Welcome to 2022's first Low Carb Bootcamp!

[BIWI]

Almost 200 of us signed up, so it's going to be a busy one.

@Runninghorse
@missfliss
@MercedesBenz
@cissyandbessy
@FitnessKeepItGoing
@MrsGarethSouthgate
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@byebyecarbs
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Here's a link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness lovingly managed by @ouchmyfeet.

I've added a couple of names that I've spotted this evening, but they're at the bottom of the list not alphabetised - if your name isn't on the list, add yours at the bottom, and we'll re-alphabetise it once we get going.

 @DearZoom

I'm the same: the initial whoosh is really motivating. I've lost 8lb since I started a week past Sunday - possibly more as I didn't actually weigh myself until the Monday. c6lb in the first week and thereafter "only" 2lb

I always find it motivating to hear how well others are doing. I've not got so much to lose, and eat this way most of the time, so I don't expect to see big losses, but it reminds me how well this woe works for so many.

Just back from a morning walk - while the weather was windy but not yet wet. About to have a brunch of eggs, mushroom, spinach, bacon, shallots. And a creamy coffee.

We have a huge turnip (swede) so this evening I'm making my favourite turnip bake: onions / shallots sliced and softened in lots and lots of butter (need the butter for the rest of the dish). Turnip (swede) sliced thinly and par boiled. Sliced cabbage, and today I'm adding chopped kale. Drain the turnip and mix with the shallot so the slices are coated in butter; add whole grain mustard; add lots of grated cheese; mis it all together. Cover and bake in the oven till the swede is soft. Add in the cabbage and kale and mix, Bake for a further 10 minutes.

It's sort of like a cross between a lyonnaise and a dauphinoise. And delicious. Tonight we'll have it just as it is, and later in the week the remainder served with some ham.

Just realised I've got a leek that is past its best, so that will be in there too.

Dolly I'm glad that you've had a positive effect on your bleeding. IIRC there's a link between heavy cycles and insulin resistance, so perhaps your body is rebalancing?

NSV here - the lovely trousers I bought in the Anthropologie sale have arrived and are way too big. Non Scale Defeat - they've sold out of the smaller sizes. Oh well!

Cold water tea bags - I tried the cucumber and lime one and it had the distinct aroma of Toilet Duck.

I am currently drinking a Yorkshire Tea Jam On Toast with a splash of soya milk and it's good for getting over my (never-ending, apparently) toast craving.

venus that swede dish has gone on my menu for next week, thank you!

Swede lovers - there's a halloumi, swede and chicken thigh traybake recipe knocking about somewhere that is a Hoozami family fave.

Morning all, I managed a good night's sleep last night, despite a little disagreement with the boyf last night, he's got a less than healthy lifestyle and had promised to try to get better but last night reverted to his old ways a bit..I was a bit angry with him, but guess all I can do is focus on myself, can't tell others what to do 🤷
Anyway, payday on Tuesday finally and today I'm going to dip into the overdraft to go to Sainsbury's to buy buttermint tea, along with a few other things.

I usually shop in Aldi, I'm a single parent and I am totally skint, despite working full time.

I have approx 60 a week budget for meals for me, and two kids for 5 nights a week plus packed lunches every day for all of us. The cost of food is crazy. The youngest will not eat anything with sauce, he only eats plain carbs, brocolli, green beans and chicken. Eldest will eat most things, but only if familiar food. (ASD)

I'm so skint and whilst I know eating like this is so much healthier for me, my IBS goes away, I lose weight, etc, it is expensive, there's no getting away from it!

Only thinking because I was considering alternatives to milk, and thought oh, I'll grab lactose free today, but it's going to be tons more expensive than bog standard milk from Aldi..

I'd love to try low carb bread, because I'm really missing it and just for convenience occasionally, but it's prohibitive, the cost.

I know 60 ish a week is more than most have, and I don't feed the kids every night, they eat with my mum one night and their dad one night at the weekend, so that helps, I'll just have an omelette or something. I try to have roast chicken one weekend in two, so we eat it two nights and I make pasta or curry the third night. I make soup and always buy cut price meat to freeze...but I'm struggling. This month I've had no money since about a week ago, had to take from savings just to put petrol in the car. Even 60 a week is pushing it, I could do with spending less. Unfortunately I'm time poor and money poor, not a great combination!

Any suggestions? I'm going to have to sell a kidney later just to shop in Sainsbury's, I really notice how expensive it is in there!

Hi @Theghostofchristmasarse, I totally understand. I'm not a single parent and appreciate I'm lucky to have 2 x incomes coming into the household, but I am finding it challenging & expensive to eat low carb and adapt for a family. My DH and my kids are quite fussy and carb fiends so as much as I'd like them to, they often won't eat BC friendly meals so that means 2 x meals often at each mealtime. This is not against BC, and I am adapting, but there's no getting away from it, it is harder to make this WOE easier if you have to exclude the things that make it nice (big joints of fatty meat, butter, SLCR products, salmon, avocados, seafood, fancy cheeses etc) and have to watch your portion sizes. The rising cost of food and cost of living increases are a real issue for so many but even more so for those with low or little disposable incomes.

