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

Thanks for the info re carb prompted whooshes. That's good to know but obviously I wouldn't be aiming to use it as a strategy. Will see how the weigh in pans out tomorrow.

What's a carb refeed?

@StuntNun

Yes that can happen Ouch and also when someone has a big night on the booze then the scales unexpectedly drop the next day. It's to do with triggering a reduction in water retention. It's unpredictable but some people do try carb refeeds or alcohol to bring about a whoosh. We don't recommend it on Bootcamp because the weight will come off by itself without the risk of derailing yourself or even gaining weight.

I think it's this @cheeseisthebest

I had some carbs yesterday and it seems to have prompted a whoosh overnight

@Bestbees

Although right at the top of my healthy weight I am in size 10 jeans

You're not on the spreadsheet so I don't know how much you weigh - but if you're at the top of your healthy weight and wearing size 10 jeans I'm guessing that you don't have much to lose.

Consequently, faffing about with alcohol and chocolate is going to get in the way of losing.

Definitely up your fat and, I'd say, look at your portions - two chicken breasts is a lot!

... and cut out the snacking. If you're nibbly because you're hungry, add more fat to your diet. If you're nibbly out of habit, then this is a habit to drop!

And what about the water? How much are you drinking (without the gin!)?

to anyone who might find the discussion centred around sizing difficult - I know it can be demoralising when people are further along the weight loss journey. I’ve been bigger, and lost 3 stone in 3 months through low carbing. It will happen, and the same holds true for everyone no matter what size or shape - you’re worth it now.

@BIWI yup it's the faffing with the bits that is the problem. I don't usually eat two chicken breasts, it was an usually big portion, and really more like 1.5! I think probably I need to choose though whether a couple of squares of choc and a few gins a week is worth the extra 6/7lbs or not! I am thinking a bit more long term I guess, because if to be 9st6lb I need to never drink or have chocolate then I am not sure I want that! I drink loads of water, at least 3.5l a day.

I think probably I need to choose though whether a couple of squares of choc and a few gins a week is worth the extra 6/7lbs or not! I am thinking a bit more long term I guess, because if to be 9st6lb I need to never drink or have chocolate then I am not sure I want that!

That’s the conclusion I came to, and I really honestly feel so much better for having that buffer, if you like. Means I don’t have to be too obsessive/too strict/too unhappy!

9st 6 is my target weight too. 12lb off that. Would I feel any different though if I reached it? I would still dislike my flabby bits!
I need to do some exercise but still cant find anything I like or feel motivated to do.

@Ninkanink

to anyone who might find the discussion centred around sizing difficult - I know it can be demoralising when people are further along the weight loss journey. I’ve been bigger, and lost 3 stone in 3 months through low carbing. It will happen, and the same holds true for everyone no matter what size or shape - you’re worth it now.

Just to echo what Ninkanink said I'm 3.5 stone overweight (and that's just to get me to the top of a healthy BMI). I currently weigh 13 stone 13, I'm 5 foot 4 and I've only lost 5lb since the start of bootcamp despite sticking to it religiously. It would be more but I currently have a 2 week menstrual cycle and so every other week I gain 3-4lb when I'm due on and the following week I lose it plus maybe 0.5-1lb. At the rate I'm going it'll take me a year to lose a stone, which is obviously very frustrating but the way I see it if I don't tackle this I'll only keep getting bigger and bigger. It took me 3 years to put the weight on so if it takes me 3 years to lose it so be it. So if your weight loss is slower don't give up just KOKO, we'll get there eventually.

Congrats on your whoosh Buffy!

That's really interesting about carb refeeds, I've noticed weightloss after 'cheating' before but never knew the science behind it. I've normally had it when I've sacked off
a diet and then just see it as validation for scrapping it and just go back to bad eating habits. Major aha moment here!

I hope I haven't been insensitive with any of my comments. I think everyone is doing brilliantly and we are all on our own path here. Good point @MarmaladeTeepee that it's not just about loosing weight, but also about preventing gain. Two week cycle sounds tough. Respect to you for koko. As will I. With an image of @BIWI with a stick whenever I fancy a snack!

To use a terrible cliché @Bestbees, we're all on our own journey! You have as much right to be concerned about your progress as anyone else, so please don't worry.

Bestbees I don't think anyone's been insensitive, we're all different and even if we were all the same weight and/or dress size we'd still all look very different. I love this thread because everyone's so supportive it doesn't matter where we're at in terms of weightloss. Well done for KOKO (and for avoiding the big stick )

Ah sorry I wasn’t trying to imply that anyone had been insensitive; Just making that comment on my own behalf, really.

