Summer Low Carb mini-Bootcamp - week 5

[StuntNun]

Hello and welcome to week 5 of our mini-Bootcamp. If you've had the usual week 3 / week 4 weight loss stall then the scales should get moving again now. And we've all got a couple of weeks to really try to finish strong and get the best results we can get.

The Spreadsheet of Fabulousness is here. I can't wait to find out how everyone is doing so don't just add your weight to the spreadsheet; let us know on this thread.

I'll put a reminder of the Bootcamp Light rules in the next post.

@pinknsparkly my mum reversed her HbA1c from prediabetes into the normal range simply by skipping breakfast introducing intermittent fasting 16:8. She doesn't even eat a low carb diet so fasting enough was alone to keep her blood glucose low.

@pinknsparkly the main thing is that you are already taking action and even if it's not showing in the result yet you've made all the changes and got really into the swing of the new woe so now it's just a matter of time for the benefits to translate into the blood result Im sure!

DH did a shop from his COVID pit yesterday so I asked him to shove a load of ready meals and pizzas in for him and the kids so that's taken the pressure off a bit. It's bloody hard work being at home with 2 kids plus an isolation patient, no childcare and new contracts coming in for work left right and centre!!

Did myself a gorgeous bacon McMuffin today using the Keto rolls and then an enormous egg, avocado, cheese and hm coleslaw salad for dinner. Currently resisting the greedy urge to eat strawberries and cream.

I found 90% Lindt recently and had a couple of squares last night and think it's set off my weird ectopic heart beats!! Or just stress due to circumstances. Either way I'm feeling a bit rubbish but am now tucked up with freshly bathed DC and a bit of a film before packing them off to stories via FaceTime and I'll crack open the laptop again.

If I have a square of Lindt 85% it really puts me off track..even one bloody square!!!

Anyway, steak and spicy celeriac chips for dinner tonight and it’s smelling heavenly!

Coffee with almond milk and a teaspoon of peanut butter
L: 3 eggs, spinach, mushrooms, cheese, avocado oil
D: aubergine parmigiana, broccoli

Not enough water today

@ditavonteesed there's still plenty of time to reverse back from diabetes and fingers crossed the next blood test will be more reassuring when it's been 3m of lowers carb/sugar eating.

@ditavonteesed @StuntNun @FusionChefGeoff @Mimosa1 Thanks all. I feel slightly more positive (or rather, slightly less negative!!). It's particularly good to hear about your mum StuntNun. I've not managed any fasting days this week but will try again next week! I really want to get out of the pre-diabetic range asap as we want to try to baby number two. While I sort of accept that gestational diabetes is very likely next time too (I was diagnosed at 16 weeks so very early), I'd like to at least start from the best possible place!!

I can't remember who recommended it on one of the previous weeks but I ordered the "Keto Kitchen" cookbook and made my first recipe from it tonight: baked creamy cod. And it was delish (and as a bonus - the recipe serves 4 so i have leftovers for lunch tomorrow too )

@pinknsparkly can you post that recipe pls? Have 4 loins in the freezer and am rubbish with fish!!

@FusionChefGeoff - it's pretty basic but I'm a ridiculously bad cook so if I can manage it, anyone can

1 tbsp unsalted butter
2 medium onions, very thinly sliced
2 tsp white wine vinegar
300ml double cream
4 skinless cod fillets

Melt butter and cook onions very low and slow on a gentle heat until they soften and start to caramelise (this took a good 20 mins, with the occasional stir). Add the white wine vinegar and continue cooking until jammy (about another 10 mins for me).

In a baking dish that just fits your cod fillets in nestled close together, spread the onions out on the bottom. Add the cod on top of the onions, and season with salt and pepper. Gently warm the cream, seasoned with salt and pepper, in the oniony pan then pour over the cod and onions. Bake in the oven at 200C / 180 fan / gas mark 6 for 20 - 22 mins. Serve with a generous topping of dill.

@FusionChefGeoff - I served it with a creamy cauliflower mash

@pinknsparkly glad your feeling a bit more positive, you are making the changes needed it just takes time to show

Just written a long post and the MN apps ate it

In very short...

@pinknsparkly - you'll get there. 16:8 fasting works. You don't need to do full-on fasts to improve insulin resistance.

