Week 6 Low CarbBootcamp - the second half

[BIWI]

Morning campers!

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

We're half way through now. Hopefully by now we should all be getting used to a low carb way of eating, which will mean we should be fat-adapted.

I hope you've enjoyed the recipe challenges, and I really look forward to reading more recipes.

I especially hope that the challenge has lured the lurkers out! Please post your recipes!

And, of course, here's hoping that we all have a good week ahead

Do you have progress photos @WitchWand? Not to pry! I hope you have them for yourself at any rate.

I do wonder about how many of the old Bootcampers have kept it off. BIWI should be able to force people to do reunions.

@nowlook

Agree about choosing something that doesn't cover you up Nink

Most of my jeans fall into that category, mind

An NSV of sorts. I bought a frankly hideous Boden coat from eBay during the last lockdown. That's now too big, but I would never have worn it anyway. Very "Patagonian panpipes star gets invited to Buckingham Palace garden party"

Well I think that deserves a photo. My poor little brain can't even conjure up that image

You lot crack me up. That is all.

@Lyrata

Do you have progress photos *@WitchWand*? Not to pry! I hope you have them for yourself at any rate.

I do wonder about how many of the old Bootcampers have kept it off. BIWI should be able to force people to do reunions.

I lost more than 2st my first time (Jan - Apr) and kept below 2st down for almost a year. My plan was to participate in a couple more BCs and lose another 1-2 st. Then lockdown happened. Instead I spent most of 2020 putting it back on, but I think in normal circumstances I'd have been able to do it. My weight fluctuated, especially for high days and holidays, but a few weeks of low carb could keep it under control.

I’ve kept off the three stone I lost through lowcarbing for about 8, maybe 9, years now. I sometimes do gain anywhere from half a stone to a stone back, because I take extended ‘holidays’ from low carbing when I feel like it and I’m a moderator. But I also can easily lowcarb permanently for a year or two at a time without much deviation. If I really need a kick up the bum and I can’t get into the zone by myself I know to join bootcamp, because it gets me back on track nicely.

The worst time for gaining weight back was several years ago due to a horrendous combination of severe work stress/high blood pressure/extended insomnia/anxiety/etc coupled with worries about my daughter and her chronic health condition/hospitalisation, and then a totally unexpected bereavement of someone in my DH’s family. That was a rough year and I just about hung on by fingernails for much of it. However I got back on the wagon once I was able to leave that job.

I find that I know where my upper limit is, and when I get near to it I just switch back to being more careful.

However from now on I will aim not to take any further extended holidays, as I’m looking to maintain and not have to do the hard work of losing again.

Hi everyone. One of those busy can't catch my breath days here.

L: eggs in cup with butter, half an avocado because it was weird and stringy when I tried to eat it.
D duck with some celeriac and leek with cream. Baby sweetcorn.
S: Greek yoghurt with berries.

Too many coffees
Not enough gin

Just been announced schools are reopening here and I'm not happy about it. Cases are too high and vaccination rates are too slow.

Thanks for the new thread BIWI. Managed to catch up on this weeks. I was so far behind I would have needed a week to read the last one!

It's been hectic my end and like @Ninkanink and some others here I get bouts of insomnia. Currently reached defcon 101 where I'm only getting 4-5 hrs a night but in 2hr stretches. And then I have to get up and function at work 

Well done on all the losses this week and Koko for the gains! It will come off.

Never thought I would be looking forward to another boot camp but I've really settled into the LC woe. Small NSV for me- being able to drink fruit/herbal teas without sweetners! I could never have less than 2-3 stevias before. Kale crisps are my thing now! I've even perfected them with sprinkles Parmesan and a dash of balsamic. No alcohol(apart from a tiny half glass on VD). No sweets/choc. A meal doesn't feel complete without buttered tenderstem broccoli!

I had a treat sugar free latte at the park coffee shop over the weekend and nearly gagged as thought they poured a kilo of sugar in! Normally I would ask for an extra shot of syrup!

@Iamnotacerealkiller I've been craving bread too and have got all the fancy stuff to make some complicated loaf but will probs try the almond muffins BIWI and co have recommended

@LittleMy77 I hope you're feeling better now

@ZiggZagg I want to go to Olan too!!  in fact i want to go to anywhere that is not Costa del patio and Los living room!

@Lyrata I too have been on a shopping spree roll this week! I've insisted on a size down I hope I don't live to regret it. That be a lot of 💰 I'll be crying over

@BIWI the moussaka looks delish. I love moussaka so will be adding that to my to make list!

Weight wise I had a +0.5ish gain post VD and a -1.5 loss this monday taking me down to 179.6
I'll be grateful if someone could kindly update this for me on the spreadsheet.

A question for the seasoned LC's. For those close to their goal weights do you count calories/macros?

Have a lovely day everyone! Off to potter in kitchen at stupid o'clock!!

