Week 5 - Low Carb Bootcamp '22 - we're half way through!

[BIWI]

Morning all

So this marks the half way point.

Hopefully by now you're adjusting to a low carb WOE. I hope, very much, that you're enjoying your food and you're not feeling deprived in any way.

Carb flu should be way behind us.

And now, now that we've got past the infamous weeks 3 & 4, weight loss should continue, in a slow and steady way.

This week's challenge

We have four weeks left, and the key to success is not only KOKO but also enjoying our food. So this week's challenge is to post a low carb recipe that you think that others will really enjoy

Good luck to us all

I'm up this morning but am going to wait before posting it as I'm feeling the effects of three circuits at the gym yesterday (organised for the 2nds by the bitch of a first team captain she's lovely really as it was too wet for us to go outside). So I'm claiming fluid retention for sore muscles today and will log my weight tomorrow or Wednesday

STS
For the second week.
I was bouncing between 168 and 170 last week. then between 167.5 and 168.5 this week - so I put in as 168.
I did a weights class last Wednesday and my thighs were killing me after, so I assume that affects things.

I'm off work today - I have a nasty cough, negative antigen test over the weekend.I went in this morning, wondering in the car what the hell I was doing. Anyway I was sent off for a PCR test (I'm health service) and expect the result back tomorrow. 100% expecting negitive as we are booked to go skiing on Saturday.

I have to say, scales aside I'm feeling really good on this diet.
I had a longing for toast & butter, so I had a SLC bread roll (online purchase, mine always fail) with butter. It was small but it really hit the spot. Yum. I think I wanted the bread as I have a low grade headache with this cough. I was glad to have them in the freezer.

B. broccoli & blue cheese omelette, creamy coffee, low carb bread roll with butter.

Congratulation on all losers and the rest of us have to hang in!

NSV. I've stopped wearing my rings swimming. They feel loose, and I'm worried I'll lose them. Strange.

Marking place. No weighing but definitely seeing inch loss from my thighs and ankles. Really need to explore why my hip and stomach measurement is not going down more, I can feel that my jeans are looser but the tape is not showing it. Menopause I expect.

Thanks @BIWI, that's good to know. I think I'm probably still a bit hung up on calories being the thing to avoid! I've got no avocados this week but I'll add them back into the shop next week.

0.5lbs off for me - my scales were showing a bigger loss in the week but like @prettybird I'm sore from yesterday's gym session so likely holding water.

I bought weird stuff, are these the noodles people talk about that smell fishy? What are they good with?

@Frenchpoodle my friend makes similar salad I think she adds apple to it as well.
@StuntNun I’m waiting impatiently for wild garlic to appear here then make garlic butter with it.

I’m drinking more water now than before,used to squeeze lemon in it now I don’t bother. Lemon or not,gulp it down.

Wonky scales say 65kg (I started 67-69) and I noticed my thighs getting more into shap. The blob at the front also seem to decrease.

B:creamy coffee,curd cheesewith creme fraiche and spring onions
L:vegetable soup with cream and chicken(courtesy of freezer)
D:chicken curry,no rice.

I’m doing alright but I miss wine. Went to the shop and didn’t buy any. Still have a couple of bottles but visualise @BIWI with big stick and didn’t have any.

Off to carry on with house work.

KOKO losers 💪

Well done to all the losses, I'm a pound down making just over half a stone in the first half of bootcamp. I can honestly say I haven't felt deprived at all and although I have a lot more to go I am already feeling so much better in myself.

I cooked a pork belly joint this weekend following this recipe and it was my best one yet. You may all already do this but it was new to me.
www.recipetineats.com/crispy-slow-roasted-pork-belly/

Also I have a lunch out tomorrow and I'm struggling with the menu. What do you think is my best option?

Pan fried chicken breast, penne pasta, wild mushroom, smoked bacon, tarragon cream sauce 15.95
Sweet potato, aubergine, spinach Malaysian curry coconut rice, pak choi (vg) 13.95
Crispy beef salad, sweet chilli sauce, roasted cashew nuts 14.95
Mushroom bourguignon pie, red wine gravy, sautéed greens (vg) 14.45
10oz ribeye, pepper sauce, portobello mushrooms, tomato, chips 26.95
Chicken, ham and leek pie, buttered mash potatoes, greens, white wine and tarragon sauce 15.45
Braised shoulder of lamb, minted new potatoes, seasonal vegetables, rosemary gravy 19.95
Home Farm pork and leek sausages, buttered mash potatoes, onion gravy 14.75
Deep fried cod in beer batter, chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce 14.95
Honey roasted ham (served cold), free range eggs, chips 13.95 / 10.95
King prawn and chorizo linguine with capers and rocket, tomato sauce 14.95
Steak burger, grilled bacon, Cheddar, spiced tomato mayonnaise, coleslaw, fries 13.95
Cheddar cheese and leek quiche, crème fraîche new potatoes, tomato, balsamic onion salad 9.95
Samphire and onion bhaji, coconut mint yoghurt, mango chutney, coriander, chilli salad (vg) 8.95
Rump steak sandwich, Dijon tarragon mayonnaise, caramelised red onions, sun blush tomatoes, fries 11.95
Smoked haddock and salmon fishcakes, tomato, spring onion salad 14.25 / 10.95

