Week 7 - Leaving Lockdown Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Evening all. Starting next week's thread early as I still have family here and it's difficult to get away to the laptop. The only reason I can do it now is that I'm in bed, really not feeling too well

Anyway here's the spreadsheet

I hope everyone sees a good result.

Really interesting and insightful posts about cravings and comfort eating. I actually think this is what makes low carbing (or any diet, frankly) so hard. The relationship we have with food is such a complex one.

Can I join you please? Camping this weekend, so start properly next week

@venusandmars

it feels good for me to be strong and to stick to my choices.

Respect 😀

I'm just about caught up after struggling to stay on top of the thread this past week.

Before I forget I wanted to recommend the Itsu Chicken Broth. It's good for lunch on the go
www.itsu.com/grocery/products/brilliantbroth/chicken-ramen-brilliant-broth/

Feeling quite sorry for myself with a stinking cold. Really craving sweet stuff, went to shop, looked at all the lovely sweet stuff, was very tempted and thought I don't need this, I don't want this and just allowed those thoughts to happen and walked away. It's very much an ongoing challenge for me!

Welcome @sandwiches77. You will have to change your name to nomoresandwiches77 😂

Weight creeping up again today. Determined to reverse it, so a quite careful day, portion-wise.

B: black coffee and a few almonds
L: Parma ham and celery
D: ratatouille

W: about halfway there...

Not a bad day. I've been feeling tired. Had a swim only managed 500 metres, which is OK. At least I went. Did a bit better on my run this evening. Did intervals and managed 4K.

Food

B: 2 eggs prosciutto and asparagus

L sauerkraut & bacon

D chicken and green beans in butter.

Plenty water.

The only problem is that I am obsessed with a particular cake and I keep reading the recipe again and again and looking at the picture. I've asked my son if I should make it for him and he's not that bothered about it. Then I thought I would make it and take it to some people we're seeing at the weekend.

It's mad. I won't be able to eat it, so why am I obsessing about making it?

I need to stop trying to convince myself to make a cake which I will then obviously eat. Even if I don't plan to eat it, I know that

I will just have to have a little taste and then several slices. And then eat it al up so that it's gone and I'm not tempted any more.

@Random789 wow. I have really enjoyed your posting and your humour - I had no idea you had such a tragic history I am so sorry for how awful life can be.

I'm still here - still overeating but on plan. I'm stressed and bored at work (odd combo) and still looking for something to fix it.

Although huge step last night I told my sponsor about my eating history and was completely honest with her about everything. We had a huge long conversation about it and hopefully that is an important step in working on all the psychological stuff that's linked to food and eating.

And it's YOU and @BIWI and everyone else who's shared their thoughts that pushed me to take that step. I've never been honest with anyone about it before so I'm really hoping I can start to properly address it now.

I may also miss some weigh ins to try to keep my focus on health and nutrition not the number on the scales.

B: boiled egg with butter mash
L: lemon chicken salad with hm coleslaw
D: red Thai chicken curry with stir fried veg.
Greek yoghurt (not hungry)

Completely unnecessary snacks: finished off coleslaw about 4pm, cheese with Mayo about 2pm then manchego and olives later waiting for everyone to come home at 7pm

However - I've nourished myself body I haven't abused my body, I feel satisfied and well and I took time and care over my meals so I am focussing on the positives and hoping if I continue to do that the emotional snacking will slowly fade

Did a walk & some exercise today before work. The rest of the day has been manic with work and running kids to and from stuff and I’m worn out!

B: x2 pieces almond & cheese bread with peanut butter
L: small slice frittata
D: small bowl of chilli (no kidney beans) Greek yog & cheese with broccoli.

Not enough greens today & had horrid evening, AF pain & tiredness, arguments with kids so feeling fed up went to the kitchen - had few forkfuls of cold chilli, couple teaspoons of peanut butter, couple of celebration chops & a few extra pieces of random chocolate I could find. I wasn’t hungry and I didn’t need it. I consciously ate stuff I didn’t need & that I know makes me feel crap. I even said to myself just have a herbal tea (which I am doing now somewhat belatedly!)
Well done @cheeseisthebest - very good resolve for avoiding sweet stuff. It’s not easy and you resisted. Hope you and others feeling under the weather feel better soon.

