Week 6 - Leaving Lockdown Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Morning campers

As ever, here is the spreadsheet

So we start the second half of this Bootcamp.

I sense that things are quietening down a little on the threads, but I hope that doesn't reflect commitment and progress?

It's interesting to hear the chat about maintenance, and very positive that people are starting to realise that it might not be long before they have reached that stage.

Glad to hear you're feeling a bit more positive @FusionChefGeoff

@NigellaAwesom - your cloakroom looks lovely. Love the need to provide for the cat as well

@Moonswimmer and @venusandmars - sailing sounds, to me, like a week/weekend from hell! I'd rather do an SAS outward bound course than be stuck on a tiny boat worrying about how I might go to the loo!

@StuntNun - very impressed that you could just get up and run 2K without training for it! I've completed my C25K so I'm running now for 30 minutes at a time, but I know that I'm nowhere near 5K yet, and it took 9 weeks to reach this stage!

Very envious of you @Andi2020 - wish we were near a beach somewhere.

@ElasticFirecrackers those cheese things sound lovely. What kind of cheese is Maasdam?

@ListenLinda - what do you have in your fridge/freezer/cupboards? We can try and do some kind of 'ready steady cook' for you! Tonight we're going to have a stir-fry, with pork tenderloin and either egg-fried cauliflower rice, or a sort-of pho, using Bare Naked Noodles.

@BSky I'm afraid it's inevitable that too much wine won't help. Bloating is generally dealt with by drinking more water, but I'm sorry that you're having issues with that. If it doesn't resolve itself soon, and you're still having the abdominal ache, I'd get that checked out with your GP. Just to be on the safe side.

Busy next few days here - we're having our Christmas this weekend! Off to pick up SIL from Cardiff and BIL from Bath (DH's brother and sister) and bring them back to us - along with DS2 who will come and join us. So lots of prep work to do to keep us all fed and entertained.

Presents are under the 'tree'; all the beds now have Christmas bedding and we have a couple of Christmas candle ornaments on the mantlepiece as well as little stash of Christmas loo paper in the bathrooms

(Oh, and plenty of Champagne and fizz in the fridge)

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch so I've just watched a YouTube woop for cravings video (after launching headfirst into a deli meat, olives and cheese supper after an early dinner due to kids activities - d'oh!)

I'm still a bit baffled as to trying to find a truly inspiring objective tbh. As the ones that first come to mind all sound a bit too close to the disordered eating of my past.

To be absolutely clear - I do NOT think any of the below is a good reason but if I'm being insanely honest that's what goes around my head....

• not snacking will help me hit a magic and arbitrary number on the scales
• I won't get the feeling of failure / shame for 'giving in'
• I will feel in control, together and generally smug that my self control is so much better than everyone else's

My clothes all fit well and I am a healthy weight so anything beyond that is a bit hard to justify in my logical mind - but it's all very much there in the subconscious!!!

Sigh. This is going to be a loooong journey.

Lucuma is an alternative to sugar 29g carb per 100g. I’d never heard of it either!

Morning all

I have been a little AWOL but I am trying to KOKO. The scales are not moving which is annoying me but I am trying to keep the faith. @Moonswimmer that is exactly how I feel at the moment and yes the weather is not helping. It is June in a couple of weeks ! It feels like November!

@MrsKoala I am so sorry, that is incredibly frustrating.

I think my cartwheel days are behind me sadly. I think I would do myself an injury

I have never been able to do a cartwheel in my life, and always looked with envy at primary school at those girls who flung themselves into them with ease. And those who could also do handsprings and the splits were queens of the playground.

I had never thought Lucuma was an alternative to sugar. It is slightly sweet.

I learned about it in a superfood book. It has a sort of toasty caramel flavour. It's a powder and I had no idea that us was 29g carb per 100g. You only need a teaspoon.

I think I need to read up on it again.

Something bad happened. Husband went out. I then inhaled a tortilla wrap, crisps, chocolate and some sweets. 2lb up on the scales. Regret.

