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

That reminds me of this article seeds mystery @NotwatchingSpooks

Worth half an hour of your time with a cup of tea if it's similarly drizzly where you are today!

I'm going into this weekend feeling positive - I'm really surprised that I actually feel like I'm eating very healthily, despite the lashings of double cream and all the olive oil - I've also eaten so many fresh veggies. I would never have considered myself 'addicted' to sugar before but I have been surprised that I've wanted something sweet when I sit down in the evenings, even though I feel so full.

I'm inspired to cook a corned beef hash next week. Is there a good recipe? Apologies if it's somewhere on this thread and I've missed it - I've tried to keep on top of the messages!

I still need to order my bulbs for my raised "cutting" bed (not that I ever cut any but it's a lovely display in spring when the rest of the garden is still grey) plus the ones for my pots at the door.

Well, my soup is cooking! As an aide-memoire for me in the future (in the unlikely event it's edible), it includes:

• 2x leeks
• 3x celery
• 2x shallots

-1x courgette -1/4 white cabbage -1/2 bag spinach -1x pak choi -leftover celeriac mash -butter -stock, seasoning, thyme and bay leaf.

So far. I'm also eyeing up some cream, blue cheese and more butter.

I think the overall flavour will be one of "confusion"

Just caught up on the thread, tinned pilchards for lunch, salmon for dinner with lots of veg. Don’t feel hungry could skip lunch easily but won’t.

Can I recommend a bra. One of the things I hate about being over weight is my big bust. I have been wearing minimiser bras from M&S for a couple of years, they are grey and very tired so I ordered a new one. It turns out it’s by Triumph (had no idea M&S sold non M&S bras!) called Amourette 300 Minimiser. I’ve worn it for 3 days now and it is so much more comfortable, it’s made me so happy! It’s not pretty, comes in black, white or beige and it’s £38 so not cheap either. I know we are losing weight and therefore in theory it won’t fit in a few weeks but it’s been such a boost to my morale. I don’t work for Triumph or know anyone who does, promise!

@SamuelWhiskey I think there's a recipe for corned beef hash on the recipe threads - I'll go and have a look ...

Here you go:

Corned Beef Hash

serves 3-4

1 340g tin corned beef (avoid the light/low fat ones if you can), diced into cm chunks
100g shallots (about 3-4 echalion ones), sliced
500g celeriac (a small one) peeled and cut into chunks about 1cm square
3tbps Worcestershire sauce
1.5 tsps wholegrain mustard

lard/coconut oil for frying

In a bowl, mix the Worcestershire sauce and the mustard, and then add the corned beef. Stir it well and set aside

Boil the celeriac in salted water for about 10 minutes/until tender, then drain in a colander and let them steam dry for a couple of minutes

Heat some oil in a frying pan, and fry the shallots for a couple of minutes on a high heat, and then add the celeriac. Turn the heat down a little, and continue to fry until the shallots and celeriac are starting to brown. Season with salt/pepper

Add the corned beef, stir it all in and then fry for another 5 minutes, stirring well so that it doesn't stick to the pan

Serve with a fried egg or two.

@TrueGrit54 I am wearing the very bra right now! So comfortable and flattering. I bought the M&S version at the same time and have hardly worn it. The Triumph is so much better.

Thanks for the recommendation @TrueGrit54!

I love the idea of losing weight off my bust, but it tends to be the last thing to go on this woe for me! Think it might be a peri-related thing.

We all have our crosses to bear, I suppose

...in soup-related news that literally no-one has asked for, DH has returned from football match. He's been here 5 minutes and has:

• Added three fresh chillies;

-Added about 50g of butter and A LOT more salt; -Removed the bay leaf; -Put the blue cheese on a very high shelf so I can't reach it.

nowlook I am interested, let me know what it tastes like. Must admit your DH has done exactly what I would have.

