Low Carb Bootcamp - our final weigh in (but ongoing chat thread)

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Another wet and dreary day. What happened to summer?!

Anyway, for its final outing, here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

It's not the end, of course - and I know many of you are keen to keep going until whenever the next Bootcamp starts. So post here for all the usual chat, banter, recipes, etc.

No it's boring and stupid.

Looking forward to gettong back to normal tomorrow

OK so I'm hungover and tired. Also didn't get my HRT prescription last week as my blood pressure was too high, so I'm worried I'm going to be hard to live with this week.

Dh and I have had a row involving dd3 so they are both going to be sulking and ignoring me today whilst simultaneously expecting a roast lunch.

There has been some chat behind the scenes via PM about having a four- or six-week summer mini-Bootcamp to fill the gap between now and the "run up to Christmas" Bootcamp that usually starts in October. It would be run by myself and @Oneborneverydecade to give @BIWI a break and we could also do with a volunteer to manage the Spreadsheet. Is that something people would be interested in?

I would be interested @stuntnun - but don’t think I’m up to managing the spreadsheet though.

Bryonyshcmyony sorry you're feeling rough. My eldest was a horrendous teenager and I always turned to the chocolate when she'd been awful to me. Tell them it's far too hot for a roast so you're having a lovely salad instead!

fantastaballs do give it a try. I'm four weeks in and feeling the benefits already.

Thanks @Katef
She's apologised and she started her period today so that might explain it.

Is it evening primrose thst helps hormonal outbursts?!

@StuntNun that's a good idea, it might help anyone new to get to grip with the principles of bootcamp, and re-invigorate anyone who has fallon off the wagon a bit. Plus I imagine that it sometimes feels like a real load for BIWI (ably helped and support by others of course) so sharing the load as much as possible has got to be good.

Unfortunately I won't be around enough to either help or to join in properly (although I doubt I'll be able to keep away entirely and will find it hard to resist reminding people to eat more veg ). I have a lot of time away planned, but I will be back on bootcamp proper in October.

Brunch: creamy scrambled eggs, mushrooms, a small piece of black pudding (total 6g of carb); coffee with cream
D - poached salmon salad with cabbage slaw

Got too much cabbage from the veg box, so I think I'll make a creamy cabbage soup - just need to rummage in the freezer and find some chicken stock first.

Had a ready meal as feeling a bit shite. Waitrose fish curry. 3.6 carbs per 100g so not hideous.

Sausages with a few different types of veg tonight.

Barbecue here today. Absolutely sweltering heat - especially standing next to the barbecue! (Thankfully that's DH's job and he is fearsome about no-one else doing it )

Home-made burgers (20% fat, with added olive oil, salt and black pepper) served with plastic cheese (because you have to have plastic cheese on a burger); slow fried onions and buns for the rest - not for me

Sausages (I didn't have one, but we have some left over in the fridge that I can pick on tomorrow)

Halloumi, with coriander, garlic and lemon dressing

Butterflied leg of lamb, marinated overnight in olive oil, ras el hanout, cumin and coriander, chilli, oregano, garlic and lemon juice, with mint sauce and a spicy yoghurt dressing

It's actually so hot outside I've had to come in outside to cool down. As I'm self-isolating I can only be inside if there's no-one else with me. Our bedroom, where I've been 'hiding' is in the loft so it's baking! I've ordered a fan, which is supposed to be delivered today, but it might not arrive until about 8.30. By which time I think I'll be a puddle on the floor.

Brave of him to be manning a barbecue in this heat @BIWI. Sweltering here too. I’m not a fan of very hot weather. I’ve hidden indoors most of today lying on the sofa reading with music on. My office is in the loft too so hoping it is cooler tomorrow as it was baking on Friday.

I did have a quick trip to Morrison’s to try and get the fruit and veg Tesco didn’t have yesterday and it was blissfully cool in there.

Smoked haddock with leaves and tomatoes for lunch. Dinner will be yesterday’s leftover curry with added spinach and cauli rice.

I made the mistake of adding some kale leaves to my creamy cabbage soup (I found them in the freezer when I was looking for stock). Unfortunately the soup is now a rather sludgy colour and it smells of damp vegetation. Plus there's a hell of a lot of it!

But it will not be wasted, there will be sludge soup on the table every day this week until it is gone!

Suspect it wasn't very Boot Camp compatible but I've just made a lovely dish with broad beans (from the garden), mixed with fried chopped smoked bacon and crumbled black pudding and finished off with butter, crumbled feta and chopped mint (out the garden).

Would probably also work with runner beans (which have only just started to set in my raised bed and which I know are Boot Camp compatible )

Next up, a salad I've seen made with courgette ribbons, basil and pine nuts and I can't remember what else . That's tomorrow's meal - along with the rest of the broad bean melange.

