The final weigh-in thread: March 2021 Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Here's the spreadsheet

I think this has been a really fantastic Bootcamp. Lots of really great losses.

As well as that, though, like every Bootcamp I'm always amazed and often humbled by how much we get to know people. We may all be here because we're trying to lose weight, but there's so much more going on in people's lives.

Tomorrow is the final weigh-in, but I hope very much that people will continue to check in and update us all on 'their journey' (sorry for the cliché)

I’m a bit excited about it but I’ll shut up now!

I’m so pleased barbecues are on the horizon though because grilled stuff and salad is such an easy, delicious low carb meal. Only issue is getting enough fat in.

@Bestbees I’ve never made them but I’m sure there’s a recipe on one of the recipe threads - I think it’s just grated parmesan that you place in round shapes onto a baking sheet and bake. You could add herbs/spices or garlic/pepper if you want.

Mmmmm seafood barbecue sounds fantastic!

How many cold chicken thighs is too many for lunch? With salad. When you're eating outside and feeling really cold. And had no breakfast

Eat as many as you want.

Seven, Oneborn
I think it's on the spreadsheet somewhere.

@Ninkanink

Eat as many as you want.

This is terrible advice from the pp.

Eat as many as you have

Another update on the bread: NOT NOT MAKE.

@nowlook I find my body responds well when I mix up my eating a little. I usually eat 16:8 but sometimes I have a really big breakfast (lots of fat, lots of protein) then no lunch. I think I'm telling my body "there is plenty of food coming in, and it is OK to use stored fat for energy". My longest stalls have been when I've stuck to the same eating pattern for a long period, then I feel tempted to reduce my quantities to achieve a weight loss, then I think my body fights harder to keep the status quo.

I quite often go back to eating something for breakfast during the first 2 weeks of bootcamp (maybe half an avocado with olive oil, or an egg mashed with butter, or a small bowl of vegetable soup). I know that some people - who are used to fasting - find that eating breakfast makes them feel hungrier, but it doesn't really affect me in that way.

@Dailyhandtowelwash of course rhubarb is a vegetable so it's fine to eat although not all the sugar you might also find in the fool I stew rhubarb with orange zest, a squeeze of orange juice and some freshly grated ginger. Then I fold it into whipped double cream in the proportion of 90% cream / 10% rhubarb. The cream has natural sweetness (and richness) and I find that I don't usually need to add any other sweetener.

I was in the supermarket today and I could not quite believe the number of huge Easter eggs that people were buying - 5 and 6 each! Is there some great shortage of eggs that people are having to stockpile them? I overheard one parent loading up their trolley and getting the kids to chose "an egg from granny, an egg from auntie Sheila, and egg from... etc" I know it's been a tough year and probably all those family members wish they could spend time together, but I just thought "Oh, so much sugar" I know that's very judgey of me It's a long time since I had small children, so maybe it's something that has changed over the years and everyone expects multiple chocolate eggs now.

@venusandmars DH is stewing the rhubarb right now - no idea what in! But it normally remains fairly sharp when cooked by him. Neither of us has a very sweet tooth.

My lot have got one big supermarket egg each, and one extra thing from Hotel Chocolat. My in-laws sent us a box of 50! Creme Eggs so I’ll use some of those for an egg hunt on Sunday. The rest - dunno. My 18 year old eats the usual vast quantities and is like a stick so will probably funnel them his way subtly. But they end up getting so much chocolate at this time of year now, even from school. It’s unstoppable and I hate it. My eldest daughter is overweight and is basically me recreated. I am determined NOT to repeat my mother’s disastrous approach of constant criticism/diet classes and weekly weighing etc, so aim for limiting treats (which goes out of the window with all the Easter stuff) and trying to up her exercise, but she’s just getting bigger. She refuses to eat any vegetables at all.

Thank you @nowlook and @Ninkanink I had 6, ate 5 over a couple of hours, asked DH and he said 3?! (I would never plan to take 6 on a picnic but they were the best option our local Little Waitrose)

We've bought our DC (14, 9 & 2) 1 small M&S Oomble each and will give the older 2 cash and DD a present. DS9 is overweight and we're terrible for giving him cakes and pastries, it's so ingrained that it's a way of showing love. He is pretty good when it comes to eating dinners but for a long time wouldn't touch sandwiches and so we'd buy him a croissant for lunch

So disappointing about the bread

I just found this recipe on their website:

Keto Loaf Recipe

Whip up 4 Eggs and a tbspn of Apple Cider Vinegar in a large jug for a full 4 minutes until fully aerated.
In a separate bowl, add 30g melted Beef Dripping or Oil of choice to 120g of the flour, 50ml warm water and 7g of Dried Yeast.
Mix gently then add the whipped egg mix and use dough hooks for at least 3 mins until it stiffs up and forms a “dough”.
Pour into a baking tin and bake for 45 minutes at 180°.
The mix will also make 7-8 rolls instead of a loaf. At 30mins.

The bread is exceptionally filling and one slice a day is ample, use it to close or open your eating window and see how satiating it is. Freeze it, toast it, use it for open sandwiches with mashed avocado or cream cheese!