BestIsWest 👋🏻

Hi @nowlook we can compare soups!
I have throw. In
Shallots
Celery
Broccoli
Kale
Cauliflower
Stock and spinach for the end

Hoping for a yummy feast at the end!

Today’s messages on the thread made for an interesting read, this has got to be the best board on MN surely?

Off to check out that bra truegrit54

Ha! I'm not surprised, @TrueGrit54.

It's like when he drafts an email and asks me to have a quick look. My eye starts twitching involuntarily.

I can always spot a superior chef, @Dellabob123. All those things cook at different, rates, don't they?

That said, I have beautiful crockery that I bought on ebay when pissed, so we shall compare later

I think it genuinely is @Rshard! How's the running? And DD? I think remember her performance anxiety...but sorry if that was someone else.

Imagine if this were the equivalent of Style & Beauty and someone posted their menu. We'd have to pile in and tell them it looked hideous.

Ewww corned beef hash. Reminds me of a room mate at uni, gives me shudders just thinking about it.
I have had a shopping morning, bought some fabulous Friday the 13th vans and care bear pjs. Not to wear together that wouldn't work. I have also replaced my very much loved dungarees which I sold earlier in the year due to their general enormousness.

One thing I have really loved about the changes to my life are enjoying buying clothes again. It gives me so much pleasure.
Going for a day trip in the van tomorrow so I need to pack a good lunch. Very excited.

They do indeed @nowlook
But I do add in stages

I added too much stock so have added extra cauli and a squeeze of lemon.

I went out for food last night and had chicken shashlik and cauli flower bhaji...not huge veg, but a pleasing LC curry none the less!

I love the way that so much of the these threads are about sharing recipes and stories of good food that are compatible with this way of eating

Supper tonight will be chicken breast stuffed with Boursin and wrapped in Serrano ham, with a few garlic cloves, a squoosh of lemon juice and some olive oil drizzled over. Served with roasted asparagus (more olive oil ) and some shoogled sprouts and/or shoogled cauliflower (same technique)

My soup
Butter & olive oil
1 each of
Celery , courgette , onion , carrot ( I know carrot and onion aren’t perfect , but this is going to make 4 portions )
Half bag of baby spinach at end
Lots of salt and pepper , 1 chicken stick cube and some mixed herbs
After whizzing I added a knob more butter , double cream and grated cheddar on top
I now know I need to get some blue cheese for next weeks soup
A really good way to get more veg in , and easy to make

Hello

Thanks for the Sainsbury's tip, I'll be sending DH there for some.

I kinda feel awkward now admitting I'm off to meet the girls at the pub today. I wont be drinking, deliberately chose the pub with the crap gins! Today I actually forgot to eat. Had a cup of tea with cream while walking the dog, lots of water and planned a mushroom omelette but got busy.and forgot. Just had some tuna with cream cheese and cucumber.

Bolognese in the slow cooker, chicken stuffed with mushrooms and blue cheese in the fridge prepped for getting home.

I have decided to start couch to 5k again next week, if anyone fancies joining me?

Yey- eating the green soup with swirl of cream and stilton. Yum!

@prettybird can you share the shoogled sprouts. Keep seeing but don’t actually know what they are!

I'll join you for the couch bit @Glenthebattleostrich

Absolutely LOVE your username. I have a very solemn agreement with DH and the DC that, if I'm ever in a coma, they need to play TBBT theme tune and monitor closely for any reaction to "we built the pyramids". If there's nothing, they may let me go

Dellabob microwave sprouts with butter and salt. Halfway through cooking shoogle them by swirling the container around in a circle to coat them with the butter. Simples!

I will Glenthebattleostrich.

I did it 3 years ago running outdoors but I am 24 lbs heavier now. I literally completed the programme and then didn’t continue running. Stupid of me. I think this time I will switch to running on treadmill if it gets too hard with the extra weight and extreme unfitness. I am a soft round barrel with no upper body strength! Have you done it before? Do you exercise already?

Thanks @StuntNun