Morning everyone, hope you are all well. I’m going food shopping today woohoo, that’s my excitement for the week...I’ve done my list already but moussaka is now on next week’s menu.
B - granola & soya milk
L - mushroom omelette
D - chilli burger & salad

Hmmm so I’ve somehow put on 1.5lb overnight.... had a very standard food day yesterday (B- Greek yoghurt, L- chicken and avocado salad, D - steak and roasted green veg plus mushrooms in a spoonful of cream cheese), but ate one square of 85% dark chocolate which I don’t normally have (DH had some and I thought it would be nice as a treat). Can that really have added1.5lbs on?!

I’ve just finished my period so it isn’t that and I drank over 3L of water as I do every day. I know daily fluctuations shouldn’t be counted and I don’t normally worry, but 1.5lb feels like a lot! It’s basically what I lost last week...

You’ve not gained all that in actual weight in a day, so it will be just be a natural fluctuation.

It’s really important to remember that fluctuation is perfectly normal and is going to happen here and there.

Hi Everyone . just joined your mumsnet. I have lost approx 2 stones
in a year doing the low carb lifestyle. My progress nearly grind to a halt,
so I did some more research and included a restricted time eating window. Last meal 6pm. 7am one square of 90 percent coco dark chocolate. first meal between 1030 1130.
Bingo. The restricted eating window produces more autophagy.
but only works properly once fat adapted. Best advise to anyone taking this journey. Research research research

Onelittlepiglet a 1-2lb natural fluctuation can be expected any day. If it gets you down then try a weight tracking app that goes by a rolling daily average such as Happy Scale or True Weight. Either that or some people use a method of only ever recording their lowest weight so far and don't bother recording any fluctuations upwards.

Thanks Ninkanink - I know that is the rational explanation but it is hard to see.

I’ve looked back at my weight records and realised that I have only lost 1lb in 4.5 weeks... I STS for two weeks then have basically bounced up and down the same 1lb for the last 2.5 weeks. This is my 8th weeks and the last 4 weeks have been:
29 jan - 11st 9
5 feb - 11st 9
12 feb - 11st 7.8
19 feb - 11st 8

I’m now 11st 8.7. I’m not sure if this is normal or if I need to make some changes. I’ve cut down on dairy already and I don’t eat chocolate (apart from yesterday!). No alcohol either. I eat plenty so never get hungry or crave things particularly, and have lots of green veg with butter or olive oil everyday. The only thing I am finding hard is I’m stuck in the flat most of the time and am very restricted in how much exercise I can do. If I could up this, I think I’d feel better, but no chance of that at the moment (lockdown restrictions, weather and wild dogs that can attack people outside our apartment compound - yes really!)

Today’s food is:
B - Greek yoghurt
L - Greek veg soup cooked in butter -tiny bit of cheese added
D - chicken breast cooked in olive oil with courgetti in butter and some roasted celeriac.

You are due a whoosh at some point! This is generally how it works. There does seem to be a 3-5 week pattern for many people, where ‘true’ weightloss happens in incremental spurts.

Keep the faith!

Thanks Ninkanonk - Fingers crossed! Definitely KOKO just worried I’m doing something wrong.

it’s my birthday this weekend and I was planning on having a glass of fizz, but I don’t think I will now as it may set me back. Am planning on ordering some duck again and having it with lettuce wraps as it was so delicious when I had it for Valentine’s Day. No cake or chocolates - will celebrate at a later date when I am closer to target weight.

@Onelittlepiglet i know how you feel, i’m exactly the same.
Three meals, no snacking generally, have all my water but the scales aren’t moving. I’m not doing anything differently so it’s frustrating. I’m having a few NSV but i’ve always placed emphasis on the weight on the scales. Maybe too much

Take the photos, people!

Once a week, wearing the same item(s).

One pound off this morning. Next pound off takes me into the stone below. Just the incentive to keep me on track this week.

@ListenLinda it’s so frustrating isn’t it! Fingers crossed the scales start to move for us both soon. It’s good you have had some NSV.

I have definitely lost weight from my top half but my jeans are still uncomfortably tight and I don’t think I’ve lost off my bottom half at all as I can’t fit in the next size down jeans, despite being around 12lb down since 1st Jan. So weird!

Thanks for the new thread BIWI, that's me finally caught up with the chat! Looks like I'm managing to keep the almighty 10lb whoosh off which is great! Scales have stayed the same everyday this week at 14st 2. I think my lowest was 13st 10 last bootcamp so that is my short term goal over the next few weeks. Well done everyone for another week down.

@ListenLinda You have my full sympathies! I'm up every night with both my toddlers, 4 times last night! This stage is brutal but we will get through it!! I have adult children, starting again was a good idea at the time, what was I thinking, I was free!!!

@Ninkanink you come across so lovely on here, I hope you are felling better

@BIWI great to hear when the next bootcamp starts. My goal is not to be fat this summer so I'll be staying on bootcamp in-between. I want to shop for clothes I love rather than buying any old horrid curtain looking thing just because it will fit. I'm a 5ft 2 apple

Good thing about being 5ft 2 - little feet. DP ordered my 1yo adidas trainers, size 5.5. Turned out he forgot to tick 'K' for kids. I got new trainers for £9, cheap because they still come under children's sizes

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously I just ordered the brownies along with a couple loaves too! 8 bloody quid!! They better taste like heaven

@ShagMeRiggins OMG I love that colour! You have inspired me to get out and buy that nail polish it is beautiful!! I can't justify buying the gel kit though after purchasing the brownies...priorities

Apologies if this sounds obvious, but could someone explain how to batch cook meat to freeze for later? @Ninkanink mentioned it earlier and it's something I would benefit greatly from. I'm finding once I put the toddlers to bed, cooking a big meal really eats into my study time.

