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Low-carb bootcamp

Join discussions about low-carb bootcamp plans, meals and progress. Consider speaking to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Week 6 - Leaving Lockdown Low Carb Bootcamp

352 replies

BIWI · 17/05/2021 08:46

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 Grin

@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 Grin

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

Week 6 - Leaving Lockdown Low Carb Bootcamp
OP posts:
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9
ditavonteesed · 23/05/2021 08:18

@FusionChefGeoff have you tried swapping the night eating for another treat that you do when you relax. When the dc were little I used to love a glass of wine to celebrate them Being in bed and it being relax time, I realised this was not healthy so I bought myself a fancy teapot and it didn't come out till they were tucked up, I had chamomile tea every night after the kids were in bed and it felt like a real treat. Now that was a long time ago but every night when jobs are done and I sit down I have a cup of camomile tea, it's the ritual rather than the content that makes me feel relaxed. Does that make sense?

ditavonteesed · 23/05/2021 08:22

@FusionChefGeoff also on this woe I have been doing 16:8 so I know once I've had my evening meal that's it until late breakfast tomorrow. That might help.

Stokey · 23/05/2021 08:31

@FusionChefGeoff have you tried brushing your teeth for the evening when the DC go to bed? So have a couple of squares of dark choc after supper but then brush your teeth at 8-9 so that is it psychologically for the evening?

I go to bed early a couple of times a week - so put the kids down around 9 and then stay upstairs & read in the bed so I'm not tempted by any further snacking.

Jollyholibobs · 23/05/2021 08:43

@FusionChefGeoff I am grappling with the same thing. I completely recognise what you describe. I’ve read a few books. Gillian Riley’s Eating Less: say goodbye to overeating. I also did Gillian’s on line course last year. Also Overcoming Binge Eating by Christopher Fairbairn read this year.

Reading these books helps me to work in my long held anxieties about food and weight. The message I have taken away but still struggle with is that this overeating is a reaction to dieting and restriction. All or nothing thinking and restrictive calorie counting. This WOE should help with that but as we get near or reach target for me the old mindset is so hard to shake off. Treating myself/ rebelling/ always in secret. Not rational thinking. I am now so anxious about weight regain that old restrictive thinking has crept in. It’s so complex. I wish I understood why I do it too. I would say an extended fast a few weeks ago triggered something for me. Not in a good way. On the positive side I have just come through the first Easter in years where I have not regularly eaten whole 6 packs of hot cross buns between supermarket and home. I’ve not done that at all this year.

I looked at the WOOP stuff yesterday and am now reading Rethinking Positive Thinking by the WOOP lady.

I did a WOOP yesterday on the WOOP app and found it helpful. I hope you do too. Thanks to @MilesJuppIsMyBitch for this recommendation. Good luck fusion.

FusionChefGeoff · 23/05/2021 09:04

@ditavonteesed I am also allegedly on 16:8 but that doesn't help once the fuck it button has been pressed! I do also already have a fairly ritualised evening tea routine so there's 2 types I only have at night and I also tried my fancy decaf coffee last night which was all lovely but not enough to detract from the shouty food devil!!

@Stokey that's a good idea. Maybe if I can work on a strategy that PJs and teeth =
Food done for the day. I do have early nights and yes as long as I'm not downstairs I'm ok but last night DH and I were watching a film together which was nice so I will need other strategies for those nights.

@Jollyholibobs it's always reassuring to hear others struggle and I'm not a completely freak! But it's shit isn't it. And seemingly so hardwired. What app have you got?

On the hugely positive side - my normal binges would have been chocolate, crisps and a fuck tonne of white bread. That would have lead to a horrible sugar hangover the next day. So I think I need to focus on that rather than the blame / shame / guilt cycle.

I'm off on a blissful long run now whilst everyone else is at rugby so I will really enjoy that and generally come back feeling on top of the world.

ElasticFirecracker · 23/05/2021 09:07

@FusionChefGeoff Thanks

I don't have a book recommendation, but I have this problem myself and have done for a long time. I've had very long periods of it being under control but it's still a very strong tendency.

I don't know if any of this is helpful for you, but here are things that have helped me. This is what helps me, and when I say "you" it's in a general sense.

It's partly habit -- just something you do in certain circumstances. It becomes ingrained as a response to feeling uncomfortable/tired/stressed. Seeking comfort. There may be complicated reasons why you want to self-soothe. But the self-soothing becomes a problem in its own right.