I think I know why though. Husband bought a massive bag (catering size) or chocolate chips and I have had a couple here and there and it's set me off. I wasn't in anyway hungry, sad or anything. I had a good book to read as well!

I need a strict week now before half term. I know I can do it, though imagine I will be at square one in terms of how it feels.

Sorry for the totally absorbed post.
Plan
L salad with kohl rabi remoulade and a couple of ham and cream cheese rollups
D steak, blue cheese and green veg
Mim walk or run

Oh @MrsKoala. So sorry you're having such a shit week.

@FusionChefGeoff, if you can't find your objective easily, would you find value in keeping a "food and mood" diary for a few days? Just jot down what you eat and at what time and how you felt before, during and after. Apologies if that's too close to your previous experiences.

@venusandmars Your day yesterday sounds perfect. Love a good wedding and how fantastic to be able to finally sit down to lunch with your DC.

Another vote here for the Great Bootcamp BBQ!

Well the Lucuma is in the bin. Thank you for pointing this out. There was no nutrition info on the pack I had, and I had a completely false view that is was some sugar-free low carb miracle.

It's been in the cupboard for ages and it's funny I sought it out yesterday when I was really hungry. I also ate tons (too much) yoghurt yesterday which makes me think I was carb-cravy, and I really don't want to give in to any carb cravings at all because that will just perpetuate the craving cycle. Funny thing is I really wasn't aware yesterday that that was what was happening.

I have not been sleeping that well which makes me tired and susceptible. And without having this group to record and reflect, I wouldn't have realised it and would probably be on the slippery slope.

I have been really hungry this week and am back into doing regular exercise, I think maybe I just need to eat a bit more at breakfast and lunch.

Are you drinking enough water @ElasticFirecracker? I'm sweating buckets just thinking about all your activity!

I've had a bad few days. I can see that some others are struggling too, and it i helpful to read your thoughts about it.

I should try and write down how things went wrong for me. But it will make a long and rambling post. Don't worry if you can't get through it or respond. It will have been helpful anyway just to write it.

I think it started off because I let myself get too hungry. I had been exercising a lot and I should have respected the additional appetite instead of fighting it. But I was unhappy with my lack of weight loss and I guess I felt drawn to the idea of taking a large calorie deficit in the hopes of a significant loss. In other words, the stupid old disordered dieting that inevitably leads to disordered overeating.

The attitudes that go with that eating pattern are a kind of self-hatred I suppose, hating my own flesh, even though I'm not techincally overweight (I'm near the top of my healthy BMI range) plus this weird illusion that I can get the better of self-hatred by hitting a number on the scales. You just know that if I ever hit that number I will suddenly discover that, hey bingo, I still hate myself and everything is exactly the same. I'm 58 now how come I haven't worked out that this is all a scam that I operate on myself?

Other, more practical problems: I think that even before it all fell apart I had been creeping towards large portion sizes. That is a problem even if it doesn't result in too many carbs or calories, because it is catering to a mindset in which eating is a consolation and having to stop is a kind of terrible bleakness.

Instead of piling my plate high with bulky veg , and carrying on eating it even after my tastebuds stop savouring the flavours, I need to prepare only a single plateful of food, really really enjoy it and then stop -- not to punish or deprive myself but because I have noticed the natural decline of pleasure that goes wth satiation.

When I started bootcamp I was just amazed at how good I felt, how totally the cravings had gone. But I guess that was partly the excitement and novelty of a fresh start. Now it is all much more mixed and I have to find a way of rebuilding the positivity.

@Timetobuckup snap, I have never been able to do a cartwheel (and unlikely to start now at 52 ) and my scales are stuck too. Have been following the plan, much less hungry and snacky than I used to be, drinking loads of water.

Maybe I need to be more strict with myself re things like cheese and also milk in tea. Have been using lactofree as it has fewer carbs but maybe it's still too much. I am from Yorkshire, don't take away my tea

Just acknowledging your post and thoughts @Random789 . I don't have much in the way of experience there, so just sending up the bat signal (for you and for others who seem to be struggling) to those who might be able to help. @BIWI @StuntNun @prettybird @venusandmars @Ninkanink.

