Low Carb Bootcamp - Week 8 - the last three weeks!

[BIWI]

Morning all.

The Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

Hope it's been a good week - lots of challenges going on! I challenged myself to cook something different with cauliflower yesterday as I was getting bored of the same old same old, and so found a recipe for Bang Bang cauliflower, which I adapted slightly to make it more low carb friendly. I shall post that later.

In the meantime, I hope that the scales or the measuring tape have been kind to you!

Here's to a good next week. Remember we only have three left, so if things are slacking a bit, time to get stricter again.

I like the top, but would be better in another colour!

I agree and love those trousers! You look so slim!

I like the shape and texture of the top, but not sure (without a face ) if it's the right colour for you.

I love the top Jolly! That's one of my favourite necklines.

I love the top! Keep it!

It does make your neck look lovely and long

Thanks you’ve all confirmed DH’s view. It’s a keeper.

Just got round to lunch here! Picked up some "beef truffles" from the butcher. Really good, simple idea. Take your homemade mince and make it into a fat burger shape but with a dent in the top (like a truffle or cup shape). Stuff with your choice of filling (the pre-done one was was cheddar, shallot, garlic and parsley oil). Oven for 25 mins. Excuse the shite photo, I'd already made a start...

Can also recommend the Aldi Moser Roth dark chocolate. I prefer the 70% ones. Added bonus is no one else in the house will eat it 😄

One of our local butchers does ‘truffles’ too. They are a really good idea, aren’t they?

@Jollyholibobs I love the neckline of that top! The trousers seem quite big on you though. May be time for the size below? I like the material. I've been wearing cords all winter because it's only just dawned on me that jeans are coooold. I have spent many winters freezing in jeans

@NotwatchingSpooks (I'm on season 8 of spokes right now I'm BBC catch up and my crush on Harry Pierce goes on unabated ;-)) I have a fabulous sofa bed from IKEA. It's an Lshape with storage in the chaise bit then you can lift the hinge at the front to make a really nice double bed . I can't recall the name but they still sell it.

My SIL is staying with us at the moment as she was finding living alone rough and she's in our bubble. She's not a Lcarber but really happy to have LC dinners with us and adapt stuff, and I'm seeing for the first time how easy it is to adapt meals (as usually DH and I are eating the same thing so no need - annoyingly he is losing weight much faster than I am as usual!)

RagzReturnsRebooted that sounds horrendous, is it standard for you?

I’m a fan of the Aldi choc too. Also their 85% buttons are scrummy, but a bit too easy to eat a bag full.

Had to get lunch from a garage today. Tikka chicken slices and cheese were fine. “Treated” myself to a Diet Coke and 70% Lindt. Couldn’t have more than a mouthful of either, they tasted too sweet! A mere two months ago I’d polish off a family size Galaxy bar of an evening, what have you lot done to me?!

On the seriously low carb hot cross buns - they’re nice for a change, but a bit insubstantial compared to the bread rolls.

Just wrote a long post with replies and lost it all. So apologies for not tagging everyone who has kindly commented.
I do suspect endometriosis but have no desire for surgical investigations or treatment, having seen friends struggle with the resulting adhesions and knowing it would likely reccur anyway. Hormonal contraception works well but unfortunately I haven't been able to tolerate any (mirena gave me agonising ovarian cysts and all the pills gave me awful mood symptoms that were worse than my PMS). I've got my hopes on a new drosperinone only pill that should be available here soon.
This WOE seems to have made my PMS symptoms better but perhaps made my actual period worse. This may be a short adjustment though, I hope, they aren't usually quite this bad.
Naproxen was an excellent painkiller but I developed an allergy to it (999 call last time!), but if next month is as bad as this (never had to miss work before) I will be asking the GP for something.

DH is currently making another aubergine lasagne with his excellent cheese sauce. Though it's late in the making and I'm now really hungry! Had a small bar of Aldi chocolate and a piece of cheese to keep me going.

OMG those beef truffle things sounds amazing. Should be fairly easy to make...

I nearly cried this afternoon as I found the last of the butcher pork belly in the fridge when I thought I'd frozen it, didn't trust the smell so it had to be binned

Oh no that's gutting. I'm so sorry to hear you are suffering so much.

