Jan '23 Low Carb Bootcamp - Week 2 - how did you get on?!

[BIWI]

Evening all! I'm posting the week 2 chat thread this evening, as I know how keen everyone will be to post tomorrow. As I'm retired now, I no longer have to set an alarm to wake up, so I don't want to keep everyone waiting tomorrow morning to post.

I love this week. It's when we see how much people have lost, and it can be a significant amount. It can be a real leap of faith for anyone who hasn't low carbed before, and all those who really don't believe you can eat that much fat and still lose weight!

I'm really hoping that you've all had a good first week, and that your commitment 'to the cause' has been rewarded with a good result - be that on the scales, with your tape measure, or the currently-too-tight clothes that you've been trying on.

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

I hope very much that you've had a good first week, and that you're feeling supermotivated for the rest of Bootcamp.

However - if you haven't lost, or you have even gained, please don't be downhearted. We're all different, and there may be lots of reasons why this is the case for you. It's also really important to note that it's not a competition. We all lose at different rates - plus, anyone who is bigger will lose more/faster than someone who is smaller.

Hopefully there are other benefits to this WOE that will keep you on track - at the very least, I hope that you have been enjoying the food, and that you don't feel deprived, like you would be on a low calorie/fat diet.

@Brassbumblebee It was good, albeit not exactly warming on a cold winter’s evening!

@BIWI it's not me with the keto rash, I think I might have had it in the last but it cleared up and didn't recur.

I've been sore recently (achy muscles) and I see others wondering if there's a link between eggs and inflammation. I've eaten 3 or 4 eggs most days this week... 🤔

@TangledWebOfDeception that salad looks super 👌

@prettybird what a beautiful loaf!

@venusandmars fortunately celeriac tastes significantly better than it looks (even if it smells horrid too)

@TheMagicSword

If you can get hold of the 99% Lindt dark chocolate bar or any of the 100% ones like Montezuma's, you might be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to have just one or two squares and then stop.

To be fair, you may decide that the taste is just not interesting enough to be worth the carbs, such as they are.

have had a bad first week in that I’ve been plagued with headaches- usually tackled with aspirin & a can of coke but I held tough and didn’t cave. I’m happy with that because I’m finally feeling human again today and still managed to stay on track. I read through the thread yesterday after dinner… after my second lot of celeriac and had that aha moment when I realised, yes, celeriac does have that effect on me🙈 Anyway here’s my food diary for the last three days…
wed
B & l- none, can never eat when I get migraine
dinner- broccoli & cheese, chicken thighs & celeriac fries
thurs
b bacon & 2 fried eggs
l chicken breast & green salad
d- mushroom omelette & leftover celeriac fries
fri
b 2 fried eggs & bacon
late lunch/ dinner chicken wings and broccoli with cheese

I can't thole Montezuma's plain 100% chocolate but the one with cacao nibs and orange is nice

I also find the Hotel du Chocolat 100% chocolate too strong.

However a bit of advice I got from here - a teaspoon of clotted cream with either of these 100% chocolates makes them entirely palatable and more than satiates any chocolate craving

I think I might make ganache instead of eating the chocolate plain, and have a little mini pudding every so often. Dark chocolate and cream, what’s not to love! Plus a dash of rum, perhaps, or brandy.

It’s cold here tonight and dinner wasn’t any help on that front, so I’ve made myself a quick dashi broth. Delicious and very satisfying. Happy Friday night, everyone!

@TangledWebOfDeception your meal looks lovely. I had roasted veg with chicken and melted some cheese on top. tasted good but didnt look great on the plate, just a jumbled up mess

I've just had an extremely unsatisfying avocado with olive oil. It was a week old so I thought it would be edible. Ended up microwaving it for two minutes and I could just about it but it wasn't very tasty

I've had a very "interesting" evening: my Amex account has been credited twice with the very large balance due that I paid a couple of days ago (so I'm now significantly in credit ) , but I can only see one payment coming out of my Santander account I can't check the other account from which the minimum payment is taken as I don't have internet access to it (I'd been meaning to set it up but I don't use it much) - but there isn't enough in there to have had that much taken out

The Amex messaging was good and they can't work out what's happened either.

I've now tried to set up on-line banking with my Virgin (was Clydesdale) account but it keeps failing at the same point so I'll have to ring tomorrow.

I was so looking forward to that avocado as a reward for my adulting

I had a horrible avocado today, there must be a special descriptive word for them.

Going well but an insatiable thirst this evening, despite lots of electrolytes I still had around 3 pints back to back and then a litre of soda water in the car. And a glass in the go now.

Making lots of stock - beef and chicken- and having this with ACvinegar and lots of green beans and celery and salt.

@Greatly the downs are part of a dopamine reset, the book dopamine nation is goes deep into the reasons and science, but it's a recalibration and natural, doesn't make it fun but does mean it will pass. When I first experienced this what came after was the ability to really find sweetness in experience (birds singing that sort of thing) other than food. Hopefully there's an 'up' that's more steady on its way to you.

As a person with a proper sugar problem I'm skim reading the post with fantasies about choc etc in them so apologies there. Happy for those who can moderate and add in the extras come Monday.

Good thoughts and actions for the weekend to all x

@TigerYiger sympathies on the sugar thing. I’m the same - will have a tiny bit of chocolate here and there but absolutely cannot allow myself bread/pasta/rice/crackers/cake/biscuits/baked goods as I simply can’t regulate/moderate. I’m better off abstaining all together.

