2021 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Welcome to the last Bootcamp of 2021!

This Bootcamp will last for 8 weeks, which will take us up to Monday 13 December.

It's slightly different from other Bootcamps - firstly because it only lasts for 8 weeks (rather than 10), but also because there are going to be different stages.

So ...

Weeks 1 and 2 will be, as ever, strict Bootcamp.

Weeks 3-6 will be strict Bootcamp during the week, but relaxing into Bootcamp Light at weekends

In weeks 7-8 you will have a choice - either back to strict Bootcamp or full-on Bootcamp Light for the last fortnight

Morning! Enjoying the chat :)

To follow on from Stuntnun's post about nitrates, I remember when the press were claiming that bacon etc increased your risk of cancer by 25% (or so).

What the research actually showed was that unprocessed meat increases the risk of colon cancer by about 2%, & eating processed meat increased that risk by 25%. So 25% of 2%.

So an actual increase of 0.5%.

Not so scary.

Ah, but it's in the interests of Big Food these days to tell us that red meat (always unprocessed meat lumped in with processed meat products) is bad for us. They're all investing their money in creating vegan foodstuffs these days. That's where they want us to spend our money!

Yep - a lot of vegan food products are really ultra-processed. I fully respect anyone who follows a vegan lifestyle, but I imagine it's probably easier to do so healthily if you move away from the idea of meat-substitutes.

I have definitely noticed an explosion of vegan food choices in the supermarket, most of which are really pricey. But whenever I've bought them I feel like it I've eaten an edible substance, but that it isn't actually food. I felt like I was eating something with no nutritional gain.
Had a bit of an energy crash last night - a combination of that awful cold which is going around and my body objecting to the lack of sugar!

I've been craving sugar, too @Aderyn21 . I'm like a sweaty junky.

In good, motivating news, I've lost 4lb already this week

I know that is mostly water as the glycogen stores release it - but it's a nice start

ayooplass thanks, never tried beetroot soup but I will make some and it can be a nice surprise post bootcamp. Celeriac is a big lump of veg (you’l need the big knife) but if you chop off the hairy rough bits you can then make celeriac chips (fat ones), just roast with olive oil and salt, they are pretty good.

I’ve lost 2.5 lbs and I feel strong. Slept better last night. Smoked mackerel fillet for lunch, wild salmon for dinner with courgettes, spinach and celeriac. My new rule is I don’t have my one large coffee until I have drank 1litre of water.

WATER WATER WATER!!

Good morning. I have an incredibly easy day today — a morning off work so getting my lash extensions, then a child’s 16th birthday so takeaway Chinese food and no cooking for me. I’m going for my low carb usual of pork lettuce wraps and maybe some satay chicken sticks. Will make a lava cake but not eat it.

Tomorrow I have my first—and possibly only— motorbike riding lesson. It’s an all day thing and I can’t be arsed to work out what food to bring along for lunch so will probably do a fridge raid in the morning.

If I pass I’ll be the proud owner of a certificate that legally allows me to drive 125cc motorbikes. Basically a very small step above a moped.

Have a great day, y’all!

Morning all, I’m feeling so much better for being back on boot camp, thanks again for this, it is very well timed for me.

I’m hoping to shift the stone that has crept back on over the course of the last 20 odd months and also to up my fitness levels, as I stopped going to the gym when Covid started and have not really been back since. I do walk the dog and go on my exercise bike, but know that I am in need of a bit of reboot.

I’m meeting friends for lunch in a restaurant today, but I’m pretty sure I will be able to stick to the rules. However I’m not sure what time I will get home so before I left home I prepared (bunged stuff in 😀 ) a casserole and have left instructions for dh to put it in the oven.

The good thing about this time of year is the ease of casseroles etc that you just don’t fancy in the summer. I am always amazed at how a slow cook can make such a fab meal and do think that having a plan for what your going to eat each day really helps to stick to the rules.
I know my downfall is when I am desperate for dinner and looking for a quick tasty meal without having shopped / prepared for it.

