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)

Oh @BrassicaBabe I'm so sorry to read all of what's going on for you. I did wonder why you'd disappeared!

First thing, it's only 5lbs you're wanting to get shot of, so that really shouldn't take you too long - certainly doable over the whole of the next Bootcamp!

Second, I'm not going to get the Big Stick out, but I think you know what the issues are with your menu today!

Third, by being kind to yourself, I mean:

• don't stress about things you can't do anything about. I absolutely get that your diagnosis must have been shocking. But you've had it, and now you're being medicated for it, so that's a good thing!

• look after yourself. This could be making sure you don't take on too much at work, or that you're going to bed early to get a good night's sleep, or that you're doing some kind of regular exercise, even if that's just getting outside for a walk

• feed yourself well; you know the ropes with Bootcamp! And unfortunately your menu today really isn't doing that. Up the water, cut down on the wine and definitely cut out the Diet Coke - we've talked about that before, so I know it's an issue for you.

• ultimately, though, try not to create stress around what you're eating and the number on the scales. I know that's difficult, especially if you're on Bootcamp and we're all posting every day/every week about how it's going! But you've been doing Bootcamp long enough to know that a) you can eat lovely food and b) you won't feel deprived.

Finally, the best way you can be kind to yourself is to take control of what you can control - so plan what you're going to have to eat next week/the next two weeks and make sure you have lovely things to hand. Think about your days, and try to plan in time for you (and you alone) each day. Even if it's only a half an hour walk, it's time for you. Listen to a podcast, or your music or an audio book. Carve out time for you to be on your own at home in the evening - to and have a nice long bath or watch something on the telly on your own or read a good book. Give yourself permission to be selfish!

I don't know if any of that helps?! There is no hug emoticon on the desktop site so

Oh BrassicaBabe! You've been sorely missed and I'm really sorry that you're struggling.

The diet coke thing. Is it ritualistic, do you think? The feel of the aluminium; the sound of the ring pull? Obviously, I could be talking a load of old shite, but have you tried buying diet coke in a 2 litre bottle and seeing if you still feel the same about it? On the same theme, have you tried buying plain sparkling water in cans? You could perhaps give the Perrier a whirl. The can's smaller, so won't feel exactly the same, but worth a try?

How are you getting on with the meds generally?

Hi @BrassicaBabe you don't know me as I only joined towards the end of this BC but I had a bit of a revelation this week and your post resonated with me.

In the past, I've realised that I didn't think I deserved nice food. Despite being chef in our house, I had stopped cooking / eating lots of food I loved if others didn't like them.

I always used to force myself to have leftovers to avoid food waste even if I don't want / need them!

I would tut at DH for deciding he wanted xyz for dinner (when kids were at GPS and I was forcing down leftovers) and he'd go to the shop
To get it - how extravagant!!!!

But now I'm eating like this, the focus on eating 'proper' food has been a real boost to my self esteem around food as I'm taking time to be good to myself via my food! So I'm planning and cooking really nutritious food that I feel satisfied after. I finally feel like I'm taking control over what goes in my body and it feels great!!

Can you try to look at it like that to help with a positive mental approach?? So see every meal you make / eat which is BC friendly as a huge pat on the back as you take control of nourishing your body.

Thanks guys for your kind words! I really appreciate the kindness.

The DC thing. While I def accept it's not healthy it's been a baseline in my body since I was 16. So pretty much hoping that that negates the insulin spike. Also, if I need to tackle one thing at a time then I think the wine would come first? (I promise not to pull the ADhD card out all the time but clinician says the caffeine helps and was probably why I turned to it 🤣)

Venus you are right. I'm not putting it on. I'm about stalled/maintenance I think.

Thanks BIWI. Your "be kind" list is lovely. You also have the patience of a saint!!

The meds are working nowlook. It's weird how something that is basically Speed has a calming effect!! But also means I've got dry lips, teeth clenching and no appetite.

Ok. Today (DC aside? 😬)
I'm on my second large bottle of water.
Had coop boiled eggs and mustard Mayo plus snack pack of hickory almonds (3g carbs). Still planning on roast pork and buttered cabbage for dinner. And SMALL glass of wine this evening.

Sound like half a plan?!

Oh and in my search for a magic pill as well as looking at LC nutrition coaches I've joined several LC/keto FB groups. I sooooo need to bin about 90% of these!! 🙄

@BrassicaBabe - I saw your name go onto the next Boot Camp list and was glad to "see" you again

Others have already given you lots of good advice, especially about being kind to yourself.