It becomes habitual so you just do it even when you're not seeking comfort.

The more you do it the more you will do it.

The most important thing for me to grasp is that you REALLY don't have to respond to the cravings.

Just sit with the cravings, and maybe just think about how you feel. It really is possible to do this. I find it very hard. Some people say that cravings subside after 20 mins, but it can feel like 20 hours.

RIDING OUT A CRAVING IS INCREDIBLY CONFIDENCE BUILDING. You don't need to eat or do something else, just sit with the pain and discomfort until it goes, and it will.

I am a master at suppressing my feelings and rather than acknowledge or feel them, I push them down and they then generally emerge in some sort of self-destructive behaviour.

Every time you ride a craving out, it will weaken the next craving.

Keeping eating to meal times is very helpful for stopping emotional eating.

Having a 'healthy' binge is still a binge, so it's best to try nog to do it at all.

Late night is really bad for me. And if I don't sleep well, I tend to want to get up and eat comforting food to help me sleep.

I have found breathing exercises good when the cravings hit. 7:11 breathing - in for 7 and out for 11.

Most helpful has been not looking for a magical cure, but understanding it's within my very own grasp.

Keeping away from treat and trigger foods. Don't eat anything you're likely to want more of. You soon don't want them at all.

I've had a relapse into bad eating this year, and I'm finding this group very helpful in keeping me on track and trying to break that pattern. It's still hard to get back on track but I know it's possible.

When my eating has been on track and disciplined, I sometimes find myself in the supermarket looking for some sort of sugar-free legal treat (cake) I can have that I deserve. I may then convince myself that something is ok to eat, and then you can almost guarantee that in 2 weeks time I will be buying bags of Haribo.

For me, I the act of eating in response to an emotional trigger (to make me feel better) just re-legitimises disordered eating.

But don't beat yourself up if you have a slip up. Just dust yourself off and start again. It's too easy to think you've spoilt it now so you might as well not bother. NO ONE is perfect.

These are ideas that have helped me.

I also find that getting plenty of regular exercise helps me.

It's also important for me to be aware that if I get my eating under control I might start spending more (too much) money on other things.

I've probably missed out some things here, but hope some of it makes sense it helps and PLEASE don't punish yourself.

X

Bestbees · 23/05/2021 09:10

@FusionChefGeoff you write really well about this all, and I have no words of wisdom. All the tea/teeth brush doesn't work for me when that button is pressed. I will look up woop though.

Lots of booze yesterday, but food all on plan sort of. Lots of olives, almonds, nibbles of roasted veg and cheese kinda thing.

Plan for today
B cheese omlette
L random leftovers : baba ganoush, chorizo, roasted veg, prob more cheese.
D pork belly joint done on the bbq. Probably some slaw and greens.

FusionChefGeoff · 23/05/2021 09:20

@ElasticFirecracker amazing post thank you.

Some on the thread may know already but I'm also an alcoholic in recovery (7 years now) and absolutely everything you've said is bang on my recovery message!!! Just replace alcohol with food.

I've done it with booze and very very very rarely have cravings now - I just don't want it. But obviously it wasn't always like that! And the sitting with the feeling and riding it out rather than seeking a fix / solution is exactly what we talk about in AA.

So that's a very timely reminder that I need to use all of those well practiced skills just switch the 'enemy' to food.

It's also flagged to me that I'm not going to as many meetings as I used to and this could well be linked. So I will make sure I get back up to 3 a week and see if that helps.

I am so grateful for these threads and everyone on them thank you. I really do need to move my arse now though so bye!! ThanksThanks

L: tuna Nicoise style salad
D: chilli and mushrooms (first time eating at someone else's house but it's my mum so was quite easy to be honest / suggest a menu!)

ElasticFirecracker · 23/05/2021 09:22

The good news:

I have cook books. Tom Kerridge arrived first. I went through it and I chose some recipes and t then made a meal plan of dinners for the next 7 days. Today I'm making TK chilli.

Making the meal plan is massive achievement, I haven't managed this level of focus for ages. I'm hoping that by next week I can get myself organised to go shopping on Friday.

I then went shopping to buy all the things I needed, I couldn't get them all so later went further afield to a better shop. Filled the trolley and then no wallet. So home again empty handed.

Picked up more cook books from the library.

I am instantly excited by the soups in the Neris and India book. I've also got Dr Claire Bailey cookbook and Rose Elliot veg low carb.

That was the good news.

Not so good news.