Not that we’d be having those on BC I hasten to add! But long-term going forward I will not be adding any of those back in to my diet at all. I’ve had to accept that I really am not the kind of woman to have one slice of bread. I’ve never been able to pull back from it once I’ve had that first slice!

(Sorry for discussing forbidden foods)

@TigerYiger that's interesting about the dopamine reset. I might have to look up that book-I love to know the science behind things.
I need to confess my sins.. I had 2 jd and diet cokes in the pub. They were only singles so could've been worse. And I've stuck to my eating plan. I started on 4th Jan so strictly speaking, I haven't cheated😉 They went to my head quicker than normal and I didn't enjoy the feeling so hopefully that'll help me stick to soft drinks next time.

Thanks @TangledWebOfDeception you remind me of me!! Thanks for your reply

The can't moderate thing - it's a whole big mush of denial, love, honesty, realisation and acceptance that keeps taking more foods with it (latest being cream & berries) buuuut the up sides are greater and now it's time (in my life) for joining in, being vulnerable (not masking up so much) and (before bed) a bit of yoga, when the washing's done spinning it's a bit mad in the little room, so I'm replying while we wait. I'm on two promises a day to myself - drink of water when I wake up, yoga before bed. Boot camps the filling!!

@MaryDoll84 the author is on the Andrew Hubberman podcast two times, the latest ones really good, or the book's on audible. The downside reset isn't usually discussed, and how dopamine is not about reward so much as motivation.

@Jenasaurus i have lots of those meals too! But on the whole I do try to make dishes look as lovely and appealing as possible - I find it helps a lot with eating mindfully and properly enjoying it!

@MaryDoll84 Important to note that alcohol will affect you much more (or rather the effects will be more noticeable more quickly) when you’re low carbing. Alcohol lowers blood sugar quite markedly - that’s what a lot of being drunk actually is, and why a diabetic hypo can be mistaken for drunkenness - which is why we get hungry/crave carby foods after drinking. So when your blood glucose is already very low you do have to be careful about how much you* drink. I once got awfully drunk without meaning to when I’d just had a few glasses of wine (okay, might have had a double shot of Jägermeister too) on a night out, years ago when I was very strictly LC and didn’t realise this.

*not you, but YKWIM.

@TigerYiger I can relate. I honestly would rather feel and be well, and I’m willing to trade quite a lot for it.

Those promises are great! I’m going to promise myself water first thing in the morning tomorrow and a book before bed instead of mindlessly scrolling.

Bit up & down here. Yes to the constipation too, first time. I bought some fibre that I dissolved in some water and it seems to help.
I went for a swim this morning, and was 2lb heavier, when I got home. 🤔My weight is weird at present, but not going down.
That bread looks divine, my local health food shop does sourdough, and whilst I love it, it is a rare treat. Bread is a beatiful thing.

B. 2 poached eggs with spinach, smoked salmon & hollandaise. Creamy coffee.
L. Roast chicken & coleslaw.
D. Greek yogurt. Roast veg with OO

NSV here in that although the meniscus pain and lack of mobility in my knee is still present, the inflammation is hugely reduced and the pain of this latest flare-up which had me crying in frustration and avoiding all unnecessary walking since the start of December is SO much better the last few days.
On the other leg, my plantar fascitis has given me no bother for the last few days...I usually start the day with a few incredibly painful steps. Hoping this WOE has seen that inflammation off.
Does this mean maybe it's time to introduce a bit of exercise do I really have to?

That's such great news @Savedmybacon . I got my first PF flare up after a days walking around Harry Potter World for ages in down at heel, unsupportive knock off Ugg boots and I remember how painful it was. Never been as bad since, fortunately

@prettybird - how did you make the leaf shape? So pretty.

I'm another who struggles to moderate and I also wonder if a lifetime of yo-yo dieting hasn't torpedoed my metabolism, as it feels unfair that others can eat carbs and I can't.
I'm trying to come to grips with 1) not rewarding myself with food. I used to do this on days I had a miserable commute to the office a lot (I used to buy a bacon roll on the way from the tube, plus the place is awash with mini chocolates I used to love) OR 2) celebrating with food.

I loved a PP idea of treating herself with massages and beauty items. I'm going to try that instead or find some other lovely reward/treat. Probably stationary related :)

Out for brunch later. Have checked the menu and my plan is to ask them to make me scrambled eggs, avocado, mushrooms and tomatoes without the bread. Hope they’ll do that. All those things are on the menu already.

How are my fellow permanently freezing BCers doing with this cold?? I’m now sporting really painful chilblains and begged dh for about the 5th time to increase the minimum temperature on the central heating schedule (our thermostat is complicated and i bust the schedules as soon as look at it)

My week is stagnant, in more ways than one. I think i’m eating too much cheese and my period is looming which isn’t helping and i think i need fibre supplements as im bunged up :(

Your brunch sounds delish

I've had no problem asking for spinach instead of the bread or toast. Helps keep the fibre intake up, too.

NSV of sorts for me this weekend.

First short trip away coming up this week. It's lovely to be actively choosing outfits, rather than frantically searching through the wardrobe for 'anything that fits'. Bliss.

Morning all. I was up at out just before 7 to do the horses - beautiful but treacherous out there! Have had two coffees so far - I've gone back to bed to get warm. Planning a big breakfast at about 10, bacon eggs mushrooms tomatoes. I've got a really nice chicken and was planning to roast today as we were supposed to be competing the horses tomorrow but I'm pretty sure it will be cancelled so I also need to make a bolognaise .

I normally buy meat from Aldi/Lidl/Sainsbury but I've been slowly going off the meat from there. I've started using my local butcher again until I run out of money!