Week 6 - Jan 22 Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

As ever, here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

We're now in the last three weeks. It might not seem that there's much time left, but there's still a chance to lose as much as half a stone if you're really disciplined!

Hopefully you've all settled into low carbing by now. People have been posting some really great recipes, which should not only be appetising, but also persuading us all that low carbing is a joyful and satisfying way of eating for all the family.

One of the things that always thrills me - genuinely - is how many other benefits (beyond weight loss) there are from low carbing. For me, it was the sudden absence of my IBS. What about you? How have you found that low carbing is helping your general health?

Next week's challenge is a bit of throwing down the gauntlet - all those of you who are lurking! Post something about how you're feeling about low carbing/Bootcamp. Anything!

I hope you all have a good week

I find my blood pressure is really weight sensitive. At a normal bmi it can dip and I can get light headed. One stone heavier and it is way above normal. I managed to stay at my lower weight for ages but since Christmas I have been going out more, a few special occasions and a few pounds have crept back on. I am quite tall so it surprises me how a few pounds can make such a difference. My work is stressful but that doesn’t seem to effect my body as much as that extra stone. The challenge now is to get those pounds off again before they become a stone.

A quote from Inventing Anna on Netflix...

The kind of change you need; deliberate, purposeful, for yourself and no one else. That takes work.

We just had our planning meeting for the camp and it looks like it will have to be a 48-hour fast for me. They're making lentil soup followed by chicken and chickpea tagine featuring preserved lemons and dried apricots.

Sorry @Baystard for missing your NSV.That’s some achievement!

@venusandmars your bp correction by diet is impressive. Iwonder why the heck health professionals are still going by the old nutrition pyramid where weight is concern.
I will look at this Brot later in a week when I’m in Asda (seeing as I leave there half of my wages).The one from Sainsbury did have about 35g of carbs per 100g.

@StuntNun that’s mad! Any chance you could take some prepacked stuff with you? Babybel cheese and peperami?

Just as well you're good at extended fasts @StuntNun

@StuntNun oh that is dissappointing. But... you live this way of eating long term. None of the proposed menu has wheat (which I think you don't tolerate). You can avoid any puddings.

Lentils, chickpeas, chicken. There are carbs but they are all low GI (appreciate that this is mixing different eating regimes). And they are probably all low-ish fat.

Tbh I'd go with small portions of each. It's all good heathy eating. None of it is processed carbs. None of it is the deadly combo of carbs, and sugar, and fat.

Limit your other carbs, limit your other fats for those couple of days. Enjoy it. Be with it. That is how we have to make this work for us long term.

We're not allowed to take our own food because there's limited storage and if you keep food in your own tent then the badgers will break in! I'm hoping I can leave something in the car for emergencies but I won't have easy access to it. I'm usually pretty flexible so long as I can avoid wheat; I wouldn't mind eating potato or rice for example. But if I have to eat tiny portions then I'll be much hungrier than if I fast, especially as I don't normally eat breakfast as it disrupts my insulin levels and leaves me hungry all day.

@StuntNun you,l have to take something surely or you be miserable, well I would.
@queenofcauliflower I would personally go for the ham egg and chips but ask for salad instead of chips. Intrigued by the pigs ears, they are what dogs like can't imagine how they could be made appealing, I think I'd have to try. Starter I think I'd have pate.
@ShangPie well done on the baguette carrying that's very impressive.
Yesterday I anxiety cleaned and reorganised the entire house, it was very satisfying.
I've been using mfp for a few days to get back on track and I forgot how terrifying it is when you put pork belly in, how is it possible to eat that many calories. Anyway ate it and weight is down. Trust the process. 4 days of being very strict and 4lbs down feeling much better for it as well. Going into nights tonight with the determination to stay away from the biscuits. I don't even like biscuits but for some reason at 4am they become irresistible.

@StuntNun cross post. Fast it is for you then.

Tbh @ditavonteesed fasting was my first choice but DH it would be too difficult on a strenuous weekend. I'm more concerned about the social aspect of not eating being seen as weird. I'll play it by ear as maybe the food on Saturday will be better then on Sunday I only have breakfast and lunch to navigate.

@StuntNun a supply of boiled eggs kept in the car might be a solution, along with a bottle of mayo.

@StuntNun I don’t know what kind of camp it is.I wouldn’t worry about being seen as socially weird as whoever is organising the camp gave you ZERO flexibility when it comes to food choices.it’s not like you’re demanding gourmet meal while camping but come on people 🙄

Alternatively eat all the chicken and let them feast on legumes 😁

@StuntNun - that sounds really tough for you on the camp. I know you're pretty experienced at long fasts, but I'd definitely make sure to take a decent stash of food in the car with you in case you don't feel able to complete the fast surrounded by all the food!