Maybe we can help come up with a few BC recipes that are cheaper (perhaps this exists already?) for you and others?

It must be difficult for you @Theghostofchristmasarse

Maybe go back to ordinary full fat milk and reduce the amount you drink? Also, the Buttermint tea and other green/herb/fruit teas don't need milk so you're reducing it there. You can get cheap redbush (rooibos) tea in Lidl so I presume it's also available in Aldi.

If you feed your family with purely veg dishes (eg tray bakes like the courgette and halloumi that rshard posted) for a few meals, that should reduce costs. Meat dishes can also be less expensive as you can, nay are encouraged to, use cheaper (fattier) cuts and higher fat mince.

Eggs also making filling meals - so frittatas or ranch eggs.

Also, the very fact that you lose the desire to snack should save you money

And drink lots of water

@theghostofchrismasarse damn, I just wrote you a long reply with a 'bread' suggestion that's not so expensive and the bastard just disappeared before I could send it.

Agh anyway, it sounds like you are doing all the 'right' things to stretch your money out.

My idea is the 'keto bread' recipe from the Diet Doctor. It uses ground almonds £5 for 500g at sainsburys, cheaper at Aldi. Some psyllium husk (amazon), vinegar and 3 egg yolks, which I swap for 2 eggs to save having little bowls of eggwhite in my dolls house sized fridge. Cheaper than the v lc bread I think. You can slice it, toast it and it's v filling though strictly only for bc light.

Other lchf cheap things I use: livers, pork belly slices. But I do have time to cook.

@Theghostofchristmasarse
I am in exactly the same position as you, it’s doable but only just and sometimes you have to slip off plan a bit.
It does mean you don’t get to enjoy some of the lovely recipes mentioned on here.
Lactose free milk is available in lots of supermarkets under their own brand and is about £1, the kids don’t notice the difference (maybe decant into a regular carton for your dc with ASD)
I usually get it from Lidl or Tesco.

My LC staples are the following, hope you can get a bit of inspiration…

Eggs - omelette, scrambled, boiled, egg mayo…. with spinach/mushrooms as they’re usually cheap (put paper towel in your spinach bag to help it last longer)
Tuna mayo with veg of choice (I use green beans, cooked and then fried off in butter)
Tinned sardines or mackerel with veg of choice
Salmon fillets - these are really versatile, I put them in a little foil parcel in the oven with some spices and then serve with whatever veg is lurking in fridge, Iceland do 3 packs of wild pink salmon for £10 (about 5 fillets in each pack)
Babybel/cheesestrings for snacks
Fage/supermarket special brand Greek yoghurt
Spaghetti bolegnase with green beans or courgettes (I use a veg peeler to make ribbons with the courgettes and fry it)
Roast dinner with all the veg (and add carbs for the dc).

3lb loss for me this week which I’m really pleased with as I had an unfortunate incident with some 50/50 toast at breakfast club earlier on in the week 😬
Just making a roast dinner and I am glad to finally be able to indulge my eating the roasted chicken skin habit totally guilt free 😂

Afternoon all, hope you're al having a good weekend. The less said about afternoon tea yesterday the better, but I am back on it today with all the WATER WATER WATER and just had a nice slice of cheeseburger pie with a pile of broccoli for my lunch.

I find low carb eating really expensive too. Some of my staples that all will eat are pasta sauces all bulked out with veg ( I generally eat buttery leeks and everyone else has pasta), lots of tinned fish (theirs on toast/bread, mine on spinach leaves), and fajitas (mine in lettuce wraps rather than corn/wheat ones). A lot of our meat is mince, I just stocked up in Iceland this morning which wasn't as cheap as I remember it being.

3lb loss here despite posting earlier in the week that I thought I was eating too much

@Theghostofchristmasarse that sounds really challenging, hopefully there is good inspiration on here. I saw an economy recipe tab on the spreadsheet of fabulousness. I agree that mince is the mainstay of my LC cooking.

One of the things i feel like I'm constantly buying is veg, to hit the right amount of fibre I seem to use whole packets of mushrooms or leeks or beans for each meal. I don't drive and have had to use the local coop for the week so I guess a supermarket shop will help

@Theghostofchristmasarse It's difficult when you have family members that bring non-BC food into the house. DH has an epic sweet tooth and zero weight worries so the temptation is always there. For me, it helps to focus on my goals and why I'm doing this.