Just to add I don't eat lamb!

I think I would have the lamb and ask for greens with it.

@Willlow unfortunate cross post

@ditavonteesed I agree though it would have been the best option!

@Willlow that menu looks lovely and there are a few good options. If it were me I'd probably go for either the ham and eggs (and ask for veg instead of chips), the burger with salad instead of fries, or the steak with salad rather than fries. If any of the sides/relishes taste sweet I'd leave them but on the face of it they look good.

I'd go for the ribeye steak and ask for greens rather than chips.

Personally I'd choose the lamb because I love it and I don't like mushrooms

@Willow
-Pan fried chicken breast, no pasta (ask for leafy veg instead?) wild mushroom, smoked bacon, tarragon cream sauce

-Steak burger,- naked- (take a low carb roll if you need to) grilled bacon, Cheddar, spiced tomato mayonnaise, coleslaw, (and ask for salad with mayo rather than fries)

Ham and eggs (again - ask for salad with mayo instead of chips)

Rump steak sandwich with no bread (take low carb bread if you want) and salad instead of chips

Recipe from last Friday
Burger casserole

2 aubergine -cubed
1 courgette -cubed
1 green pepper chopped
4 large shallots - chopped
1 leek chopped
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 tin chopped cherry tomatoes
salt and pepper
oregano or chopped fresh herbs (rosemary and thyme are good)

6-8 beefburgers
chopped gerkins (pickled in sour rather than sweet vinegar) or capers
bacon bits or chopped chorizo
sliced mozzarella
grated cheese

Fry leeks and onions till softened - add crushed garlic for a few mins
Stir in remaining veg and heat through. season and add herbs. Place in buttered casserole dish.

Top with 8 small home-squashed meat patties - or proper beefburgers and sliced rounds of buffelo mozzarella
Sprinkle with more seasoning and more cheese and bacon bits or chorizo

Cook 25mins at 190 degrees (till beefburgers cooked brown and cheese golden.

That sounds good @LostMyLastHatfulOfWords

It was lovely!
A tiny bit was left and made a great breakfast too.

(Note: I did add some white wine to the veg before putting in the oven.)

@Baystard @prettybird @LostMyLastHatfulOfWords Thank you, lots to choose from now! I just need to get more into the habit of asking for changes.

@Willlow sorry, just realised I didn't say to omit the bun if you're having the burger

@Willow - I've never had anyone refuse to swap veg or salad for the chips or buns. It doesn't seem to trouble them at all.

@ditavonteesed

I bought weird stuff, are these the noodles people talk about that smell fishy? What are they good with?

I tried them with our usual bolognese sauce and they were great.

I rinsed them well in cold water (to remove fishy odour) and then heated them with a little garlic butter for 3 mins in a frying pan.

@Willlow that pork belly looks divine. Unfortunately it is now the only thing I want to eat. Ever. I'll have to hit up the butcher this week!

Those Konjak noodles are cheap in Approved Foods at the moment. I hope I like them because I ordered 8 packs! DH will eat them though, that man eats everything. The sound of fishiness put me off as I dislike fish...

I was thinking about the sweetener conversation last week and about how we all sustain our success long term.

For AFTER boot camp- when still eating this way but with occasional extras, I really like some of the recipes in Sophie Mitchell's 'baking without sugar '.

These are not for living on but are much less disruptive than other celebration cakes.

There are cakes in there that can be shared with sugar eaters and not cause adverse comment. (The cheesecake was voted best ever- no one noticed the sweetener. )

I don't like sugar-free subs as a rule but love the carrot cake, the raspberry and almond traybake and the chocolate cake. They are great for birthdays or feast days and don't leave to starving/bloating/ might-as-well-eat-everything feelings for days afterwards.

I agree on needing to break the hold sweet things have.

Boot camp rules work.

However these recipes allow for treats and yet keep me away from going back to exactly the way of eating that brought me to need boot camp in the first place.