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.

@Bryonyshcmyony - are you having all the water? If so and you still feel like you've got a dry mouth, it could be that your electrolytes are out of whack (especially in this hot weather) so you need to either add tabs of electrolytes or make some of your own (every 2nd of my pints of water has Lo:Salt and a squoosh of lemon juice added).

I have all the water and one of them is electrolytes

Try adding more salt to your food - in your cooking and on your food at the table.

My latest obsession is trying to create a low carb version of a Frappuccino. Today's was the closest yet although it still needs some tweaking. Approx. 7g carbs (yes that is a pint glass!) as opposed to 48g in the horribly sweet Starbucks version.

That looks fab!

Omg

Not sure what I've eaten but my stomach is going mad

Haven't had anything like this while I've been low carbing!

It's probably nothing to do with low carbing then - more likely to be a bug. There is a lot of norovirus around right now, could it be that?

No.

I took a new herbal menopause supplement this morning

Doh. Sorry. It was clearly that (which is annoying!)

@StuntNun what tricks did you use? I'm enjoying starting to experiment a bit more as I'm getting into this woe - the cream on top is that just whipped double cream?

@FusionChefGeoff this is my plan for experiment #4 today of the low carb frappuccino. Note that it isn't the finalised recipe yet but I can't afford to have more than one a day as each is approximately one million calories.

Ingredients
Two level teaspoons of good quality instant coffee (decaf in my case) made up into a liquid with a little boiling water, preferably allowed to cool in the fridge ahead of time but it's not essential. Or you could use a shot of espresso if you have an espresso machine.
100 ml whole milk (you need whole milk because you're blending it with ice so semi-skimmed gives the wrong mouthfeel)
50 ml double cream (this adds sweetness without adding sugar)
250 ml crushed ice
2 tbsp unflavoured whey protein powder (probably optional but without it it's practically all fat)
1/2 tsp xanthan gum (without this it won't blend smoothly and will be more like the texture of a Slush Puppie so it won't go up the straw)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
50 ml whipped cream (I use a cream whipper for this but you can get "proper" whipped cream in a squirty can in the supermarket)

Method
Put the ice in a jug blender with the coffee and pulse to break up the ice into small pieces.
Add the rest of the ingredients.
Blend for 10-20 seconds on lowest level then 10 seconds on high until smooth.
Top with whipped cream

Nutrition
490 calories, 7g/7% carbs, 17% protein, 76% fat.

If you skip the whey powder it's 410 calories, 7g/7% carbs, 5% protein, 88% fat.

For a lower calorie option I'd skip the cream on top and reduce the whey protein to 1 tbsp which would be 340 calories, 7g/9% carbs, 15% protein, 76% fat.

So it would depend on your goals. If you're overweight and actively trying to lose weight then the last variation would be best. If you're close to your target weight and actively trying to lose weight then the second option would be best. If you don't care about the calories and just want the nicest drink then the first option would be best.

Anyway, more experimentation needed, and it sure has been enjoyable experimenting!

Hello 👋🏻 not to be creepy but I've been following you all from 8 weeks behind. I started at the start of June and read along with the corresponding week so I felt you were all with me.

Creepy, as I said

Anyway, today was my final weigh in, and I've lost 2st 5lb in the 8 weeks which is marvellous when I don't feel like I've missed out like I do when dieting. I'm on holiday til Sunday and will be back ready for mini boot camp on Monday.

Just wanted to check in (check out?) to mark the completion of this first step, and give my thanks to you all for the support.

That's brilliant @naemates!

Once you're back from holiday, jump in and chat more - now you've stopped lurking!

Have a great holiday

and to you naemates

And no, it's not creepy at all - it's eminently sensible

BTW: are you Scottish, given your username? There are a few Scots on here

Today's low carb Frappuccino was a complete success following the recipe I posted earlier. I haven't tried making it without the whey protein powder so I might try that for tomorrow's experiment. Frappe powder mix contains whey protein and a thickener as well as lots of sugar so I suspect leaving out the protein powder will give a poorer result. I will report back tomorrow!

@StuntNun you have just made my summer - me and my family are 'squirty cream' fanatics but the one we have is sweetened so I've been avoiding it. I am all over that one now!!!!

Another good report from holiday - completely on plan - out for dinner tonight but menu has a steak and Caesar salad so I'm going to ask for steak with a sort of Caesar on the side!!

Just making a batch of coleslaw and had my first mandolin-induced first aid incident. I'd had a good run, I suppose

Aw flowers for me thank you

Yes, I'm in Glasgow, originally from Aberdeen.

Ouch, @Rayna37!

Well done @naemates

I know we're supposed to avoid snacking but I've bought some mini bags ahead of our camping trip.
I've bought multipacks of I Love Snacks smoked almonds 2.28g carbs per mini bag, olives 0.3g carbs and 70% dark chocolate 6.7g. Hopefully they're not too bad, especially if I manage to spread my remaining bags over the 3 days!

A bit more problematic are the Kind bars at 5.7g but as an occasional lunch option they're filling and convenient.

I've got some Exante meal replacements in the cupboard that I bought a few weeks ago can I use them on low carb boot amp?

@naemates - I'm in Glasgow too

I've met a few MNers - some of them Boot Campers over the many years I've been on MN and not one of them was a hairy trucker or had shaved their arms they've all been lovely. Some have become RL friends

@sandwiches77

I've got some Exante meal replacements in the cupboard that I bought a few weeks ago can I use them on low carb boot amp?

I'm afraid they're really not Bootcamp friendly! We advocate eating/drinking stuff that's as natural and unprocessed as possible.

The low carb Frappuccino worked without the protein powder. I also increased the amount of xanthan gum to 1/4 tsp and it was lovely and thick. Next experiment is without the coffee and with extra vanilla extract.

Hi all, when is the next bootcamp? I couldn't see it in this thread. Sorry if I'm on the wrong thread. x

@tallduckandhandsome

here's the sign up thread