I'll just add that it might help to concentrate on one thing at a time, rather than having all these shoulds whirring around your head. The one that jumps out at me that is relatively easy and will help in a sort of cascade effect on the other things is to up your water Hear ShagMeRiggins voice in your head nagging reminding you, Water, water, water

That is strange (and interesting) Brassica. Do you find it hard to sleep, or is that all factored into the meds? Sorry if that's too nosy. Feels like you're constantly battling the impact of the increased cortisol etc.

Do you intuitively feel (and I ask because I know you're an old hand at this) that if it weren't for this way of eating you'd have put on weight recently?

Anyway, I'll stop with the questions, given you've chosen to come in for interview rather than having been arrested . It's lovely to see you!

@BrassicaBabe your plan looks good. What's your strategy for stopping at one small glass of wine? Can you open a bottle and ignore the rest or pour it away ? or is that not an issue for you? It was for me which is why I'm asking.

Also bin all the keto groups. They will just add to the noise in your head, and risk confusing your plan (plus being demoralising because many people on US based sites report losing a stone a week and we know that is not healthy or sustainable, and it does not relate to you and your relatively lower weight). Plus ALL the advice you need is here. Thanks to @BIWI

Hey Pretty Boy you are right about those "shoulds"! That bloody list of musts and shoulds in my head! Yep, I'm going to focus on upping the water and decreasing the wine for now x

Happy to answer questions nowlook. The meds only last about 12 hours. So sleeping is no better or worse than before. And that's part of the effort to find the right dose. They start low and increase. But I def don't feel like this WOE is a diet. I'm in for the long term and other than wine I'm happy day to day. And overall I'm v happy with the WOE except the huge weight gain at Xmas and family holidays when, I'm sorry, but I simply CANNOT regulate 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Apologies for being MIA, haven't caught up yet. Had what I thought was stomach bug but seems it's some kind of gallbladder related infection, have been given antibiotics this afternoon (and painkillers at my request!) as I've spent the last 2 nights waking every hour with awful upper abdo pain and trips to the toilet. Low carb has gone out the window as I'm barely eating anything.
GP referred for ultrasound to check for gallstones and bloods test needed. Now I'm worried it's either the low carb that caused it or I'm going to be told to eat low fat (friends already telling to avoid fat as apparently that makes it worse, but GP didn't?). Internet is conflicted on the matter, with NHS saying low fat but some (questionable?) sources saying you can eat LCHF with gallbladder issues.
I don't know how to eat low fat any more

This must have come up here before, any advice?

Sorry Ragz, I'm not going to pretend to know or google that one. Hope you feel better soon though!

I had the chicken Caesar that I've been wanting to try today. Delicious. A bit daffy for a Thursday, but would have been wonderful with a cold glass of white outside in the sun with friends. One for your lockers!

Brassica definitely only tackle one thing at a time, and you're right about prioritising cutting the wine out above the Coke. The problem with your evening glass of wine is that alcohol withdrawal peaks at about 24 hours so if you have a glass of wine one evening, you will reach for another the next evening. If you have even one night off then you will have broken that cycle. I recommend setting a day limit on wine consumption such as only 3 days a week, not on a "school night" or never on consecutive evenings. I think that would work better for you than setting an alcoholic unit limit since it sounds like it's the habit that's the problem rather than the amount. When we follow a low carb diet then there's a ramping up of fat breakdown in the middle of the night which is effectively stopped by alcohol consumption. So you could be burning more fat while you sleep if you can break the nightly wine cycle. In terms of the Diet Coke, yes caffeine is often beneficial in controlling ADHD symptoms, indeed it makes many medications such as painkillers more effective. However, you know that Coke isn't your only source of caffeine! I think you need to work towards a place where you actually want to give up Diet Coke as you're not quite there yet. How would you feel about giving it up temporarily until you reach your weight loss goal and then reintroducing it as part of weight maintenance? Unfortunately the evidence suggests that artificial sweeteners are linked with weight gain. We simply can't cheat nature with sugar substitutes. At the very least I suggest you put a daily limit on your Diet Coke consumption. What do you think would be a reasonable amount? Finally, I think you should move ahead with the coaching. I honestly think that accountability makes eating well so much easier. You also have a firm goal for the Bootcamp starting next week. Losing 5lb should be easily achievable if you're motivated.

Don't panic Ragz it's possible to eat low carb even without a gall bladder. You need to put your health first while you recover and don't worry too much about carbs. If you make sure you're eating healthy food then it's fine if you're having to choose carbier options. For example after a stomach bug we all tend to want to eat toast because it's easy to keep down. Remember your health comes first.

@StuntNun

Don't panic Ragz it's possible to eat low carb even without a gall bladder. You need to put your health first while you recover and don't worry too much about carbs. If you make sure you're eating healthy food then it's fine if you're having to choose carbier options. For example after a stomach bug we all tend to want to eat toast because it's easy to keep down. Remember your health comes first.

