Week 5 - Low Carb Bootcamp - time to get rid of all the Valentine's treats!

[BIWI]

I rather suspect that a lot of us have been so far off the wagon this weekend that it's disappeared over the far horizon!

having to post on the spreadsheet may sober us all up, in more ways than one!

I hope any cheats were enjoyable. There's nothing worse than deciding to cheat and then not liking it.

But from now, it's time to buckle down and get back into the swing of things. If you did cheat, please don't complain that the scales aren't being kind to you. It's an inevitable consequence.

So let's focus on a really strict week, recognising that this is the end of our first half of Bootcamp.

Good luck to us all

Thank you for the recipe book recommendations. Ideally I would borrow them from the library so might wait until things reopen. Then I can see whether I want to buy.

On coconut milk, I buy the creamed block and then either add as is if the sauce is the right consistancy, or add to boiling water. Less preservatives, and can use as much or little as you want.

@WitchWand @MarmaladeTeepee @Doilooklikeatourist thank you I am a bit better today and keeping the water up.
@BIWI thanks for the gentle stick I certainly had not considered that a scone and some crackers ( owns up) would make it worse.

Today I will look up some recipes and plan to rise to the recipe challenge.

Definitely agree that it’s a bit of an effort staying positive at the moment. Sorry you are feeling down @LittleMy77.

Loving all the recipes. We're still using up the freezer but I love the Roasting Tin books for easy recipes. Quite a lot are carb-based but can be adapted without too much misery. I've seen someone on these threads mention the cauliflower 'buffalo wings' recipe from one of them already!

My SLC bread has arrived! Lunch will be a cheese and ham toastie - I've had no cheese for the last week or so other than whatever went into Monday's cauliflower cheese, and the squeezy cheese on the dirty celeriac, so I'm giving myself permission.

Sympathies to all those struggling with family worries. It feels so incessant at the moment too doesn't it, with no escape routes for anyone.

This is one of my favourite super easy recipes, especially good for using up leftover chicken and/or any leafy greens/lettuces/leeks/etc that need using. I post it everywhere so apologies if I’ve already posted it here.

Braised peas and Lettuce

I keep it low carb by omitting the flour and just cooking down the stock until it thickens a bit (it’s also just as nice had as a broth), and taking down the quantity of peas/upping whatever lettuce or greens I’m using. Then I just nestle the chicken legs/breasts/shredded chicken in amongst the stock and veg to warm through.

DH usually has it over rice or potatoes or with crusty bread, but it’s plenty filling for me on its own.

I’ve put all sorts in there - leeks/any scraps of lettuce or bagged salad, greens, celery, fennel, and it always tastes lovely. Sometimes I add tarragon and garlic as well.

and good vibes to all those who are feeling low or unwell or dealing with unhappy children/home lives.

What to do with ones feelings if one isn’t eating them away is an interesting one...I always think of the Buddhist teaching of letting the feelings wash over you, recognising them for what they are, ‘sitting’ with them and accepting them until they go again (simplifying a bit but that’s the general gist, I think). I also have a couple of books on the principles and applications of stoicism which I find helpful.

If you have a craft or a hobby or something that you love to do (like gel manicures, to use a timely example) then I find it very helpful to just do that for a bit. Sewing, crochet/knitting, embroidery; drawing, painting, colouring books; do your nails, take an hour to apply a face mask, have a bath, use some luxurious body creams; Whatever your little treat might be.

Your hands are busy, your mind is occupied, you’re making tangible progress at a project, you’re rewarding yourself with time to do something you enjoy.

Reading and watching television/films don’t work for me because they are tied in with snacks/treats, but they might work for others.

Or even tackle a job or chore that’s been bugging you for a while. I used to do that a lot throughout a difficult period a couple of years ago. I used to just say to myself, instead of sitting here why not spend 5/10/15 minutes getting that pesky job done! And usually by the time I had done one or two of those little tasks I’d been distracted, felt a bit better, and also had the satisfaction of having cleared some physical and mental clutter which always left me feeling more positive. If after the first task I was still feeling antsy, I found another one to do, and so on, until I felt better.

Glad you're on the mend @Jollyholibobs.

Thanks a lot for the sauce thickening suggestions @BIWI.

Lovely ideas for handling feelings too @Ninkanink.

*I'm constantly dry mouthed despite drinking 4.5-5 litres per day
*
What are you doing/taking for the electrolytes? The dry mouth does suggest you need more sodium, so are you getting enough salt? I might also suggest that you cut down on the water for a day or so, to see if that helps.

I've been using zero, taking 1.5 tablets per day. Was intending to try 2 today to see if that helps. I'm salting my food quite liberally, not really sure what else I can do. Had a headache since yesterday evening too which I suspect is dehydration. I'm off work now for the rest of the week so I will end up drinking less for the best few days as it's far harder to get it down me when I'm not sitting at my desk all day. Hopefully that will help.

Re increasing my carbs, I'm not counting them at all, I'm just sticking to green veg (with the odd red pepper or shallot). I feel like I'm probably eating the higher carb ones within that range (lots of cabbage, celeriac, turnip) so the only way I could eat more would be to have a piece of bread or something and that feels like it would be a step backwards. I can't do bread in moderation, I've tried my whole life. I'm going to just live with the smell for now and hope it's a temporary thing 🤞

I forgot to tag @BIWI and say thank you!

