Week 4 - Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Morning all.

Sorry for the late posting this morning. I had a bad night but managed eventually to get to sleep and have only just woken up!

As ever, here's the link to the spreadsheet

The plan for this week is as for last week, i.e. strict Bootcamp during the week but relaxing into Bootcamp Light at the weekend (if you wish).

Hopefully by now it's becoming more of a habit to eat this way, and the urge to snack has receded, and you're finding that you're no longer hungry between meals.

And channelling @ShagMeRiggins, I hope you're remembering the WATER, WATER, WATER! As well as all the fat

Here's to a good week for us all

...erm, and always Preview your posts to avoid FatThumbitis Disease.

Tonight I made another dish from the Fast 800 recipe book, which was really lovely. Low carb - but also low in fat, so make sure that if you make this you serve it with something that has more fat - and also a big wodge of mayo on the side.

Chicken goujons with Parmesan crumb

serves 2 I made this for 4, so just doubled the ingredients

1 medium egg
50g finely grated Parmesan
25g quick cook polenta I could only find ordinary polenta, and this worked fine
1/2 tsp dried thyme I prefer oregano, so used this instead
1/2 tsp paprika (not smoked)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, each cut into thin strips I cut mine into 3 or 4 strips, so they did take a bit longer to cook than the recipe said - but they were nice, chunky pieces
lemon wedges, to serve

1. pre-heat the oven to 200C fan/180/Gas Mark 6, and line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper

1. whisk the egg in a medium bowl till smooth, and then pour into a flatter bowl/plate

1. In another bowl, combine the Parmesan, polenta, herbs and paprika, with some salt and black pepper. Scatter half this mixture on a large plate

1. Dip the chicken strips, one at a time, into the egg, then coat in the Parmesan crumb. Top up the crumbs on the plate when the first batch is used up.

1. Place the goujons onto the baking tray and bake for 12-14 minutes or until crisp, golden brown and cooked through because my pieces of chicken were a bit thicker, I cooked them for around another 5 minutes, and I also turned them over half way through the cooking

1. Serve with lemon wedges.

@BIWI

Brilliant *@Dellabob123*! And please feel free to go on for as long as you like!

That recipe sounds yum @BIWI
Will add to my list

kerkyra thanks so much for the progress photos. I’m sure I’m not alone finding them inspiring, and you look to be a very healthy weight (and a lovely figure).

TrueGrit thanks for GreenEgg information. I’ve certainly been curious and might just need to go along to one of the farm shop’s demo evenings in the new year.

Nutsaremynemesis please know you’re the only person in the world who has ever referred to me as a comedy genius. Thank you. I assure you I am not, and sorry about the creamy coffee nose thing.

Dining at Giggling Squid Saturday night with friends. Anyone care to comment/advise on menu options? I have my own ideas, but it’s always useful as a learning opportunity!

www.gigglingsquid.com/menu/cambridge/

Noavocado I signed up and lurked for two years (never did it) before taking the plunge and participating. I’ve gained friends (okay, online friends) from this purely because I posted and joined in.

The only reason many of us know each other is because we did the same (and, in my case had a lot to lose, I’ve not reached my goal weight, though I feel once I do—and I will!—I’ll still come here to erm, help) It takes me a while to recognise and get to know new posters.

Your weight loss isn’t smug, it’s inspiring, and please don’t ever feel bad about achieving your goals. Life’s too fucking short for that nonsense.

@ShagMeRiggins

Definitely Hawker Style Moo Ping for starter and Crying Beef for your main, and then pak choi and tenderstems to go with it.

Pastrami I understand it can be difficult to read that people are eating off plan yet still losing weight. A few things come to mind—

1. We never know their situation. Many who are severely overweight can “cheat” and still lose weight because they’re still reducing their carb intake Aug indicates rly and that will have an effect.

1. Some are actually in maintenance or very near goal so they’re experimenting with which big carbs (eg potatoes) to let back in, and seeing how it effects them. Most posters mention their situations for context at some point.

1. Some people need the accountability. They need to admit publicly where they know they’ve gone wrong. They might still have a loss but they should know if they continue it will probably not work for them, hence the infamous “drawn a line” and “back on the wagon.”

1. Some—not many at all—simply don’t get on well with this way of eating. That’s fine. All weight loss diets work if you stick with them, it’s up to the individual to decide which method is sustainable for them. The best diets are those that promote healthy eating, are sustainable, and are easier for the individual to embrace. SlimFast works, for example. But I don’t want to live the remaining years of my life drinking shakes and soups.

