Week 9 - Low Carb Bootcamp - only 2 weeks to go ...

[BIWI]

Morning all.

[[Here's the Spreadsheet as always
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18CKhdQ3FlGz_8H53AA2Pqm4xmvGLHO6vBrkNWCkSO48/edit#gid=788946144 ]]

I hope everyone had a good week, and that any Mother's Day treats haven't messed things up too much

So we enter our final two weeks. Still time to shift a couple of those pesky pounds - especially if you keep focused and stay strict. And a reminder, channelling my inner Shag, WATER, WATER, WATER!

@Bestbees

Rocket I can manage! Chic? Well if all it takes to make me chic is some radishes then I am in!

Not just the radishes. The combo. Simple, fresh ingredients in perfect combination. Bliss.

Bon appetit

@ShagMeRiggins

ouch I’ve had this as well, the not dropping dress sizes. Two things come to mind:

1. I was wearing lots of stretchy stuff and probably was a larger size than I admitted.

1. My top size vs my bottom size are completely different.

Thinking it through, my body has also changed shape and continues to do so. The focus now is to dress the shape I have as well as possible and not think twice about sizes.

60lbs down and a drop of two sizes for top and three sizes for bottom (with a bit of muffin on the side).

Clothes lie. And so do we, sometimes, to ourselves.

KOKO and ALL THE WATER!!! Mwah!

Thanks Shag, this is probably all true for me too. Especially the bit about lying to myself about what size I was . I think it was the prospect of having to buy a size 24 that got me on to bootcamp.

I don't have lofty ambitions. I know it's quite vain but this isn't all about health for me. What I really want is to be able to shop in normal clothes shops. Even size 18 some time in 2021 would be fine. I'll get there, I know from past diets that a size is about 3 stone for me.

I can't remember if it was you or another wise bootcamper who advised me to laminate an "I AM THE ONE PERCENT" sign but I'm definitely going to do that!

Oh yes @ShagMeRiggins I know it's pretty much the going rate - I guess I was just a bit taken aback because so many businesses do free delivery if you've ordered over a certain amount.

@BIWI that does sound like a faff but also a real treat for DH - you are good - I've kind of given up on making any effort for birthdays this year 

@ShagMeRiggins your run comment made me snort!

@Jollyholibobs I did it! 13.2 miles with no crappy gels and I sort of forgot / ran out of time / decided not to have breakfast either so did it all on 2 cups of tea. I just wasn't hungry this morning so decided to throw myself on the wisdom of the group (again!) and trust the fat to do its job. It was slow but very very good fun and I felt fine at the end - legs and knees told me how far I'd run (!) but energy levels were great.

My bloating had gone this morning - which has only happened a few times recently, there's usually a low level the whole time. But after my run (and NO food) it was up again 😰 so it must be fluid retention??

@FusionChefGeoff well done on the run!
I've managed C25K twice but always stopped once I'd managed it. I prefer swimming.

Pork is loins and no I don't have a pressure cooker (one of the few kitchen gadgets I don't own). I'll just play around and see what happens.

@Bestbees I love anchovies in pasta sauce (obviously without the pasta currently!). This recipe from Nigel slater is what I use them for. It goes well with just courgetti or a pile of buttery green veg, or to use as a sauce to go over fish or meat.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/20/nigel-slater-classic-recipe-spaghetti-alla-puttanesca

@FusionChefGeoff fantastic. Well done! Really pleased for you. It was a lovely day for it too.

@FusionChefGeoff - that sounds like post run dehydration. I often used to get very swollen fingers and sometimes feet after a long run. Drink plenty of water to rehydrate even more than usual Ypu May also need to take/make some electrolytes.

Here are today's earrings. As mentioned earlier, I don't have a clue where I got them. I might have bought them myself but I have an inkling that they were a present: either from my mum and dad, but they're dangly and dad didn't approve or my best friend or my 1st boss and his wife, as they stayed good friends after I left ICI. They pre-date dh, so must be over 28 years old

Thanks for the TV recommendations! I like the sound of the FlightAttendant and the Terror. I've seen Queen's gambit and agree the fashion is gorgeous.

@Bestbees this Ottolenghi recipe for roast aubergines and anchovies is glorious - highly recommend. In fact, I've got a tin of anchovies in the pantry (had a massive pantry clear out and rearrange today) and will be buying some aubergines shortly! www.foodgal.com/2018/11/yotam-ottolenghis-roasted-eggplant-with-anchovies-and-oregano/

They are my favourite earrings so far.
I have a zoom catch up with some friends, trying to decide if I can be bothered to put some make up on.

@Mimosa1 I missed your request for TV shows. I've just watched I May Destroy You on the bbc iPlayer. It was the best thing I've watched in ages. It's about the aftermath of a sexual assault so pretty strong in places but so so good.

Just had a bottle of skinny brands lager with my dinner. 3g carbs per bottle and it was lovely.

skinnybrands.com/products/skinny-products/skinny-lager/

ouch it was me. You ARE the ONE PERCENT.

BIWI I totally get it. If I had to guess it would be that restaurants haven’t yet built in the shipping costs to their prices the way online businesses have. This must be so new to them, and quite a shock to you as a customer!! Still hoping At Home continues and they can create partnerships to minimise P&P while still having guaranteed delivery. I think it’s really interesting how COVID is having an impact on businesses and innovations. (Apologies for massive musings, etc. )

Fusion I’m delighted that made you snort—the running comment. I was headed toward a full description of when and how and why, but bottom line was true and accurate. Delighted, though, for all the runners who get endorphins and enjoy themselves.

piglet and mimosa thanks for anchovy recipes. M husband keeps confusing my love of them with what he thinks is my love of sardines (which I do like). Much in the same way that he was playing AC/DC tonight while making dinner (Male Performative Cooking Playlist Alert!) and said—when I thought a song might be Enter Sandman, which is not by AC/DC— “how long have we been married?”

