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!

@conveyancingwoe hi, in the end I found I didn't actually have any carrots. So I made it just with chicken, leeks and celery and lots of parsley for a bit of colour.

It was ok, but not quite as nice as it normally is.

@ElasticFirecracker

Like everything, it all depends on how much you're going to eat!

However, Sainsbury's has baby plum tomatoes at 3.4g per 100g and their basics brand (Hubbards) of tinned tomatoes at 3.1g per 100g, so I really wouldn't worry about them, unless you're eating more than 100-200g of them. If you're eating a sauce made with the whole can, just for yourself, then this is getting a bit too carby.

If things are in the amber group it doesn't mean you can't have them, it just means you need to be a bit more cautious with them.

(I'm going to revise the list soon too, as I have some more up-to-date/better quality info about carb counts now, courtesy of @nowlook)

@Random789 what sweet birds.

I have started to look into carb cycling or carb refeed as I think long term that's probably something I should do, the thyroid levels aren't too good at the moment and I have been frozen for months now (have to have a bath every day to warm up). Everything I can find online either tells you you shouldn't low carb with hypothyroid which I known isn't true for me as it is the only thing that has ever worked for me or is based around sports performance.

Anyway does anyone know anything about carb refeed? And more importantly how to do it with getting into an obsessive mindset which is what I have been desperately trying to avoid.

[quote ElasticFirecracker]@conveyancingwoe hi, in the end I found I didn't actually have any carrots. So I made it just with chicken, leeks and celery and lots of parsley for a bit of colour.

It was ok, but not quite as nice as it normally is.[/quote]
Sorry @ElasticFirecracker I saw your post last night but forgot to comment

I would say that at just over 7g carbs per 100g you do need to be careful about carrots. However, if you were going to make your soup with them, but then fish out any from your portion, you should be fine.

[quote ditavonteesed]@Random789 what sweet birds.

I have started to look into carb cycling or carb refeed as I think long term that's probably something I should do, the thyroid levels aren't too good at the moment and I have been frozen for months now (have to have a bath every day to warm up). Everything I can find online either tells you you shouldn't low carb with hypothyroid which I known isn't true for me as it is the only thing that has ever worked for me or is based around sports performance.

Anyway does anyone know anything about carb refeed? And more importantly how to do it with getting into an obsessive mindset which is what I have been desperately trying to avoid. [/quote]
@ditavonteesed are you under a GP's care for hypothyroidism? If not, then I think you really should be.

From what I can see, and bearing in mind that I'm NOT a medic, a very low carb diet isn't a great idea if you're suffering from hypothyroidism because:

insulin is needed for the conversion of the inactive T4 hormone into the active T3 hormone, and insulin is generally quite low on very low carbohydrate diets

(from this website

I'm not sure if carb cycling/refeeding would help, but what I would suggest - apart from a visit to your GP - is that you raise the level of carbs you're eating. I know we advocate not counting carbs, but I think it might be a good idea for you to do that for the next few days, so that you know what your daily average is - and then look to increase that slightly, and see if it makes you feel better.

But definitely discuss this with your GP.

Yes wrinkles at 56 are normal, especially for white skin. Embrace them!

Off to the office in London, dammit. Not liking the commute! Lunch is rubbish, I need to get veg in. Vegan chicken and baby bels. Eggs for breakfast

Cute slipper pup!

The seriously low carb bread is a game changer for taking a packed lunch. Just keep a loaf in the freezer.

I wish I could disagree with you @MrsBertBibby, but you're absolutely right!

Plenty of water will help, along with moisturiser and choosing a moisturiser with a good SPF. Also, plenty of fat should help too!

Otherwise I prefer to think of mine as laughter lines. Sign of a life well lived.

@MrsBertBibby you mean there is no miracle fix 😂.