I did manage to find one NHS advice sheet that said special diets aren't required and that of you're struggling to eat, anything is fine. Even recommended adding cream! It said there's no evidence that fat makes it worse, only to stop certain foods if they obviously trigger pain. Currently seems this is just an acute thing, so hopefully I'll be back bootcamping if not on time for the 12th, then shortly after. I did eat toast yesterday, it was the only thing I ate! Can't face much today either, will try not to stress about the carbs.

I feel calmer already for speaking with you guys!

Ok. Now the plan is....
no wine tonight. Usual LC habits over the weekend. (Wine and usual lockdown kebab 🤦‍♀️. But certainly no jumping off the wagon.) Research the coach option for some 1:1 support. Join BC proper on Monday including the fortnight alcohol free!

@RagzReturnsRebooted sorry to hear that I hope you get to the bottom of it and feel better soon.

@BrassicaBabe could you substitute some coke for sparkling water? I love sparkling water with lots of ice and half a lemon squeezed in . I drink that in the evenings too to curtail my wine consumption. I have no self control when it comes to alcohol and am rarely able to drink just one glass so I limit it to twice a month.

Woke up starving and grumpy this morning. In work tonight which has an impact on my mood (I enjoy my job, just that first night back is so hard) . My period is on the way as well. Going to have some fathead pizza tonight. Might make those muffins too as I found it really hard not to eat an entire loaf of bread this morning. Period and tiredness always makes me crave carbs.

Had a good day yesterday.

B: Eggs, spinach and mushrooms. Our hens have started laying daily again and the eggs are so good!

L: yummy green soup

D: chicken thighs fried in butter with lardons and leeks, bit of garlic and a lot of broccoli.

Had 40g of pistachios after as was feeling very snacky (grrrr period). Also was out of sparkling water as my soda stream cannister was empty and didn't want to go to the shop for just sparkling water. Hate going to the shop now the stress sends me through the roof.

Breakfast this morning was chicken breasts dipped in cream cheese .

@BrassicaBabe, Babe it's good to hear from you!

I'd also cheerlead you doing first things first, and that's glaring at the wine habit.

I've had a horrible lurgy the last three weeks which forced me to quit the booze and fags...

... and in the process did a shedload of reading about alcohol's affect on brain chemistry, mood, anxiety, and attention. All true, all a bit , and all helped me stick to it.

Has taken two weeks for me to feel a bit more mentally even, and that's without your added diagnosis.

I say this with lots of love, and lots of hugs (but not BIWIs boob-shaped ones), and genuine enthusiastic hope for you - start thinking about how you might stop for a bit longer than two weeks, and see what that does for how you feel

@RagzReturnsRebooted, that's rough - that sort of pain can be so wearying, never mind the actual keeping-you-awake tiredness.

I do sometimes wonder how the feck these bastard germs find their way into these remote organs. I mean, what passes through a gallbladder?

[quote AthelstaneTheUnready]@RagzReturnsRebooted, that's rough - that sort of pain can be so wearying, never mind the actual keeping-you-awake tiredness.

I do sometimes wonder how the feck these bastard germs find their way into these remote organs. I mean, what passes through a gallbladder?[/quote]
I know, I was wondering how on earth it got infected! I assume it starts with inflammation and then the area becomes vulnerable to bacteria - which we are full of, after all. I guess from the stomach, it's all connected so I suppose they snuck out?
Pain is better today, still getting some waves but I got a good night's sleep - the cocodamol helps! Worse a few hours after eating, but it's making me keep to smaller portions, if nothing else.

Morning all!

Just popping my head round the door to share a really good curry recipe I had yesterday. Adapted from this Achari chicken recipe. I didn't have all the spices required and (after adding over £100 to my Amazon basket) found this very reasonably priced packet mix on pic. No nasties or sugars- just a bit of citric acid. You only use half the packet for a curry for four.

Other ingredients were chicken (but would be lovely with lamb too), onions, chopped tomatoes, Greek yoghurt and some garlic (I had garlic and ginger paste).

Fantastic- as good as a takeaway!

...and just before this thread makes its way down the board, I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you- even Cathy Twat- for making the BC so fabulous

It's been an absolute blast and the positive impact on my mental health and waistline was sorely needed.

I'm not going to list names because I don't want to forget someone, so cheers to you all [tea]

still can't believe we don't have to pay for this

I have to say that Cathy Twat is quite the party animal. She seems to have got round a fair few of us on here!

No rest for that wicked Cathy twat

Haven't you had your invoice yet, @nowlook?

Erm, no, BIWI. Did you definitely send it to nowlook? Could I trouble you for another? The next payment run's at the end of the month and I'll make sure you're included...

Seriously, though, thanks very much for what you and your merry band do.