My niggling Achilles problem = massive scar tissue 26 year old. 1st "easy" fucking agony session = swollen & bruised ankle and I've got 4 more sessions to go . 2nd one tomorrow

That sounds horrid Prettybird when I've had work done on my opt-sprained ankle they use numbing cream to stop it hurting me so much.

Pinknsparkly if you want to use intermittent fasting to reverse pre-diabetes then start out with three 14-hour fasts a week. That could be 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. so it probably isn't much more than you're already doing naturally. Once you're doing 14 hours then aim to increase the time to 16 hours. If you want to add more days a week then that will help but you will start to see benefits from the three 14-hour fasts a week. If you want to chat and get support about combining low carb with intermittent fasting, there's a separate thread in the Fasting section of Mumsnet.

Hello everyone. I did bootcamp a few years ago and found my anxiety and insomnia really improved. I'm here in desperation right now as I'm off the scale anxious and only sleeping 1.5 hours a night. I'm hoping lchf will work its magic for me again! Starting off with a cheese omelette this morning. Looking forward to chatting with you all.

That sounds horrible @prettybird! Fingers crossed it improves quickly for you. Are you allowed to ice it after your sessions to reduce the swelling? Scar tissue is a bastard though. I've got 10 year old scar tissue on both feet from bunion surgeries and they're still painful now (though a thousand times less painful than the bunions were!). And thanks for the kind words about intermittent fasting. I just had a complete panic when the result came back as I wasn't expecting it at all!

@StuntNun - thanks, I'll head over there at the weekend to have a read!

Good luck @ValancyRedfern - hope you start seeing the results you want soon!

@ValancyRedfern welcome! This is my favourite MN thread hope you find it as helpful as I do.

Used the hot bath trick last night to ward off snack cravings as it fulfilled the "reward" function and also removed me from the aimless wandering into the kitchen.

Night before that I worked in my study (upstairs) which also helped so I should try to continue this for a few nights to help break the cycle. DH is in quarantine (!) in our room so it's easier to find something else to do that's not just watching TV / close by to the kitchen!!

I may also start a crochet project which keeps snacky hands busy

@Rayna37 enjoy your holiday. We are doing similar - campervanning with intermittent high quality restaurants. Had amazing lunch yesterday - a 'textures of cauluflower' starter, followed by salmon with summer vegetables, then cheese glosses over the wine Had boiled egg and salad for tea. Plus walked for miles.

Simple food again today. The cheese and almond muffins last well and make a filling breakfast spread with butter and peanut butter. Tonight will be something with tuna, tomatoes and green beans. I bought a bag of ready to eat cauli rice (in the same section of the supermarket as all the pre-prepared rice, quinoa, lentils etc. Will let you know how it goes but it doesn't look very appetising...

Restaurant dinner tomorrow evening.

@venusandmars we had a fab trip to Ireland in our old van 5 years ago, glorious weather and so beautiful. Enjoy!

@pinknsparkly I have a friend who managed to reverse her full blown diabetes inside of a year by going low carb and walking up to 10,000 steps a day, you are on the right track already, Keep going

Back in work today for me, have been fasting a few times a week so was absolutely ravenous by 11.30am, had an early lunch of Broccoli & Tuna.
Dinner will be salmon and FLGV.
Drinking lots of water this week so hoping I show a loss on Monday

I need some help - quick

I’m doing chilli and after 10 weeks of no change, according to dr Atkins I can introduce 10g of carbs.

I really would like to try some rice...but I’m very scared.

I’ve lost loads, slimmed down and don’t know what to do. Just I have the 40g of rice tonight and see what impact it has? Without having any more higher carb foods?

Eek, help

I think you need @StuntNun @Dellabob123!

Yes, do it Dellabob123 and see how it affects you.

I caved and didn’t do it. But, I will next time I will experiment.

I made guacamole instead and sprinkled cheese on it.

I feel full as usual but just wanted to try.

Thanks @fusionchefgeorge and @pinknsparkly. Day 1 has gone well so far. Definitely feel calmer, although I know it will get more difficult over the next few days, just need to make it through the first week to get to the calmness of ketosis!

Thanks @Kerplunkk, that's really reassuring to know! My husband has very kindly offered to eat the same dinners as me (up to now, I'd been cooking the same for both of us but then adding a side of carbs for him). He'll still be eating carbs for breakfasts and lunches but it should make dinners easier for me at least