Week 2 - pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Morning campers!

This is my favourite week of a new Bootcamp. Because for all those new to low carbing, and especially those who were so fearful about the amount of fat they're supposed to be eating, this can be a real revelation.

It's often a real leap of faith to commit to a way of eating which is against everything we've been told, for the last 30 or 40 years, is bad for us. And yet, all the recent science confirms that lowering our carbohydrate intake can only be good for us - and that embracing fat is also good too!

Here's a link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

I look forward, very much, to seeing results of the first week. Somehow, from what people have already posted, I think it's going to be good!

Nice nails @Glenthebattleostrich. I 'treated' myself this week by actually using the Coco Chanel soap that has been sat in its wrapper for 2 years waiting for a special occasion. Every day will be special until it is used up.

I'm going to make the muffins that @NotwatchingSpooks posted the recipe for this weekend too.

@Rayna37 - do you have a link to the moussaka boats recipe? it sounds delicious. I'm thinking i could also make a moussaka with celeriac.

@KeyLimePies

Nice nails *@Glenthebattleostrich*. I 'treated' myself this week by actually using the Coco Chanel soap that has been sat in its wrapper for 2 years waiting for a special occasion. Every day will be special until it is used up.

I'm going to make the muffins that @NotwatchingSpooks posted the recipe for this weekend too.

@Rayna37 - do you have a link to the moussaka boats recipe? it sounds delicious. I'm thinking i could also make a moussaka with celeriac.

No but I can probably add to the thread! There are some good moussaka style recipes, I think the Idiot Proof Diet has a good one and there's at least one on the meat recipe thread.

V easy though: from memory and assuming you're competent enough to wing it a bit!... cut the aubergines in half lengthwise, drizzle with oil and cook on 180 for about 30 mins. While this is happening cook 2 onions/shallots and optional extra veg like peppers quite finely chopped, maybe courgette, broccoli stalks etc then add garlic, then the mince, then spices. 1tsp each ground cumin, coriander and cinnamon, chopped mint, and stir in cream cheese (about half a tub of own brand Philly). Scoop out the aubergine middles, chop and add to the meat, cook a bit more. Refill the "boats" then top with grated cheese, back in the oven for 15 mins. Very adaptable, you can freeze half the meat for later if just feeding two or make more and eat for lunches.

There's a lovely recipe for moussaka on the recipe thread @KeyLimePies, from the Idiot Proof Diet recipe book.

@Rayna37 - Thank you - I'll give the boats a go

@BIWI - I used to have that book but I don't know what I did with it (although I'm not keen on IK any more, but we won't go into that). I will look at the recipe thread.

Ah well - no need to worry, as the recipes were created by the very lovely Bee Rawlinson (who is on Facebook if you want to follow her!)

There are some lovely recipes in the book, and at least a couple have been posted in the recipe threads here - obviously quoting the source

Hello - am i too late to join ? I've been unofficially following and lurking on the thread, started to plan to eat a low carb diet a couple of weeks ago, and thought i was (!) but only really understood the boot camp rules this week (especially re avoiding nuts) @BIWI - please let me know what to do, and if I may join the spreadsheet of fabulousness

PS Made cheeseburger pie last night - was awesome

You're very welcome @missfliss!

Just hop onto the spreadsheet and put your name at the bottom of the list - don't touch any of the blue cells! - and add your starting weight.

@ouchmyfeet will make sure that the list is re-alphabetised, so don't try and insert your name - just go to the bottom of the list.

amazing - have done - THANKYOU

Hello 👋 new to this bit desperate to lose some weight pre Christmas and figure low carb best given with IBS I should be avoiding it anyway 🤦‍♀️ Do I just post my stats here? Thanks in advance!!

@Whereisthewine

Just add your name to the spreadsheet here - at the bottom (don't try to insert your name alphabetically!)

I post a new chat thread, with a link to the spreadsheet, every Monday.

If you haven't done Bootcamp before (also goes for you @missfliss), the rules are on one of the tabs on the spreadsheet - along with a whole load of other useful stuff about low carbing, so have a good read of those.

You might also find it useful to read this thread which gives more background about low carbing and Bootcamp.

Thank you!!!

Salmon Stir fry for tea tonight. Can’t wait, it’s been a busy day at work today and I am really hungry!