Some great suggestions for inexpensive meals already. Aldi is much cheaper for lactose free milk. I use a lot of frozen veg - broccoli, green beans, sprouts etc and it's often cheaper than buying fresh. The fattier cuts of meat can be cheaper (eg chicken thighs and drumsticks, lamb breast). This thread is always busy so if you need recipe suggestions for what you already have in the fridge/cupboards, I'm sure we can help!

@Theghostofchristmasarse someone reminded me of chicken thighs too, on asda its about £2 is and get about 8 in a pack also I have been having omelette In the morning with spinach I bought frozen which is perfect for mixing with the egg. I'm trying to stay within a budget as young children, I do have a hubby but only 1 income. I'm sure lots of people will have some suggestions. Keep up the good work do this for you

Also I don't eat any of the low carb bread alternatives as they all seem to contain gluten and I'm gluten intolerant.

Today's menu:

B: black coffee (IFer)
L: scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms
D: cottage pie made with pork mince and celeriac mash served with FLGV
S: Buttermint tea

It's lovely to see some people are posting big losses already. I haven't weighed yet but I've noticed my muffin top is much smaller!

@Theghostofchristmasarse I do prefer fresh veg to frozen (I like that bite) but frozen broccoli/green beans are really nice when smothered in Philadelphia or butter, still feels a bit luxury that way

@Theghostofchristmasarse that does sound really tough. I find that frozen food cuts the cost down a lot. Another thing that might work is ordering an Oddbox but specifying no potatoes or carrots (unless the kids eat them?). I've found them to be good value and the children eat the fruit if you have a combined fruit and veg box.

I've started reading Why we Eat too much (on sale on kindle or Apple Books for 4.99 at the moment) and G-d it's depressing! I recognise myself in the yo-yo dieters and I dread to think what I've done to my metabolism. I haven't got to the bit where he makes recommendations about how to lose weight though. I hope it cheers up!

@Mimosa1 I read that book too and am trying to live by its advice. Spoiler alert, when you get to the weight loss recs, you'll find he's reluctant to give out a specific diet plan. His idea is that your body will eventually (slowly) find its set point if you do what he says.

The gist is, cut down on carbs, no wheat, no ultra processed food, hardly any processed food, no veg oil except olive, get your omega 3 up.

I am not sure what he thinks about cold pressed rapeseed oil, but I'm still using a bit of it. Should replace it with butter, duck fat, lard etc. I think.

Thanks all. Bought some ropey aubergines 30% off in Aldi, going to buy lamb mince and make moussaka, kids won't eat it but it'll do me lunches and dinners. They're having pie, which ds may or may not eat, which will do as leftovers for tomorrow. Will get a few treaty bits in Sainsbury's, will go to Aldi for salami etc and cheese to make my own rolitos too. Eggs are a staple, will buy pork belly too, loads of cheap veg like spinach and spring greens too. Must get out in the garden and start planting things, that always helps. Looked at almond milk in Aldi, seems low in carbs? But it separates so badly, in coffee particularly..🙁 will see how much the barista one in Sainsbury's is and how long it lasts, can take one to school then, as I drink tea there. Herbal teas are ok but don't hit the spot when I've survived teaching 8C on a Friday P5....🤣

On the water drinking, i do like Aldi's posher herbal teas, the lemongrass and ginger one is lovely in carbonated water, I have an ancient soda stream, holds a 1.5 litre bottle, it's great with just one in, I pop it in hot water first and then straight into the cold water bottle. Bit of a faff but I think works just as well as the cold infuse ones.

Found my pair of shorts I'm determined to fit into. Bought them last year in tk max, they're only cheap denim shorts but I got a new leg tattoo to celebrate my separation 🤣 and I want to show it off this summer. Size 10/12...Currently can only do up the top button and there no way I could sit down 🤣 as the button would go! Can't zip up either. So that's the goal. May 1st, I want to be able to wear them and want to be back to running 5 k twice a week by then so my thighs aren't wobbly.

Thanks for the veg suggestions...D's is so particular. He will eat carrots actually. I bought steam veg packa from Aldi but I just hate frozen veg. Ok with a sauce maybe, like the frozen cauli cheese but probably loads of carbs. Have seen oddbox advertised with a discount, could try that, I do like to get the free/discount cooking boxes, had gousto, hello fresh so far for next to nothing ..

So I have cooked a chicken and scaped jelly bit that was left in the bottom of the tray out is that OK to add to a soup just like a stock?

@YesIcan3

So I have cooked a chicken and scaped jelly bit that was left in the bottom of the tray out is that OK to add to a soup just like a stock?

Yes, it'll be delicious

Thank you @baystard think I'm going to chuck all the leftover bits of veggies I have in and hope for the best hope it will resemble some sort of chicken veggie soup.

Here for my weekly check-in. Down 2lb but the less bloated tummy is the bigger victory.
Struggling with water even though I "only" have to drink 2.5l.
Also struggling with an after-exercise snack. Any ideas for lchf friendly snack ideas that travel well?