Glad you liked the fish pie recipe @KateF I find it so convenient because I use frozen fish and now I know there is frozen celeriac it may become even easier. I’ve got a fridge full of leeks so it’ll be on my table this week fo sho’ (oh dear, that’s prob made me look very old and tragic 😂)

Went to my cousins today and instead of the usual roast there was a buffet. It was mainly quiche, pork pies and pizza. I had a couple of chipolata sausages, a tbsp carroty Coleslaw and crudités and lots of water. Went to Wagamama’s after for dinner and had some noodles because I was so hungry. It was so nice to see family again tho after nearly 2 years.

Legoland tomorrow in the heat. ☹️

I’m happy to join in another boot camp. I can’t even open a spreadsheet let alone manage one so I’m no help there, but I can share a few recipes and give unsolicited opinions on a variety on non related issues if anyone’s buying that used car?

I've lost 3.7lb this week. I'm very happy!

Hello sorry just catching up with everyone!

Here is the sign-up thread for the summer mini-Bootcamp starting on the 2nd August.

Wow it feels like fate that I have just come back to this thread for the first time since June (massive thank you for the nudge @Oneborneverydecade ) and the last post is about a mini summer bootcamp. I DEFINITELY need this and am off to sign up now. If you haven't already had a spreadsheet volunteer then I'm happy to give it a go.

Can very much identify with posts I've just read from @Oneborneverydecade , @VeryLittleOwl and @cheeseisthebest . I'm trying to get back in the zone but finding it so hard. Seem to be surrounded by temptation (mainly alcohol and ice cream) everywhere I turn. Life has been hectic, 3 separate school bubbles bursting since half term and now the holidays are looming.

I seem to be able to fast and low carb all day and then it falls apart when I get to about 8pm. Haven't weighed in weeks but I feel like I'm probably maintaining. Need to get back on it!

And for what it's worth, I like the lilac @Rayna37

Signed up for the mini boot camp. Thank you.

BIWI - Just popping on quickly to say hi to everyone (different name but I've done a couple of bootcamps) and that I've just read the book you mentioned a wee while ago, 'Why we eat (too much)' and it was great. Really useful visual explanations / metaphors for how various processes within the body work. I might be able to remember some of this stuff now ... ;-)

I think I could do with a summer bootcamp! I'd also vote for starting the last one a bit earlier than usual so we finish very early December instead of just before Christmas but can see why that's missing the point. However September is a great time for new beginnings I think? Post holiday, new term sort of vibes.

Lovely wedding this weekend then a comedy gig last night, feeling good. Got some great bargains at Sainsbury's tonight too- clearly no one wanted a roast this weekend so a couple of beef and lamb joints reduced for the freezer.

Also final bathroom update- pale grey which is actually grey not lilac, blue accessories. Nicely refreshed.

I agree with starting the last one a bit earlier than usual so we finish very early December instead of just before Christmas because the Xmas festivities usually start (mid November!) beginning of dec with weekend Xmas markets etc and I like to join in with my kids - I’m aware that they know I don’t eat like everyone else most of the time so for me having a mince pie at their Xmas fete etc is quite important.

I'm going to sign up for mini bootcamp but I would be grateful for some advice from seasoned maintainers eg @BIWI and @StuntNun just before we head over there....

So, due to various holidays / festivals I won't be fully in control of food and have decided to take some non BC friendly shortcuts to massively reduce stress!! Plus my garden is producing some irresistible produce which is on the naughty list

I'm interested to know if all of my little shortcuts / planned garden and festival indiscretions add up to a LC disaster - and I'm better off just maintaining with old fashioned calorie counting for a bit or not?!

I'm worried that I'll tip over and then be snacking on cheese / mayo / high fat generally when I should be accepting LC is off for a bit and going for carrots / rice cakes / apples (all of which I adore and miss desperately so are 'non deprivation' but lower calorie snacks if NOT low carbing).

Does that make sense?!?

Eg:

• home grown beetroot added to my salads
• shop bought coleslaw / dips / sauces / curries when camping so fundamentally not high carb but definitely over normal BC advice
• the occasional ice cream (once a week?)
• the odd portion of chips (ideally not on same day as ice cream?!)
• low fat (yuk but not my house!) Greek yoghurt and mayo / dressings

What would you advise??

In other garden news I have a tonne of kale I'm slowly getting the hang of and a load of chicken and streaky bacon to use up which all feels like they should be culinary friends - @BIWI as the impromptu recipe queen what would you conjure up if they were in your 'green pepper' bag on Ready Steady Cook??

@MrsKoala

I agree with starting the last one a bit earlier than usual so we finish very early December instead of just before Christmas because the Xmas festivities usually start (mid November!) beginning of dec with weekend Xmas markets etc and I like to join in with my kids - I’m aware that they know I don’t eat like everyone else most of the time so for me having a mince pie at their Xmas fete etc is quite important.

Sorry @MrsKoala but that would mean starting pretty much immediately after the mini one finishes.

It's too soon.

There's never anything stopping you having a mince pie if you want one!