Have a lovely day .

Wow 🏍🏍🏍

I'm 3 and a half lbs down too which surprised me as I've been set at my previous weight for a while rather than it being a post-binge/holiday high. Pride comes before a fall though, or in my case an afternoon at the "Brewbarn" (piss-up in the village brewery) on Saturday followed by two 4th birthday parties on Sunday. Wish me luck!

On another note, at my lunch yesterday one of the hosts ate nothing- just said he had a wedding in three weeks and no-one batted an eyelid. There was nothing on offer friendly to ANY diet let alone low carb. Not sure if a woman would have necessarily got away with that comment-free but as he was there for work rather than as a guest it was definitely fair enough and certainly something to consider. I just assumed he had a suit to fit into and it was non-negotiable. I think you can get (or at least anticipate) a lot of helpful "oh but you're fine, look at you, live a little" style digs but in this case it was absolutely not an issue.

I weighed this morning. I have lived on carbs for the last few weeks. Bit of a family emergency. Strict bootcamp since Monday and delighted to say I am the same weight I finished my last bootcamp.
Shoogled sprouts were a revelation to me on a previous bootcamp. Just involves sprouts, butter and a microwave. I am not sure who introduced me to it but from north of the border I would imagine.

Morning all!

Just wanted to say eggs are a revelation to me for stopping the morning hunger pangs. I used to grab a bit of toast/croissant/bagel on the way out the door in the morning and be in the biscuit tin by elevenses. Eggs were an occasional brunch at weekend thing (on a muffin with maple syrup ).

Now post covid I'm SE and WFH I can make a proper breakfast and feel full!

I had 2 poached eggs with buttery spinach this morning and it was lovely.

This will be absolutely obvious to you all but thought I would share with my newbie joy.

I know I'm late to the pork fillet recipe suggestions but the attached photo is one of my favourites. Includes cheese and cream - deliciously low carb

I'm loving all the enthuiastic posts, although I didn't have a chance to read yesterday and it's taken me most of the morning to catch up!

Took the car to be serviced and walked home along the seafront. Cold and windy but sunny. Stopped for a coffee and a delicious breakfast of portobello mushroom, avocado and cream cheese.

Rest of the day is left overs - sausages, veg, and omelette. I just need to find something for dh's tea. My problem is that most of the things in the freezer are low carb - chicken alredo, veg soups, various courgette things, lamb and feta burgers - and I'm reluctant to waste these goodies on my carb loving husband. I'll maybe drop into the shop and buy pasta and a sauce...

Tomorrow I have to attend birthday tea for an 8 year old - I know she's requested sausage rolls, sandwiches, crisps, and of course a cake. The cake looks amazing (very talented dd). Will have large brunch before I go.

Great to hear of peoples pounds dropping off.
If anyone loves a thai curry, Aldi do a kit in green or red that you make yourself. It has 6.5 carbs for half a pack,which when I add bean sprouts,prawns and lots of veg,keeps me going for a few days.

@H1Drangea water as soon as I'm awake is my tactic too. How did the hollandaise work out I've been meaning to give it a go...

I only need to see @ShagMeRiggins name and I instinctively reach for my glass! However I was also giftless when my kids started school!

@BIWI a recipe challenge is exactly what I need! Will get on it if I ever get a let up in my work tsunami.

@Nutsaremynemesis I do a warm / cold plate of scrambled eggs with smoked salmon slices, avocado, cooked spinach, roasted tomato and a big dollop of cream cheese as a condiment. Amazing!

@nowlook I'm the same with the SLCR much to my dismay. I think you've tried the Keto homemade ones with psyllium husk? They're better but still not great for me if eaten regularly.

All the vegan food makes my eyebrow rise too - how much energy etc is used creating all these fake foods?! I'd imagine it's enough to make quite a big dent in your eco benefit?

All good food wise - was not hungry at all yesterday so despite my emotional hunger having a huge strop I checked out of my hotel without the luxury breakfast I had been planning!!