Friday very busy forgot to go shopping ended up in M&S at 7:30 looking for something easy for us to eat. I couldn't find anything and then found Smoked Haddock Florentine which was 2.7 carbs. I ate it and could hardly believe it was so low carb, I also had wine.

Yesterday morning I thought more clearly and looked again at the label and realised it was 27g carbs. I'm then really annoyed with myself and can't think how I could really have thought it was 2.7 grams.

I don't think it's been a good week and I definitely haven't had enough water. I've been feeling miserable about it, but I'll just try to be better next week.

ElasticFirecracker · 23/05/2021 09:23

@FusionChefGeoff switching seats on the plane!

MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 23/05/2021 09:43

Morning!

@FusionChefGeoff Thanks for you. I have noticed that the way you talk about yourself is generally quite negative. I think I've noticed because I tend to be the same, and have had to learn from the outside-in how to stop it.

I mean, from the outside perspective, you're a healthy weight, you've stuck to this WOE pretty consistently, and you've achieved plenty of goals. You seem to automatically fixate on the stuff you think you've failed at. It's just an observation, but I do think you are very hard on yourself. *

I'm pleased I've nudged a couple of you towards WOOP Grin. There's lots of very robust data to back it up. Notably, they tried it on a group of school children, and I think they were still out-performing the control group a couple of years later! (Have to check the timing on that one).

  • Just read on & have seen your post about alcoholism. You have my total respect! My Dad was an alcoholic, & if he'd acknowledged it & stayed seven years dry that would have transformed my childhood. You are amazing!

Feeling a bit Ground-hog Day here. Because of my lymphoma, they're not sure whether the vaccine will protect me, so I'm in a bit of a limbo situation. I want to get out & do more things, but at the same time, I have to be careful.

However, off on hols next week (to Devon), and I can't WAIT!

ElasticFirecracker · 23/05/2021 09:55

@BIWI I hope you had a good Christmas!

I thought getting these cook books would make life more simple for me, but I'm confused again. I've noticed the recipes in Neris and India don't have carb counts.

I have now seen that Tom Kerridge Chilli is 30 grams of carbs per person. Is that OK? This is even more than the Smoked Haddock Florentine from M&S.

I won't be putting the 75 grams of dark chocolate in, I may substitute a spoonful of good quality cocoa.

The other ingredients (apart from spices) are
mince
tomatoes
onion
garlic
chorizo (1.1/100g)
celery
beef consomme (I have beef stock 0.7/100g)
juice of one lime
Menier cocoa powder (11/100g) say 10g =1.1g.

The side dish included in the carb count is green beans with butter, mint and yoghurt.

This all seems OK to me. So I'm going ahead with it.

Is it OK?

devoncreamtea · 23/05/2021 10:39

@FusionChefGeoff so much respect to you for working so hard to beat the alcohol. I’m a daughter of an alcoholic too (now dead sadly) and it is a huge achievement. I agree with Elastic in that you should celebrate yourself more! I think the tendency to be binge-y and addictive is genetic or if not strictly genetic - somehow part of some of our make up. I definitely recognise this in my self and it is similar to my dad’s patterns. I sometimes think when I feel like a terrible awful human ‘this is how he felt’ and although it doesn’t stop me wishing that his life could have been different for all our sakes, I also feel I understand him and ‘it’ better. Flowers. You are pretty amazing in my book.

I’m having a dreadful week. Hasn’t improved since last weekend - on plan off plan craziness dictated by mood/stress/time/work whatever. Generally just a mess. I am getting up tomorrow and just starting again. I want to lose weight, I know it will improve my health and well-being so I’m not giving up. I acknowledge as well that this is a really difficult moment in my life; I’ve got too much on my plate (!) to manage and I’m doing my best with what I have to give. Hoping a reset next week and a proper break at half term will lift my spirits and energy. Have also decided to go alcohol free as I am just not getting the rest I need on the weekend evenings when I drink wine. I need the sleep!
So up and at em tomorrow. Today will be what I can manage in between giant workload and kids. Early night. Better week ahead. Halo

FusionChefGeoff · 23/05/2021 15:25

@ElasticFirecracker sorry being thick - is that a metaphor for swapping one dodgy behaviour for another? Because it's absolutely right!

