Jan '23 Low Carb Bootcamp: we come to the end of the first half!

[BIWI]

Morning campers

Here's the spreadsheet

So this week marks the end of the first half - doesn't time fly when you're having fun?!

Remember that this week is still renowned as a tricky one in terms of weight loss, so if things have slowed down or stopped (or even reversed) for you, don't panic. Just KOKO - remembering the water, fat and veg in particular.

Re the statins @MotherBuckets, I'm not a medic - so if your GP has advised them, it would be irresponsible of me to warn against them (especially with your family history). But as you say, it will be interesting to see what happens as a result of low carbing (although it will be difficult to attribute any improvement to either diet or medication, I suppose). And hopefully your results will be good @Jenasaurus

@JanieRead - apart from the noodles! - why don't you list out for me your menus over the last few days, and let's see if there's something we can spot that might help you

@TangledWebOfDeception you still 'belong'! As long as you make it clear in your posts that it's about maintaining (which you have done) then there's not a problem.

Brilliant @BonnieBairn! I remember one year we had a 3 week holiday in France, with friends of ours and their children. I was sharing the cooking with the other DH (not my other, the other!) so wasn't always in charge of what were eating - but the joy of knowing when we came home that not only had I not gained weight - as is usually the case after a holiday - but that I'd come home 3lbs lighter!

Just catching up on thread although it does seem rather quiet. I've had a decent weekend..i did have 2 small proseccos last night (so much for my dry Feb) and then treat the kid's to chow mein, egg fried rice and chips from the takeaway. It smelled divine and I was so tempted to dig into the leftovers but I resisted because I knew if I had just one fork full, it would be game over. Like someone said earlier, this WoE is far less forgiving than the likes of calorie counting, and for me it's not worth having to go through a week of craving carbs and feeling ravenous again just so I can briefly enjoy some processed food.

B:none
L:eggs, bacon and fried mushrooms and spinach
D:halloumi kebabs, salad and a bit of coleslaw

Chunk of cheddar and a few pickled onions if I fancy a snack

I’m happy to report I went to a party yesterday and got through it drinking water despite the presence of a very glamorous gin bar (love gin but I can’t stop at one and then I forget about self control! And by being very sober it was easier to resist the nibbles and treats on offer.

Today’s menu:
B - FFGY
L - Egg mayo with salad and dressing
D - monkfish wrapped in pancetta with cabbage done in lots of butter

Now that is what I call self restraint! ☺️

Glad to hear your feeling better @BIWI I'm waiting on the results of a pcr as I started coughing Friday night and now I can't take more than 3 breaths without coughing unless I'm eating or drinking hot drinks. So random came from nowhere and I'm exhausted as it's worse if I lie down.

@Jenasaurus I love jumpsuits, I have far too many, you should definitely get the pink.

@pinknsparkly I would just take the laxative constipation is awful anyway never mind when your pregnant.

@BonnieBairn have a fab holiday.

@BonnieBairn

first time ever I've stuck to a diet on holiday and it's so easy

Doesn't it feel good to be eating well on holiday, and feeling good with it.

@MaryDoll84

I so agree that the strongest motivation to stay on plan is that it's no hardship to follow this WoE and 'it's really not worth having to go through a week of craving carbs and feeling ravenous again just so I can briefly enjoy some off plan processed food.'

I'm currently eating these delicious olives while at a petting farm with DS. Hilariously the packet advices that the 65g packet is 4 servings - on what planet!

I have found a of double cream in the back of the fridge that goes out of date tomorrow. I'm not adverse to using it as long as its not off buuut I already have a pot open. Do you clever people have any suggestions of how to use it up?

Also DS is enjoying a hot chocolate and a piece of cake and other than a tiny sip to check the temperature I'm not tempted at all

@SpottyBumPony - make lemon posset?

@SpottyBumPony in my experience double cream is OK for at least a few extra days if it isn't opened. If you won't use it in that time frame then you could make butter with it.

... or cheese sauce?

@SpottyBumPony A gratin of some kind? I like leek and celery but there’re loads of options - I’ve got fennel gratin planned for this coming week. Celeriac dauphinois or something like that would work nicely too.

You can use half stock, half cream if you want to keep it lower dairy.

Thanks @BIWI I should have thought to explain that this was mindful, intentional eating as going out to eat is a vanishingly rare occasion for us, and I should also have clarified that I was talking very small portions shared between the two of us and really very carefully considered intake! The drinks weren’t necessarily ideal but there was very little to choose from and I wasn’t in the mood for water.

