium and potassium supplements? Will see what's % is in my multi vits, if there is any of those in there at all!

Even if there is magnesium/potassium in there it won't be in large enough quantities.

One of my clients, years ago, was the manufacturer of Bassett's vitamins, and I was really shocked when they told me that the RDA for Vitamin C is the amount that you need to prevent you from getting scurvy. i.e. it's a tiny amount!

Why not try @StuntNun's recommendation?

But also, like PP, I think you should get a covid test. If you're that tired, at this stage of Bootcamp, it sounds like something other than carb flu is going on.

@BIWI it took long enough to persuade her for facebook but i’m going to mention it to her!
All Dads side of the family from Leeds, live in Bradford now but all dyed in the wool Leeds United fans & Leeds Rhinos fans

Morning all

biwi hope your feeling okay after your jab

I had a night of weird dreams and have also gained a pound on the scales. I think I am definitely seeing a week 3/4 gain pattern as I really don’t think I am doing anything that different, I am going to give it one more week, before I think about it too much.

I am after some new saucepans too, but limited to getting online and they really are something that I would normally want to pick up and look at before purchase. I have got some John Lewis stainless steel ones that are very old, I remember buying them with my late mum, who Also bought some. They came with a lifetime guarantee, anyway she died at 90 years old in 2014 and we laughed about who the lifetime referred to 😀🤭.

I have to report that the robot hoover is marvellous, DH refers to it as Dobby and seems particularly pleased with it. One of the jobs for today is to secure any cables so that we can really let him roam the house.

For the person asking about knives we have Global ones from John Lewis they are Very expensive, but you can either buy the set or individually, they are brilliant and we have had them for about 15 years now, you need the special sharpening thing which was about £20 or £30. I do put mine in the dishwasher but you are not supposed to.

Today
B Greek yogurt
L lettuce avocado and cheese wraps
D roast beef with flgv

All fine here after the jab yesterday. Arm is a little sore/stiff, but it's hardly noticeable, thankfully.

Ragz I hope you enjoyed your McDonald’s. Thinking about it, I feel like almost everything from McDonald’s would give me that McDonald’s kick! It all sort of tastes the same - a bit like Nando’s, once the peri seasoning is on it’s all just delicious!

Bestbees I would be up for a lent challenge. I have not lost for the last two weeks and I’m 6lbs from my goal. I am thinking of giving up dairy. Annoyingly, I have about 2kg of yogurt in my fridge (I was accidentally sent fat-free so I made them replace it (and found myself writing the huffy sentence ‘I don’t eat reduced fat dairy’) and now have 500g of fat free and 1.5kg of full fat remaining). Can you freeze yogurt? Maybe I should just throw the fat free stuff away.

oscarsndellie I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggled with Le Creuset! It made me feel vaguely ashamed like I wasn’t a proper cook.

Glad you’ve had the jab BIWI! And glad you’re not having any nasty side effects. I had the virus in March last year and still had the antibodies come November. I hope they’re still around!

I weighed today and have not lost - I’ve put on half a pound. I’m not that surprised. My diet has been quite hit-and-miss in a very unrewarding way. I almost wish I’d just eaten a big bar of chocolate or something instead of incessantly picking at bits of (bloody) brunost. I’m going to be very strict next week.

Today food has/will be:

Breakfast: full fat yogurt + vanilla and a creamy coffee
Lunch: either nothing or a bit of yogurt or steak tartare if I’m really hungry.
Dinner: steak with whipped bone marrow and fried mushrooms to start, then homemade ramen with Chashu pork belly and beansprouts, courgette, chard, radishes and mushrooms.

Probable red wine or champagne. Board games on the side.

Happy Valentine's to all

Single here, but did buy the most amazing looking lump of beef for a roast later - almost 2" of fat across the top, and all marbled. I've been dribbling whenever I think of it since I bought it yesterday. Might send a v. card to the butcher.

But first... out in the horizontal rain and gales to deliver lunches to other poor souls who can't sort their own.

@AthelstaneTheUnready

Happy Valentine's to all

Single here, but did buy the most amazing looking lump of beef for a roast later - almost 2" of fat across the top, and all marbled. I've been dribbling whenever I think of it since I bought it yesterday. Might send a v. card to the butcher.

But first... out in the horizontal rain and gales to deliver lunches to other poor souls who can't sort their own.

That sounded a bit virtuous!

To be clear, some of them are also demanding, rude, aggressive arseholes who need a kick up the backside.

