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

Our two cats in their now usual place on ds' bed turncoats, now he's back staying at home (ds is on holiday today having gone to see Florence & The Machine last night with his girlfriend, hence why I could get the photo )

I made the cheese muffins last night. Rather than chives/spring onions, I added some caraway seeds. They were lovely!

Ohhh gorgeous cats @prettybird!

Which muffins? The ones mentioned earlier on the thread by @StuntNun i think? Or another recipe? I really like caraway seeds, especially with cheese.

@Passtheturkey hope you manage to calm your mind! I find a bath really helps me, I imagine my worries or stresses soaking/washing away. Works with a shower too but I prefer a bath.

@TigerYiger I find that intermittent fasting (of which OMAD is one variation) works better for me if I mix it up a bit. So generally 16:8 missing out breakfast. But I find that if I do that for a long period weight loss completely stalls. Sometimes the first 2 weeks of bootcamp with 3 meals a day kick starts it when I return to my usual pattern. Sometimes I eat a big breakfast, then nothing again till dinner. It's like I'm giving my body that message that there is always 'enough' so it's OK to let go of some of the stored fat. I'm not sure the science works that way!

I've been reading all the posts but have had no time to respond (looking after very elderly PILs and stopping them from sacking their much-needed carers).

Was at home today and had a very happy time in the kitchen dealing with the veg box. There was a very lovely celeriac and leeks, so there's 2 portions of creamy buttery mash. There was also turnip so I made my turnip bake: Thinly sliced turnip, par boiled. Shredded cabbage and kale, par boiled. Shallots thinly sliced and fried in lots and lots of butter (also had a bit of courgette in there today). Mix everything together with lots of grated cheese. Put in a oven proof dish topped with more grated cheese. In oven till it looks delicious.

Apologies to all those who require more precise weights and cooking times!

Food today:
L - spinach velvet soup, plus lots of tasting as I made the veg dishes!
D - sausage casserole, celeriac and leek mash, wilted chard leaves, plus a couple of batons of spiced oven-roast carrot.

It's the recipe on the vegetarian thread that uses cold eggs and you can either make cheesy or you can make sweet with the addition of vanilla (and Stevia?).

I've not yet made the sweet version.

Sorry to hear about your dog @TigerYiger and hope the operation goes well.

In other news, the cold that I thought I was suffering from turns out to be Covid

This is the second time I've had it, despite being vaccinated and boostered. (I know it doesn't prevent you from getting it, but having had it once already I think I should have more than enough antibodies to deal with it!)

Feeling a bit sorry for myself, especially as I've had to miss out on an evening out with some ex-colleagues that I had organised for tonight.

Sorry to hear you've got the dreaded Covid @BIWI , sending you best wishes for a mild dose and a speedy recovery

Loving the cat photos. I'm more of a dog person myself, but they are beautiful!!

Fed up of work this week, so want it to be the weekend. I've got a non-work meeting this evening too so going to be a busy one. Am just feeling particularly grumpy and a little bit meh so expect TOTM is on its way. Oh the joys...

DS has a friend over so need to go and find something to feed them with. I usually try and get some veggies in but I'm not sure what I actually have as shopping not coming til tomorrow and I completely forgot to save some tomatoes/cucumber when I made my salad at lunch time - balls!!

Meant to add I hope your dog is ok @TigerYiger

@AllTheBlackCoffee Doggies are my favourite! But so far haven’t had our own yet although if we keep working from home long-term it might become an option! 🤞

@AllTheBlackCoffee any frozen veg lurking at the back of the drawer?

I’m usually careful to keep a pretty accurate inventory but today whilst hunting for something else, I found that I’ve got three open bags of petit pois on the go!

I'm on the 2nd run through of this challenge (managed to complete it more or less during January some days more nominally than others ). Last year I only made it to about Day 18, so I'm trying to keep the momentum going this year. Being in the Zone for Boot Camp helps

Yesterday I cleared out the oil and condiments cupboard (nearly threw out the teriyaki sauce but thought a small amount might be ok in stir fries). I did throw out some really old basil oil and some crab terrine that was BB May 2013

Today it was the teas, coffees, herbs and coffee cups double cupboard. Threw out a gazillion herb teas that I'd bought (and some that I'd won ) over the years, plus various containers of indeterminate loose tea (probably Assam and China) which we must have got when we couldn't get out usual Darjeeling and Twinings Earl Grey loose tea (with which we make a 50:50 blend). Also came across an old jar of Canderel (aspartame) and box of Sucron (saccharine based), both of which are now in the bin.

The coffee cups (including the pretty ones that I use to serve my chocolate pots in) are now balanced less precariously as there is more room for them.

Loving the cat photos!

Sorry to hear you've got Covid again @BIWI - hope you're not suffering for too long!

@TigerYiger - hope your dog bounces back quickly and it all went well.

@FinallyHere - your burlesque outfit sounds FAB!!