Today is hot smoked salmon and avo salad then creamy chorizo chicken with FLGV including some winter kale from the garden.

So much good low carbing going on! I'm down a few lbs too, usually shift 4 or 5 in the week then put them back on at the weekend...but weighing in on Mondayrather than Friday might help to keep me on the straight and narrow...

Also I have had a flare up of gastritis which is v unpleasant but on the plus side has stopped me going to the fridge and mindlessly nibbling cheese. Am hoping by the time I can eat it again I'll have broken the snacking habit!

@NotwatchingSpooks

Wow 🏍🏍🏍

I know! Been wanting to see if I could ride one since I first rode in the back of someone’s motorbike in high school. Only taken me a few decades (cough cough) to get around to it!

I see it’s been a few hours since I’ve shouted WATER WATER WATER!!! at everyone, so...

Down. In. One. Down. In. One!

(Actually, the water should be drunk consistently throughout the day for maximum benefit, not pints slugged quickly and repeatedly.)

Shallwegoforawalk bear bear to the Egg Revelation. Many of us had the same surprised reaction and it’s glorious to know how far you can go with an egg.

Protein is so satiating. When combined with a healthy fat it’s pretty unbeatable. Such a shame eggs got bad press re cholesterol (pretty much debunked, I believe).

I remember my grandfather had a heart attack years ago (actually he had three and survived them all to live into his early 90s, stubborn bastard ) but at the time his doctors forced him on a low cholesterol diet that had him eating only the whites of eggs rather than the yolk as well. The product my grandmother used (because why use any natural food in the 70s when everything started coming in a box on supermarket shelves) was rather revoltingly called Eggbeaters, I think. Just add water to the powder, and presto.

*hear hear

Good afternoon lovely people!

I feel the need to brag a bit. Today I went to softplay and drank water instead of diet coke. I didn't have any of the delicious cakes or cookies on offer either.

As a treat because it is my assistants last day we took the kids for a McDonald's. I had a burger pattie, lettuce, cucumber, bacon and cheese. I didn't even steal one chip or a nibble of a chicken nugget. No apple pie and had a lovely cold bottle of water.

Had a good breakfast of pork, cheese and salad. Ive also had a packet of pork scratchings and will have a cup of tea soon (much needed after taking 6 kids ages 18 months to 3 years on a bus to soft play and McDonald's!!!)

I have also not touched a drop of booze this week and would happily swap a toddler for a G&T after today. 2 year old with no volume control or filter who's parents fins her rudeness hilarious so she tries it when out with me and 2 kids trying to lick each others faces 🤢🤬.

Its half term here next week, can anyone tell me the carbs in gin?

@ShagMeRiggins, the thought of powdered egg is enough to make me want to stop eating!

Now what was I supposed to be drinking again, 😁

My problem is that most of the things in the freezer are low carb - chicken alredo, veg soups, various courgette things, lamb and feta burgers - and I'm reluctant to waste these goodies on my carb loving husband.

venusandmars I’m wondering whether you mean he doesn’t appreciate the low carb stuff or that you just don’t want to share! If he likes those meals, couldn’t he you just make some potatoes or rice to go along with it and get his carb fix? It would save himyou the trouble of making another meal.

FusionChef I think I’m delighted that my name elicits a Pavlovian reaction. It made me laugh, at least.

kerkyra nice one on the Aldi Thai curry. They do have some good stuff. My husband met with some poobah from Aldi for a work-related meeting and had a great conversation about their business. His big take away from it was that a lot of Aldi’s stuff is exactly the same as big brands—same factory, same ingredients—and it’s just the packaging that’s different. Also, the Aldi guy hugely recommends their champagne because the company has brilliant alliances with the industry in France and basically gets better bubbles than most of the UK’s posher grocery chains.

Zero carbs in gin, Glen but your body will burn the alcohol before it goes anywhere near burning fat.

Sucks, but it’s true.

Your day with two-year-olds sounds lovely (from a distance).

waaattterrr...