Week 9 - very much hoping this is our last fortnight!

[BIWI]

I really, really hope that this will be our last two weeks of all the various restrictions of lockdown. Even though it's looking unlikely

So for us, only two more weeks!

Here's the spreadsheet, as usual

Two more weeks left, so a good amount of time to still shed some unwanted pounds.

Possibly also a time to be specifically even more strict, given that it's the last two weeks?!

@FusionChefGeoff congrats on your NSV too. And those rolls look amazing.
Now I am mostly in maintenance mode I am having the odd slice of the LivLife Low Carb bread , it's lovely and is I think 3.4 carbs per slice so pretty good ! The slices are tiny though !

@venusandmars I know exactly what you mean about embarrassment when people start noticing - I started in October and was under wraps in a large coat until April so it was quite unnerving when I peeled the layers off and all sorts of unlikely people commented - even Dads on the school run ! No one seemed to consider I might not like it. Anyhow I think I was invisible while overweight and I used to take (maybe too much ) pride in my appearance so now I am to be honest enjoying feeling good about myself again.
I have told everyone who has asked that I did it with low carb but I do find myself feeling pressure to maintain as @BSky said ! Maybe it will spur me on.
I am feeling quite optimistic about the holiday lbs - but I do have to navigate a Chinese take away tomorrow night with my Dsis who struggles with her weight and will comment on what I consume - sigh 😞!

@MrsKoala life sounds stressful hope you can look after yourself .

@MrsBertBibby much sympathy - I have vertigo attacks (Menieres) so know how it feels to not trust your balance. I find the lights on the tube can trigger me and it's awful getting dizzy in such a hectic place.

@MrsKoala sorry you're having such a stressful time

I had a nice surprise today when I stood on the scales and have hit my original target. Trying not to be complacent now as I'd like to lose a bit more to have some leeway. Also know how easy it is to slip into snacking again. We've got lots of people coming round this weekend to watch the football, so there'll be lots of alcohol and crisps knocking around which will be a test.

I'm okay - it's quite exciting really. For the first time there is a real possibility of me going back to work and striking a much better work/home/life/housework balance with H.

@mrskoala it's good to have a positive outlook from your DH losing job that you would like to go back to work.
I would get your DH to do the work with fil to take pressure of you.
@MotherBuckets well done on your loss.
I haven't had any big week loss just consistent with between 1-2lbs so hopefully I can keep that up.
Does the thread just stop at end off bootcamp. I like reading all the daily chat and people motivating each other.

No @Andi2020 - I keep a chat thread going once we've finished.

Hi everyone.
Quite pleased with myself. Every day this week I've stuck to plan and hopefully by tomorrow looking at 4lb loss.

However I look like shit, old, and just crap.

I just absolutely hate the heat and dressing for it too.

@BIWI thanks for let me know you continue the thread after bootcamp.

@cheeseisthebest I hate the heat too. Best I can do is wear some crumpled linen and hide in the shade/indoors. It’s been muggy and overcast and a bit rainy here but will be 27 on Sunday I hear.

Yeh I saw that. Yuk. I get really bad hayfever too and it's bad this week.
Just feeling old and very haggard

I just made the mistake of measuring myself and it was pretty horrifying. Inches more all over than the last time I measured - a couple of years ago. I dread to think what the scales would say -I was weighed in kg at the hospital recently but that means nothing to me. I know I’ve lost around a stone so far but I have so far to go (around five) that it seems daunting. This is why I don’t weigh, as if things don’t change I lose heart.
I think next week I will do strict boot camp again.

Had a lovely lunch with the very lovely @venusandmars  - first time we'd met in real life 

@ShagMeRiggins would have been proud of us: both of us wearing belts and with properly defined eyebrows

My lunch was, as predicted, asparagus and salad with poached egg, followed by mussels in cream and wine. But the best thing was the delightful company of @prettybird

We were almost bootcamp perfect. Turned down the offer of frites with our moules and both left the cornbread delivered on the side. No puds although I had a macchiato which I think has frothed milk?

It was lovely to share a meal with someone who really gets this way of eating and living, who understands the health benefits, knows the delight of not feeling hungry on a diet, and who has worked out their own tolerances and weak points (probably crisps for us both!)

If you get a chance to meet another bootcamp person, go for it!