1. Some people need the Big Stick and crave it. (It’s true!)

I’m sure I haven’t covered it all, but my best advice if you’re confused is to read again and again the Bootcamp rules on the spreadsheet, ask as many questions as you like, and KOKO!!

Oh, and drink your...you know what.

but I have to admit to weaning myself off squash by making it weaker and weaker til I just waved the bottle over the glass of water

Magic.

I’ve had slippage last week which resulted in maintaining…. But back to it this week
I don’t find it difficult to drink the Water , and I can do the 16:8 ok , I am still finding my way on this woe , love all the recipes

Today I had cheese burger pie for lunch and then ribs salad and coleslaw for tea

Thanks for Giggling Squid recommendations, BIWI.

It is a rather gorgeous looking menu, with so many more options than many Thai restaurants. Really looking forward to it.

I love Thai food, but it's actually quite difficult to eat a low carb version, as they use sugar in a lot of their recipes.

They do! It’s so annoying!!

My go to—decades ago, before obesity and the LCHF way of eating—a simple pad Thai was my Go To, because I love my savoury and not so much chillies.

Later learned to love some of those perfect coconut-based soups, especially the best Thai soup ever at The Mango Tree in London where I asked the waiter to help, described preferences, and he proffered a dish improved my enjoyment of life. Alas, I do not remember what it was called.

I will carefully scour the menu with recommendations in mind, and by all means avoid anything with clear sugars or obvious carbs. Will probably ask lots of questions on the night.

Sorry for the disappear, I've been quietly plugging away in the background.

@kerkyra you look great, to be fair you looked great before I think the main difference is your middle is a lot more toned. Photos and success stories are so motivating. Especially to those starting out.
@prettybird hope your feeling ok and not too fed up stuck in COVID prison.
@ShagMeRiggins sorry for your loss and very relieved to find out it wasn't your dh. WATER WATER WATER. I'm trying an experiment this week where I drink 3.5litres and it seems to be working I feel energised.
I really wish I had a before photo, anyone starting out I would recommend taking one. I have one pair of trousers I bought which are a tiny bit too small for me and I didn't send them back, I would like them to be comfortable before I embrace full maintenance mode. I'm keeping up well with the exercise.
I have a night out with friend coming up and I'm thinking it might be time to treat myself to a new fancy dress. Today's mission is to online shop for one.

My mot for the van got a bit more expensive, the mot was fine, then the garage parked it up the road, a space came up outside my house so I rushed to move it and hit the neighbours car 😱 luckily only scraped the bumper but now I'm nervous to drive it again.

Can't wait till I actually get to sleep in it.

@venusandmars just looked back through the old thread to see your outfit, wow you look amazing.

I have put 1lb back on. Annoying because I was edging below 10 and a half stone. I was 9 Stone before I had the kids and I'd just like to be 10 again, as that what I have bought all my clothes for.

Maybe not enough water?

My only cheats over the last week have been 2 biscuits and 1 marshmallow and 2 glasses of wine. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Noavocado if you're anything like me, the first weigh in after a 'break' will be enough to put you right off!!!!

If you suddenly have high carb stuff, your body stores it - together with LOtS of water - in your glycogen cells. For me, that can be anything up to 5lbs back on almost overnight which then takes anything up to a week to shift again.

It's one option when in maintenance mode but definitely not on boot camp.

@BIWI do we need a separate maintenance chat for those people who for a variety of reasons are on the low carb woe for life but not currently on full boot camp??!

@BobMortimersTrout I am jealous of you. I just adore Bob Mortimer. I am back on bootcamp again. I had an eventful last few weeks. I lost someone close so life has not been normal. I have been maintaining so I am not going to weigh for a week and hopefully I will be back close to where I want to be.
I have also had the most awful cough and have been constantly sucking soothing sweets which are just sugar. They have helped though.
I can’t remember who mentioned hrt and bloating. I have been on hrt patches for a year. I have found the opposite. I think I was carrying fluid before and now I am not. People are always commenting how much weight I have lost as if I have lost many stones . My face is definitely thinner, my waist has reappeared and my rings are looser. I definitely look as if I have lost more weight than I have.
Anyway. I am back on it. Feeling positive.