@ElasticFirecracker - I probably shouldn’t ask but what cake is it 🙊 🙈

@BIWI - hope you’re ok. Hope a trip to GP can put your mind to rest or sort anything promptly that needs sorting. Take care.

Night all

Thanks Bsky. Feel like quite a few of us are on the same page at the moment with cravings and boredom/stress/comfort eating.
Feels like strange times, everything opening back up so not in such a bootcamp bubble which makes it harder.

@BIWI hope you are ok?

Well done @FusionChefGeoff that was brave to share your history with your sponsor. I hope it does prove to be an important step for you. Think that’s a good idea to focus on nutrition and health and avoid focusing on scales and weigh ins.

@cheeseisthebest - definitely harder being out of Bootcamp bubble. I’m more stressed as everything feels so busy again - running about, organising and planning. I know I personally benefitted from much of the simpler life lockdown imposed. Weirdly I’m also more bored and feeling fed up with damp cold - so guess that’s where the comfort eating is coming in.

That sounds like a hard and very positive step Fusion. I hope it feels liberating and constructive for you.

Yesterday was strange, foodwise, in that the nibbly dissatisfaction completely subsided for no apparent reason, and I had no impulse to ear after dinner.

Bad thing was complete lack of moving about. I seem to have days when I do loads of exercise and then days when I prob don't even walk a thousand steps, thanks to homeworking and no dog. I tell myself I will go for a run or to the gym at the end of the working day, but I just feel stuck in a bubble of lethargy. I think non-movement reinforces itself. The less I move the stiller I get.

B: creamy coffee
L: Bacon and mushrooms
D: Low carb tabbouleh from The Low Carb Gourmet, with feta cheese

Morning everyone. It's a lovely sunny day here. I'm hoping we won't have rain and I can do some gardening.

Well done @FusionChefGeoff .

@BSky and @cheeseisthebest I'm with you and not feeling quite up to all the challenges of coming out I'd lockdown. In particular I find o forget that I have to remember that I may have things to do and keep double booking myself.

The cake was a nigella birthday custard sponge the recipe was in the Guardian on Monday. I won't post a link. I'm going to try to just put it aside and make it if I need to make a birthday cake.

Just koko here. Did eat a snack last night, but I was hungry! And I will be able to still do 16:8 today so that's good. Woken up with sore throat and fuzzy head which makes me feel lazy!

Plan
L cheese and tomato salad with oily dressing
D beef cheeks slow cooked with celeriac and leek mash, FLGV. Yoghurt.
Swim

Lots of water to flush out the sore throat!

Sorry for absence - have gone straight from family Christmas, to celebrating friends' wedding anniversary with a meal OUT, actually IN a restaurant!

Feeling much better - thanks for all the well wishes. But it's definitely something I have to see the GP about, which I'm not looking forward to.

Today/tonight all is back to normal, and I'll actually have to think about cooking 'normal' food! (By which I mean a) not Christmas b) low carb!)

@BIWI good to hear your feeling better.
to those who are struggling a bit.
@bsky I feel your draw to food when you run kids around to their activities and then they argue and you just eat so you don't talk and say something you shouldn't.
Dh keeps asking on his days off do you want tea it drives me nuts. Keeps coming in where I'm working from home like as if I have nothing to do. I want to stay wfh. But if this continues I'll have to go back for headspace.

Glad you're feeling better @BIWI.

I need to make a fathead pizza dough. I've heard it mentioned here but not sure when.

I've looked at recipes. Some of them are very vague about ingredients and use cups as a measurement which I don't like.

I have coconut flour, and I would prefer to use this.

Some recipes suggest coco others suggest almond meal or flour.

I'm confused about the difference between Almond meal, flour or ground almonds. Is Almond flour better than coconut flour? And if so which one should I use.

Mozzarella: some recipes say "shredded" mozzarella. I assume this is grated, but I think it's hard to grate mozzarella. I've also read that you must use shredded mozzarella not block mozzarella. What is block mozzarella?

I have stopped using the grated mozzarella in a bag from Aldi because of the additives and now just buy the little bags in water.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good recipe preferably a written one and help me out with some of the terms.

Thank you.

@ElasticFirecracker

Glad you're feeling better *@BIWI*.

I need to make a fathead pizza dough. I've heard it mentioned here but not sure when.

