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'm sneaking in for the last 3 weeks of Bootcaml. I did the one before Christmas and lost a few kgs - more to go... i wish I'd rejoined sooner, but I am here now. Thanks @BIWI for running this

Morning all I am so happy that the DC are back in school - I spent most of yesterday pottering in the kitchen and made a chicken soup in my soup maker with a million low carb veg. I also made a rhubarb crumble for the DC and remembered how low carb rhubarb is so I roasted some for me to nibble on as well - very sharp but so delicious.

@cheeseisthebest @Oneborneverydecade like you both no one has commented on my weight loss on school run. I have a childish fantasy that I will emerge from the next Bootcamp on June 21st to gasps of awe ( highly unlikely but keeps me motivated !) I am still wearing a coat that's a size 18 so I probably look no different at the moment.

I am another Bootcamp Renpho sheep and I too love all the data. @pinkpinkeverywhere same as you my metabolic age refuses to shift . I suspect it's accurate as I am not very active at the moment hoping if I can get some exercise into my routines it may have an impact.

I do find the scales don't always read properly and it says ' is this you ?' I haven't worked out why that is - must investigate - unless anyone else has had this ?

Must get some water underway I did much better yesterday !

Welcome (back!) @Mimosa1!

Celeriac does sometimes cause digestive issues, I think because it's so high in fibre, but it's also incredibly good for you.

Think back to when you last had it, @AWryGiraffe and @RagzReturnsRebooted - how did you cook it? If you had it with lots of dairy (e.g. if you'd made a dauphinoise), this could have made it worse compared with, say, having it mashed with leeks and butter - because of the combination of the veg with dairy.

@Midlifemission I had a few times when my scales said that and I think it was because I was getting off them too soon. I now wait until the weight has 'blinked' and then re-appeared, this seems to work as before when it asked if it was me, not all the data came up on my phone.

Have ordered the scales, they were £4 off so £20.99. Mine have the handles for fat scanning, apparently meant to be more accurate, but I remember being told I was basically 1/3 fat and being really upset about that! The Renpho ones have good reviews for accuracy compared to professional ones apparently, even though I read that if it only has foot electrodes then you only get a reading based on your lower half? My handle ones give you readings for visceral fat, which I liked because mine was always lower than DH's despite being fatter than him!
But I want the app and the graphs. I also think weighing daily is better for me as I can see immediate impact of water consumption or alcohol etc which keeps me accountable.

Just treated myself to fancy free range pork belly from the butcher. I had it boned and rind taken off as I was going to make to pork crunchy things again, but I feel that may be a waste of my posh pork. What can I do instead to get the best of the flavour?

Hi everyone

I've been lurking on all the threads and haven't posted much, I'm so sorry! I'm not very good at social media in general and tend to keep an eye on things rather than get involved, it all feels a bit alien to me!

Anyway thanks to this amazing boot camp, as of today I've lost 23lbs and I'm now 199lbs (haven't been under 200 in a LONG time) so although I have a very long way to go I am feeling overjoyed today!

My birthday is coming up just after the end of this boot camp and I'm a bit worried about losing my way if I have a few days of carbs/booze. Would it be really sad and lame for me to stay on the bootcamp rules and just bake myself a nigella olive oil birthday cake and have a few glasses of wine instead of the Pizza Hut I had planned? If so is a nice dry rose wine ok?

I've loved looking at all of your meals for inspiration, without these threads I don't think I could have stuck to this. Which makes me feel even guiltier for not contributing! I will try harder to get myself involved.

Thank you all for being so amazing! You're all helping me so much!

Welcome back, too, @ruple! And many congratulations on your achievement - it feels great, doesn't it?

That said:

My birthday is coming up just after the end of this boot camp and I'm a bit worried about losing my way if I have a few days of carbs/booze. Would it be really sad and lame for me to stay on the bootcamp rules and just bake myself a nigella olive oil birthday cake and have a few glasses of wine instead of the Pizza Hut I had planned? If so is a nice dry rose wine ok?

Why on earth would a birthday mean 'a few days of carbs/booze?'

