Week 3 - Leaving Lockdown Bootcamp

[BIWI]

As ever here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

I rather suspect, given the confessions/visits by Cathy Twat, that a lot of Bootcampers aren't going to have much luck on the scales at the end of this week.

As I've warned, cheating really won't help - and this is a very unforgiving WOE. I have all my fingers and toes crossed that you will be lucky, and will see a good result on the scales, however. Or with the tape measure - or that you're fitting into your clothes better.

So now you have a choice

After the first two strict weeks of Bootcamp you can, if you wish, move on to Bootcamp Light. This means that you can re-introduce some fruit (mainly berries) and some nuts/seeds, and alcohol in moderation - and restricted to dry wine and clear spirits.

BUT

... you also need to remember/know that weeks 3 & 4 are notorious for seeing little or no weight loss - sometimes you may even see a slight gain.

So it's up to you if you want to relax things.

If you haven't been totally on plan over the last week, I strongly recommend that you stay on strict Bootcamp for another week

If you feel you're ready to move on, then you can go to full-on Bootcamp Light, or you could consider a hybrid - so strict Bootcamp during the week and then Bootcamp Light at the weekend.

Whatever your choice, I hope that week 3 is kind to you!

Please, please, please remember that this week/next week are our infamous 'Doldrums' and so don't be disappointed if you don't see any losses on the scales

This is also another good reason why you should be taking your measurements - the scales might not be moving, but your body shape may well be changing.

Anyway, whatever you decide, good luck!

Tiny loss this week. I was doing intermittent fasting (16:8) and found this really helped but I haven't had a period since the start of February so stopped the IF and trying to eat slightly more in the hope they will return. As a result I just don't feel as good and have stopped losing weight.

Well done on your powers of resistance @prettybird! I'm on your behalf about the eat more/move less discussions. Didn't your DF used to be a doctor? Surely he should be more open to the science of low carbing - or if not, to acknowledge that it's an outdated (and also erroneous) way of thinking?

@OnceUponAMidnightBeery hopefully once you've transitioned to fat-burning on this WOE you should feel much more energetic. But definitely make sure you're getting plenty of green veg in your day, especially green leafy ones, so you're getting plenty of iron too. If you're finding that you're still really tired in another week or so, I'd consider a trip to the GP to rule anything else out.

@ListenLinda the slow down isn't attributable to adding more foods into the diet - it's more because you've lost the water in your glycogen that was holding on to excess glucose as well as some fat. From now on, you'll only be losing fat, and there's a limit to how much of this you can burn at any one time. There's also a much more scientific reason, which @StuntNun can explain!

@Tickledtrout if you're starting to rely on laxatives, that's not a good thing. In fact, it's likely to make the constipation worse, as your bowel will start to rely on them. Is it a 'real' problem that you have, IYSWIM, or are you just going less often? Before you resort to carbs to sort out the issue, try upping the amount of fat you're eating, as well as the amount of water you're drinking. A strong black coffee first thing might help, and also a high strength Vitamin C tablet. Also, exercise - don't know if you do any already, but if you do, then try and do some more. If you don't, then try and do some, even if it's just going for a walk.

@Figrus2 (and @Bestbees, @Rshard and @Jollyholibobs) you really shouldn't be needing to snack by now! If you're eating as you should be, i.e. following Bootcamp rules, having plenty of fat/drinking all the water, then you really shouldn't be hungry between meals. Hunger at this stage is something to be addressed by eating properly at mealtimes. If you're snacking out of habit/boredom, this is definitely something to stop! And certainly no oatcakes!

@venusandmars sounds like you have a lovely week ahead. How exciting to be actually going away somewhere! Hope you have a great time

@potas are you sure it was the IF that stopped your periods? You currently weigh 8 stone 9lbs, so unless you're really tall, that doesn't sound as if you're underweight, which might be a cause.

Secondary amenorrhea is when you haven't had a period for 3 months - and you do need to get that checked out. piece here about it

@prettybird 💐 for showing such restraint in the face of favourite desserts and know-all's 😆. Great to not engage and just KOKO

@Tickledtrout sorry to read that not everything is working well for you. Does roast celeriac or spinach wilted in butter do anything for you? These are my go to daily staples, I tend to work back from what roughage will I consume to what to eat each day.

to be able in future to sample ladylike amounts of exquisite treats like that without going into a carby tailspin of cravings for more. @Random789 Great idea, I shall add that to my 'plans for the future'. I find being quite strict and seeing the inches melting through bootcamp is the easy part. Maintaining is the next mountain to blind, haven't managed that successfully yet.