Been a bit hungrier today
Breakfast 2 boiled eggs
Lunch prawns with cream cheese, few cubes of cheddar
Tea steak with cauliflower mash and green beans
Just had some blueberries and Greek yoghurt.
Full now!

Those beef truffles do sound and look incredible!

I can highly recommend the menopause!

... although I'm very grateful that I had minimal symptoms going through it.

But - it was noticeable that when I properly low carbed, the symptoms were much less and much more manageable. As I can't go on HRT (my mum died from advanced breast cancer, and the risk to me is one I'm not prepared to take), I was very grateful for that.

I've noticed that my hormonal PMT symptoms are less on this WOE too. I'm still apparently stuck in a cycle of 2 weeks of decent losses followed by 2 weeks of stalling or small losses, but at least I'm not putting weight on in those slow weeks any more.

Symptoms are much reduced too, better control of my emotions and while I still have cravings for sweet food they aren't nearly as bad as they were when I ate carbs.

Oooh so much I want to say...

cheeseisthebest The first dress looked great, then second looked not so great. I think that as we gradually (or not so gradually) put on weight we get used to disguising our shape. It can be difficult (for me, maybe for others) to let go of the shape shaming clothes, after al they felt so comfortable...

prettybird re the vaccine: I had a similar conversation with my dsis who insisted that I could order my appointment. Yup, only if I have a GP with an address in England... And my dh has a similar birthday to yours. I tell him that he'll miss the timeline for the 60+ then miss the timeline for the 55-59

On chocolate, I'm with BIWI the 90% Lindt is perfect. One square is almost too much. I've tried the 100% and it is just too, too bitter. There's no enjoyment.

@RagzReturnsRebooted oh my sympathies for you with the awful period pain. Pre-menopause, that was me. One time I was flying Scotland to London. I'd woken up mid period, projectile vomited, carried on with my preparations, alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen (within the limits). Gone to the airport, still stuffing every OTC permitted painkiller.

On the plane the pain intensified and I was blacking out. An ambulance was waiting, took me to hospital, and it turned out I had acute appendicitis. The medics were '???' didn't you realise some serious was wrong?' Me: 'No. I just thought it was period pain...'

Morning all. Has anyone else been bought chocolates this morning, despite your family knowing you are LCing and have been since the New Year?
They are my favourites though so I will save them, usually I would do the box in two days!

I said no chocolate for Mother's Day because I have no self control and my littlest DC has done good! Although he did immediately ask me to open the pack so he could help me eat them!

@StuntNun , you’ve trained him well !
I’m doing well here too , I asked for a plant or flowers , DS sent M & S flowers which arrived yesterday , and I think DD has bought me a plant
We’ve the M& S meal deal for dinner ( roast chicken , pigs in blankets , red cabbage , roast potatoes , and choc fudge pud - which they chose because it’s gluten free , and thought that as it doesn’t have flour in it , it’s suitable , and they know I don’t like roast potatoes )
I’m hoping we can take a drive down to the beach , it’s over the 5 mile guidance , but we’re rural and apparently we can do a longer journey
I just want to do a different walk !

@StuntNun excellent buying from dc.

I feel like I need a medal this morning, for some reason the birthday cake I got dd was calling to me so much last night and I managed to ignore it. I was almost obsessively craving it.

I am trying to wear nicer clothes when I go out with the dogs and things, I've got into the habit of wearing scruffy clothes but it actually takes the same amount of effort to put on nice clothes and I feel so much better for it.

Also trying to start a new skincare routine (never had one before) is making me feel nice.

Is anyone else cold all the time? I'm now wondering if the advantage of being obese was that I wasn't cold, I'm freezing all the time now.

Sunday is my measuring day and I'm down another inch on my waist which makes 6 inches since start of Jan. can't quite believe it.

@Doilooklikeatourist beach sounds heavenly, enjoy.

I’ve got the box of Lindt balls and a card, apparently DH has hidden the rest at his mothers so I wouldn’t see it.
All I want is a shower (whole weekend alone with the DC, who are at the age where they can’t be left for extended periods without squabbling or one of them hurting the other!)

Another one here who specified no chocolate. My lovely DS has gone and bought me a bottle of gin . He wasn't to know that's not allowed either bless him. To be honest it's a fabulous present, I love gin! This bottle will last me till next mother's day if I can stay on the bootcamp wagon