I’m hungry. The ox cheek stew needs to cook for another two hours at least...I’m distracting myself with plans for a Christmas dinner next Sunday!

Thanks everyone. This thread is so lovely

@Ninkanink I Love ox cheek. So unctuous!

Got my woes out on a 5k run and e joying cooking my dinner.

thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/chicken-traybake-with-bitter-orange-and-fennel

Will put it on the meat thread if it turns out well.

Hi!
May I join please? I am morbidly obese, have high BP and sleep apnoea. I need to take charge and do something about it.
I am ashamed that the pandemic, on top of my health reasons, hasn't scared me into action before now.

Welcome anonly! You are doing something now, you have taken the first step, well done!

Today I've had, scrambled eggs with and tomatoes and spinach, cooked in butter.
Few slices of cheddar.
Just had dinner, roast chicken, roast celeriac, sprouts, broccoli, swede and few peas with gravy.
Need to have some more water.

So much food today!
L: scrambled eggs with bacon, cheese muffin, kefir, kimchi, bone broth, small piece of cheese.
D: roast gammon, celeriac and leek mash, braised celery.
Burp!

Thanks @Lyrata @MarmaladeTeepee it was kinda insane!

@Bestbees absolutely you were not insensitive I am, however, extremerly jealous of you lovely ladies bouncing around 9ish stone But I love reading all your posts because it's motivating to know i can get there too if I behave myself

Food today:
B. Fasted
L. Fried egg and streaky bacon with sliced corgette and spinach fried in garlic butter
D. Not sure yet, my 2yo had an accident (absolutely my fault for not asking if she needed before we left!) so my shop for food ended up being new clothes and trying to persuade my autistic DD who is petrified of hand dryers to come into the public toilets. My poor baby it was such a shame! DP grabbed some chicken thighs but I think that's all he picked up for me so not sure what's going to go with them yet.

I have had a divine day for food today.

Breakfast: smoked haddock with homemade Indian lime pickle
Lunch: creamy cauliflower soup
Snack: olives (whole jar - greedy) with feta
Dinner: the Tik Tok feta pasta with courgetti
Dessert: Lebukchen spiced “creme brûlée”
3 glasses of cremant

I honestly can’t recommend the feta courgetti enough. The feta really clung to the courgetti and it was by far the nicest courgetti I’ve ever had.

Tik Tok pasta recipe:
Take a load of tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, basil and feta (I used 300g feta for two and 600g tomato).
Chuck it in the oven at 180 (I held back the basil until 5 minutes from the end because I was worried about burning it)
Wait until it’s cooked and your tomatoes and feta are starting to colour
Smoosh it roughly together with a wooden spoon
Stir through your courgetti

I was worried about the courgetti getting damp so I microwaved it for 60 seconds to bring it to room temperature and warmed the plates. The dish held together well - it was hot but the courgetti didn’t release water.

Lebukchen spiced “creme brûlée” recipe
I took 200ml of whole milk and heated it gently in a pan with a lebukchen spiced tea bag (I got mine from Bird and Blend but I think this would work with any kind of chai tea bag) for 15 minutes.
Whisk together two eggs
Mix together and add 10ml of sugar syrup and some vanilla essence
Pour into ramekins, cover with cling film and steam in a steamer or saucepan steamer.

The result is a creme brûlée type pot - mine came out at 8g of carbs per pot - with a slightly sweet, slightly spiced flavour. The tea flavour sort of made up for it not being that sweet if that makes sense? It tasted more adult. If natural yogurt is neutral sweetness (0.5 if you add vanilla essence) and pure sugar is a 10, this is about a 1 on the scale - but it made a nice change.

Photos attached

Wow to your food lyrata!

Welcome @anonly!

@Lyrata that looks lovely, def adding to the list.

My nigella tray bake was delicious and the kids loved it too. Would recommend as super easy. It does use some fruit juice so I guess not 100%bootcamp/strict.

@Lyrata @Bestbees your meals look amazing! Thanks for the recipe Lyrata I'm going to try the corgetti. I'm a rubbish cook so probably can't wont attempt the brulee

Since it's late I've used my chicken thighs in my nando's sauce meal. Discovered earlier this week that frozen sprouts, broccoli, cauliflour and green beans cooked in the sauce under the chicken goes so well, and because it's all frozen there's no faffing about! I also added sliced celery, corgette and onion. It'll be I interesting to see if they all go together.

Hi all. Sorry, I've been MIA for this thread. Have had a really horrible couple of weeks (my dad had a heart attack, house had pipes leaking and hot water broken for a week) and my head just hasn't been in the game food wise. I will go back and read and see what I've missed.
Have been back to this woe for the past week, although today I've done nothing but eat! Am hoping tomorrow isn't too bad weight wise.