Week 4 - May 22 Low Carb Bootcamp - the end of the first half!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

I see from the last thread that there have been some great losses, despite the doldrums that we generally experience in weeks 3 and 4.

For those who haven't seen the scales move (or for whom the scales have moved in the wrong direction), don't panic - KOKO. Make sure you're following the rules, and all will be well. Remember that this is a marathon not a sprint, and try not to get too fixated on the short term.

Here's the spreadsheet, as usual . Casting my eye down the list there are some really great results, with at least four Bootcampers already more than 10lbs down, which is fantastic.

Here's to another good week

@mimosa1 ordinary sparkling water with a slice of lemon, lime, or cucumber is quite nice too.

Thanks @UnOeufIsEnough and @Mercedesbenz2022 it did not occur to be to have a look on their website 😂 I ended up with a piece of salmon which came with a pilaff which I swapped out for broccoli.

Thanks for the new thread @BIWI and thanks everyone for all the contributions. I have done a knicker drawer purge too.

Very interested in gut health discussions. This WOE is exactly what I followed 30 years ago when conventional medicine could not solve chronic Candida Albicans. I was aware that both my physical and mental health was fantastic as a result but after a few months when my other health issues resolved and I got pregnant I reverted to a ‘normal’ way of eating.

@LondonJax eggs will usually be fine after the date. Just check freshness by checking they don’t float. We have chickens and get occasional gluts. Regular egg meal in our house is Shakshuka. www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/healthy-shakshuka
And we usually have it for dinner not breakfast. You could serve with FLGV and with rice for carbivores in the family.

Pleased this morning to see the scales below 11st after a disappointing weigh in yesterday.

B black coffee
L avacado and cheese salad with lots of fresh garden asparagus
D Mushrooms, eggs, Swiss chard, asparagus.

Thanks for health well wishes and sorry to read you have been unwell too @Baystard

Very interested in gut health connections and this way of eating.

Was also reading a book about natural menopause using food to replace hormones which was fascinating, seems to be mostly sprouted seeds so far which would tie in well.

@StuntNun - thanks for the information about dairy! Fingers crossed I remain ok with it then 😃

The talk of gut bacteria involvement in weight loss and weight maintenance is fascinating and makes a lot of sense!

Lousy food day yesterday. Unexpectedly had to go to my very frail DF's house to help him with something. We were meant to go out for dinner but he couldn't face it and went to huge trouble to cook me a carby meal so I ate it and enjoyed it (but straight back on the wagon this am with a huge HFLC breakfast). My father is such a lovely man and I was horrified to see a more or less empty fridge (too tired to go shopping). Fingers crossed his doctors will figure out what's wrong and sort him out.

My breakfast this morning.

Eggy/spinach wrap with a bit of mayo, Edam cheese, roast pork loin ham, avocado, radish and cucumber. (Had 3of them)

Wrap reciepie:
2eggs, 2large handful of spinach, 1table spoon of mayo(optional) all blended, and fried like pancakes.

From that portion I had 3smallish wraps.
For wrap you can add any topping you fancy. :)

Interesting wraps @teraculum29 , will have to give those a go.

Checking in:
L- broccoli, green bean, tomato and mozzarella salad with a few rollitos and some mashed avocado
D - asparagus, chard and spinach frittata (taken from the vegetarian recipe thread) with salad

I'm feeling hungry now, so just off for a slice of roast beef with some cream cheese😊

Sorry your day was tough, @mimosa1 It's hard to deal with all the emotional and practical stuff and still have time to think about yourself, isn't it?

My day:
B - two egg omelette with cheddar cheese.
L - salad: Iceberg lettuce, baby plum tomatoes, cucumber, fried halloumi, olive oil vinaigrette.

D...something chicken based but need ideas!

Fluids - so far 2 x 750 ml water. 4 cups of tea.