It turned out actually unsurprisingly given our previous Boot Camp posts that we are both Foodies and enjoy the challenge of adapting menus to be HFLC. We both enjoy putting together a menu for a dinner party that is low carb and the guests won't even realise

My additional challenge though is that I come from a baking, as opposed to a cooking, background, so I still love baking. Once I've made something regularly, I'm happy not to taste it, but if I bake something new like the gingerbread with a Swiss buttercream icing that I made at the weekend , then I need to taste it

Dh and I are going down to Wales tomorrow - a day trip from Glasgow for my best friend's mum's funeral (we're leaving at 3am and will get home late evening) and my best friend can't comprehend that I genuinely won't need breakfast (going to stop at her sister in Colwyn Bay for a cup of tea and to get changed). She is sure I'll collapse if I don't have breakfast I've told her I'm used to 16:8 IF - but didn't dare tell her that I'm also happy fasting for up to 60 hours I'm sure she'd think I had an eating disorder. I can explain more when we have a chance to talk in person - but it's difficult over WhatsApp

...and I really agree with @venusandmars - if you have the opportunity to meet another BootCamper, go for it

All the BootCampers I've met (quite a few over the years ) have been lovely

That's absolutely lovely that you met up!

@BIWI @Midlifemission it's this recipe. I've realised I'm gluten intolerant so the SLC stuff was giving me cramps and digestive 'payback' for a few days after unfortunately. Luckily I have a health food specialist shop round the corner so the weirder ingredients are easy for me to get.

trinakrug.com/the-best-keto-buns-on-the-planet/

@MrsKoala wow good for DH and good for you to see the silver lining already! Sounds like you have a LOT on your plate though xx

More NSVs - went shopping in H&M for the first time in ages, loads of lovely linen / cotton things and some high waisted shorts to show off my new waist - I'm even starting to tuck things in. Fitting rooms closed but got it all back and I had hugely underestimated my size on lots of it (or the vanity sizing has gone nuts). Managed to buy The Most Beautiful Trainers In the World as well though!

I'm up to 18:6 fasting and it's made a MASSIVE difference. I'm finally getting used to not even needing massive portions at lunch then I'm actually hungry at dinner even if it's early.

Got lots of social stuff coming up and weekends away with others so it's going to get harder. I'm hoping for lots of BBQ + salad!

Photo of TMBTITW

I've never had 'leisure' trainers before it's a revelation!!

Oh not a great pic - tick is a pinky / rust colour and the bar on the laces is rose gold

Right I'm back and I need some accountability. I have been letting things slip gradually so for the next 2 weeks I, going to use mfp and log everything. I'm fed up of bouncing around the same kg. I said I was at target and in theory I am but I feel disappointed that I have not quite reached my initial target of Bmi 25. 5lbs would see that so I am going to completely focus and get there. The odd biscuit has been finding it's way in at work, I don't even enjoy them so I have no idea why I do it.
Plank challenge going well, up to 1 min and 15 seconds which doesn't sound long but bloody hell my whole body is shaking by the time I finish.
@MrsKoala sounds like you and dh have really positive outlook, that's amazing so much on your plate and your fabulous.
@FusionChefGeoff those trainers are lovely, I need new trainers. I have a habit of buying shoes with funky patterns but then all my clothes have patterns so I end up looking like a chinz room from the 80s. And double yay on the clothes, I am considering shorts but that might be a step too far for me.
@prettybird and @venusandmars how lovely, glad you had a good time. I have converted my best mate to lchf so have someone to talk about this stuff with, it's great. @prettybird I hope today is as ok as it can be.
@cheeseisthebest no way on this planet do you look shit, old and just crap. Don't talk about my friend like that. 😡
Sorry for anyone I've missed. And thank you for all the kind words this week.
Now let the pamper weekend begin, I bough eye brow wax strips and I'm going to henna my hair whilst watching shite on tv (any recommendations). I have nice M&S curry for my dinner which is only 6g carbs I think.

I'm on days agin this week which seems to be when I fall in the biscuits, not back till Wednesday so hopefully if I get back into strict I will get that little bit of willpower I need back. It's weird I always though nights would be the problem but they aren't.
Also going to get my thyroid levels checked this week to make sure they are on track as that would explain the bouncing kg.

Oh new clothes joy! What have you been wearing that wasn't trainers, Fusion?!

I slept last night so feeling a lot better, but my word my face is a mess.

You've got this, Dita!

@MrsBertBibby blimey, bless you that looks sore. My face healed really quickly (although my nose is still wonky) think it must be this woe and all the protein.

Thanks, pangolinfan for the info about Sharp Edge. I guess I'm being too anxious -- the walk is guided so I'm sure I will be perfectly safe. Actually, I think my worry is more about Being Irresponsible than it is about falling into the void. I'm so programmed to fret over my decisions and judge myself harshly for them that the former possibility seems more horrendous than the latter. You could call it 'good girl syndrome'.

Tying to put together a low-carb picnic for the walk tomorrow, and I'm really yearning for sandwiches made out of the kind of delicious firm bread that you can really tear and chew. A good ciabatta or some such. That is what i love about bread, that resistant texture. Most bread sold round here is utter crap though, which reduces the temptation to backslide.

MrsBertBibby that does look nasty. You poor thing. xxx

That does look nasty, poor you.
Thank you Dita, my hayfever was so bad yesterday it can actually make you feel really low.