Confession time
Went out ( proper out , out ) to the local pub in a bloody freezing cold marquee in the car park , completely annoyingly incompatible menu ..
Scampi and chips , sausage and chips , cheeseburger and chips etc
I had scampi , and some Sauvi B , and had to go to bed when I got home as I was so cold even with lots of layers on

Will overload on green veg today and lots and lots of water and overcome the carb overload yesterday
It was very nice to be able to meet up with friends socially though

Pics attached of the belt of truth
Pic 1 October waist 37 inches
Pic 2 yesterday , waist 32 inches

@Bestbees @venusandmars @ChoosandChipsandSealingWax thanks for the kind words. It’s a strange paradox, you fight for so long and hard for the diagnosis but then you don’t want it either. Every step is a mix of emotions. It’s also quite lonely because you can’t really share it and my H doesn’t get involved as he struggles with it too much - too close to home I think.

So jealous of your view AND puppy Venus. And your lovely little birds @Random789 . The only birds we have are dead ones brought in by our hunting cat. No dogs here as, although I love them and grew up with them, I find them such hard work and a bind.

As for wrinkles I’m desperately trying to keep mine at bay. Going to try Profhilo next month to see if it perks my sagging face up. Also in eyebrow news I’ve booked myself in for Henna brows and lvl lash tint on Thursday. I’ll do before and after pics so you can see if it makes any improvement.

Had nut granola, a few berries and yogurt for breakfast. Very nice but the yogurt is so thick it feels quite dry. Is there a way of thinning it without cream?

venus my lockdown weight tracker would be identical to yours including 2 failed dieting attempts (one lasted 2 weeks, another lasted 5). I think I’m walking proof of that old adage ‘dieting makes you fat’

In other news I seem to have developed keto rash. Having done some googling I am 99% sure that’s what it is as it’s in the (apologies TMI) areas where I sweat most and nowhere else. I have been doing shred + step regularly at home (got a dodgy knee that can’t take much impact so running is out) but its been quite warm and I get seriously hot when I exercise.

Has anyone had this? It it just an early stages thing? Any tips? I am showering twice a day now; swimming is obv a great choice but difficult to get a slot atm.

@nowlook

Can't help with trifle in French, would it help to know that in German it's called 'English Soup'. Was 'fraid not

@FusionChefGeoff inspired by your example, I'm setting myself the task of fessing up here to any even minor infractions and drawing a line, rather than my usual run away and hide response. If nothing else, it will act as a very powerful motivator for me to not stray.

I've just read the book BIWI recommended "why we eat too much" and am feeling cross at the food manufacturers making profit from making food which overpowers my capacity for restraint in eating. This low carb woe helps me feel so.much.better about food snd life, I wonder why I ever slip. Great to understand how some esp snack foods work as the are designed to overpower us. No more.

Oh, yes, post my food. Crazy mad day yesterday so I focused on drinking my first three litres throughout the day. Evening meal was a ceaseresque salad. Dressing mashed anchovy and fresh garlic stirred into delouis Mayo, spoonful water to loosen it a bit. Then FLGV (celery, spring onions, leaves, avocado) and two slices of ham. Promised myself I could have all four slices if I wanted them but there was honestly not enough space in the bowl and I was full when I finished the bowlful

Final 500ml water too

Yesterday's food was the same, with two rashers bacon, leftover chicken pieces, Parmesan and raw cabbage instead of ham. It was delicious but i genuinely couldn't finish the whole bowl. More veg less protein second time round worked better.

Ideally when I am WFH I will have this kind of meal at lunchtime and a small portion of something in the evening.

@TheHoover yes, 'keto rash' is a thing. However, it seems that not much is known about it, although it does seem to be a temporary thing.

piece here about it

Try upping your carbs slightly to see if this makes a difference.

pleaseandthankyou yes sadly i think wrinkles are par for the course now. I find lots of water helps, as does less sugar. I find No.7 serums definitely reduce them a bit. Oh and day cream with spf in at the minimum.

