April Leaving Lockdown Low Carb Bootcamp - week 1

[BIWI]

Welcome everyone!

Here, as ever, is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness created and lovingly managed by the wonderful @AthelstaneTheUnready

Hopefully you should find that you're already on the spreadsheet - but if not, just add your name to the bottom of the list. Don't try to insert it in the right alphabetical place - Athelstane will do that for you. And don't touch the blue cells or try to enter any other data or comments!

For those that are new, each week I'll start a new chat thread, on Monday, and we'll start off with recording our weight.

However

You don't have to use your weight to measure your progress - and you don't have to be on the spreadsheet if you don't want to be. Instead, take your measurements each week (bust/upper arms/waist/hips/thighs), or find an item of clothing that's just too tight/small right now, and keep trying it on each week.

The rules of Bootcamp are on the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet - but here's a quick summary of the rules for the first two weeks:

1. Eat three meals a day
2. Avoid processed foods
3. Eat lots of fat
4. Make sure you're eating vegetables and salad with your food
5. Be careful about dairy, apart from butter which is unlimited
6. You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water a day
7. No alcohol
8. No fruit
9. No nuts/seeds

10. No sugar/artificial sweeteners

Make sure you have a really good read of the spreadsheet for the full detail of the rules. Also, check out the tabs at the bottom - there's a huge amount of information that will really help you, especially if you're new to low carbing/Bootcamp.

There's also a thread here of FAQs which should be helpful.

Some thread etiquette

The thread will move really quickly - especially at the beginning.

But please take the time to read everyone's posts, rather than just plopping on with your own comments/thoughts/questions. It's very frustrating when someone comes on to the thread to ask a question that's been posed and answered already!

Don't lurk!

I know that not everyone is confident about posting - and also that there are a lot of posters who are regular Bootcampers, and who know other Bootcampers. Please don't think this is a cliquey thread. It couldn't be further from the truth!

Everyone's views and experiences are welcome and valid, so jump in and post.

Any questions, please just post. Or PM me. There's always someone here who can help - and if I or they can't, then we can always find someone who can!

Above all, very good luck to everyone.

I very much hope that by the time we come to the end of these ten weeks, that we really are (as a country) completely ready to leave Lockdown well behind.

Wishing everyone all the luck

Re cauliflower rice (and yes, cauliflower is very much permitted on Bootcamp @Hotgotthetrots!), Sainsbury's do a fresh one, stocked in their produce section which is the one I usually buy - I chuck it in the freezer so I've always got some to hand.

Asda also do a frozen one which I tried recently - comes in individual bags, but I found 2 between 3 works well. And it's perfectly fine.

But avoid at all costs the ambient one branded CauliRice. It's disgusting, with a truly horrible aftertaste.

Hi everyone, been out for a walk as it’s a lovely day here today, the horrible cold wind seems to have dropped and it’s quite pleasant. Considering we had snow last weekend it’s definitely an improvement.

Today’s menu is

B eggs mashed up with butter
L veg soup
D chicken thighs with a creamy pesto sauce and veg, one of my favourite dinners.

I’ve never tried celeriac, I often look at it but usually they’re quite big, sorry @BIWI, and I worry that it will go waste if nobody likes it. I might have to see if I can find a small one and give that chorizo recipe a go.

@Moonswimmer

I have been bookmarking enthusiastically, but really struggling to work out how I then find the place I had bookmarked. Help!

If you've bookmarked a post, next time you open the thread it should automatically take you to that place in the thread.

Breakfast - greek yog
Lunch- tuna salad with coleslaw, mozzarella and olive oil
Tea- chicken Alfredo

Feel like I pigged out on the chicken Alfredo but the cauli definitely bulked it out! It feels wrong to be eating something so cheesy and creamy 🤪🤪🤪 But I will trust the process! What’s the advice on portion sizes?

Thanks to those that have created this plan by the way . X

We went to Westfield Shopping centre today, it was SO NICE to get to the shops again, felt almost normal. It wasn't too busy either, although we did time it to get there as it opened.
M&S picnic for lunch: I had a delicious bang bang chicken salad and some water, enjoyed whilst sitting on the pavement outside- so much safer than a bench
Dinner tonight will be pork chops with Savoy cabbage and bacon. I'll stick some chips in for the kids too.
I'm interested in the talk of cocoa. I sometimes melt a square of 85% with some double cream and have it with raspberries as a treat. Obvs bootcamp light. Did it with sour cream once as there was no double cream left- REVOLTING!!

Had my first wobble - poured a glass of apple juice that my son had left on the worktop, just about to drink it when I remembered.

Fortunately I’d just finished cooking bacon to crumble on top of my spicy eggs. My dinner is now baconless but my goodness it hit the spot!

B - Scrambled eggs (cream and butter) and smoked salmon
L - Greek yoghurt, and then separately olives and cucumber
D - steak with griddled courgettes and mozzarella

2 coffees with cream and plenty of water.
So pleased to be back!

Just ordered some frozen Ocado cauli rice to try.

Well I was v happy with my cocoa powder, double cream and hot water combo. Ended up making an espresso sized hot chocolate, really chocolatey and a bit of silkiness from the cream. As when i make hot choc with cocoa powder snd milk i dont usually add sugar so I was fine with it being v low sugar. If you're a plain chocolate fan I'd definitely recommend it, felt like a little treat for around 2-2.5g carb.

I added a desertspoon (10g) cocoa powder to about a tablespoon of double cream. Mixed together into a gloop. Then slowly added small amounts of freshly boiled water. Then added another tablespoon or so of cream.

Cheese and onion omlette with asparagas and broccoli in butter next.