For me, it was funny. He’s picking up my phrases.

@ShagMeRiggins

Fusion I am so happy the fajita with lettuce was a hot with you. Honestly, my love of Mexican food is huge and being able to keep eating it with as a “salad” rather than with tortillas or shells is such a pleasure for maximum food enjoyment.

nowlook maybe start a blog specifically targeted at reviewing low carb products and recipes? You have a clear and humorous writing style. I’d read you. And maybe you could get free shit sent your way.

Catching up on thread, but Happy First Day of Spring and WATER, NOW!!!!

That's a lovely thing to say, Shag. The clarity is the legal training; the humour is trying so, so hard not to sound like a lawyer

If I got free shit, I'd have to send it to the cooks on the thread. Seriously, I'm such a fraud. I'm basically one of those performative husbands that everyone's on about. I even like your DH's playlist...

[quote ouchmyfeet]@Mimosa1 I missed your request for TV shows. I've just watched I May Destroy You on the bbc iPlayer. It was the best thing I've watched in ages. It's about the aftermath of a sexual assault so pretty strong in places but so so good.

[/quote]
Wasn't it powerful, @ouchmyfeet! She's so, so talented.

@prettybird All your earrings are lovely and I've enjoyed seeing them. If you have a look back over the past 21 days, it's quite incredible how much your jaw has tightened! That's a weird thing to say and probably shouldn't be in anyone's top 10 compliments, but you know what I mean

Jumping on the thread when you are all on week 8 and I'm on Week 5. I haven't read this thread at all but I've lurked on most of the others. Kept meaning to post but didn't get round to writing a long one and I'm not now either, I've just jumped on to ask about the low carb muffins. I was going to make them but I have no idea what weight a cup is! So here I am looking for help. It was prettybird who posted the recipe on the last thread. I have googled but some places say 225g and some say 125. I had a full set of measuring cups but I don't remember seeing them since the last house move and tbh I don't think I missed them!

Have lost 7-8 lbs I think, lost, stalled, bit of a whoosh. I eat boring food and you all put me to shame with your fabulous meals.

I use 100g of ground almonds in the muffin recipe.

@Apileofballyhoo : You need to do the cup as a volume measure: it's c240/250 ml (250ml works for me as I use large eggs).

@nowlook - I've just got better at taking the selfies to avoid my aging jawline But thank you for the compliment. I've either got better at disguising my jowls and/or the extended fasting is working

Pork chops weren't too bad in the end. I cooked them on their sides (see photo) for ages so that fat was nicely browned then cooked on each side. I took them out and made a mustard and cream sauce (wholegrain and dijon mustard, cream, salt and pepper) in the pan with all the lovely fat and had that drizzled liberally sloshed over my chop and a half and veg instead of gravy. DH and DS1 had some too and I have a bit left over. I had mashed swede, cabbage and carrots with it. I'm still full now, as I decided I'd better eat the rest of the veg so had seconds and must have ended up eating about 4 portions of swede and 2 portions of cabbage, with my small portion of carrots. I needed the carbs though.

Very satisfying after several hours in the garden with DH this afternoon doing some aggressive pruning (I have rubbed skin off my middle finger as it blistered on the secateurs so hand gel is going to sting like hell at work tomorrow) of the jasmine that had gotten so leggy and out of control that it was sneaking in through next-door's window and between bits of fence panels!

Quick reminder to do your census this evening if you haven't done it already. I'll be doing mine shortly.

@prettybird I'd been thinking the same about your photos, so it must be real

@Apileofballyhoo

Here's my copy of the recipe:

Low carb Muffins

1 cup ground almond (100g)
1 tbsp (30g) very cold solid fat such as butter or plant butter.
Three medium eggs chilled.
1 generous tsp baking powder

At this stage it can changed to be sweet muffins by adding in 2 tablespoons of sweetener with 1tsp vanilla extract

Or cheese muffins (my favourite)
60g or a large handful of cold grated mature cheddar and some Chopped chives.

Pre heat oven to 180. Prepare muffin tin with paper cups.
The next bit needs to be done swiftly so things don’t get to room temperature, it’s the shock of the oven that makes them rise well.

If you have a food processor, blitz the almond flour with the butter briefly until just mixed. Otherwise grate the butter into the almonds. Add all other ingredients and blitz until just mixed. Spoon into cases. This should do 4, but the cheese mix often makes 5 smaller ones.

It’s about 14 mins in the oven but might need a little longer.

They are best eaten cold as they don’t come out of the wrappers easily when warm. I have my sweet ones with butter and sugar free jam, and the cheese ones with cheese slices and pickles.

I’m also a dreadful performative cook as DH is the main chef here. Tonight I was very much feeling it as I cooked, and have totally subdued my tendencies with that thread in mind!

Dinner: courgetti, sauce made with roast tomato, spinach, red pepper, shallot, garlic and chilli. Also fried the centre of the courgette in little discs until they were a bit crispy. Then fried sardine fillets to sit on top. It was lush and I feel healthy.

No way are we now using up the leftover chocolate soup mixture while watching Line of Duty.

Ah, thanks so much prettybird and BIWI. After 5 weeks I really feel like eating some kind of bread/muffin/scone type thing. I'll go with the grammes. DS can't eat gluten, and now also any form of maize/corn so I'm hoping he'll like these too as they'd be handy for school. He's been having rice cakes. prettybird loving the earrings and the stories that go with them.

Yes @nowlook, incredibly talented! It's not often I watch something that I know will stay with me but I know I'll think about this for a long time. It makes me wish Michaela Cole was an author so I could read everything she's ever written!