Jan '23 Low Carb Bootcamp - the (in)famous week 3 ...

[BIWI]

Morning all

Normally I'd link to the spreadsheet, but I'm having an issue with it this morning, as I can't scroll down the list of names and keep getting an error message saying my window isn't big enough to display it. Both on Safari and Chrome, which is odd - so I'm putting a call out for @FinallyHere to see if she can resolve it!

Anyway ...

PLEASE READ THIS POST CAREFULLY!

Welcome to week 3. This is the week where you have a choice. If you wish, you can move on to Bootcamp Light, which means that you can now introduce fruit, nuts/seeds, chocolate and alcohol.

SOME.
IN MODERATION.
NOT AT EACH AND EVERY MEAL!

So with fruit, this is mainly berries - when the spreadsheet is sorted, check out the fruit counter on there, which will show you which fruits are best to introduce. Similarly nuts.

With chocolate, make this the highest cocoa content that you can - certainly 70% should be a minimum - and restrict yourself to a couple of square, not a whole bar.

And as to alcohol - it's dry wines and clear spirits, with low calorie mixers or, even better, soda/sparkling water.

Remember we're still on Bootcamp - so be very careful how much of any of these you introduce.

However, week 3 (and 4 and sometimes even 5) is infamous as this is the point where you may see your weight loss slow, stop or even reverse

It's very, very, very common for this to happen, so if it happens to you, don't panic! It's not a stall. It's all about your body settling into this WOE, and what you'll see once we get through the low carb doldrums is your weight loss will continue, albeit at a slower rate of around 1-3lbs a week. (How much you lose will depend on how much you have left to lose).

Bearing this in mind, you may want to stay on strict Bootcamp. There's nothing wrong with this at all - just make sure you are following Bootcamp rules, and that things haven't started to slip. In particular, make sure that you're sticking to rule 4 - i.e. that the majority of your carbs are coming from veg/salad. And don't forget the water!

Some Bootcampers like to do a hybrid, which means strict Bootcamp during the week, relaxing into Bootcamp Light at the weekend. The choice is entirely yours.

@OrderOfTheKookaburra (I love that name - last time we were in Sydney we stayed in a basement flat in Balmain, and on the balcony railings of the flat above us, a Kookaburra came to visit each morning)

Don't worry too much about exercise - although it's very good for your general health, it's not a significant contributor to weight loss, unless you're doing A LOT, on a very regular basis.

Morning all!

@AlhambraQueen I'm sorry to hear about DH's diagnosis. I had no idea that leg pain could be a symptom for diabetes. There are a few people on here about have controlled or even gone into remission from diabetes ziti low carbing and I'm sure will have lots of good advice 

Yesterday was not a great day food wise as I was people's guests for lunch and dinner but onwards. I've been testing the SLC rolls and I do really like them but don't want to have too many as they're very easy to reach for for every meal and I'm enjoying cooking, or rather, the virtuous feeling that comes after!

Wishing you all a good weekend and congratulations on your lovely news @pinknsparkly

Good way to look at this that I hadn't considered.

So without this group support I'd be confidently heading into the next stone up bracket rather than now heading into the bracket below.

I'm jealous of all these people who get whooshes. It must feel so rewarding. But I refuse to step on the scale because the little fluctuations always make me go off track. I think I'm looking a bit leaner though (could just be wishful thinking!)

So far I've had a couple of slices of leerdammer and 3 Brazil nuts.
Later I'm planning on a vegetable frittata with salad and coleslaw. Dinner will be lamb burgers and roasted veg and a couple of squares of 90% chocolate if I feel like it.

I'm hoping to be tucked up in bed with a book by 8pm coz I'm bloody knackered.

@AllTheBlackCoffee I'll help you bury your DH under the patio, if you like?

Although you have 2 events to navigate, if one of them is DH's birthday surely you can both have a plan to deal with that? And also, if you're at your in-laws the next day, again surely DH can have a word with his parents about what you can/can't eat? Safety in numbers and all that!

