Week 8 - Our final week! - Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Evening/morning all

So this is our last week. It's been a shorter Bootcamp than normal, but I hope it's worked for you. Something a bit of an experiment too! Let me know (by PM) if it's worked or not worked for you.

As ever, here's the link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

There are some seriously great results here!

We're now in the run up to Christmas, which I know can be very difficult if you're trying to maintain a low carb diet. But we will always have a chat thread going here, so please post if you need help or just want to vent.

And remember, of course, that we still have another week to wrest with the scales/the tape measure!

Here's to a successful, final week

I think with sugar carbs for me it’s about working on my mindset that thinks of these as a treat. Actually they have no nutritional value. For me they actually cause me significant stress because just one triggers a craving and causes a lot of stress while I battle my mental demons. I’m trying to think of such things as harmful to my health and well-being and to remember this in times of stress when my default in the past would be to binge chocolate or whatever. It’s then no deprivation to not have something which is so harmful.

Well done for deciding to give them away.

Finally caught up- keep reading bits but never getting to the end last week so never got round to posting. Night away with work including too much wine and a less than perfect weekend mean I'm back to last Monday's weight, but I'm consistently seeing less Tues-Fri so at least there's that! Essentially ducking out of bootcamp for Christmas on Friday (a meal out, a beer festival then hosting a party over the weekend) so it's damage limitation.

Need to think about new year- I'm low carb as a general rule now, that won't change, but actually think the "project" for Jan needs to be weight training rather than stand-alone weight loss.

Eggs for breakfast, Caesar salad and yogurt for lunch and dinner with be (cauli rice) kedgeree.

I'm still bloated, full of trapped (and unwrapped ) wind after a lovely roast out yesterday. Unfortunately I don't generally find carbs make me unwell, I'm not one of those who just feels "better" with this way of eating, but something yesterday definitely didn't agree with me! For me, even if I eat the rubbish I eat the good stuff too and it's unusual to feel off or have this kind of reaction!

Boiled eggs mashed in butter for brunch, then some cold chicken, cucmber and mayonnaise. I was planning a yummy cauliflower cheese for dinner but I've remembered we're going to SIL's. There's bound to be a huge chocolately pudding (they're cake and pudding fiends) so I'll take some cheese and swerve the pud. And I'm driving so I can turn down all the sugary cocktails and liquers.

Lovely to hear of other's losses and maintenance.

ooohh, 1.6lb back on for me (too many nuts and too much dairy this week and an off-plan meal yesterday. Overall I've lost half a stone though and I'm happy with that. I'm carrying on with LC over the holidays and looking forward to joining the next bootcamp to keep things going. Some great losses and I've enjoyed the craic on the thread and pictures of pusses @prettybird (My boy is a chunky thing thanks to my elderly neighbour who has an open door policy and food on tap for all the cats in the neighbourhood)

Here's a chilled festive pic...

Also, I made a SLC loaf in the bread machine and it came out huge! I've cut the loaf in 2 lengthways and put half in the freezer. I'll have some blt's for work lunches. It's pretty good and probably works out cheaper than buying 2 loaves. I have a panasonic breadmaker and set it to the recommended gluten free setting which takes just under 2 hours.

the last pic is half of the loaf.

@BIWI yes it worked for me and over 7 lbs off this bootcamp so gives me a bit off wiggle room for xmas thankyou for running the bootcamp and to all the posters who help along the weeks of bootcamp
Well done everyone

I certainly don't want to go back to scoffing choc every night and think I've formed good habits so going to let my boys have the posh florentines tonight. I needed telling so thanks.

I’m really glad that was helpful rather than condescending, kerkyra. If I’ve learned nothing else this Bootcamp, I’ve learned that I never, ever know what someone else is feeling, thinking, experiencing, or expecting.

And absolutely the right decision to pass florentines to the boys. I’m sure you’ll be able to each chocolates at some point but as long as you’re thinking “I have a massive sweet tooth and this is my plan to have chocolates every day for a week but it should be fine” you’re probably not quite ready.

Not at all condescending ShagMeRiggins and I need the guidance. The bit about being odd me keeping florentines in my room made me gasp in embarrassment! I suppose I was testing myself or it's a control thing,they're there but I can't have them.Gone now anyway and made myself a lovely supper of pizza mushroom and salmon.

@kerkyra that's FANTASTIC what an incredible demonstration. Plus all from your middle which I believe is the most unhealthy fat as it's surrounding all your vital organs. Get in!

I'm still really struggling with overeating - seems to be better this week I have to admit but I know I've put weight on so am avoiding the scales.