@Jollyholibobs waves to another 5' 3.5"

Nothing off the waist this week but the 'only bra that went round me' is now too loose and the ones in the next band size down are comfortable on widest hook setting. I'll take that as this week's NSV

Off now to look at 'lite' am expecting to keep as strict as I can.

The trouble I find is that it's my mind rather than my stomach that looks for 'treats' like two squares Lindt 90% melted in a spoonful of water with creme and frozen raspberries is a thing of delight. However, one just leads to wanting another the next day.

Mind-wrangling. Is that a thing? Or too much like faking sincerity

1lb off for me, am pleased. I'm sleeping brilliantly and I feel a bit less of me in general. Sticking to strict as don't really eat fruit anyway, but I do overeat nuts (and over drink wine).
For the random records, I have no farmyard animals, no tulips, quite nice eyebrows, am 5'8 and 47.
thinking of you ZiggZagg and also colouringindoors, I hope DS is ok after the other evening.

3lb down this week 😁

half a stone down in total, really, really pleased.

I'm keeping to strict bootcamp with 16:8 plus 2 sq 85% choc option in evening and 2 alcoholic drinks at weekend.

3.8 pounds off, and back under 200 pounds which is great.

Next stop, back into the 13 stones.

Good work everyone, and hope you all have a great week.

@BIWI - he was indeed a doctor but a radiologist so nowhere near nutrition or hormones

Ironically, I know he's read in the BMJ about "good" for want of a better word fat and has converted back to full fat milk. And he does accept that I don't eat rice and potatoes now and tries to accommodate that in his cooking.

The "eat less, move more" ethos is just so ingrained in him. Mum was often a bit heavier than she'd like to be, so was often on a diet, yet in his view, the fact that she cycled 8 miles to work plus they cycled long distances just proved (in his mind) that she was eating and snacking too much. He used the example of grapes in the fridge "which are just pure sugar". I did react to that one to say that's why I no longer eat grapes

@BIWI
I'm neither tall nor underweight! I just read that IF could have that effect (probably longer fasting though?) And thought better to make that change to see if it helped. Planning to go to the doctor when I get to three months as didnt think they would do much before then.

Hi Everyone. I completely failed to keep up with the week 2 thread. I tried to post but my phone swallowed it and I can't update the spreadsheet except on the laptop but I've done that now.

Decent losses here for the last two weeks - I'm now almost a stone down from my pre-Christmas weight and back to where I was pre lockdown 1 which proved disastrous for my weight so I'm happy with progress. Really noticing the difference on my waist - two belt notches up (or is that down - ykwim!).

Good luck for week 3.

@prettybird he might be persuaded by the hormone argument then! Insulin/leptin/grehlin (and another one or two whose names I forget) are essentially what control our hunger and blood sugar and therefore how much fat we lay down.

There's a really good, relatively new book, called Why We Eat (Too Much) by Dr Andrew Jenkinson - a bariatric surgeon, which explains all of this. I'd write more about it, but I've lent my copy to a friend.

Well done everyone with your losses. I’ve lost 2lbs this week, which I’m happy about. I dream of having a whoosh and losing loads in one go but I don’t think that’s me.

Anyway I’m happy and hoping I might lose another 2lbs this week too. I’ll probably stick with strict boot camp for another week. I’m going back to work next week and that makes lunches harder as last time we didn’t have a fridge or microwave, not sure if we’re getting them back this time, so I’ll stick with it as long as I can.

All the shops/restaurants/pubs open today, I’m in Scotland, so might go for a wander round town this morning. And next week I’m booked into a pub for an evening so I’m really looking forward to that.

Food plan today is
B- skipped
L- chicken salad and deli nibbles
D- turkey meatballs with courgetti

No movement this week, or rather, lost 2.5lbs, gained 3 then got back to last Monday's weight. Let's see how this week goes! Nice food planned today. Plenty of water under my belt and not had my breakfast yet.

Now nuts and seeds are allowed would my trademark "porridge" help any of those who are constipated? Any combo (or ideally all) of ground Flaxseed, chia seeds, ground almonds, dessicated coconut, maybe pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds etc- lower carb milk better though I'm happy enough to use whole I keep it for an occasional treat. I include oat bran when not on bootcamp. I'm a several times a day girl though never any issues in that department!

