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!

@BIWI that's heartening. I just to order cannily. I actually am bored to tears by Jersey Royals and they often serve them just boiled here (no butter!) so I find them eminently resistable. One local café serves a side of boiled Jersey Royals with everything, including bacon sandwiches.

@Doilooklikeatourist I am very lucky - we can have people in our houses again as of this week (hence my glass of wine last night) and restaurants and cafes opened up towards the end of February. There are VERY strict rules about serving alcohol with food only though - eg if you arrive earlier than the people you're meeting, as my friend did when some of us went out last week, you can't order a drink, there's a ratio of number of dishes you have to order to how much alcohol they'll give you, and once you've finished eating, you can't order more. Also you have a strict 2.5 hours so you leave then, even if you haven't finished. Hence me at the bus stop with a bit of brie in hand!

DH went to the local pub with a friend on Saturday night, which is rural and the local for lots of farmers who are NOT looking for a gastropub experience, just want a pint with their mates. He said it was very funny watching them all sitting around with uneaten cheeseboards in front of them.

@Dailyhandtowelwash sooooooo envious!! Hope you have a fantastic time!

My top tip for avoiding carby twatdom when eating out is to have a coffee with liquor in lieu of pudding - it means you get a treat to finish off the meal and you don’t feel deprived while everyone else is sitting there having something sweet to eat.

Especially if you have it with amaretto as it’s got that hint of almond sweetness...👍

@Doilooklikeatourist

I might have a go at the plank challenge. I'm finding that the one I'm doing right now (crunches/squats/push ups/Russian twists/mountain climbers) has reactivated my back pain. And given that my core strength has probably disappeared over the last year, I should work on that instead.

My plank record is 6 minutes - but I built up to that over several weeks, not days! So although the 3 day challenge starts off easily, I think reaching 5 minutes in 30 days might be pretty difficult.

If I were you, I'd double the amount of days - so repeat each day before you move on to a longer time. That way you're also not in danger of hurting yourself.

Thank you everyone, glad to know my chip shop option last night was ok. It actually felt quite like a treat so I'll certainly do it again if the family fancy fish and chips.
@ouchmyfeet I'm struggling to find the recipe for the gratin as I first made it a few weeks ago, but I cut leeks in half lengthways and then into half moons and thinly sliced the fennel. I put the leeks in the bottom of a overproof dish and lay the fennel on top. I then covered in about half stock and half cream, but you could do all cream, but it's too much for me. Then sprinkle with parmesan and put in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

[quote Ninkanink]@Dailyhandtowelwash sooooooo envious!! Hope you have a fantastic time!

My top tip for avoiding carby twatdom when eating out is to have a coffee with liquor in lieu of pudding - it means you get a treat to finish off the meal and you don’t feel deprived while everyone else is sitting there having something sweet to eat.

Especially if you have it with amaretto as it’s got that hint of almond sweetness...👍[/quote]
Ah, but not allowed as I couldn't order the two together at the moment! I almost never have puddings when eating out here as even the nice restaurants often just offer premade cake/ice cream and it's all boring or way too sweet for me. Also portions are invariably enormous so I'm too full. It's been a great way to break the habit of thinking I want it even when I don't really. In the interests of carrying on the booze though last week we all ordered cheese, so may do the same tonight.

We've all agreed to go dressed up and sparkly. I have absolutely no memory of how to do that! The rest of them are all bemoaning how their nice clothes don't fit though, and I don't have that worry at least.

Oh that’s great if you can take it or leave it! Cheese board is an excellent choice too of course. Do enjoy yourself a huge amount on behalf of all of us!

Oh do you know I rarely do a huge amount of sparkle or sequins but I’m sooo up for dressing up right now! — I just bought a full length faux fur coat and I’m so looking forward to wearing it out one evening...

The coquilles St Jacques, because of the mash

On behalf of France, I am furious that restaurants ruin this perfect, classic, unparalleled dish with... potato.