I genuinely don't understand why you would want to sabotage everything you've achieved.

If you think that staying on Bootcamp is 'sad and lame' this is an indication to me that you don't really accept or understand that carbs are not your friend - the way we eat here is anything but sad or lame!

Birthdays also don't have to mean cake - but there are plenty of lower carb options you could choose, if you have to have cake.

@ruple

Well done for delurking and on the mammoth loss!

It is neither sad nor lame to stay on the same path for your birthday- particularly if you think going off plan will be a slippery slope for you. As you'll have seen, there are plenty of options (such as the dirty fries, meatzza and the chocolate mousse) if you want a treat.

Equally, there's no law against eating in a different way- especially if you're doing it mindfully, doing it between bootcamps, and completely accept that it could set you back on this journey by a few weeks.

All that said, whatever you do, don't load up on carbs simply because your brain tells you that's what people do on their birthdays.

Are those around you generally supportive of this change or are they treating it as more of a fad diet?

@BIWI

Welcome (back!) *@Mimosa1*!

Celeriac does sometimes cause digestive issues, I think because it's so high in fibre, but it's also incredibly good for you.

Think back to when you last had it, @AWryGiraffe and @RagzReturnsRebooted - how did you cook it? If you had it with lots of dairy (e.g. if you'd made a dauphinoise), this could have made it worse compared with, say, having it mashed with leeks and butter - because of the combination of the veg with dairy.

Hmm that might be it. The last twice we've had it it's been in the form of fries topped with cheese (so nice). I can't remember if I felt affected by it when we had it mashed with leeks and butter.

Brunch was spinach and cucumber with fried mushrooms, shallots and eggs

Dinner will be soy 'chicken' with pak Choi, mushrooms and asparagus

Feel a bit more back on track in terms of interest in food, not been as bothered about it last couple of days but really craved something fresh and crunchy today.

What fantastic loss you’ve had, very well done. If you’re going to eat carbs I’d do it mindfully, think about what you’d really enjoy and have some of that rather than just because a birthday means Pizza Hut and cake. You’re not going to put all the weight back on with one pizza but if you know it’ll respark a love of all things carby, it may do more harm than good.

What else would be a good treat for your birthday?

@Jellycatspyjamas

You’re not going to put all the weight back on with one pizza

That's very true - but 'a few days of carbs/booze' most certainly will!

Absolutely @biwi i know for me it’s always a slippery slope, and before I know it the weekend has passed, the weights back on and I’m fighting the sugar monster again. I know I can’t slip back at all, never been someone who can stop at one pizza, it’s the wine and then the cake (because I had pizza so I might as well), then the wine, then the slice or two of toast....

So Day 2/Week 3 of C25K done today. I'm so glad I started back at the beginning. I think if I'd just gone out and tried to run even 5 minutes without stopping I'd have given up by now.

Also did my 30 day challenge exercises, although I have to confess to being a day behind now, as I missed a day. Tomorrow is supposed to be a rest day, so I'll catch up then.

I fell off the wagon (it’s a bloody recurring theme on here with me ) so have been quiet

However; when I look at the spreadsheet of fabulousness, I’m 9lbs down total from the start, which I think is amazing given I’ve not been able to
properly shift weight in last 2 years. I got into a pair of jeans yesterday that I haven’t been able to for ages! Also (poss tmi) no awful pre period bloating, pain or sore boobs this time round - pretty sure there’s a link with lower water retention from less shit carbs

I’m considering quietly giving up booze; I’ve barely drunk through this which has been a revelation, and when I have, I’ve realised there’s no off switch / moderation, same for certain foodstuffs.

@LittleMy77 holds out a hand to pull you back on the wagon.

@BIWI think we are doing the same fitness challenge, which I am enjoying. We'll done for keeping up the running even though you don't love it, great will power!

Hi @ruple. I think with this woe it has to be something you really think you can commit to long term. To do that you need to not find it sad. There is so much delicious treat low carb food I think so perhaps I would plan one meal of carbiness if I felt I wanted it. But instead of pizza how about burgers with slc roll and celeriac chips? Almond flour chicken katsu? Steak and celeriac dauphioise? A fish feast?

