Week 2 - Leaving Lockdown Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Sunday night here is games night, so better that I start the thread now, before I forget as I've gone to bed so late!

I truly hope that this link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness works!

Apologies if it doesn't, but hopefully someone will come and post a working one if it doesn't!

I love week 2, as for those who haven't low carbed before the results are often spectacularly incredible!

But even for those of us who are more used to low carbing, hopefully this first week has seen you make a good start.

It's looking like some warmer weather is heading our way, which always makes things seem more positive - but also focuses our minds on things like skimpier clothing, so hopefully will help to keep us toeing the line!

I hope the scales have rewarded your hard work, and here's to a good week ahead

Well done on the great losses everyone! Two pounds off for me which I'm really pleased with considering how much carb avoidance I've had to do this week!

I found the last bootcamp relatively easy because of the lack of social events but now the weather is looking up and the road map is moving on I feel like I'm having to dodge carbs left right and centre!
Wishing everyone a great week of high fat treats and steely resolve

@ElasticFirecracker : yes, appetite suppression is normal on this WoE. That's why we say it is so important to listen to your hunger cues not habit or boredom as that way you naturally start to eat less and your body uses its own fat reserves for energy

The "getting up in the night" to pee does settle down in a week or so, but it is really important for the HFLC WoE to work that you drink your water allocation.

All the best!

Sorry for just popping in to post a loss earlier but I was recovering after wrangling DD (awaiting ASD diagnosis) to the first day back at school. Well done to everyone for their losses. @BIWI I made your celeriac and chorizo side last night which was lovely, and am about to have the leftovers now with lunch.

Place marking!

Thank you @prettybird and @BIWI I will try to get all the water in early today. I'm using a larger water bottle.

I managed quite a bit of lunch/breakfast:-

some slices of yesterday's lamb
Artichoke hearts in oil
Sliced cabbage
Watercress
Pickled chillis

And

10%fat Greek yoghurt for pudding

I'm very bad at planning so not thought about the next meals yet.

@nowlook that's great news and I sometimes have to stay away so will keep it in mind.

If you put everything in a large, labelled box would you trust the PI to keep your stuff in their fridge??? The ice / vacuum pack idea sounds risky from a food hygiene angle.

Hi all, does anyone have any experience or intelligence about IgG food intolerance testing?

I had a York test done last week hoping to get clues on how to clear up my worsening eczema/skin rashes. I had the strongest reaction possible to cows milk and almost as bad for eggs . Goats milk also high but sheep’s milk borderline.

I know that complete elimination then careful reintroduction is the only way of truly testing what is a trigger so I am heading for 2-4 weeks of no eggs or dairy. It’s a massive blow for this WOE - I will try to stick to the rules for the next 6 days but may end up probably dropping breakfast as options are just way too limited.

Keen to know if anyone has tested and successfully reduced symptoms or even tested and ignored. Also any non-dairy boot campers with wonder-food recommendations?

Congratulation to everyone on their weight losses. And thanks for all the delicious-sounding meal tips.
I've lost six pounds this week, which I am happy with. It really was low-hanging fruit, though, as lockdown had left me heavier than I've ever been, and I joined the bootcamp at the end of a period of very demoralised, disorderly eating. Also, I'm a newbie, and I think the novelty of it all has made it easier to get stuck in fully.
The challenge for next week is to stick with it, learn more about how it affects my body, plan nice meals properly and not fret about whether I lose anymore weight for now.

Many thanks for the support, info and chat over the last week.

Poor thing @Burnshersmurfs . I had knee ops and found I actually lost weight sitting around. I had hardly any appetite and my muscles really atrophied. I was thin but so wobbly after. My advice is to do Pilates type, arm, good leg and core and back exercises if you can. And as much physio as you can on you bad leg. It will really make a difference once you get mobile again.

I’m intrigued by this self heating packed lunch box. Have I misunderstood or does it actually reheat your food for you @nowlook ?

I haven’t managed to find a celeriac but am going to pop to a greengrocer tomorrow that often has them when all else fails. Nigel Slater did a celeriac and parsnip dish in the Observer magazine this week I think. a bit like boulangere /Lyonnaise potatoes but using Celeriac (and parsnips but you can just use more celeriac I’m sure). I did similar with celeriac and lamb chops once. Sliced celeriac, and onions in the processor mixed with minced garlic and rosemary put at the bottom of the slow cooker, layered lamb chops and more herbs, sliced garlic and s&p on the top then poured over half a pint of lamb stock (just to go under the celeriac) and cooked on slow for 6 -8 hours. It was lovely. Very rich and lamby. Would probably work with half a shoulder too.

