Week 2 - Jan 22 Low Carb Bootcamp Thread

[BIWI]

As I'm doing more and more often, I'm starting the next week's thread on a Sunday evening.

This is because, since I've retired, I am no longer controlled by the tyranny of my alarm clock, and so will often sleep too late on a Monday morning for all the keen Bootcampers!

I love the first post of week 2, because for all those who are new and/or are sceptics about low carbing, this is the point at which they may realise just how effective a low carb WOE can be.

Anyway, here is the spreadsheet, and I really look forward to seeing everyone's progress

for us all

thank you Venus

Thanks @BIWI! Soup is homemade. I think more fat can be arranged .

And time is ticking so I'll get that tax return done sooner or later. Feeling less stress after opening up. Thank you!

Just about managing to keep up... sounds like there's loads of good bootcamping going on

I'm reporting a day late because I drank wine on Saturday and v happily down 6.4lb on last week. Still got a good 40lb to drop and know it'll slow down a lot after the initial whoosh but it's a good start.

MEAL PLANNING

Lots of posters ask about meal plans, especially if you have a family to cook for.

@AllTheBlackCoffee very kindly sent me her four week meal plan, and I've now added a new tab on the spreadsheet to add this

A couple of points to make:

• first, some of these dishes may not suit you/your family - but that's not a problem as this is evidently just a guide to how you might do low carb - with dishes that all the family should enjoy

• second, many of these dishes or ingredients can be substituted for something else so no-one has to stick slavishly to them

• third, some of them suggest a specific recipe; obviously these are dishes that AllTheBlackCoffee knows - but if you want any of these recipes, just shout!

• ... and finally, don't they demonstrate that this is a great way to eat? What diet?!

Thank you very much to AllTheBlackCoffee for sharing this.

If anyone else has something similar they would like to suggest, just PM to me.

I did my weekly weigh-in a day late but I was 3lb down this morning. I'm happy with that, especially seeing as I had several lapses last week so was expecting to feel disappointed. Clearly the good stuff I was doing outweighed the bad stuff!

Menu for today was/is:
B - Scrambled egg, avocado and bacon with a coffee
L - Shredded chicken with homemade coleslaw in lettuce leaf wraps
D - Low-carb sausages, cauliflower mash and as much green veg as I can fit on the plate!

Hello everyone,

I've had my first BC injury - slicing my thumb on the plastic lid of a bid tub of double cream :-) I seem to be coping quite well otherwise, despite DH not joining me. Probably just as well, as the weight falls off him in the WOE, and I get jealous!

Pret-a-manger do a lovely hot chicken, brocoli and brown rice soup that is only 2.3 carbs per 100g, 8.5g per serving.

www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/products/UK005425/chicken-broccoli-and-brown-rice-soup

I had that plus the 2 boiled eggs + spinach pot for lunch today. A bit too low in fat but a good work lunch in a pinch.

Hello, catching up with everyone after a busy day yesterday.

Walked to and from the supermarket pushing a double buggy (and tons of salad, cream and eggs on the way back). 5 miles in total, plus a couple of short dog walks.

Food and water are on target this week.

A note about food prep. I have started making an extra meal when I'm cooking. So yesterday I made keto lasagna for dinner and while the oven was on did a feta crustless quiche too. And as i did a double portion of lasagna, that's 2 lunches and 2 dinners for the freezer as well as plenty of quiche for lunches too, so I can grab and go.

I do keep a stash of low carb bread in the freezer for when PMT hits or only a slice of cheese on toast will do. I have probably 4-6 slices a month but it keeps me on track. Better a cheese toastie with lc bread than a full carb blow out! It's also handy for family events where others do a buffet, I can take a sandwich with me and some pork scratchings and veg sticks and not go totally off plan.

Today's food -

b - Scrambled eggs with cream and extra salt! With spinach.
l - keto lasagna
d - lamb kofta, halloumi, roasted tomatoes (home made with lots of oil added) and salad

s - cucumber with salt, 3 cups of tea with cream.

Already had 2l water (inc herbal tea).

I'm so impressed by the losses, well done everyone.

I came across this really interesting post on my FB timeline just now - about the link between low carb diets and improved mental health.

It's really worth a read

I've added it to the resources section of the spreadsheet too, as I think this is really important, given how many of us do struggle with mental health issues of some kind.

Thanks for the meal plan @AllTheBlackCoffee and putting it up there @BIWI! And I will look at the post about mental health too, that's fab.

@Mimosa1 great Pret suggestion, I may have that tomorrow.