Hi, @Pleaseandthankyou, cauli and coconut soup as far as I remember (made it up based on what I had to hand). In a soup maker (my most favourite kitchen appliance): splash of olive oil, chunk of ginger and a garlic clove, chopped leek, chopped half a tired cauliflower, pepper, salt, teaspoons of ground coriander and cumin, sprinkle of Chinese five spice and some chilli flakes. A sachet of Pataks creamed coconut (10g carb per 50g sachet) and a chicken stock pot, top up with water. Makes 1500ml delicious creamy soup, about 5 generous portions. Add cream for more creaminess but I didn't have any.

Thanks @BIWI and yes you're right, most of the meals are easy for me to navigate IF my willpower holds up.

DH is totally onboard and if it was just his parents, he'd happily talk to them. In fact, I would do it myself - I'm pretty open with most people about this WOE and prepared to fight my corner when needed. It's more down to a few other family members who I absolutely do not want to know about my food choices. It's a complicated story that I won't bore you with but thankfully we only see them a few times a year so not something I need to deal with often.

Happy for they offer of help to bury DH too - you bring the shovel and I'll supply the carb-free gin

You're on!

Hi all. I've been lurking for a while. The weight hasn't dramatically dropped off, but I think I've lost about 3 or 4lbs so it's heading in the right direction. I definitely know I'm not drinking enough water so aiming to improve that this weekend!

I recieved my SLC parcel yesterday. Have pigged out on bread a bit today - fried egg on a buttered slice of SLC bread/buttered slice toasted SLC fruit bread

Homemade soup with a thickly buttered SLC roll and a slice of cheese

Chicken stew for tonight with leeks,celeriac and broccoli

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

Thank you for becoming a non-lurker @Janieread! Sounds like it's all going in the right direction so far.

Thanks @BIWI - just added shoggled sprouts and extra spinach to my cauli cheese, and will do some roast veg with whatever we have tonight.

There's a really interesting article on The Diet Doctor about dairy, on a low carb diet

Outlines why some people need to be careful about how much to consume (although overall, confirms why dairy is generally so good for us)

Thanks @BIWI that’s a great article, very informative. I’ve never thought about it before, but I’m glad there’s a little more leeway for me on the cheese/cream/milk as sadly I really can’t stand yoghurt unless it’s fruit flavoured/sweetened, hence I skip it entirely except natural yoghurt as an ingredient mixed with other things (one reason why I decided to move away from having breakfast), so I do like to get those dairy nutrients from as many other sources as possible.

We’ve been out for a good long walk this afternoon - lovely day today, quite mild and the sun was out. It’s always such a boost to the spirit! Home now and dinner’s on to cook gently for the next hour and a half. We’re having a fiery beef madras, with roasted broccoli/cauliflower and rice for DH.

I’m going to have a decaf with cream and let the contentment of today properly sink in. Hope you all have a great Friday night!

Hi @Janieread

Gosh well done PleaseandThankyou that’s a great loss!
Stokey you’re right about KM
AlltheBlackCoffee great news about the coat fitting again. I have a couple of pencil skirts that are a bit rude at the moment (all my weight goes on my arse) that I’m hoping might be a bit more decent soon.
OldandTired66 that cauli and coconut soup sounds delicious, I’m going to get the ingredients tomorrow.

B. 2 boiled eggs
L. Tuna mayo salad
D. Beef casserole and cabbage with a slice of cheese afterwards

@OldandTired66 the soup sounds delicious, have added coconut cream to my Tesco order.

Have also added some jersey milk which I'm going to use to make greek yogurt.

Tonight I reheated leftover chicken fajitas in the oven with grated cheddar and a handful of feta cubes over the top, plus big drizzle of olive oil, and served with salad. It was very tasty and filling. My next goal is to find an alternative to packet fajita spices which, though not the worst, so still contain a few things I'd prefer they didn't.

I found the article about dairy interesting @BIWI. I seem to get away with eating any amount of cheese, which I'm relieved about.

Dreadful cough right now, sounds like when DDog had kennel cough many moons ago. It's not fun but I'm hoping it's doing good things for my abdo muscle definition

@Baystard I make my own fajita spice mix, all cheap easily available ingredients:
1 teaspoon each of: chilli powder, paprika, garlic powder, ground cumin, oregano, salt, plus a few grinds of pepper. I make up a batch and store in a spice jar! On the menu for next week here.