No change on the scales this morning which I know is only to be expected in week 3. Will have to reconsider my daily weigh in strategy. I shared my change in bmi with my siblings last night who were v encouraging which was nice 😊

Waiting to see consultant now.... 🤞

@Pleaseandthankyou -same! Lost similar amount of weight and am a similar age. I’m a year older

Water, collagen and specific exercises might help. These are easy to do (if the link works.)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGj_34o6-8
My problem is wrinkly loose skin on my stomach. Working on that too.

If anyone is interested in skin plumping/wrinkle fighting, I drink a daily collagen supplement, because as you age you stop producing as much and I think putting it on topically isn’t as effective (although I do also use a collagen serum). I use a skin roller too which in conjunction with retinols and vit c has a firming effect. I’m also thinking of buying an LED mask like this one

[quote ditavonteesed]@Random789 what sweet birds.

I have started to look into carb cycling or carb refeed as I think long term that's probably something I should do, the thyroid levels aren't too good at the moment and I have been frozen for months now (have to have a bath every day to warm up). Everything I can find online either tells you you shouldn't low carb with hypothyroid which I known isn't true for me as it is the only thing that has ever worked for me or is based around sports performance.

Anyway does anyone know anything about carb refeed? And more importantly how to do it with getting into an obsessive mindset which is what I have been desperately trying to avoid. [/quote]
Ditavonteeseed have you consulted your GP? Maybe your thyroid medication needs to be adjusted? For a carb refeed I would pick one day a week and have a higher carb meal. Don't go for "dangerous" foods like pizza or doughnuts though. Have a jacket potato, or a curry with a small portion of rice, eat the higher carb vegetables such as parsnips, or lower carb fruit such as apples and oranges. That way you should be able to increase your thyroid hormone cycling without disrupting your insulin levels and derailing your low carb approach.

Wow @venusandmars ! More photos please, so we can live vicariously through them!  Same to @Random789 & your beautiful birds ❤️

@AthelstaneTheUnready be careful, carrots are high carb, you know. Tommorow try some dust fried in butter.

Enjoyed reading all the skin tips. I just wash with a flannel (using a bit of moisturiser instead of soap), then slather more moisturiser on afterwards. Low tech all the way.

I'm generally lazy about posting my meals, but today it's:

B: natural yog, cream, psyllium husks, coffee
L: leftover cauli & broccoli cheese, maybe some blueberries
D: Something with chicken pieces, prob with butter-roasted cabbage.
3l water

@Rshard

I find a Greek salad works ok without being kept in a fridge debka, despite the feta. I’ve taken them to swimming galas, very warm atmosphere and they’ve been fine.

Love the pic of pup in a slipper and the birds. I’d love a dog, I find working from home quite lonely sometimes and a dog would be good company. Dh less keen even though, aged 11 he cried on the doorstep until his mum allowed him to keep a pup he’d been offered by a family friend...

Seconding on the greek salad - that is my go-to work lunch when I am out and about - it's normally served at room temperature pretty much anyway (especially if you are actually in Greece and in the sunshine!) and yes the feta seems more forgiving that other cheeses. I keep the dressing separately and dress it last minute.

Forgot to tag @debka but that was for you! Too late for today, but might help next time if you like feta/greek salad!

Is it too late for me to join? I've done vlcd successfully before but hugely lost my way 2 years ago and gained 3 stone, have now lost 2 but have a stone to go (preferably 1.5) and keep falling back into bad habits so could do with the nudge that joining would bring!
I'm 9.13stone today. 5ft2 and age 38. Have scanned your info on the ss - which looks great, thank you. I'll aim to follow it regardless of whether I can join this round!

Welcome @MTwhyowhy

Hope you enjoy this way of eating... and the support in these threads.

Thanks FinallyHere, definitely in need of accountability, and very glad Easter is now over for another year (wish it could be moved to Winter when it's less obvious that I've over indulged!)