I'd be grateful for advice if anyone has any around the thinking of the bootcamp 'rules' being a diet no matter how many times everyone calls it a way of eating I can't get my head to agree with that'

The rules create (for me) a sense of deprivation and a feeling of having to assert control to stay on track. The flip side of that is that it feels 'good' as it's a relief / release to let go of the control and overeat instead.

I think what my brain tells me I want is all the "forbidden" food - and although I generally don't have it, the quantity of permitted food I then eat to try to satisfy that urge is ridiculous and never quite hits the spot as it's NOT what my brain is craving.

What @Jollyholibobs says sounds similar - I need to retrain my brain thinking that bread / chocolate / chips are treats / desirable and see them for what they are!

Some great losses again - @kerkyra you look fab! Well done everyone

I just about managed 1lb off by not weighing till today but am ok with that as out for dinner once and had friends round on Saturday so far too much wine drunk BUT no crisps! This is unheard of for me!

And we had curry but I had cauliflower instead of rice and didn't feel even a bit deprived.

Am off out again on Wednesday evening with some friends and Friday for work lunch / boozy afternoon. Am really looking forward to it, we haven't ben out-out for two years (unsurprisingly) but last time I had to eat a McDonald's in the station on my way home as was rather tipsy... so will have to watch myself a bit to stop that happening again

@FusionChefGeoff your post really resonates with me. I don't know how you properly unpick that high carb/High fat food as a treat, it's just so ingrained isn't it. We've never had loads of spare cash so have just continued the idea we were given when we were kids that chocolate / cake etc is a treat or a reward and get stuck in.

I used to say if I could stop drinking I would easily lose weight as wouldn't then be tempted by the crisps or morning after bacon butties and toast... but I started having really bad palpitations back in 2014 and did stop for 3 months but I felt deprived of my reward wine so just replaced it with cake...

BTW - there's a new book coming out shortly, by Dr Michael Mosley which combines his Fast800 with Keto:

here

We don't count calories on Bootcamp, but I think this is an interesting approach - there's a lot of science to suggest that as we age we should be consuming fewer calories, and I do often wonder if (as a nation overall) we have got used to eating more calories than we can use each day.

I have also, always, argued that his approaches - starting with the 5:2 diet - would work a lot better if combined with low carb, so perhaps he's been listening

That's interesting @BIWI

I'm finding that a regular 36 or 48 hour fast (no more than once a week - usually after supper at my dad's ) is easy for me - which just goes to show how rarely we truly experience hunger.

If I choose to do a 60 hour fast, then I do feel hunger

Thanks BIWI, I've pre-ordered that book.

@prettybird I can comfortably do 18 hours but goodness I take my hat off to you for a 48 hour fast.

Thanks @BIWI I've ordered that - a good start to 2022, I hope.

@FusionChefGeoff I wonder if you could trick your brain into thinking of higher fat as the 'forbidden treat'. If you followed a classic low calorie, low fat diet, but then added permissable forbidden additions from this woe to combat feelings of hunger and deprivation?

e.g. pork tenderloin and salad, ADD celeriac dauphinoise.
Breakfast muffin: instead of low cal bread with fat-free cheese substitute an almond muffin, full fat cheese, then top with smoked salmon and a poached egg.
Steak and courgette, ADD a creamy mushroom sauce and cook your courgette in butter.
Chicken breast and salad, substitute thighs and add mayonnaise and cheese.
Curried shrimp and veg, ADD a coconut cream sauce.
Low fat yogurt, substitute for ff, with chopped toasted nuts.
Poached salmon and coleslaw, substitue pan friend salmon, butter fried almonds and extra mayo on the coleslaw.

It may not work for you, but might be worth experimenting with. You can only find out.

BIWI having coached people coming off the back of Fast800, they find it difficult to get to grips with a new way of eating and they all gain weight once their calorie increase above starvation levels. In my opinion a 500 or 800 calorie diet is only for when you need to lose weight quickly, such as for an operation or because your health is in danger. For most people it's far preferable to use an approach such as low carb, 5:2 to achieve sustainable weight loss and develop a new way of eating that suits them.

Oh yes @StuntNun - I'm not advocating anyone to follow the diet (unless they do happen to have diabetes of course, or are severely obese), just that the overall principle of a diet that is low carb but also involving fewer calories is an interesting one.

And MM's wife does write some very good, easy recipes - which are all carb-counted as well as calorie counted. I make a lot of them myself, even though I am in no way calorie counting!