It actually reheats your food for you to 70 degrees @MrsKoala. It has both a standard plug attachment and an in-car charger. It's the same size as a normal lunchbox, but there's a whole aluminium tray that lifts out.

jaunty lunchbox

Congrats everyone on weight loss
Thinking of you @zigzag hope your df ok
@burnshersmurfs hope you can continue.
Loving all the picnics
I didn't always stick to plan as had fruit which is my weakness.
I will learn from my mistake and try harder to avoid.

@TheHoover oh no sorry to hear about your allergic reactions I hope you find the culprit soon!
I've been doing this WOE since January and tbh I rarely eat eggs because I'm not a huge fan. I don't eat breakfast anyway but I'm a very repetitive eater and for lunch I always have some variation of salad containing spicy chicken pieces, avocado and olives which are all high in fat and keep me full until dinner.

Not wonderfoods by any means and there are definitely more cheffy posters here who will probably provide some better ideas!

@Rayna37 I’ve never thought to bulk mix fajita seasoning, I search for amounts every time! I know what I’m doing next time I have an empty jar 😀

@PineappleSunglasses I’m feeling the same, logistically more difficult too - making sure I have food with me rather than being at home for all meals. Also struggling a bit with water as I’m out and about (not necessarily near a toilet) more.

6lb off for me - that’s the 5 that went on between bootcamps, plus an extra one, so I’m happy!

Toddler has fallen asleep on me. Which is lovely and snuggly, except we’re in the middle of potty training. Brings new meaning to the term “danger nap”...

Thanks to whoever posted the 'poached egg in a microwave' method. It was brilliant. Having grown up with nightmare stories about microwaves and exploding eggs, I was a bit apprehensive. However it turned out perfectly, and so quick. Later in the week we've got spinach, smoked fish and poached eggs on the menu.

@TheHoover are there other non-dairy / non-egg options for breakfast? Ham salad with olive oil? Avocado? Coconut milk curry soup? Nut butters? (not normally part of the first 2 weeks of BC, but I'm sure @BIWI would support you using them) - celery sticks filled with almond butter? Oily fish - smoked salmon with salad? Mackerel pate made with non-dairy soft cheese? Coyo Coconut yogurt?

Some of them a little higher in carbs but as long as you read the labels carefully and avoid anything with added sugar, it might not be too bad.

[quote FusionChefGeoff]@nowlook that's great news and I sometimes have to stay away so will keep it in mind.

If you put everything in a large, labelled box would you trust the PI to keep your stuff in their fridge??? The ice / vacuum pack idea sounds risky from a food hygiene angle.[/quote]
If I were the Premier Inn, I wouldn't let me keep my random food in their fridge . But, you're right. Am pondering an electric cool box . Of course, you could dine out in the ordinary run of things (and hope the menu catered for you), but the PI restaurants don't open again until 17th May. and then they do, they'll be shite

It's obviously a bit niche, but if you don't have access to a microwave/kitchen facilities, then it should help with this woe!

This is my "packing list" so far:

1. Chicken alfredo x 2 portions
2. Lamb and leek hotpot x 2
3. Chicken curry x 2
4. Omelette x 2
5. Broccoli x 2
6. Celeriac/spinach Indian side x 2
7. Cauliflower cheese x 2
8. Spinach and shallot side x 2
9. Chopped cucumber, radish, shallot, celery, oil, mayo, salt, lemon, tuna, lettuce
10. Unsweetened soya milk, tea bags
11. 6 x 6 x 500ml sparkling water
12. Cool box
13. Scissors

It's keeping me amused at any rate

TheHoover the York test isn't a reliable way to work out what foods you're allergic to. At best all it can do is signpost which foods to try cutting out to see whether it makes a difference. Even the IgE-based skin prick / patch tests are only about 50% accurate for allergies plus they won't detect food intolerances since these aren't IgE mediated. The fact that you have skin issues does suggest that you have a food intolerance and dairy and wheat are the most common causes. The "big 8" cause 90% of food reactions and are dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, crustaceans, wheat and soya.

Cows milk protein is very similar in structure to other ruminant milks so if you react to dairy then sheep or goat mills are probably both out as well. Bizarrely the protein in soya is also similar in structure so it's worth cutting soya out at the same time as dairy as you have something like a 50% chance of reacting to both. Eggs are a common allergen too.

