Jan '23 Low Carb Bootcamp - Week 8 - we reach the finishing line [grin]

[BIWI]

Morning all. Up bright and early today, because insomnia

Anyway it gives me the chance to get this week's chat going nice and early.

Here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for its final outing this Bootcamp.

Let's give it a final push this week, and see what we can do. Any cheats, or fallings off the wagon should be forgotten - let's have a good, strict last week.

Delighted to report that I've achieved my next objective which was to break through 11.5 stone: was 11st 6.5lb this morning

That's nearly half a stone this Boot Camp and c11lb since the peak of my post Christmas excesses I'm in denial about the exact amount

I'm now officially not just below where I got to for Christmas but also where I'd got to last Christmas

Leaving to go skiing 2 weeks tomorrow and I'm now also officially 1.5 stone lighter than the last time I went 7 years ago.

I'll KOKO to lose a few more before we go: doubt I'll get to 11st 1.75lb which ans the lowest I got to in recent Boot Camps (I think Christmas 2019) but I can try

Well done @prettybird on your milestone! I can't imagine how much better you'll feel skiing with 1.5stone off.

Still feeling a bit meh but started the day with a PT session so that's got the blood pumping a little. Unsure on food as struggling to plan but we have a fridge full of good stuff so will be on plan, whatever we end up with. Just had Greek yog wish a sploosh of cream for breakfast so off to a good start.

Thanks @ditavonteesed , I check if it’s unsweetened almond or I may just go for the whole milk.

Well done on hitting a milestone @prettybird

Went for another swim today, I’m still enjoying and feeling like I’m improving my form.

Just went for a walk listening to a podcast and definitely can feel it. 45 minutes. Kept to plan yesterday. No sweeteners or fizzy pop! And 5 pints of water.

@Skiphopbump can you go for cream?

@Skiphopbump

I'd avoid oat milk as it has more carbs than dairy milk. I'd go for almond milk. (Even sweetened almond milk seems to have fewer calories than oat milk!)

Thanks BIWI, I know you’re right! I feel much lighter in myself week by week so logically I know it’s working!

I went for a run this morning! Couldn't swim due to DH leaving early so squeezed one in between breakfast club drop off and work- feeling very pleased with myself, I rarely run except at parkrun but know it's much better for my fitness than my pedestrian swimming. Could be a regular Weds morning thing in place of swimming (weather permitting)!

Also for the second day in a row, late breakfast has become no breakfast, which is progress. Will just have lunch at 12, instead of 10-10:30ish breakfast and later lunch.

Hallo everyone - am I the latest bootcamp joiner ever?!

I have successfully bootcamped many times before and am starting again as am housebound with long covid, so a) have put on weight and b) the penny dropped that as I always feel far more energetic on bootcamp it will probably really help with long covid energy levels. Really hoping for a bit of between bootcamp company if anyone is up for it.

Breakfast today was cheese and celery, lunch was home made tandoori chicken and home made bootcamp coleslaw. I think dinner will be cauli cheese.

I'm a bit out of practice, I bought Onken yoghurt which I see isn't as lc as it used to be, and Sainsbury's sausages at 4 carbs per 100 g instead of Black Farmer ones.

Welcome @Almahart and sorry to hear about the long covid. Have done 32 very cold, quite wet, very hilly miles on my bike today to make up for my complete indolence yesterday. Boiled egg for breakfast, half a protein bar on my ride, picky lunch of streaky bacon, chicken thigh, lettuce and cheese wraps for lunch and chicken curry lined up for dinner. Just about to crack and put the heating on 🥶🥶🥶

Welcome (back!) @Almahart! Sorry to hear about the long Covid. I have no idea if low carbing can help, but I can't see that it could do you any harm.

As ever, we will keep chatting when this Bootcamp finishes

That's great @BIWI and hallo!. I don't think it can hurt, I always feel better on this woe. It's feels good to be back on it.

Welcome back @Almahart

I have a vague recollection of reading somewhere that a low carb WoE was good for Long Covid but I have no idea where or whether I imagined it

I've done a wee search and found a few research papers that talk about the link between Covid and insulin resistance and/or inflammatory responses, like this one: https://ebm.bmj.com/content/26/1/1

Given that I think they seem to think that Long Covid is dôme dort of long term inflammatory response, I think that Boot Camp should help you - or at the very least not harm you and could help you feel psychologically better.

Caveat: I'm not a medic.

Sounds plausible though @prettybird

Thanks @prettybird, I've been vaguely picking up similar information, I'll have a good read of your link.

Evening everyone. Welcome@Almahart

My glucose sensor arrived and I've attached it a short time ago. Now just to wait an hour for it to do its thing and I can start getting readings. Slightly worried that my arm feels odd though, it didn't hurt going on but I've got a bit of an ache running down my arm now, hopefully just a short term response to the application process and will settle down.

Massive hit of a new recipe tonight. I had a jar of gochujang paste in getting old that I bought on a whim then realised I didn't know what to do with. Spotted it, did some recipe googling...I made a slow cooker stew using 1tsp of the paste, 2tbsp oyster sauce, peppers and spring onions, diced pork shoulder and some stock. Fantastic! Served on some cavolo nero.

Oh I love Korean food. Gochujang is fab especially in tandem with gochugaru. And kimchi of course, which is very easy to make and really good for you!

@TangledUpInDreams I'll happily take more recipe suggestions for it! I'm sure I could recreate the stew, vary the veg, swap pork for chicken but there must be loads of ideas. Add some to make a Korean shakshuka could be good?

We had roast pork this evening - I had a celeriac but no leeks, to make the mash I usually make. So I made something different, and it was really lovely!

Celeriac mash with bacon and wholegrain mustard.

1 large celeriac, peeled and cut into chunks, then boiled in salted water for 20 minutes until tender. Drained and allowed to steam dry in a colander.

2 rashers of smoked back bacon, diced and then pan-fried in a little olive oil until crisp

1 heaped teaspoon of wholegrain mustard

Around 2 tablespoons of double cream.

Add the cooked bacon to the celeriac, along with the cream and mustard and using a hand-held blender, blitz into a rough puree. Season with black pepper, and salt (if needed)

Definitely saved that recipe @biwi
I've stuck with the plan today. Drank my water, no sweeteners. No gorging on massive amounts of cheese 🧀 😜😁😁

Low Carb Meat recipes (beef/pork/lamb/venison) http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/lowcarbb_bootcamp/3148498-Low-Carb-Meat-recipes-beef-pork-lamb-venison

I've added my Korean pork stew recipe to the meat thread.

Despite intending to stick to low carb it went out the window yesterday evening but I enjoyed everything I had. Back to it today!

I intentionally jumped off the wagon last night. Not by a huge amount but let’s just say it wasn’t just some slightly higher carb veg, or some legumes. @BIWI will know why and I think I was justified.

I had to do something to calm my system/restore balance and had tried strategies over several days to no avail. However it wasn’t a big pile of toast, which I’m going to take as a continued win.

Still haven't read back. I apologise, I’m sure there are big wins and all sorts of interesting things to engage with and comment on, but I haven’t got the capacity right now.

Hope everyone has a happy and healthy day! 🌻