Great results posted by all, well done! I STS this week, not surprising after last Fridays meal out.
I am seriously freaked out by COVID now. My DP tested positive last night with symptoms of bad cold; my builder has just recovered from it, and I spoke to a client today also infected. All were double vaccinated. I tested negative last night. I have no symptoms, but will test again tomorrow, prior to staff Xmas lunch. I have requested all to take a LF test beforehand. I suspect this is omicron & seems to be surging. If I get it, much in my life will be seriously screwed over Xmas. And I thought I was going to be able to have some sort of celebration.
My DP is now isolating in the spare bedroom, emerging to use kitchen, etc when I am not there, wearing face mask at all times. V hard to feel cheerful ATM.
Today: daylight meal - carrot sticks,jerk chicken thigh, spring greens gratin. Night meal: Cheeseburger pie & coleslaw, 1/2 SLC brownie.
Note I am adding in a few moderate carb items like carrot sticks. They are crunchy & high in fibre. I find it easy to get the fatty protein in but can sometimes go too light on veg, need to work on that.

[quote FusionChefGeoff]@kerkyra that's FANTASTIC what an incredible demonstration. Plus all from your middle which I believe is the most unhealthy fat as it's surrounding all your vital organs. Get in!

I'm still really struggling with overeating - seems to be better this week I have to admit but I know I've put weight on so am avoiding the scales.

I'd be grateful for advice if anyone has any around the thinking of the bootcamp 'rules' being a diet no matter how many times everyone calls it a way of eating I can't get my head to agree with that'

The rules create (for me) a sense of deprivation and a feeling of having to assert control to stay on track. The flip side of that is that it feels 'good' as it's a relief / release to let go of the control and overeat instead.

I think what my brain tells me I want is all the "forbidden" food - and although I generally don't have it, the quantity of permitted food I then eat to try to satisfy that urge is ridiculous and never quite hits the spot as it's NOT what my brain is craving.

What @Jollyholibobs says sounds similar - I need to retrain my brain thinking that bread / chocolate / chips are treats / desirable and see them for what they are!

[/quote]
Perhaps you are working at something that has been really deeply in your life for a long time? It is difficult to make a change stick in just a few weeks after years of something else.

Interestingly, your tastes might have changed though - and those 'treat foods' you are craving are now something in your memory... but not available in real life any more.

I tried a square of favourite milk chocolate after a bootcamp and found it greasy and unpleasant - the rest of the bar was not a temptation. (I'm not a person who would ever have turned down a sweet calorie in the past.)

I agree with you about tackling the brain side of things. I spent some time really thinking about the unpleasant experience with the chocolate. The craving isn' t there now. Bread is still attractive - but I don't like the way it makes my insides feel. Concentrating on that has helped.

These are negative things though.

Mainly I've been finding foods that give me an S for satisfaction. Feeling full but comfortable is wonderful.

(I do miss mash potato but don't crave it. It is so odd that this should be the thing I'm left feeling a lack of. Cakes and sweets were my staple dream foods for nearly 50 years.)

Thanks so much for the support - alas I think this is very ingrained and I'm getting help so hopefully will be able to start making some changes.

Successfully navigated what on first inspection was a terrible festive menu but hotel were amazing - I contacted them in advance with some requests and they fulfilled them all

Have also ignored the biscuits, macaroons and brownie bites that are in my room. Safely hidden in my suitcase to take home tomorrow!

Not a great day here - feel like I have eaten loads of junk and I don't know why. I think I have a tendency to self sabotage when things are going well. Not sure why that is. Anyway, have tipped the rest of the brandy cream down the sink to avoid finishing the whole tub and will stay away from the cheese/dairy for the next couple of days to try and claw things back.
Have a headache and am extremely tired - been asleep since 7.30 and ready for more sleep now. New day tomorrow!

I felt like this bootcamp has been really effective although I haven't lost much weight I did reach my target weight midweek and have been feeling amazing. Unfortunately I've now got a terrible cold/sinusitis and even though I'm not eating much I just seem to be gaining weight through inactivity and eating slightly more carbs than normal (veggie carbs though but still carbs) Bit depressing.

Oh @Moanranger what really bad luck. Hope you keep healthy and your DH does not get too poorly.

@FusionChefGeoff well done for navigating the festivities so well.

Hope everyone has survived the blustery night damage free.

DH has returned to the office with a week in a week WFH. I am finding his weeks in tough as I am alone all day. He has a long commute and leaves before I’m awake and doesn’t get back until 9.30. I don’t like being alone all day. Going to the gym this evening to get out of the house.

L big salad with cheese
D miso broth with cabbage noodles and poached egg

Hi there @potas don’t be too hard on yourself you have been feeling amazing and reached you target. Hopefully current situation is a blip because you are poorly. Take care of yourself. Hope you feel better soon.