I drink less tea than I used to @MotherBuckets, but still at least five mugs a day. I've just grown accustomed to unsweetened soya milk in mine. There's such a ritualistic element to a cup of tea and it's one of my better vices

Sorry for absence. Am Christmassing and with family - no time to get away to the laptop.

Thanks for all the support guys. The hoops you jump thru and ridiculous 'computer says no' attitude you get from paeds and schools etc are just so kafkaesque sometimes it never ceases to amaze me, but after 7 years of it it still manages to. Every interaction results in a 'oh what the fuck now' internal scream to a sigh. It's so grindingly disheartening I'm convinced its on purpose to make everyone piss off and leave them alone, in a kind of Skynet approach to paediatric care - ie if there are no kids to treat then we have achieved our goal, so lets eliminate the patients by making it impossible to get an appointment.

@venusandmars contrary to MN trends I love a wedding and actually enjoy being with people and sharing their important moments so that sounds lovely. It's even made me feel lovely and warm inside thinking about so thanks for sharing.

Im currently on MN in bed as its inset day so I feel quite decadent and indulgent laying around on a weekday. Going to start my 'Buttcamp' later and may do a step exercise session as well as the recommendations from this thread. I'm a bit scared as I've got a 6 mile walk tomorrow and may ache. But(t) I can put it off no longer, drastic action is required.

Breakfast will be yog, nuts and blueberries. Lunch smoked mackerel and salad. Not sure about dinner, possibly a curry or a Wetherspoons steak and salad.

@FusionChefGeoff are there other ways you could phrase it so you're not focusing on not having something? e.g. my blood sugars remain stable when I eat 3 well planned meal per day? If I eat regularly and on plan then I don't feel hungry and my nutrition is excellent? If I feel like having a snack I drink a pint of water instead and wait to 30 minutes, or find something positive to do instead.... Don't know if any of that would work for you.

Off to a meeting (which will include lunch in a restaurant) . Was looking forward to a nice walk to the station but it's pissing with rain, blowing a gale and it's really cold. Creamy coffee for breakfast with cheese, ham and cucumber 'sandwich'. Will probably be something seafoody for lunch. Omelette for dinner.

Well, the weather's been kind to you BIWI. Very seasonal!
Enjoy!

Sorry I have been totally absent from the thread this week. Working and house moving (maybe/maybe not) is occupying too much of my attention. Off on hols tomorrow for a week so I will probably consume more alcohol and more bread than is normal for me but honestly I just want to be somewhere other than my house for a few days! Going to try to keep reasonably on track and limit the damage. I will weigh in tomorrow before I go.

Definitely recognise that scenario @Bestbees , I'm a terrible one for setting off down that slippery slope. I usually manage to reign it in but not until after a big binge like yours, it does make me worry a bit that this WOE could make my eating habits more disordered rather than less

And Merry Christmas BIWI! Hope Santa was kind to you

This Reiss one is worth a look?

Sorry, wrong thread!

@ElasticFirecracker 3 hours mowing a lawn? You must have quite an impressive garden - do you live in Versailles?

@FusionChefGeoff Cravings are very hard to deal with. I think there is a lot of subconscious mental shorthand going on with them. Sometimes it's even hard to be aware that you're having/reacting to cravings.

@Ifeelmuchlessfat Haha. Sadly not Versailles! But in a rural location. It is big and that was only the front. It badly needed doing and I went over some bits twice, so it was harder than normal. But it's very good exercise. Will try to beat 3 hrs next time.

@Random789 are you me? I am exactly having the same feelings!

@Random789 that all sounds very tough. Well done for staying around and sharing

eating is a consolation and having to stop is a kind of terrible bleakness.

I so recognise these thoughts. I am still in the excited to be back stage of low carb life at the moment and am hoping to be prepared for that urge that I deserve to eat sweet stuff.

Lots of other more experienced boot campers will be around soon I'm sure. Meanwhile, I find Gillian Riley's approach to food works really well with Bootcamp. Gillian used not to give any guidance about what to eat but has more recently come out in general favour of LCHF

https://eatingless.com