I’ve just bought the Mylee nail system and can’t wait to try it! My nails have been entirely neglected throughout lockdown... in preparation for its arrival I’m going to clear out the varnishes I already have as they will no longer be useful to me (I don’t have many and they are all past their best by now, being several years old at least). I am slowly but surely clearing out everything I don’t actually use, and guarding against buying anything that I won’t use. I went for the autumn/winter set as the colours suit me and I’ll wear them for a couple of months yet at least. Then I’ll probably buy 2 or 3 spring/summer colours in May.

Oh me too, @ShagMeRiggins! There are some excellent funny (and thankfully mostly not mean spirited) threads going at the moment.

@Ninkanink I think there's a very real chance that the four of us will turn up tonight looking like pantomime dames, such is the desire to sparkle.

Excellent news, Nink. I’m finding that the gels are doing a much better job protecting my nails so they have a chance to grow. Do remember to not touch nails until all coats have been cured AND you’ve put on the final wipe at the end, otherwise they’ll be tacky and you’ll sit around swearing that it didn’t work

Daily you will all look fab and the fact you’re not worrying about fitting into your pantomime outfit is an NSV right there.

I’m bathing, heading to post office to ship some client orders, and then sending the fecking Fashion Zoom email. Should never have decided to do a spreadsheet for timing—that’s always a guaranteed time-thief for me.

WATER!!!

BIWI I recommend Good Mornings for strengthening your back. If it's already sore then start off with a really low weight.

The plank is an isometric exercise which can increase your blood pressure so longer isn't necessarily better. I'd suggest doing a couple of two-minute planks with a rest break between them rather than a single four-minute plank for example.

Yes my nails are quite weak and when I was getting regular gel manicures they were kept in much better condition. I’ve never learnt how to file my own nails (always just clip them because that way they don’t seem to flake as much) so I’ll have to try to muster the patience to master that (I’m not a patient person...)!

@pinkpinkeverywhere

Thank you everyone, glad to know my chip shop option last night was ok. It actually felt quite like a treat so I'll certainly do it again if the family fancy fish and chips. *@ouchmyfeet* I'm struggling to find the recipe for the gratin as I first made it a few weeks ago, but I cut leeks in half lengthways and then into half moons and thinly sliced the fennel. I put the leeks in the bottom of a overproof dish and lay the fennel on top. I then covered in about half stock and half cream, but you could do all cream, but it's too much for me. Then sprinkle with parmesan and put in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

Thanks, that's enough for me to work with.

Also enjoying the male performance cooking thread. Haven't revisited spoony fucker yet but I may do if my week calms down. I remember finding it hilarious first time around

Late to the party!

STS this week as the last two weeks, but not really... as 3 weeks ago it was my lowest weight that week, last week I was bobbing up and down around that weight, and this week it's my top range weight.

I need a scatter graph.

BIWI** Although it's not a 'challenge' I'd recommend deadbugs for rebuilding core strength without hurting your back.

Dailyhandtowelwash** Don't be afraid to ask for things to be left off your plate or swapped for veg or salad.

The thing about that thread ouch is when I compare it to the multiple, daily, stunning meals that are posted here—well it just has to make me laugh. This is very much the Get On With It thread, aka I have loads of other shit to do and cannot be bothered to create a playlist before I start cooking!!

That’s one of my husband’s specialties, though he’s never been one to shy away from cooking, ever.

I mean, I do like music in the kitchen but it’s not...required. I’m chopping veg, guys, don’t need to be serenaded, thanks.

No breakfast or lunch yet, might grab salad with spinach and a few peppers, maybe some tuna Mayo on top, doused in vinaigrette and possibly mushrooms/tomatoes, avocado if we have any.

Tonight would be lovey to have some pork belly but no idea if I can find time between meetings to get it in for glorious slow cooking. Might just be a sea bass & FLGV tonight.

WATER!!!!