Been super good hitting my water target all week, food yesterday was a bit ropey. No breakfast, Lunch was a bulletproof coffee and a small tin of mackerel in tomato sauce, Dinner was steak, tomato, mushrooms and FLGV buttered with pepper sauce. Not sure about todays, need to do a food shop first.

@Onelittlepiglet funnily enough i’ve lost 12lbs since the 1st of Jan too 😂

I’m staying away from the scales until Monday i think, it’s not helping me at all.

Hi everyone… I’m not on the spreadsheet or anything as I didn’t even know this thread/group existed until 2 weeks ago, so I hope this is ok… I’m just looking for some tips as I’m not sure I’m doing this right??

Started 20 days ago at 12st 11.5lb which is practically 2 stone (or in an ideal world 2.5 – 3 stone!!) heavier than I need to be. I don’t wear it too badly as I’m 5’6’’ and quite broad/big chested so still in my size 12 jeans but barely!! Combination of lockdown…too much wine, and a partner who loves stodgy comfort food like pasta and potato… disaster.

So the first week I dropped to 12st 5.3lb which was great (although I get the whole water loss thing etc) and then period week went back to 12st 8lb which I read was normal. Weighed myself after – back to 12st 5.3lb… and then every day since I’m back to 12st 7.5lb, then today, 12st 8.5lb – although I had had coffee!??!

Typical food (I work a 9.5 hour desk/site job) breakfast – 10% fat Greek yoghurt (2-3 tablespoons) with berries and about 8-10 walnuts and about a teaspoon of honey just to take the sour edge off. I drink black coffee with or without sweetener throughout the day or sugar free squash. Maybe something egg-based at the weekends…

Lunch would be some sort of cheese/ham/cold meet/egg mayo/avocado/boiled egg salad situation (not all at the same time!) and dinner would be either meat and veg or salad (broccoli/green beans/cauliflower cheese) (chicken breast with bacon and cheese/chilli/curry made from scratch/sausage with swede or celeriac mash/steak…etc) very little snacking.

Maybe some cherry tomatoes or a few salted peanuts/some biltong…
Few glasses of dry white wine over Friday night/the weekend (a bottle max)…

Trying to stick to 50g carbs a day but to be honest I think I’m usually under this? Or maybe I’m not!!?? Either my expectations are wrong or I’m doing it wrong… either way, any advice would be great. As you all know, this is quite a big lifestyle change and as much as I’m 100% up for it, the lack of results is a little disappointing… thanks

Morning all!

Hi @JengaCupboard . I won't give you advice (as I'm a bit of a newbie), but welcome!

I've been a proper Carby Twat - you can all thank me later.

The back to school announcement hit me much harder than I thought it would. (I'm ECV, & have to keep shielding, so the kids have to stay at home).

Had two cocktails on Monday night, up most of the night with heartburn, then just had a fuck-it day yesterday.

Am calm now, & contritely re-starting the process of depleting my glycogen stores.

Sigh.

Hi JengaCupboard Welcome. Unfortunately this woe is very unforgiving, every time you have anything sugary you tip your body out of it and it does not work, if you do so it’s very easy to gain weight.

I’m sure someone will be along soon, but I expect they will say absolutely no to the honey, try adding a teaspoon of double cream. I suspect your having too much wine (i find I can’t drink wine and loose but some can) and I suspect you are having too many nuts.

Well, after gaining and gaining and gaining, I’ve had a day Yesterday of needing to Pee every hour, 1.5lbs off since Monday, so for anyone feeling very stuck, koko.

Today
B Greek yogurt
L avocado and cheddar in a lettuce wrap
D roast chicken with flgv roasted......unless Oddbox has something exciting in it

Thank you for sharing that, 1stMrsF and Ninkanink. It’s really motivating to know that people are managing to keep the benefits of this longer-term - and good to know how stressful periods can derail it.

Haha Kilojules I have also made some ambitious sizing choices! I hope I don’t live to regret them. What have you bought yourself? Great news about the tea too - I have just found a new company called Bird and Blend who do a lovely fruit tea called Eton Mess, which is delicious but so expensive! I think I will not be allowed to buy more of it unless I end up sending a good number of my new clothes back.

Sorry to hear about that Onelittlepiglet. I have also had periods of 3 weeks where I haven’t really lost anything or I’ve lost and regained 1-2lbs. However I do find that either I was eating badly in those periods OR like Ninkanink says, if I shift my horizon a bit and look at 4-5 weeks, I’ve had a whoosh either before or after the stall. Are either of those the case for you?

Massive well done on maintaining your whoosh, Buffy. You must be dancing with joy.