Thanks @Rayna37 I'll try that next time, I keep all of those ingredients in stock.

@OldandTired66 thankyou. I never cook with coconut cream. I am going to look out for some. I have soup most days for lunch. It is usually made from whatever is about to die in the fridge.

Hallo all, I managed to lock myself out of login (set up a block to stop me being distracted by all those AIBU threads I was spending an unhealthy amount of time on). Didn't get it all sorted until today.
I've been reading along all week without being able to respond - joy at happy news from @pinknsparkly , and birthday celebration of @Andi2020 . Off and back on the wagon with @JustAPony , welcome for newcomers (@OrderOfTheKookaburra in a couple of weeks I'll post you some of the Aussie products I've found that are allowed in BC lite).
Love your song, @SpottyBumPony. "Did you think I'd crumble" takes on extra significance now - given it's one of my top three favourite desserts. Bring on the determination!!
@TangledWebOfDeception I tried eggplant with bolognaise this week - brilliant! I cut it into strips about the same dimension of pene, and cooked it for a few hours in the slow cooker. Filling and satisfying.
I made shakshuksha the other night after a few people mentioned it here. Cooked the tomato base with bell peppers in the slow cooker then added silverbeet in the evening and poached the eggs just before eating. Plus chopped up the hot peppers to go in my bowl only. Best of all my toddler ate it!! Well, he ate the tomato soup bit, wouldn't try veges or egg. He mostly get by on porridge, rice and pasta so any veges into him is ace. Forward planning I want meals that I can prepare in bulk and freeze portions of, this will definitely be one of them.

I'm having bone broth for breakfast now. It is such good stuff, I definitely feel better on it. I haven't looked it up yet but I suspect it's got glucosamine in it, I have less pain - though that will also be reduction in inflammation since I started BC. I've added in hemp seeds, linseed and macadamia nuts - really trying to manage my omega 6:3 ratio, too. I bought some chia seeds, because of their omega-3 content, knowing full well they are really carby. When I got home I wasn't sure why I'd done it, but I'll sprinkle a very small amount on my yoghurt each day, I guess, until they're gone.

I have a question about sardines. I haven't seen anyone mention eating them - am I just a vague reader, is there a reason not to eat them, or does noone else like tinned sardines? I would find them such a convenient lunch for busy days so I'm hoping they're ok. I can get them fairly cheaply tinned in EVOO.

@savedmybacon I've started my free trial with the SIRPA training and so far it's just what I need, thank you for that recommendation. Hope you're doing well, too.

@BIWI thank you for letting us know about Olive magazine. I can borrow it from my library and I really like it.

This is absolutely what I needed to read after a shit couple of days. initially just a few not great choices then escalated Wednesday and I've felt shit and in turn ate shit and then felt even more shit.

So please - next time you find yourself in an emotional maelstrom, ask yourself if eating/drinking off piste is really going to make you feel better.

This. Nope, didn't make me feel better at all. Am annoyed with myself but don't just want to slope off like I've done a million times before.

I'm ready for a good few whacks from the stick and get on with it again.

Wow that took a bit of catching up!
huge congrats @pinknsparkly
huge thanks for the recipes BIWI - I’m wondering if that pork recipe will keep it moist. I rarely cook pork as it usually goes tough/fry for me. Any tips greatly appreciated.
Also how are people saving all these fab ideas and recipes from the thread?
Oh and talking of bad days and face planting into food or booze there’s a lot to be said for just sitting with those feelings. Accepting them rather than trying to bury them in food or booze. Allowing ourselves to ride that emotional wave kinda helps build resilience and realise it’s actually ok.
Im up in York this weekend with middle DD for her offer holder day so heaven knows what delights we’ll have at the university cafes. Last night was Burger King where I binned the bun and made a ‘burger’ with the two patties either side of the ‘salad’. She thought I’d lost the plot but it worked.

Happy weekend everyone! KOKO

DRY pork not fry 🙄