@colouringindoors that hot chocolate sounds lovely, I’ll have it in mind for when I get a craving!

Good day here but do you think it’s too dairy heavy? I love cheese!
B : Greek yogurt ( Sainsburys TTD is proper Greek yogurt)
L : meatballs and courgetti (with creme fresh sauce))
D: marinated chicken and roasted veg topped with mozzarella.

What are people eating for snacks/extras? I was still hungry after lunch as my leftovers was too small but didn’t know else what to take to work so I had a piece of cheese.

@Chunkymonkey123 you have to find your own way with dairy - I’d be absolutely fine with that amount (I have cheese at 2-3 meals, plus creamy coffees, plus frequently cook with cream), but other people would find it too much for weight loss.

Snacks - I try to make them fat/protein, to be filling. So a piece of ham wrapped round a piece of cheese, a boiled egg mashed with butter (or dipped in mayo.

@colouringindoors

Well I was v happy with my cocoa powder, double cream and hot water combo. Ended up making an espresso sized hot chocolate, really chocolatey and a bit of silkiness from the cream. As when i make hot choc with cocoa powder snd milk i dont usually add sugar so I was fine with it being v low sugar. If you're a plain chocolate fan I'd definitely recommend it, felt like a little treat for around 2-2.5g carb.

I added a desertspoon (10g) cocoa powder to about a tablespoon of double cream. Mixed together into a gloop. Then slowly added small amounts of freshly boiled water. Then added another tablespoon or so of cream.

Cheese and onion omlette with asparagas and broccoli in butter next.

This really sounds amazing!

Is the spreadsheet link not working for anyone else? Haven’t been able to get on it yet

Chunkymonkey123 I cook extras and keep them in the fridge for snacks e.g. boiled eggs with mayo, a chicken leg, a sausage. Alternatively you could have a piece of cheese or some cured meats or a Peperami. After the first week or two your appetite will reduce and you shouldn't need to snack as much or at all so it's really only while you're getting fat adapted so don't worry too much about eating too much meat or processed foods initially.

Brunch was goats cheese and celery, courgettes mushrooms and spinach in butter, sour cream and pesto.

Late lunch chicken liver pate with celery, 2 hard boiled eggs

Dinner is chicken curry made with coconut milk, onions, pepper, aubergine, courgette and spinach.

Might have some Greek yogurt afterwards.

@Jellycatspyjamas thank you for the oran recipe, def pop that on the list!

Just read through today and thought there might have been a flounce! All seems resolved though, which is good (if a little disappointing )

Negogiated the lunch out with ease, had butterflied chicken breast topped with garlic butter, swapped fries for extra salad and slaw. Added a bit of mayo. Just snacked on a piece of cheese and then dinner will be more chicken and salad as we have left overs. Will also have some aubergine dip (inspired but someone here but can't remember who, sorry!)

The cocoa sounds lovely, but is that allowed in first two weeks? I know it's low carb, but it is chocolate? Obviously everyone makes their own call, and I ate cake yesterday so....

@Chunkymonkey123 snacks ( or add ons to light lunches as I like to call them )
A slice of cheese with butter and ham on top
Bag of pork scratchings
Greek yoghurt with vanilla and a drop of double cream ( tastes like icecream , it’s lovely )

Had this smoked fish for lunch ( shared with DH ) with a FLG salad

Also , this ham , mixed with mustard and mayo , wrapped in lettuce leaves

@LittleMy77

Is the spreadsheet link not working for anyone else? Haven’t been able to get on it yet

Are you using the right one? Athelstane first linked to it on page 2 of the thread.

[quote Bestbees]@Jellycatspyjamas thank you for the oran recipe, def pop that on the list!

Just read through today and thought there might have been a flounce! All seems resolved though, which is good (if a little disappointing )

Negogiated the lunch out with ease, had butterflied chicken breast topped with garlic butter, swapped fries for extra salad and slaw. Added a bit of mayo. Just snacked on a piece of cheese and then dinner will be more chicken and salad as we have left overs. Will also have some aubergine dip (inspired but someone here but can't remember who, sorry!)

The cocoa sounds lovely, but is that allowed in first two weeks? I know it's low carb, but it is chocolate? Obviously everyone makes their own call, and I ate cake yesterday so.... [/quote]
I think your menu sounds terrible Bestbees. Where's your water?! I'd be surprised if you didn't gain 15lbs this week alone.

Was the smoked fish trio nice @Doilooklikeatourist? Was that also Tesco? Very, very useful for on the road lunches!

Some great ideas here, I need to get a new notebook to write them down!
Today's triumph was frozen sprouts chucked in the air fryer for 20 minutes with a dash of oil. I was just experimenting really (out of working from home boredom and can't-be-arsed-ness) and quite sceptical, but they came out tender and beautifully caramelised. I melted a good dob of butter through them and they were GORGEOUS.
(We are big sprout fans in this house anyway, when we have a roast dinner my 5 year old instigates "sprout race!" every time to see who can eat theirs first! As he mainly exists on chicken dippers and chocolate cake, this is a bit of a triumph)

Well @nowlook I had 15 diet cokes which totally counts I suspect now look that you might be terrible cheeky and I would love to get up to mischief with you!

@Bestbees

Well *@nowlook* I had 15 diet cokes which totally counts I suspect now look that you might be terrible cheeky and I would love to get up to mischief with you!

That’s my vision of *@nowlook* too!

I have that cauliflower rice pseudobadger, it’s fine as long as you’re covering it with something saucy. I had it tonight with Kerala prawn curry from the roasting tin cook book. I subbed shallots for the red onion

@Ninkanink certainly there is a 'smoking behind the bike shed/ passing notes in class with innocent face vibe'.