I've looked at recipes. Some of them are very vague about ingredients and use cups as a measurement which I don't like.

I have coconut flour, and I would prefer to use this.

Some recipes suggest coco others suggest almond meal or flour.

I'm confused about the difference between Almond meal, flour or ground almonds. Is Almond flour better than coconut flour? And if so which one should I use.

Mozzarella: some recipes say "shredded" mozzarella. I assume this is grated, but I think it's hard to grate mozzarella. I've also read that you must use shredded mozzarella not block mozzarella. What is block mozzarella?

I have stopped using the grated mozzarella in a bag from Aldi because of the additives and now just buy the little bags in water.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good recipe preferably a written one and help me out with some of the terms.

Thank you.

This is the Diet Doctor's recipe . I've never made it, so don't know if this is the best recipe or not! But it does give specific quantities, and not just in cups.

Almond meal/ground almonds/almond flour are pretty much the same thing - I've also seen it called almond flurry. The key thing is to buy it as finely milled as you can. But ordinary ground almonds from the supermarket should be fine.

this is block mozzarella . It is, literally, mozzarella in a block! Not always easy to find, but better than the stuff in the bags as it's not swimming in moisture.

And here's a piece about almond vs coconut flour . It's not a UK site, but I think the overall gist is fine.

The key take out, though, is don't substitute coconut flour quantities for almond flour - they work differently.

@ElasticFirecracker - yup to double booking. Not used to planning social life/activities so assume I/we are always free. However have made no bank holiday weekend plans and now feel a bit 😕 as everyone seems to be going away.

@Andi2020 - wish I’d eaten before as snapped and shouted at kids 😔😳 then felt like a horrible mum. Also relate to having DH about when I’m wfh 😬 He means well so feel I’m being mean.

Generally feel like I’m a bit shitty at the mo. Want to blame hormones (because I can!) but think I just feel it’s a bit of adjustment getting back to some normality as well as struggling a bit with the length of time wfh and lack of change of scene.

Good y to o know others are struggling a bit with the changes and I’m not alone. Hope others are feeling less grumpy/irritable though.

Glad you’re feeling bit better @BIWI Hope others under the weather soon feel back on track and enjoy what is looking like some sunnier and warmer weather 🎉

I weighed up .2lb
But I'm happy trucking along.
On good news our vxn centre had it's busiest day yesterday with 1,900+ doses given. Bad news was (provided) lunch was a rice filled burrito with potato! I picked at the burrito with salad.

Thanks StuntNun for that tip. I find eating so much about mindset, and I talk to myself anyway. I did a course once on Solution Focused Brief Therapy, which I loved, so you've given me some ideas to google.
I would not be interested in a zoom. I am so sick of screens freezing, my mic not working, the look of myself on screen, losing the signal. The thought of it gives me a shiver.

Fusion

BIWI I hope all goes well.

I see the thread is much quieter. I hope that means that lots of people, like me, are peddling away quietly.
If anyone has had a few bad days /weeks, I would urge you to try again. I have given WW and SW TONS of ££ over the years, and I find bootcamp better for weight loss. There's 4 weeks left here, and Summer is on the horizon.

*pedalling

Hello all, I haven't posted much on this thread as have been a bit busy with work and life. I've been quite headachy for the last week and think it may be caused by dark chocolate. I went caffeine free a year ago for migraines, but have been having a couple of squares of dark chocolate after supper over the last week or so and think that may be triggering me. So I need to think of something else I can have that feels like a treat but still fits in with bootcamp. My weight loss is going really well though and I'm not too far off my original target so an very happy about that.

Hello, how is everyone? Lots of good losses I hope?

I just thought I'd pop in and say hi as I realised it's been 2 years since I started this WOE - I was a week into it when I went to a Eurovision party and I remember being really proud of myself for sticking to water and avoiding all the high carb canapés. The following Monday I recorded a first loss of 8 pounds! I've not looked back since.

I've just had the most delicious lunch too. A mushroom, spinach and feta omelette, with a rocket and tomato (I know tomatoes aren't low-carb but tbf I rarely eat them, I only fancy them when it's sunny!) side salad smothered in extra virgin olive oil. It was sooooooo good and I'm sooooo full now!

Anyway, keep up the good work Bootcampers. It works, I promise, and what's even better is it works with fantastic flavoured food.