Week 5 - Back-to-school Low Carb Bootcamp - our second half!

[BIWI]

Morning all

Here's the spreadsheet once more

Hopefully by now we should all be well on our way to (or already have reached) the stage where our bodies are burning fat for fuel, rather than carbs. From now on, you can expect to see a loss of around 1-3lbs a week - the rate/amount of loss will depend on how much you have to lose.

That said, what we regularly see on Bootcamp is a pattern of some time without any loss, (at least as far as the scales are concerned), and then a sudden whoosh of 3lbs. So if you're a daily weigher, please don't worry if nothing seems to be shifting for a while!

And don't forget - the scales are probably the least accurate way of measuring your progress. Keep measuring yourself, or trying on those clothes that are just a bit tight, and you'll get a much better (and more tangible) feel for how it's all going.

... and all of that is why we emphasise the consumption of natural, unprocessed and low carb foods on Bootcamp.

The whole dopamine hit has been known for a while - sugar definitely lights up the dopamine centre of the brain, and it was no coincidence that Tom Kerridge called his low carb diet recipe book The Dopamine Diet.

Great idea @venusandmars , thank you

I've tended to write off the actual Christmas Day (and my actual birthday) and then continue eating for how I'll feel after I've eaten the rest of the time.

But then I do tend to be a bit all or nothing.

And definitely recognise that sugar (rather than alcohol, cocaine etc ) is what I get addicted to thanks good article @fruitstick

I was a little hungrier yesterday than on previous days, but it was also the first day for a while at my desk and therefore fewer distractions than on previous days. Food was:
B: nuts and seeds (using prepackaged nuts and seeds to control portion size
L: leftover chicken with broccoli and cheese with a red pepper
D: aubergine parmigiana - should have had a salad but couldn't face making one
S: cheese

Today I have a graduation ceremony for my professional qualification, followed by a swanky champagne and canapé reception. I have decided that, if I really want a canapé I'm going to let myself indulge a little.

Congratulations @RooRooCooChoo! Sounds like Champagne is well-deserved! (But make sure you eat something before you go, so you can swerve any carby canapés!)

@fruitstick great article

A mixed bag.

I made kale in the air fryer (I've only had it a few days) which was lovely and crispy but I massively overdid the salt.

Then I tried to wash the salt off and retry, but then it lost its crisp.

I'll no better next time.

I also found some Hotel Chocolat 100% cocoa buttons in the cupboard.

It's pretty inedible but melted a couple in an espresso cup amount of double cream, thinking I'd make one of those florentine hot chocolates.

It really wasn't very nice. There's a reason chocolate has sugar in it. But at least I got some anti oxidants in.

I may have to resort to buying some 80% Lindt instead.

I'm still here and keeping on. A disappointing weigh in on Monday where I'd gained 2 lbs. DS smashed the scales last week so I'd had to buy a new set which could have explained it but a little bit demoralising.

I've also had a rotten cold all week which seems to have triggered some comfort eating, all low carb but completely unnecessary calories. Trying to shake myself out of it before it inevitably leads to a bottle of wine over the weekend and necking cream from the tub!

I'm off on holiday next Friday so keen to get things back on track before I go. Although the gain has been disappointing I have managed to lose enough that I haven't had to buy new swimwear. I joined boot camp because I realised none of it fit me!

Hope you're enjoying your well deserved celebration @RooRooCooChoo , congratulations.

Love the idea of a boot camp Christmas thread as well! I made a great celeriac dauphinois a while ago that would be good for Christmas dinner.

Hi all. Bought some gorgeous timberland boots off Vinted which arrived today, but omg, the calves are narrow! So I have to lose more weight for them to be wearable!

Mixed day today - had low carb toast, one egg and half an avocado for lunch, Greek yoghurt, raspberries, a few coconut flakes and a few walnuts late afternoon. Had to be out at dinner time so just had 2 more pieces of low carb toast with butter snd crab pate.
But also had a soya dirty chai latte while out, which has syrup in. Wish I hadn't. So today has been a bit carby and rubbish. But then my narrow boots arrived and reminded me why I'm doing this, so fresh day tomorrow!

Re the Christmas bootcamp food, I really rate celeriac chinks roasted in goose fat, as a good alternative to roast potatoes. They don't even feel like a compromise.

Decided to weigh myself weekly rather than daily to avoid getting caught up in the fluctuations. While weight loss seems to be slowing my clothes are looser and so much more comfortable.

Thus far eating out is unproblematic but I’ve played it safe. Fish and seasonal green vegetables at my favourite restaurant, one glass of Prosecco and have managed to avoid afters. My taste buds have changed and sweet things don’t have the same appeal. This was handy when we went to a Turkish restaurant last weekend. The old me would have gone overboard and devoured baklava. This place had baby gem leaves to use with dips as well as bread.

Going to make the muffins this weekend, thanks for the recipe. Have a great weekend everyone.

Hi everyone, a good day from me today, ffgy, salad with egg mayo and tuna then burger with red cabbage slaw. @MyShinyThing how did you do the celeriac dauphinois please? @LadyBird1973 I like the sound of them roasted too.

@JauntyRedShoes I think my taste buds have come too. Our brains are no longer tricking us into believing that we have to have sugar.

I use this recipe @Frumpyunicorn , it's incredibly easy as well. Think I might make one Sunday when my parents come for lunch now that I've remembered it.

www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/celeriac-dauphinoise-with-gruyere-recipe/amp

Hi all, I've weighed in early as I'm off on holiday tomorrow and quite pleased with my little preholiday loss.

I'm really struggling with sleep at the moment. I've been googling and read there might be a link between low carbing and struggling to sleep? Has any one else has this?

Very excited by the lovely looking Christmas low carb recipes.

Definitely having this for dinner.

@Sunshine1606 yes, there can be a link between the two - but from what I've read, this should settle down after a few weeks.

One of the pieces I came across this morning

I did a little pre travel weigh in this morning too.
The pound I was up on Monday is gone with another .75lb. So officially 10’13.5” rather than 11 something.

A 4 day weekend of food, drink and rugby lies ahead so am trying to motivate myself to stick on BC Lite.
Started with bacon, eggs and one sausage in the airport.

Christmas low carb recipes

Some interesting ideas on The Diet Doctor's website

Love the sound of the dauphinoise - thank you!

Dauphinoise absolutely delicious.

I was so delighted with my 2lb weight loss last week, that I felt like crying happy tears. I have moved from having an obese BMI to an over weight one. It felt like such an achievement and has spurred me on to continue with full boot camp for another week.

One of the best things I have found is the freedom from having to make decisions about what to eat. At my work we have a snack machine at the exit and every evening, before I joined boot camp I would have a debate with myself whether or not to buy something, and of course, I usually would. Now, no decision to be made... I just don't. It frees up so much mental energy.

@Carrierbagofseedsandstars well done you! You should be incredibly proud!
We have a tuck shop at work, it’s so tempting! I say a big ‘fuck you’ every time that I walk past!

Brilliant @Carrierbagofseedsandstars . I'm so pleased for you!

@fruitstick that looks amazing! I love celeriac, any which way, but I think dauphinoise is one of the most luxurious ways to cook it. And you'd never say you were missing potatoes if you were eating that.

Thanks @MyShinyThing that looks amazing.

Not such a good day yesterday, we went out and I had one glass of wine which was planned, but also munched through a whole packet of pork scratchings and too many salted pistachios. I think nuts are going to have to be a complete no for me unless I get them in ready sized snack packets as I have no self control.