@RagzReturnsRebooted someone posted a pork belly thing before, something to do with skin down and certain temps?

Koko here. Need to eat more green veg I think but otherwise pooling along!

@Jellycatspyjamas

I think it was someone on here last bootcamp to said a thing that i think made something click for me.

Some people are moderators and some people are abstainers. Moderators can eat one of something and stop, Abstainers can't. I realised that i'm an abstainer after that and have stopped falling off the wagon as a result. I fell off the wagon at christmas (deliberately) and then climbed onto the wagon behind it that was full of chocolate and pasta. Two weeks later i fell off THAT one 8lb heavier. Sooo this bootcamp i'm sticking with it until goal. One stone(ish) to go.

As a former binger i've also tried to be more mindful and found that imagining going off plan, feeling shit from eating sugar and then feeling shit for gaining weight, then feeling shit going though keto flu again. It just isn't worth it any more.

I'm tired of avoiding taking picture of myself, tired of worrying if my family members are skinnier then me and dreading beach holidays. I have two small children now (1 and 3) and i want the memories and i want to stop thinking about how i look. My husband also sighed yesterday and said 'im so glad you have stopped snoring' so that's good too!

Thanks for new thread BIWI

Been a bit busy this end so haven't had the chance to read through properly. Lovely seeing all the earring stories though!
Hoping everyone's kokoing!

Checking in with -2.6lbs this week which I'm really pleased about.
Managed a run Sunday and Monday today will have to do with just a walk.

Lunch was cauliflower soup with pancetta from the dietdoctor which I adapted a bit. Came out a bit thin for me so I ended up blitzing some boiled broccoli in. SO DELISH!! Loooots of fat in it too!
www.dietdoctor.com/recipes/cauliflower-soup-crumbled-pancetta

Had a snack attack (shark week I think) and might have overdosed on some salted nuts and brie oops
Dinner is ribeye with buttery veg
Kale crisps for movie night

@Bestbees unfortunately I already had the skin removed, but I'm planning to tackle the fancy recipe one day.
I made pork bites but cooked them less so I had a bit of juicy fat. Doing some in slices with seasoning for dinner. I do wonder if my pork belly consumption is hindering my weight loss. I'm rather addicted...

@ruple that’s absolutely brilliant, really well done! I think a low carb birthday can be very special, I’m having one this year and definitely planning the nigella cake.
Today I made a gorgeous chicken casserole, the children enjoyed guessing the - nine - vegetables that were in it. Leftovers I’ll turn to curry tomorrow, I’ll have mine with cauliflower and do naan for everyone else. Feeling very positive about this week’s weigh in on Friday, even with TOTM I’d like to at least see the scales stay the same.
Can I ask if any more experienced boot campers have baked/cooked with oat fibre?

[quote RagzReturnsRebooted]@Bestbees unfortunately I already had the skin removed, but I'm planning to tackle the fancy recipe one day.
I made pork bites but cooked them less so I had a bit of juicy fat. Doing some in slices with seasoning for dinner. I do wonder if my pork belly consumption is hindering my weight loss. I'm rather addicted...[/quote]
Why are you taking the skin off ? That's the best bit, the crackling!

And why would eating pork belly hinder your weight loss?

How many times?! It's not eating fat that makes you fat. It's the carbs that make you fat.

I calculate Nigella's olive oil cake to be 219.25g carbs.

It serves 8-12.

If 12, then that's18.17g per slice
If 8, then that's 27.4g carbs per slice

Sorry @MrsOmelette I've never seen oat fibre, never mind cooked with it!

Never remove the fat!!

@cheeseisthebest about curly girl. It depends what you mean by super strict? I imagine I haven't used shampoo for abou 5years. I pick cg products but keep my routine simple and only wash once or twice a week.

Delicious dinner of Jamie's Oliver left over need rengdang and cauli rice.

@BIWI is that with sweetener instead of sugar?? It’s mentioned all over the place I was sure it was legitimate low carb 😢.
I’ll research oat fibre some more...

Nigella's recipe uses 200g caster sugar.