I definitely recognise that scenario @LittleMy77 . I have also stopped eating my feelings but similarly struggling with what to do with them instead. At the moment I'm tending to soak them in the bath

@BIWI thanks, this is definitely the lowest-carb I’ve ever been - following Dukan was I suppose 50-100. I’ve definitely been behind on fluids and a milky (soya) drink before bed sounds very nice, I’m thinking apple pie spices.

Re increasing my carbs, I'm not counting them at all, I'm just sticking to green veg (with the odd red pepper or shallot). I feel like I'm probably eating the higher carb ones within that range (lots of cabbage, celeriac, turnip) so the only way I could eat more would be to have a piece of bread or something and that feels like it would be a step backwards. I can't do bread in moderation, I've tried my whole life. I'm going to just live with the smell for now and hope it's a temporary thing 🤞

An obvious way to increase your carbs without resorting to bread (no need) is to eat a wider range of vegetables and not restrict yourself so heavily to just the green ones.

Good point about the handling of feelings, @Ninkanink

However, I do also think the issue is about action - and frustration that you can't solve your DC's issues with any action on your part, and it has to come from them.

When they're little, you can (generally) make things right for them. But when they're adults, they have to work this out/do this for themselves, and that's where a lot of anxiety and frustration comes in for me. I can't solve DS's issues for him. Worse, in some ways, by keeping him here, (in the sense of financially and physically - a bed, warmth, food and drink, etc) in some ways we're enabling the inaction on his part. And the pandemic also makes that worse - it's like we're not just in lockdown, we're also in some kind of pause in the fabric of time.

Yes that seems incredibly obvious now you say it @Ninkanink! I feel very thick now, might add carrots to my tea tonight

Yes, I know exactly what you mean @BIWI. I have two grown up girls now and that feeling I’ve had at times, through the various stages of their lives and whatever choppy waters they might have faced, of wanting to make it better but being really quite powerless to actually fix things is horrible. If it helps, it does pass. I have had to say that a lot to myself and to my daughters - this, too, shall pass.

@ouchmyfeet hope it didn’t come across patronising!! I just know how easy it is to fall into patterns of approach to things and sometimes you don’t even see the most obvious solution. 🙂

[quote CaptainOmelette]@BIWI thanks, this is definitely the lowest-carb I’ve ever been - following Dukan was I suppose 50-100. I’ve definitely been behind on fluids and a milky (soya) drink before bed sounds very nice, I’m thinking apple pie spices.[/quote]
Can you list out for me what you've been eating and drinking on a typical day, please?

Hi everyone.

Suffering with the lock-down blues here too. Not helped by getting another e-mail from the government officially extending shielding until March 21st. Yuck.

Wrt dealing with feelings, I find Calm (the app) very helpful. It teaches you to recognise - and make space for - your feelings, but not to get swept up in them.

KOKO here. to all.

@Ninkanink and @BIWI thanks for wise words. All you can do with grown up DC is listen snd love. But I recognise what you are describing.

Wow at the pause in the fabric of time

But, yeah. Bang on.

For getting back to sleep, I find getting cold works. Hear me out

As in - wake up, can't sleep, get up and go downstairs in just pyjamas, have a glass of water standing on tiled kitchen floor - back to bed chilly and with cold feet. Within five minutes I've warmed up again, and that physical warming process makes me nod off.

[quote Ninkanink]@ouchmyfeet hope it didn’t come across patronising!! I just know how easy it is to fall into patterns of approach to things and sometimes you don’t even see the most obvious solution. 🙂[/quote]
Not at all! I appreciate the tip

I had 20 minutes of sitting with my feelings this morning, v odd in some ways given normally they’re buried / eaten away!

The glaringly obvious piece for me is there’s no way to easily release them, which I need to figure out. Quiet time atm at home is non existent as everyone is here, and my job often necessitates mid-late evening calls and it’s been really full on for the last 10 months with no respite.

switching off / doing something totally different during the week is difficult as a result. I am trying my best tho to keep exercising which is helping but some days I just cba bar yet another boring walk!

@Jollyhollibobs sorry you are suffering with cystitis it's a bitch. I don't suffer myself but care for people who do. Things that I have found that help are Holland & Barrett Triple Strength Cranberry Concentrate 100 Tablets. Also if it continues ask your doctor for a prophylactic antibiotic. Tell them it's having an impact on your day to day life and push if they are stingy with the antibiotics. Reoccurring cystitis is debilitating.

Woohoo @zigzagg well done!

@LittleMy77 I am the same with my feelings. Running, walking, getting outside helps. Blustery walks on the beach. Sea swimming. Getting out and exercising has a huge
positive impact on my mental health. And I feel better when I eat better and drink less. I love a drink but feeling mildly hungover a few times a week doesn't help me. I need to work at it which is hard when I'm feeling down and have let myself slip. But I can't allow myself to get as depressed as I was when I was younger. It is a constant battle but one that is worth it.

Didn't post my food yesterday but I had many on plan things. Didn't feel like making a pancake substitute because substitutes never taste like the real thing and thoroughly annoy me. I had courgette fritters instead and they were delicious. They fell apart a little as I would normally add flour or potato to stick them together a little, but will work on that recipe.

Also I took the children to the delicious French bakery today as a mid term treat. We walked in the rain and walked home. I got something for them and husband and got myself a double espresso. Now I'm twitching with the extra caffeine but I'm so proud I resisted the croissants and bread.

@BustleInYourHedgerow thanks for sympathy and prompt. (Searches in kitchen cupboard, finds forgotten cranberry capsules).
Feeling better today but past experience tells me that it is too soon to let my guard down.

And congratulations for resisting the temptations of French bakery. NSV for this way of eating.