Sorry for the TMI nature of this post but I'm struggling with constipation at the moment. I had it through most of my last pregnancy too, especially after reducing carbs due to gestational diabetes. Before I resort to a laxative from the GP, does anyone have any bootcamp compatible ideas? I'm obviously eating as much veg as I can stomach (which isn't as much as I managed on non-pregnant bootcamps). I've read that chia seeds are high on fibre and am wondering if I mix a spoonful in with my greek yogurt?

Sorry about your renewed bout of Covid @BIWI

Hope you recover quickly.

We still have quite a few of the old-style (throat and nose) LFTs but the ampule of reactant often has too little in it so you need to use more than one to get enough to squeeze out on to the test strip

Not a bootcamper but I cooked this and wanted to share it, miss the honey out (it doesn't need it! I added chestnut mushrooms and used less stock, it's delicious

https://www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/mains/creamy-mustard-chicken-and-leeks

I see your basil oil @prettybird and I raise you...dried tarragon best before 2001 - it's an old friend now

I've finally caught up to the end of the thread to comment!
BIWI I hope you make a quick recovery.

I haven't lost much at all this bootcamp, weight wise. However, I have lost an inch from my waist since the beginning of the year (I'm measuring every other week) and feeling great!

I had read an article a while back on one of the links on the spreadsheet that talked about going back to low carb and having different results. It was an interesting read and what I got from it was your body has a memory. It remembers how long you went without a tonne of carbs and is holding on until that time. So if you stick with low carb for 4 weeks, you have to stick to it for more than that before your body realises that this is the fuel it's getting now and it will release those fat stores at that point.
It's been a while since I've read it, so I might be remembering wrong, but it's worth a read!

@Baystard - I also threw out some mulled wine sachets that were BB Sep 2000!

Oh dear BIWI hope you recover quickly.

I’m definitely a cat person, the photos are lovely.

B. Pancetta and sunroom omelette
L. 2 slices Roast pork and brocoli and a chunk of crackling (my Slimming World colleague looked at me as if I was nuts 😂) FFGY
D. Celeriac mash (added a tbsp FFGY), burgers, salad (lettuce, celery, tomatoes, celery, grated courgette, tinned artichoke hearts, a few green olives), homemade vinaigrette, a big tablespoon of coleslaw and 2 portobello mushrooms.

The burgers were MUCH better than the disgusting, dry, concrete bricks I made last week. SW colleague suggested adding grated courgette, finely sliced shallot, herbs and fry instead of bake. Then I topped with a bit of grated cheese and melted under the grill. Excellent.

Would someone mind telling me I’m eating too much? For the burgers I used 500g beef mince and that made 7, I had 2. Prob 3 tablespoons of celeriac mash. Someone mentioned portion size and it got me thinking, perhaps this is why my weight loss has plateaued for a few weeks.

“If I’m eating too much” obv 🙄

Get well soon @BIWI

@pinknsparkly I gave in and took a dulcolax. Worked like a charm and my tummy has been much better since.

@BIWI sorry about the Covid. Hopefully you'll feel better soon.

I'm glad I took my own lunch to the convention today. The food choices were all breaded things, chips, sandwiches or baked potatoes! The chips smelled tempting but actually I was happy with my own food, and I'm pleased with myself for resisting temptation!

Today's food:
B: Greek yogurt with a sprinkle of seeds
L: cheese, chicken slices, mayo, peppers, cucumber, lettuce. A couple of cubes of melon.
D: sausages, fried eggs, mushrooms, tomato

No snacks today - I'm trying to do without.

Water - not a great day for water as I couldn't keep nipping to the loo. I'll be glugging water this evening though.

Sorry that you have Covid again @BIWI it caught me twice too and second time was worse so hope you make a speedy recovery.

I seem to be losing again now, having slowed down to almost a standstill, I am on top of the constipation, black coffee and fibre gell, plus tons of veg is keeping back to my old routine again, I really thought I was going to have to accept changing to a once every 7-10 days girl, when in the past I was at least twice a day (sorry TMI) but a cup of black coffee after eating seems to trigger a response within 30 minutes of eating. Maybe why my weight is moving again!

Treated myself to a lovely green jumpsuit, in a size 10 and I noticed that it had a zip rather than stretchy material, I said to my DD, can you help me, I dont think I will do it up and she said "mum this fits easily" I think in my head I am still a size 24 and cant accept 'normal' clothes now fit me! This is the one I bought, I am now considering it in hot pink to match my nails :)

www.roman.co.uk/angel-sleeve-cropped-wrap-jumpsuit-14255034

What a shame about your evening out with your old colleagues @BIWI 😫
Feel very much better very soon - we need you hale and hearty to wield that big stick!😉

@prettybird your cats are beautiful. I have a grumpy tort. Who terrorises my big dog.

@BIWI sorry you have covid again.
I've had it 3 times now and am fully vaxxed. 3rd time for me was sadly the worse.
But I had a chest infection when I caught it, so I doubt that helped.

Today's been good. I've started to feel bloated though so we shall see.

I'm hosting a birthday party Sunday.
What do you think for keto safe ideas.
I am usually meat free but have incorporated chicken and beef as I liked those in my meat eating days.

Should add it will be more of a buffet type affair