Thanks everyone for all your support on Monday, and sorry for the slow reply. Each time I tried to catch up with the thread there were too many new posts than I had time to read! I weighed myself on Tuesday evening in the end and am 3.3lb down in a week which has dumbfounded me. I only lost 3.4lb in the first week, 0.7lb in the second and then nothing since!! I was sticking closely to this WOE but it's nice that it's starting to pay off again. It's also put me at a BMI of 25.something, down from 29.something at the start of my first bootcamp. Down from a fraction off the obese category to a fraction off the normal weight category. Looking back at my rather sporadic weights on my Fitbit account dating back to 2013, I've not been an normal BMI in all that time....!

@StuntNun I started low carb last March.
and happy were I am at with it now.
@venusandmars thanks for all tips on BP I don't drink any alcohol or coffee but do love salt.

@stuntnun Could you take a chilly bottle with double cream to put in your coffee to keep your fats up, presumably bottles are ok even if food isn't? I'd definitely pack a box for the car with cheese, boiled eggs, and cold sausages and try to fill up a bit before the main meals.

Still feeling rotten with covid at the moment and it has really dented my appetite so the pounds are dropping but I'm struggling not to lose the habit or desire for lunch. If I'm not eating much because I'm ill rather than because there's a food shortage will my body recognise that and not reduce my metabolism?

I'm struggling to keep up with the thread and feel bad for not having great recipes to share, I realise that though I'm a decent cook my day to day LC menu is pretty dull. I try not to eat unless actually hungry, but if I'm genuinely hungry then even a couple of boiled eggs with butter tastes heavenly!

My sort-of recipe is lamb donner kebabs.

500g lamb mince
2 tbsp ground coriander
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
3tsp chilli powder
2tbsp fresh garlic

Whizz everything up in the food processor until well mixed, form into a thick sausage about 7" long and wrap in kitchen foil. Bake in 180 degree oven for about 40-45 minutes and collect any fat that escapes. Leave it, and any collected fat, to cool and keep in fridge for 24 hours for flavours to develop. Slice thinly, re-add fat and reheat in a dish in the oven and serve with salad and sour cream. The carb eating family members have their with pita and sweet chilli relish, but it's nice with salad. It can be frozen and the flavour develops nicely in freezer.

@SummerSazz congratulations on the scales - 6kg is loads!

@queenofcauliflower hope your lunch goes well, I'd be asking if they do the crunchy pig ears as a main course, I might feel like a labrador tucking into a pig's ear but they sound lovely

Sorry you're feeling so poorly @Baystard . But your recipe sounds brilliant!

It's chilly and grey here and I am not envious of @StuntNun on her camping trip. Hope you're enjoying it though.

Just had a lovely boiled egg mashed with butter and salt and pepper, very comforting.

B - egg
L - chicken and veg soup
D - home made burger with cheese and crispy bacon, celeriac fries and salad.

I really don't envy @StuntNun! I had to scrape the ice off my car this morning. The thought of camping ...

I'm home alone this evening as DH is away. So I've treated myself to a rib-eye steak, which I'll have with a green salad, garlicky vinaigrette, and some leftover cauliflower rice from the Mediterranean Lemon chicken I cooked the other day.

Marvellous

It's not on yet - it's another three weeks! It will probably still be really cold, I'll be packing my thermals. It's a two-day training camp for Scouting so that I can apply for a Nights Away Permit to be able to take the children camping. I'm not the world's biggest fan of camping massive understatement so I'm having trouble working up a lot of enthusiasm at the prospect. I think I'm much better sorted for food ideas though so thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. I never eat breakfast anyway so I only have three meals to get through. I'm hoping I'll be able to make the best of what's available or if it's too terrible I'll try to fast longer. I can't eat wheat at all because it gives me IBS but if I eat too much carby stuff then it really disrupts my insulin levels and I'll end up in a bad state. I'd be fine with some unavoidable carbs e.g. potato and carrots in a stew but other things I'll have to be more careful about. But there are others on the camp with a lot of allergies between them so we're already so restricted I didn't want to make things worse with my food preferences. We're having to avoid dairy, dairy alternatives, tomatoes, chilli, red wine so it's already pretty limited. I was worrying about not being able to take food but realistically I don't see why I can't leave a stash in my car for emergencies.

Oh, if there are any Lidl shoppers here they're doing rolled sirloin joints for £14.99/kg. DH had picked one up for Sunday lunch.

So ... this happened today

Meet Bandit

Bandit, or Bandage as DS keeps saying

Awww... lovely puppy @SpottyBumPony

Good for you being honest. However, you might not be back in fat burning mode for a few days, and it's worth being extra strict for a bit.