Also - exciting news about cook books and that you're progressing your planning skills. Sorry about the wallet though how frustrating. Although generally speaking, as a planner, I avoid any recipes that make it hard - ie that involve ingredients that may mean trekking the shops. Keep it simple and aim to build up a good solid repertoire of go to meals. I can plan now in a few minutes and know exactly what from each recipe is the fresh stuff for the list and what I already have in. Then every now and then when I get bored I add another recipe in but sticking with same principles.

The recipe looks fine to me - as you say maybe it's the choc that tips it over and perhaps onions - do you have any shallots??

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch @devoncreamtea thank you for saying that. I have a huge fear of failure and it's something I'm working hard on addressing. But it's still a very conscious effort to focus on the successes rather than a natural position.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday!!

@devoncreamtea sorry that you've got so much going on and a massive workload. We have a saying in AA to take recovery one day at a time and that you can start a new 24 hours at any time - you don't have to wait for the morning!

FinallyHere · 23/05/2021 15:52

self help book recommendations that deal with why we eat when we're definitely not hungry?!

Apologies for reposting, Gillian Riley's really works for me https://eatingless.com so long as I'm drinking all.the.water too and give myself time to think about her approach before I've crammed lots and lots of processed carbs down my throat.

Before reading her book it had never occurred to me to just feel the desire to eat and not satisfy it. I agree with PP who pointed out what a buzz is to be had from feeling that desire to eat and not satisfying it.

I find following Bootcamp easy compared to the more complicated ideas of maintenance. Plenty of time before I need to worry about that.

Andi2020 · 23/05/2021 16:47

Sorry to hear about people having a hard time. Don't give up, Just restart.

Got my Vaccine today. Watching a movie with teenagers horror not my taste.
They are munching in Pringles and Jelly sweets which I'm finding hard to resist but keep drinking water.
They want to go to the New Nachos for takeaway later so hopefully something to suit.
Tried on pair of work trousers size 14 and they actually closed but not comfortable to wear for a whole day yet and have on a top today that the buttons where ready to bust prior to bootcamp
so I have met a few off my goals this week.

Random789 · 23/05/2021 17:05

Great post about dealing with cravings, elasticfirecracker. Thank you.

cheeseisthebest · 23/05/2021 17:18

Really interesting about cravings and binge eating. Definitely can relate.
I went out last night and I drank, I never drink, I'm always the driver. Feel rough today but had such a wonderful night, so much fun. No regrets at all!

nowlook · 23/05/2021 17:29

Afternoon all- fabulous to see those with shared experiences supporting each other.

I've nothing useful (I never snack), but reading your amazing recovery journey with interest and envy Fusion

I gave blood today. Am wondering if I might sneak an extra pound as a result Grin

Random789 · 23/05/2021 17:41

Did you allow yourself a biscuit after giving blood nowlook? If ever a few carbs are in order it would be then, I think. And the nurses at blood donation clinics are pretty stern when it comes to requiring people to have a bit of sugar before they go. Grin

nowlook · 23/05/2021 18:02

@Random789

Did you allow yourself a biscuit after giving blood nowlook? If ever a few carbs are in order it would be then, I think. And the nurses at blood donation clinics are pretty stern when it comes to requiring people to have a bit of sugar before they go. Grin
They were busy, fortunately, so I slipped the bourbons into my bag Grin I made sure to eat a very large omelette before I went, though.

No sweet tooth, but I'd fight anyone for cheese Wink

Moonswimmer · 23/05/2021 19:21

B: coffee
L: ham, tomato, basil and olive oil salad
S: handful of almonds
D: pork stir fry

FusionChefGeoff · 23/05/2021 20:23

@nowlook the extra pound idea is extreme but might just be worth a try!

Right, teeth are brushed, PJs on.

Kitchen is CLOSED!!

FinallyHere · 23/05/2021 20:32

@FusionChefGeoff

Kitchen is CLOSED!!

An expression I associate with my late DM.

ElasticFirecracker · 23/05/2021 20:37

@FusionChefGeoff Yes, that is it exactly. There's a proper term for it which escapes me, but it's very common indeed.
I remembered another thing : self-compassion treating yourself as you would treat a very dear and valued friend. People are always telling me I'm too hard on myself. My reaction to that always used to be that if only they knew the truth they would think I am not nearly hard enough! I've been trying hard to change this.

Today's food.

Breakfast : I can't remember

Lunch: avocado lettuce cucumber watercress cream cheese.

Dinner. Tom Kerridge chilli. This was a ok I prepared it all this morning and made enough to freeze half so I have a meal in the bank.

It was nice, It was very rich and I really couldn't have eaten lots of it