Dailyhandtowelwash Don't be afraid to ask for things to be left off your plate or swapped for veg or salad.

Excellent point, Hope. The Caesar starter can just be without croutons, voila. I do love Caesar, especially with anchovies in it and a fried egg at the bottom sometimes, like they do in Australia (well, Melbourne. In the 90s.)

Today's earrings: a present from dh a couple of Christmases ago (I told dh which shop to go and browse in: Nancy Smillie for those of you that know Glasgow ). They're actually quite annoying as I find myself pulling them a lot, but today I've found that provided I put my hair up and am therefore not fiddling with it/tucking it behind my ears , they seem to be ok.

I also lost one last September when we went out for a meal as a family to Sarti's remember the days when we could do that sort of thing . Searched the house and the car and then went back into town the following day to retrace my steps to the restaurant. No joy in the restaurant but as I was going back to the car, on the road side (would have been the passenger side) I found it ...so it would have fallen out as I was getting out the car.

I was very lucky.

Hi everyone, thanks for having me. So great to hear of your incredible losses! And good luck to those not having any losses at the mo... I'm at the start where it feels insurmountable as yet to see any progress.

I've had a terrible start... I think I need to study the plan better and also that I'm majorly addicted to carbs I've had two failed days and today is only marginally better so far. Think being at home all the time working doesn't help. Anyway, today is:

B - small petit pain baguette that my eldest didn't want (fail!) two eggs scrambled with mushrooms and onions.
Then plan is to have
L - broccoli and cheddar soup
D - homemade soya bolognaise sauce and salad

Then god help me coz evening are my danger time. Any tips on how to avoid snacking in the evenings? I might brush and floss my teeth or take myself off upstairs for a bubble bath.

I often find cleaning my teeth helps me stop snacking. Welcome!

Blurp either have some appropriate low carb snacks available for the evening or eat more at dinner so you're full up. Once you've adapted to this way of eating you won't feel as hungry and shouldn't need to snack. Eating in the evening is often habit more than hunger so you'll find that once you've broken the habit it becomes easy to continue.

Welcome @Blurpblorp, it can be hard to get into the way of things to start with but it does get much easier over time.

One thing that helps me is to always have the same thing for breakfast, for me that means a variation of yoghurt, cream, berries, coffee. So coffee with cream, yoghurt with a couple of berries or a splash of cream. It means I start the day without feeling tempted by a piece of toast and don’t have the faff of cooking anything. If you find your breakfast isn’t getting you to lunch have a bit more of the breakfast food for a snack. Doing that has retrained my body (mind) into realising I’m not stopping to have a biscuit mid morning because I’m “hungry” but I’m not leaving myself unable to eat if I need to.

Starting the day with a low carb breakfast gives me time to then plan lunch and dinner properly without thinking I’ve blown it at breakfast so might as well eat more carbs. It also stops the sugar crash that comes with eating a bit of carbs at breakfast so I’m not hungry during the morning.

It takes planning and a change of mindset but I’ve lost in total 2.5 stones so far between this Bootcamp (I’m on week 3 so early days yet) and a previous Bootcamp a few years back. The weight has stayed off so I’m back to loose the next chunk.

Happy St Patrick's Day BCers! Living vicariously through those looking forward to meals out and meeting friends
Pouring lots of energy into giving the DC a fun day - balloons and music and some sweet treats (not in the least tempted so claiming that as a NSV!) We have also had AFW which everyone enjoyed...

L - attempting spanakopita
D - Irish stew minus the spuds DC having theirs with mash and we've got some leftover celeriac mash to have with ours.

Happy St Patrick's Day!! 🍀

Glad to say I have started today in a much better mindset-

B Greek Yog with some seeds and Almond Butter
L SLC Hot Cross Bun with lots of Jersey Butter
D Mince Stew with FLGV

Have pre-boiled some eggs just in case and there are no naughty carbs in the house

Happy St Paddy’s to you! I am wearing green, by the way.