I'm on my last full day working away - travelling back tomorrow.

Can't wait to be fully in control of my own food again!! It's actually been OK and I've stayed on track but my God some of the combos I've had to eat have been odd to say the least and I'm missing my FLGV massively. Last night was beef tagine with halloumi and not a sniff of any veg.

And if I never see another crappy Tesco express emergency 'salad' (basically bag of leaves with some cucumber and tomato) again it will be too soon!

It generally leaves me physically full / satisfied but psychologically I feel very deprived so have been having the (LC) snack attacks when I get back to my room which is a) pointless and b) made worse by the fact it's generally quite late so ruins the good IF routine I got into.

I've also missed my running and my body is looking much less defined so I'm looking forward to resetting food and exercise on Saturday!

The only thing that I've been ok with has been my WATER WATER WATER. Have been attached to my water bottle, swigging constantly and refilled at least 6 times a day.

@BelladiMamma depending on how long you've been doing this...
Weeks 3 & 4 are notorious for not losing much or even gaining. Stick to the rules, stop cheating (was the marshmallow even worth it?), drink all the water, up your fats (sounds incongruous but will stop you feeling hungry and reaching for a biscuit), keep an eye on your portion size (don't restrict yourself but be aware especially if you're eating nuts), consider how much dairy you are having (some people find that too much cheese or cream can slow their loss). But most of all just keep on going. Weight loss is not always linear. Focus on how good this woe is, fresh veg, not too much processed food... Enjoy the experience.

[quote venusandmars]@BelladiMamma depending on how long you've been doing this...
Weeks 3 & 4 are notorious for not losing much or even gaining. Stick to the rules, stop cheating (was the marshmallow even worth it?), drink all the water, up your fats (sounds incongruous but will stop you feeling hungry and reaching for a biscuit), keep an eye on your portion size (don't restrict yourself but be aware especially if you're eating nuts), consider how much dairy you are having (some people find that too much cheese or cream can slow their loss). But most of all just keep on going. Weight loss is not always linear. Focus on how good this woe is, fresh veg, not too much processed food... Enjoy the experience.[/quote]
Yes 🙌🏽 thank you for the inspiration.

KOKO

I've been v quiet too sorry, not sure what my excuse is. Weight is coming off albeit slowly, but have nothing planned this weekend so am hoping a strict week will shift a few more. Thereby proving to myself AGAIN that booze massively hampers any attempt at weight loss. Will I listen this time??? Doubt it looking at my calendar for next 8 weeks

Just off the back of @BIWI post, I am coming up to 5 mo that of LC. now. I am firmly in maintenance and really hoping I won’t ever go back to old ways. My health was suffering and now it’s not. Simple.

I post here for support and motivation...I experiment with carbier veg/rice portions etc to find my triggers in maintenance and post here to keep track.

Koko everyone - it’s worth it!

First: being pleased and proud of the results of your own efforts does NOT/NOT equal smug!

EVERYONE on this thread should be chucking public pom-poms around when they have a success. Because it is nice to have other people acknowledge your work, but it is even better to be pleased with yourself, because you're the one who matters.*

• this probably only applies to normal people, with normal levels of self-doubt and negative self-talk. Obvs, if you're, say, Trump, none of the above applies.

I'm here for the health, not the weight atm, so for those struggling with a pause or a gain, some reminders of ALL the other good stuff you get as well:

• my sleep! This WOE is always fab for jolting me out of my sincerely dreadful wine habits. No wine for past week = just so much better sleep and easier waking up.

• linked to... my puffy face! No wine & better sleep = cheekbones and jawlines looking much better.

• all the Shagme water and the butter - skin is already unbelievably smoother. I keep stroking my own neck as it feels so much softer

• stomach is flatter so clothes look better, even without weightloss

• nails grow back so much quicker and stronger (am a right chewer atm)

• no farting, no snivelling, no blocked ears... all the 'reactionary' bodily stuff has ceased

• vastly reduced feelings of desperation - carb crashes experienced as negative emotion

• increased patience with everyone and everything.

And lastly, an intangible one - just a general all-over bodily sense of being 'sharper'. More aware of where my body is in space which feels neater, more precise somehow, less of a bodily fog.

Lastly (sorry for the length BIWI), finally finished the fecking bastard chicken pie filling so can eat something other than fecking chicken. Today's food will be some sort of cheesy green vegetable medley, since I've an urge for green.