Right back at ya @AthelstaneTheUnready

I would probably benefit from cutting out dairy for lent too but DH uses quite a lot of cream in my soups and sauces, I think he might be miffed if I restrict things further.

He bought me a selection of Fatt Bar cookies and bars for V day. Not BC but I am going to have the occasional treat nonetheless. The cookies are 1.5g carbs.

Thank you for the knife recs @NotwatchingSpooks I might invest slowly for DH's upcoming birthday.

Our robot hoover lives in the garage, unloved and unused.

Reading all these meals with interest and getting some good ideas. I'm on day 5 now and have stuck to it well, struggling with breakfast a bit, as getting sick of eggs. I need think of other things to eat that are simple, as I am not a morning person.

Btw what does "KOKO" mean?

@Sulusu Keep on Keeping On!

You don’t have to eat eggs for breakfast. Yogurt is an easy one (unless you can’t have dairy?). Back when I still used to routinely eat breakfast I’d often have leftovers or whatever we’d had for dinner the night before. Special breakfast foods are just an invention to sell us cereals. Lots of things taste great in the morning, even curries and other spicy dishes. I often ate them cold which tones down the heat a little.

Thanks @Ninkanink. Keep on Keeping On is a good mantra. Actually left over curry for breakfast sounds great!

I'm eating quite a bit of full fat Greek yoghurt but mostly after dinner, might switch that to mornings for a change.

@AthelstaneTheUnready and to you! to all!

Had a very lazy morning today, just the way I like it. Two milky coffees (Just not right at all! Need to get some cream ASAP) and a tea.

@BIWI the pizza was lovely, but it does always remind me that bready carbs really don’t agree with me anymore when I have too much (I’m just not used to that heavy feeling you get in the stomach the next day). It was a generous slice, and deep pan, which I don’t normally have as I prefer Italian base. I do absolutely love pizza - it’s one of my favourite things in the world, so I usually have some every 4-5 months.

Glad to hear you’re feeling okay after the jab! Hope the arm is back to normal soon.

I’ve been having carby cravings too - really fancy fried chicken atm so I think i will make some Korean fried chicken as my first treat meal after BC is done. I think it might be the cold and snow and a bit of hibernation programming...

@Lyrata I love that ‘huffy sentence’!

Yesterday’s dinner was chipotle chicken wings and sweet potato wedges (I had two small ones because it was late and we had been DIYing and I didn’t want to have to think of something else to make, and I need to make our veg last til payday as well).

Lunch today will probably be egg based, but I don’t know yet what guise they’ll take or what veg I’ll make with it.

Tonight’s dinner will be tandoori chicken thighs with a dal tadka (again I’ll only have a spoonful) and some curried cauliflower and spinach if we’ve got any in the freezer.

Thanks BIWI. I actually feel a lot less tired today. Will see how I am.
I'm sorry I lost track @stuntnun what was your suggestion?

Electrolyte powder Cheeseisthebest.

Flowers and chocolates from DH. I know he's also bought some Champagne. He's not really an overtly romantic man, but always does something lovely for Valentine's Day for some reason!

Oh yes of course thank you. Yes that's what ive ordered! Do you have it everyday?

Cheeseisthebest I tend to be low in sodium (even with liberally salting food) and I've been deficient in magnesium for years so I add electrolyte powder to at least two drinks per day. I also take a magnesium glycinate supplement because the magnesium in most supplements isn't particularly absorbable.

Thanks stuntnun. So just add to water twice a day? I guess if its makes a difference that will be how I know that's what the issue is!

Reporting in; lovely dinner last night complete with red wine, but look like I’ve punched in the eyes this morning (the booze? The salt. The carbs? Who knows!) so a cautionary tale there (first time I’ve had wine in nearly 5 weeks)

dh bought me a huge expensive box of different types of local chocolatier chocolate, none of which is dark, he knows I’m doing LC so I’ve offended him by telling him (again, this isn’t the first time) I can’t eat them. Even not on this WOE I don’t have stuff like that in the house as I have no self control. I get v annoyed with people who repeatedly don’t listen

So bloody cold here I’ve spent the morning doing low carb cooking rather than go for a walk; NSV is my parents tell me I look like I’ve lost weight so I will take that

I suspect tomorrow’s weigh in will reflect last nights splurge!

Thanks, BIWI, I am 5'2 so just need to lose around another 10lbs, I enjoy this WOE so will KOKO.

Just checked my vits and all over 100% RDA except magnesium which is 27% so maybe I do need some! Couldnt see any potassium in there either.