Yes- I saw that one @BIWI. I followed the recipe on the tab for the low carb flour (the one above is the keto flour). That said, I am an appalling cook and it might well have worked in better hands.

For balance, I put it back in the oven, so may try it again later with some cheese. Wouldn't want to compromise my journalistic integrity beforehand

Does anyone want the rest of the bag (750g)? I'll only leave it for the weevils...

@FusionChefGeoff thanks for the fruit photo thing. Very helpful.

I agree there is so much sugar around children and it's hard to balance one's approach. Complicated by the fact that my son is very similar to me physically and has a sweet tooth, while his sister doesn't like chocolate, is naturally slim, and isn't particularly interested in food.

@Ifeelmuchlessfat that is a good idea! I might do the same!
I am already so ready for the next bootcamp! It’s like my mind has gone it’s not bootcamp so it doesnt matter so much. But it does. I just need to get DDs birthday out of the way on Wednesday and i’ll be ready. I had broccoli with my curry tonight so that was a start but sometimes my choices havent been so good.

So our guest for tonight is ill and can’t make it. We’ve got way too much for just us so have invited others round tomorrow to eat seafood and decided to get a takeaway tonight. My husband suggested Chinese and I had a definite ‘sod it’ moment and started thinking of prawn toast. BUT I pulled myself back from the brink, suggested tapas instead, and now the worst thing on its way is a chorizo and butter bean stew dish, plus what I suspect will be a slightly carby spicy dressing on some chicken wings. I am feeling really proud of myself!

I agree re the Easter eggs. The one advantage of lockdown is that grandparents can't visit with too much chocolate. I get them one large egg each and snall ones for a hunt. And then they are eaten over the course of weeks.

I drank a bottle of wine last night. Of course I did.

L: prawns with mayo, salad and avocado. Old school.

Made the cheese muffins but with bicarb instead had no baking powder in the house. Tasted very soda ish. Ate three anyway.

D: fathead pizzaand salad.

1 cup of tea with cream.

Not great on the veg front will do better tomorrow.

Beautiful day here today the sun is shining. Got a lot done in the garden and went for a long walk with the children to stop them murdering each other.

Feeling down today with the whole pandemic situation. It's not improving here at all and don't think it will anytime soon . Really miss my family and spending time with my sister and friends.

And that sounds very familiar, @Mimosa1. Out of the four kids in our house, one is the new me who eats huge quantities but refuses vegetables and loves carbs, one is a teenager who eats anything but is very happy with healthy food and after some preteen chubbiness is now very slim, one is small, eats naturally healthy (chooses fruit and yoghurt over cereal for example) and is a very healthy weight, and one is autistic with extremely limited eating and under a dietician for low weight. So you can imagine maybe what mealtimes are like in our house.

ListenLinda there's good research out theree* showing that having breaks in your diet is better for weight loss. So it's not a bad thing to regard this time between Bootcamps as a time to aim for maintenance and maybe have a couple of foods that you wouldn't have while you were trying to lose weight. Obviously don't go on a carb-fest but you could mindfully have the odd higher carb food or treat so long as it isn't going to derail you.

Well done on the takeaway victory Dailyhandtowelwash.

I just made the cheese muffins too and had one just now as a quality control check. They're so good but I am have to limit them to no more than one or two a day as they're so high calorie.

@BustleInYourHedgerow - if you have Cream of Tartar you can make your own baking powder combined with the bicarb.

@StuntNun - I'll use that excuse reason to mindfully treat myself on Tuesday

I'm making myself a special Danish layer cake that I'll try only to have a small slice of.

But apart from that and all the wine and bubbly I'm going to try to stay on track

Thanks @StuntNun i’ll have a look into it :)
Aslong as it all comes off in the end I will try not stress too much!

I tried one of the hard seltzers today since they were on special offer in Tesco (four for the price of three.) It was okay, a bit bland perhaps, but it would be nice with lots of ice and a couple of slices of lime while sitting outside on a hot day.!They're virtually carb free and not too high in alcohol compared to, say, wine. I enjoyed it but I didn't love it iyswim.

Aldi had seltzer things last summer, they were quite nice.
Last time I Low carbed for a long time, I used to drink vodka and soda, especially in the pub. Bonus as it's also pretty cheap, compared to a glass of wine. I got DH to swap from cider (very carby) to gin and soda, which he added fresh lime and lemon to. He now has vodka instead, as gin is potentially more of a depressant.
With ice, lemon and lime I find vodka and soda lovely, especially in the summer. I do find red wine more of a treat though, especially in winter when ice cold drinks aren't as appealing! Luckily I prefer the lower carb reds, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the lowest apparently. They really vary.

We're having a BBQ with next door tomorrow, followed by drinks around the fire pit. I'll have a SLC roll with a burger, but otherwise feast on a mountain of meat (and salad) and maybe make some coleslaw.

There are gremlins in the machine again, I posted earlier with a photo of my dinner and everything. Can't see the post now... Very odd.