I have decided, though, that this diet is costing me money 😀I drank a bottle of water before doing the morning school run and checking on our sheep. I was so desperate for a wee after visiting the sheep (no toilets and a farrier was present so couldn't pop behind a bush!) that I had to take DD2 (14) into a local cafe for a milkshake, so that I had an excuse to use the loo. I'm finding that I'm having to be strategic about when to drink - school run is an hour long.

But my kidneys are thankful and it's a small problem to have.

Quick question: On the bootcamp spreadsheet, leeks are listed as 4.1g/100g and I've been having them happily. I just read a recipe that said 'if you want to reduce carbs, swap out the leeks for....' and it says they are 14.5g/100g! Googling gives the same. Should leeks be red on the spreadsheet?

Trouser update pics
Purple

Pink

Good progress, @ditavonteesed - the waistband on those pink trousers is particularly unforgiving, isn't it. I have a pair like that. I've sometimes wondered whether to just buy a size up, but wouldn't really want to!

It is @Lougle
it's absolutely awful, I'm on Facebook group for the brand and a pair came up in the next size up, I was so tempted but I thought that's cheating.

I think it does go against the spirit 🤣

In case this is useful ... Aldi have all-singing-all-dancing scales on offer, down to £9.99 . I've treated myself to some.

www.aldi.co.uk/salter-glass-analyser-scale/p/716225576102300

Little win today. Free lunch provided by a rep who I'd invited in to give a demo of a product I want to use (few perks in my nursing job, so this is always welcome!). They always ask if there's any dietary requirements and I thought I'd be cheeky and mention I'm low carb and asked for something without bread or pasta (they usually bring sandwiches, crisps, cakes etc). She bought me a boxed salad and a pack of cooked chicken, to which I added liberal dollops of mayo (emergency mayo I keep in the work fridge) and salt and pepper.

DH is doing mustard pork chops with cabbage in a cheese, creamy sauce.

@ditavonteesed definitely noticed a difference in your trouser pics.

I’m away for the next 3 days so apologies in advance for absence

@BIWI could I flag my question for your thoughts?

Enjoy your time away!

Sainsbury's website gives them as 2.8g carbs per 100g. So you're fine @Lougle

I'm so happy, thank you!

While I was thinking, I had googled and come across this on a .gov.uk site:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/971018/McCance_Widdowsons_Composition_of_Foods_Integrated_Dataset_2021..xlsx

A complete database with official nutrient values. It gives leeks as 4.1g/100g, so just fine ☺️

Hi all, just checking in today, although not much to report..

Sorry to hear about your day @mimosa1 that sounds very hard
@teraculum29 your wraps look lovely, I am going to try them. I have some cream cheese in about to go off I might try to use instead of the mayo
@ditavonteesed your trousers are looking 👍

I had the exact same to eat today as yday cos just had leftovers - salmon with feta and mint, buttered asparagus, added an avo, 2 creamy coffees, and paneer curry for dins, was nicer today with cauliflower rice

I just have a question - does anyone use MCT oil? I have a friend who uses an mct/butter powder in her coffee and she swears by it for helping her weight loss. She has been doing low carb for a long time but only I found out when I mentioned I had started, so we had a good chat about it. I'm just wondering if it falls into the 'processed foods' category? She showed me the tub and it doesn't have any artificial sweeteners etc

I don't use mct, o often have a bullet proof coffee before work with coconut oil and butter though and it keeps you full for hours

Thanks for all the kind words, all. Better day today.

B - breakfast patty with cheese and bacon (no bun) and white coffee
L - chicken avocado tomato and green bean salad
S - some cherry toms and carrot sticks
D - lamb chops with feta and tomato salad
Lots of tea, and a Pentire (botanical non alcoholic distillate à la seed lip which wasn't bad) and slimline Tonic. 1 Coke Zero, a habit I'm trying hard to break.

@ditavonteesed those trousers are fab! I can def see a change too.

@Lougle I've just discovered pre chopped frozen leeks. Amazing for very quick suppers with cheese and cream. You just sauté them as normal straight from the freezer.

Enjoy your well deserved break @BIWI !

I have a new colleague who started recently who drinks water constantly and has fab skin so good inspiration :)