Sorry @TangledWebOfDeception I wasn't trying to be critical, and when I'm on maintenance I am pretty much the same with things I love like beetroot and puy lentils.

But I know that some here are new to this way of eating and it is unforgiving. So migth see that list of food items and not adhere to the tiny amounts. And then perhaps do the same the next day... That won;t achieve the weight loss that some aer looking for.

Lovely day out, coast and castles. Mushroom omelette before we left. Took a great low carb picky bits lunch to eat in the campervan. Roast chicken once we get in.

Nowhere near enough water but I'll stay off the wine tonight (after 2 small glasses two nights running) and try to recover that.

Half way there!

Apologies for continued absence from the thread I know you're all missing The Big Stick.

Apart from general rubbishness of Covid, I didn't wake up today till nearly 1pm

I'll do better tomorrow, I hope!

The olives

Just sharing my pleasing graph from the end of last year onwards. Daily weighing keeps me honest and reminds me to keep drinking the water etc!

The second half is always harder so good to think about what I've achieved so far. Lighter/slimmer than I've consistently been for a good six months and feeling much better about myself, with about half a stone gone since we started. I'll probably not manage the next/last 5lbs before we finish but I'm much more focused actually following the rules much more closely than I usually am at this point in a bootcamp and keen to KOKO until I do.

Ah no don’t worry @venusandmars it’s on me as I just didn’t think to explain - it’s been a while since I’ve been on a BC!

Good to hear your are recovering from Covid @BIWI vaccination and natural infection is meant to be the gold standard immunity!

Had a cold this week so my appetite has been non existent, forcing down a meal and a half.

NSV meant not only do i have a flat stomach but i discovered Vinted with a new size to dress so that's been fun (expensive)
Also put a deposit on a camper van which is exciting, found myself visualising what low carb delights I could cook in the tiny kitchen.

Also craving cods roe now inspired upthread.

Oh you very likely needed that sleep @BIWI hope it’s made you feel lots better.

I’ve been pretty absent this weekend - first weekend in ages I’ve been able to get in the garden and start on the spring bulbs, and it’s been so good to not have my phone in my hand, I’m new to gardening but ds has shown a great interest and during 2020 lockdowns we planted blueberry bushes and a plum tree and it’s made us fall in love with it.

2 gin and diet lemonades last night, and a takeaway special mixed kebab (lamb, donner and grilled chicken) apparently 2.5lbs up this morning - it wasn’t even that great!

Back on a week of BC strict to bring it back in line.

Oooh @stayathomegardener what fun! I've never had a campervan but always thought how jolly they seemed. I wish you many fun adventures!

@Rayna37 that's an amazing graph!

@BIWI hope you're feeling better. I think I remember reading somewhere you'd recently retired? You should be enjoying all the lie-ins!

Really lovely Sunday walk to a country pub and back with the most glorious pork cracking for lunch. I'm now on my way to Paris for a work thing, which means I won't be able to weigh in tomorrow. I had a sneak peek earlier today and it's looks like I've broken the back of the 80s though - hurrah! I really hope it sticks. Next goal will be getting under 78kg, which is the mid point in the overweight BMI where I'm closer to the normal band than the obese band. I find that having these mini targets really helps me, and/or an event to look forward to.

We're having a big joint bday bash for 2 relatives who have milestones bdays at the same time in mid March so that's another target. Does anyone else have goals/targets they're thinking about? Anyway, must not get ahead of myself!

I've a Mumsnet wedding first week in April.
Im 7lb off my goal and sticking to this WOE is easy with that in mind.

Thanks @Rayna37 for the kiwi suggestion (think it was you!). I'll get one tomorrow and give it a go!

@ditavonteesed I have my booking in appointment tomorrow so will 100% be asking for a laxative prescription then!!

I've been managing to stomach a few more vegetables the past few days so fingers crossed that should help too 😅

Had a lovely day out with friends. Took packed food for us all. While it was mostly to be able to stick to LC, I did also feel rather smug when I saw the queue right out of the cafe at lunchtime and didn't have to join it with hangry toddler in tow!

@Rayna37 That's a brilliant graph - it shows how much you have achieved (amazing) but - importantly for those who get despondent about any weight gain , or anything that looks like a stall - it also shows the times when there have been plateaus or steep increases. That is the reality of our normal weight range.

KOKO folks.

@stayathomegardener I'm another campervan owner. I love the simplicity of cooking on 2 rings. Basically for me it's veg in one pan, protein in the other, butter in both!

I was once a witness at a mumsner elopment. It was fabulous fun!