It's actually quite possible to eat low carb without dairy or eggs; I did so for 15 months while breastfeeding my youngest who was allergic to dairy, eggs, soya and coconut. As you say, breakfasts are the most difficult but there's nothing to stop you having leftovers or a salad for breakfast. I experimented with making my own coconut yogurt which is how I found out DS4 was allergic to coconut but Coyo brand is lovely and it's low carb.

Food intolerances are driven by gut inflammation so anything you can do to heal your gut will be beneficial. You could try adding fermented foods such as brined pickles or kimchi or kefir (you can get water kefir as well as dairy kefir) or kombucha to your diet.

You'll need to cut out the most likely allergens for a minimum of two weeks and you should see clear improvement in this time. Then you can try reintroducing them one at a time to see if any cause a reaction. Be aware that it can take several days of exposure before your skin will start worsening again. This is because when you eliminate the allergen from your diet then the gut lining heals making it more resistant when it is exposed to the allergen again. I'm dairy intolerant which I only discovered when I cut out dairy for breastfeeding and I can have a cup of tea or coffee with milk with no reaction. It's only if I have milk every day that my symptoms (nasal congestion) start to return. Also the amount and type of protein makes a difference. So I could have a small piece of cake without reacting to the wheat but a bowl of pasta would give me a very upset stomach the next day. Also I can eat hard cheese daily with no reaction but I have to be careful with cream and yogurt and I avoid milk almost entirely.

@TheHoover I second what @StuntNun has said.

Despite what York say, it's very hard to detect food allergies by blood test.

The only way is by elimination and reintroduction. There is an app called mySymptoms which I have used where you note everything you eat, and also any symptoms that you have.

It's helpful for observing patterns like delayed reaction and effect of quantity.

I've had a really long road with this and tried many things. The thought of eliminating everything and noting everything I ate down felt like a really difficult thing to do, but it really is the only way.

By doing this systematically I found out I had reactions to things that I had never suspected.

I also agree about the impact of inflammation. Once you are inflamed your system is primed to be more inflamed.

I hope this helps.

Hi everyone, reporting in with a 2.9lbs loss. Congratulations to everyone for their first week! Another 1.5kg to go to get to the end of the last BC for me, so fingers crossed for a good week this week.

Our high street has some fabulous charity shops and I've really enjoyed having a wander in now they've reopened. I'm planning to buy a pair of trousers 1 size down and try them on regularly during boot camp. I did this last BC, having got rid of all my smaller clothes when I last moved house, and can now fit those théorisées. I've found having an item I'm excited to get into is really helpful (especially when the scales don't cooperate)! ruing having got rid of all y smaller clothes a few years ago but oh well

Thanks so much Stuntnun and fireckracker for your detailed replies - extremely helpful and good to know I am on the right track. Ooh will look up Coyo (thanks also venus ) as I love coconut!

Gutted about eggs - I was soooo looking forward to the muffins with cheese but I think there are good egg alternatives for baking so I will hunt some down. Also need to get used to almond milk in tea - the first cup tasted like I’d fished the teabag out the bin.

@Mimosa1 I did the same with a pair of size 12 jeans recently - but they fit (insert surprised face) albeit a bit snuggly. I might have to do some more shopping!

@MrsKoala we're booked into the Arundel Castle tulip festival next week. Do you have the Gardeners World 241? I think Pashley is on there

Some really impressive losses this week

For some reason I’ve been super hungry today after my egg breakfast, the mother dropped off a random chocolate gift - only thing stopping me was the joy of the 4lb loss and how annoying it’d be to fall off the wagon. I let DH at it and there’s nothing left now so temptation is gone!

Going for a run in a bit - will prep a healthy snack before I go so if I come back ravenous I’ll eat the right sort of food.

@TheGoodShipObvious Good luck with your danger nap! I remember a holiday when that happened to me, we were out at dinner, he’d conked out on me and suddenly it was everywhere!!

We have one of those cool boxes nowlook, they’re pretty good. I think ours was from Halfords.

I saw a friend today for the first time in over a year, one of the first things she said was to comment on how well I looked and how much weight I’d lost. I’ve not lost a huge amount on the scales but I’ve lost inches all over - so nice to have someone notice, I think when you lose gradually you don’t notice the difference. She also made a lovely low carb friendly lunch, so win/win 😁.

@nowlook we have a cool box that goes in the car, definitely worth the investment.