@potas you may be right with your idea about IF and periods. Here's an interesting piece about fasting and why it's not always great for women

I don't know much about fasting, but it does seem that it's something to be carefully considered.

... there's also a lovely recipe on the vegetarian recipe thread @Rayna37, for low carb granola

I am coming onto week 3 with my head hanging and a shameful confession as I massively lied about my Saturday.

Having been given advice to increase carbs A BIT because of palpitation / feeling crappy I decided to have a complete night off and a load of shitty emotional eating kicked in with a 'deprivation' mind set and I went nuts with s'mores at the fire pit, more biscuits, massive bar of chocolate and 2 slices of white bread and butter and half a tin of Pringles - snuck after everyone else had gone to bed in a proper secret binge

I felt so ashamed I couldn't admit it to you lovely people and just ranted about the massive weight gain that hit a few hours later.

Seems I am still fucked when it comes to the psychological aspect of food after all.

I was feeling so pleased that I seemed to have turned a corner and was really hoping that this woe was my way out of this shit but apparently not there yet.

So I am sorry.

Particularly for the lovely people who all tried to make me feel better and give me advice when I had been so dishonest.

I had a better day yesterday completely on plan but hugely over eating still.

Today I am starting 2 week strict BC again and I promise not to lie again.

The biggest hug to you @FusionChefGeoff. I’m sure others will have better psychological insight and support than me, but I totally recognise that sudden crazed plummet, and the need to conceal, like if others don’t know I did it then I can pretend to myself that it didn’t happen. Well done for confronting it and owning up to it. Xxx

Well done everyone on your losses. Some great achievements this week. Not so much for me I'm afraid but it is my own fault. I had some G&Ts on Saturday and diet Coke so I think that wrecked the week but at least I'm stabilising!

@Figrus2 I am the same with water. When I'm working at home it's fine but when I've got to be out and about I can't risk needed the loo - especially when most toilets are shut! Also, I need to exercise in the morning otherwise it's bad news...good job the kids are cute and it was all worth it...

Be kind to yourself FusionChefGeoff do you have a history of binge eating? I sometimes think we're trying to punish ourselves when this happens. Deep breath, it's Monday, back to Bootcamp. You can do it!

Thanks all. Yes, do all that but lots of complexity around healthy gut and I think we're all a bit different. IBS much better post menopause. Oats, pulses and lots of green veg my standard. Dairy fat not great for my gut generally. Am taking turmeric as that usually helps me and might try a probiotic too though not convinced really. Feeling better than last week

Well done on all the losses
Mine is consistent for the 2 weeks around 1lb each which is what I want
I wouli6love to be at 11st by 12th June for da confirmation that is the goal I'm setting.
Thanks @BIWI for info re excercise on end of thread 2.
@Rshard and @ListenLinda I'm normally a bad sleeper but much better since cutting out bread potatoes and my quick go to snack bananas I didn't even buy any in the shopping.
@venusandmars enjoy your holiday and all your nice plans for the week.
Have hospital checkup today hate the waiting in hospitals.
And getting 24 hour blood pressure monitor on 2m so hopefully it will have went down and dont need to increase medication
Have a nice day everyone

Hey fusion a huge well done for getting back on the horse after a massive wobble. That’s impressive.

For me the key to successful weight loss is putting the wobbles behind you and carrying on.

Morning all. Not weighing as I know it disheartens me but also know this WOE works for me if I don’t cheat.

We have loads of rhubarb in the garden - am I allowed to use something like stevia to sweeten it slightly? DH made a gorgeous rhubarb tart at the weekend and I have not even eaten a mouthful.

@FusionChefGeoff

-----------------------

^

Line. Drawn.

Dealing with food issues is very, very hard as - after all - we always have to eat. Other addictive substances aren't essential. So it's a difficult challenge for you.

Start afresh today. But don't keep your carbs so low that you're getting palpitations. Plan your meals for the rest of the week so that you know you won't be tempted - and get rid of all the carby stuff from the house.

Ooh thanks BIWI, I realise now I have some coconut flakes in that I planned to use in granola- I make the Sarah Wilson "Coco-nutty granola" from her I Quit Sugar book. Even a sprinkle elevates plain yogurt.

Fusion- line drawn, back on it!

... oh and really, really well done for being brave and confessing all