I just made some disappointing egg frittata muffin things. Too wet. Need to find a reputable recipe not some cheesy blogger lol (though they can be good).

@Jezzballs2000 have you checked out the Bootcamp recipe threads? I'm sure there are a few recipes for egg muffins on there

I'm going to try a version of this recipe tonight

I'll add some shallots into the grated celeriac and will leave out the parsnips/carrot. I think I have a swede in the fridge so might add some of that as well. (And obviously I'll swerve the pumpkin seeds!)

We're having roast pork tonight, and I think this would go with it really well.

@SpottyBumPony that’s rubbish notice of your boss to give about returning to the office. Lunch planning aside, there will be loads of workers who have been doing this for the best part of 2 years, and will have organised their lives around WFH. I’m thinking of school drop offs & pick ups etc. Not to mention having to reassess working wardrobes —for those of us who have put on 3 stone— etc.

Thanks for the mental health link - i have no doubt that there is a link between food and mood, perhaps enough to establish a treatment protocol for some disorders. exciting stuff. I'm a little on the fence about Autism being included there (my son has ASD) but i think it distinguishes that the diets 'may have helped symptoms' rather than classing ASD as a mental health condition.

The meal plan spreadsheet is much appreciated - thanks so much @AllTheBlackCoffee

With the recipes from AllTheBlackCoffee you'll see that there are shopping list to go with them, and I've separated out all the different 'types' of food, to make it easier. But I haven't put quantities on (as she did originally) because obviously we don't know how many people you're cooking for. So use those lists as a guide.

Thanks @AllTheBlackCoffee that's a good plan will use some of that for next week. It was a bit overwhelming trying to think of things last week as new to this so that's perfect!

Thanks for the recipe/shopping ideas @AllTheBlackCoffee & Biwi for ongoing support and information. There really must be a book in the making.

There is so much knowledge & expertise on this thread from BIWI but also others.

I’ve not totally grasped the oil issue so will read up/re-read that. I totally getting the comments about replacement foods as a temporary diversion to carbs rather than a longer term LCHF WOE. I am a bit confused about whether almond flour & flaxseeds are ok due to earlier post. Obvs not this week but I have some ground almond & flaxseed crackers I’m looking forward to making in week 3. Should I be swerving these ingredients ?

Had a flat white today (😫) but omelette, bacon & spinach lunch. Half the water but want to get that out the way to reduce night wakings. Hopefully this will settle by /during week 3.

Commiserations on returning to the office @SpottyBumPony I think it’s going to be quite a shock for a lot of people readjusting to office life

Food today is:
L - homemade broccoli and cauliflower cheese soup
D - chicken fajitas (without the wrap) sour cream, salsa and home made guacamole

If anyone needs reassurance I was also apprehensive about returning to the office but am loving my office days now (not five days a week). It takes a bit of practice to get back into the groove but once you do it's quite energising being around people again.

I have IBS and this WOE basically makes the symptoms disappear. The only time they come back is when I eat fake carbs. Particularly konjac noodles. But also sometimes LC bread. Which means I think some of the benefits are lost when you eat substitutes, rather than just eating protein, veg and a lot of butter fat.

Several people at work are doing WW and I have to say looking in the fridge at work with their food while I am eating mayonnaise and butter on chicken legs or pork belly... I'm glad I'm here.

Thanks for the bread substitutes pep talk! I have a small order on the way, but will freeze it for use in emergencies.

Must say that it felt quite odd to eat something ‘bready’ when I had my accidental breakfast of almond flour pancakes yesterday. Seems like even after just a week, my tastebuds are changing (that’s what I’m hoping anyway)

Today appetite seems to have gone awol so small portions.

B mushrooms in creamy mustard sauce
L chicken and green veg soup with cream and butter
D Burns Night haggis supper with celeriac ‘tatties’, buttery leeks, FLGV and a tiny sniff of DH’s whiskey

@BSky yes you can use those ingredients from week 3, but just go easy on them - remember they can get quite carby quite quickly

@queenofcauliflower
Please don't take in a HCLF meal @DollyDingleberry, I think @DearZoom meant LCHF! Seriously though, fab advice for Dolly, Zoom.
Ooops! Yes definitely meant LCHF!

I hope whatever you chose to do @DollyDingleberry , that you managed to navigate lunch in boot camp style!

My increased fat menu today definitely helped with hunger. No snacking between meals (so far!) and no desire to either.

Happy Burns Nigh @prettybird!

... or even 'Night'

I've got everything prepared