Longing to make the Cheeseburger Pie but fearful DH & the kids would turn their noses up at it!

Anyone have any tips for surviving a kids halloween party this weekend?! There is going to be so much carbs & sugar and I will need to have the willpower of steel…

Why do you think they'd turn their noses up at it @ListenLinda?! It's lovely - and you must have read countless other Bootcampers saying the same thing!

This is so weird. I’ve just put the idiot proof moussaka in the oven. Spooky!

@BIWI according to DH the only thing mince should have on top is mashed potatoe

@FusionChefGeoff thats good to know. Especially as I am peri menopausal and they are anything from 23 - 32 days apart. Bit of a shock after being 27 days on the dot since I had DD!

I’ve been catching up on the thread and guilty of skim-reading so I found it astonishing to learn Glenthebattleostrich is peri-menopausal yet has a 27-day-old daughter.

Then my brain turned on and I read those bits again and realised, no, ShagMe, no, those are not the facts.

Phew!

WATER WATER WATER it’s not too late for a bit more, y’all.

[quote catwithflowers]**@ouchmyfeet* It's one of Jamie Oliver's 15 minute meals, which all take me at least half an hour* 😂😂. Same here, and the 30 minutes meals take me at least an hour!!!

Thanks! I have that book but haven't looked at it in ages! [/quote]
Probably because Jamie isn’t siltanrously stacking a dishwasher, speaking to toddlers, sorting homework, getting pinged by the book club WhatsApp group, changing over a bit of laundry, answering that very last crucial work email, or curing cancer while he’s cooking his 15 or 30-minute recipes.

*simultaneously Feck.

(Or correcting his misspellings on Mumsnet posts...)

Just catching up...

@ShagMeRiggins - 23-27 is a pain - but hopefully they'll get less or stop before too long... I was 23 days for years after DD (she's 20 now) then last year it changed to anything between 14 and 30 days... This year I've had between 12 and 90 days with the longer gaps becoming the norm... fingers crossed that continues... I'm 52 and done with all that.

@Glenthebattleostrich - well done on the running - it's great when it goes well and you enjoy it.

@Rayna37 - those moussaka boats look great! And inspired by the comment out Prof Tim Noakes, I've been reading some of his stuff... really interesting- he was a fairly early advocate of lchf after seeing the evidence that high carb low fat didn't work.

I'm going to order his "Lore of Running" as that's my other interest but his "Banting" guide is pretty much bootcamp light meets Why we eat (too much) and that was based on earlier work from the 1860s by William Harvey and his patient, William Banting.

I'd forgotten when I signed up to Bootcamp but I'm out for diner at a vv nice restaurant with DH tonight - we booked months ago to get a table at the weekend - and it's a tasting menu so pretty much no way to avoid some carbs but at least it's all very small amounts.... our plan was to get our DS to drive us there and collect us later but the car is stuck in the garage waiting on parts so I have volunteered to drive (he's not insured on our other car) so I won't be making excuses to avoid drinking and DH thinks I'm being really nice by offering so will owe me driving at some point 😂 And we're seeing friends for lunch tomorrow who we haven't seen in 2 years so I will be looking for the best options from the menu again.

The scales are looking good so far this week so hopefully there will still be a loss on Monday in spite of this weekend.

I’m doing moussaka tonight.

Does anyone who’s well-versed have a firm opinion on which recipe is best? I have all ingredients for Idiot Proof Cookbook available but am looking for something extremely flavourful and as savoury/umami as possible so wondered if the recipe thread entry (entries?) are better. I’d look for myself but must get to the shop now before a 12.30 work meeting and wondering à about other ingredients I might need.

That said, piss poor planning on my part does not constitute an emergency on yours, so do feel free to ignore me!

I’ve ordered a non alcoholic vodka that should arrive today. Will report back. Also... WATER WATER WATER!* and keep it up throughout the weekend. It matters.

Thinking about @ShagMeRiggins Q. about moussaka and remembered I have Tom Kerridge’s Dopamine Diet book somewhere so rooted it out.

He has a moussaka recipe and recommends roasting the mince first, which I think does make it tastier.

@ShagMeRiggins when I make anything that is a mince and tomato type combo I find tinned cherry tomatoes are much nicer and also if I have time I make in a casserole on the hob and then roast it in the oven with the lid off to help develop the flavours