Week 6 - Back-to-School Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Morning all. And a decidedly chilly one here in Sarf Lunnun. We've had to put the heating on for the first time this year . It seems so sudden, after all the much warmer weather we've been having recently.

Anyway.

Here's the spreadsheet for all your confessions

So we have three weeks left - might not seem long, but still time to shed a few pesky pounds. But only if we follow the rules!

This week's challenge - with apologies to the vegetarians - something lovely and low carb that you can make with prawns.

Accidentally posted on the old thread.

No change for me which isn’t really surprising. I’ve had no appetite but also haven’t been to the gym or done any walking.

I did get out tonight but only did two miles before my coughing fit sent me home.

Veggie so not doing the prawn challenge, but tried the harissa sauce with halloumi which was tasty, so thank you for the inspiration. Biggest change for me the last couple of weeks is feeling like I have more headspace to try different recipes.

@Okaygoahead I've had the rows rubbed down with an oily rag, think that's sorted the calculating engine. if you spot anything untoward, do please shout.

@nappiesandcontracts I’ve been wondering the same. I’m 42 and had slightly irregular periods for a couple of years. Then my period was due around 9th august but never came…and still hasn’t. Started LC on 28th august so to be fair I was already nearly 3 weeks late by then, so maybe LC has nothing to do with it and I’m just completely menopausal now, but who knows 🤷‍♀️.

Well done to everyone who is still here. I’m still a pound up on my lowest weight this BC a couple of weeks ago but shed the pesky holiday weight so determined to see a bit more progress this week.

Can’t believe we’re in week 6! It’s going too fast.

Gah! Just wrote a long replay and lost it before posting!!

I've lost weight this week, and added to the spreadsheet. I'd gained the last two weeks but didn't record those as I thought it might make me sabotage my progress! I suspect the weight gain was due to the fact that I'm breastfeeding a 10 week old. Being up at various times throughout the night means I have a lot of awake hours in which to eat! I'm also reluctant to cut back the quantity of food too harshly in case it affects my milk supply as I struggle with that anyway... but slow weightloss is fine by me. What I want to avoid is what happened after my first child, in which I lost quite a bit of weight but by their 1st birthday I was almost up to the weight I was at 40 weeks pregnant!

I had gestational diabetes in this pregnancy again so need to book in for my HbA1c in November. Fingers crossed! I've reversed pre diabetes twice so keen to avoid needing to do that again!!

Many thanks!! Starts with a purr! 😂

…said the actress to the archbishop. Yes, that was to @FinallyHere, about the spreadsheet, just to avoid any confusion…

@Okaygoahead 😄

Interesting that you've experienced the same... I'd be very surprised if it was menopause related for me (as my mum went through it pretty late) but you never know. I've read that a big change in diet/exercise can affect things but assumed that was extreme stuff like ED or a really gruelling training schedule (neither of which apply to me). A bit flummoxed to be honest! 🤔

Behaved myself yesterday and stuck to the plan. Today I shall eat:
L: chicken with salad and Mayo
D: cheese plate

With some nuts for snacks if necessary. KOKO all!

Sorry - I meant to reply to your question about periods @nappiesandcontracts. Yes, there would appear to be some evidence that a low carb diet can impact on menstruation - it would seem that if you're not having your periods, it's a sign that you're cutting down too much, on calories and/or carbs. I suspect that's more likely to be happening on a keto diet, where the amount of daily carbs is strictly controlled at no more than 20g per day.

However, if you Google this, you'll see a lot of contradictory stuff (as is often the case if you ask anything about low carbing!), but this article was interesting, I thought.

Essentially, on balance, I'd say keep an eye on it, and if you still haven't had a period in over 3 months - and you're not pregnant - then it might be worth considering talking with your GP.

I'd certainly also ask you to think about how many carbs you're eating, and how much you're eating, just in case you really are keeping things too low.

@BIWI I did talk to my doctor as it’s over 3 months for me and they were like meh, you’re 42, it’s just menopause. But the weird thing is when I had my blood tests done a month or so ago they checked my hormone levels and that showed I was mid cycle. But if I was mid cycle then surely I should still be having periods? Very confusing. Also a bit weird that I went from being regularly irregular (always one long cycle then one short one) for two years then suddenly nothing at all. I’m not really complaining too much as who likes having periods 🤣, but it’s a bit discombobulating not knowing where I am in my cycle, or if I’m even having a cycle.

Hello, can I join? I did bootcamp in the past and lost weight.
current weight : 75.4kg
Goal weight: 60kg

I'm starting today, wish me luck. Thank you!

Welcome (back) @Notmytotoro - have you added your name to the spreadsheet?

@VeryGoodVeryNice intermittent/unpredictable periods was how my menopause started (although I think I was around 48 then). I went once for 6 months without a period, and became convinced I must be pregnant - despite DH having had a vasectomy! We even decided it must be twins, and gave them names. Completely barking, seeing as I would have been massive by 6 months, if I was having twins!

If you're still concerned, have you considered how much you're eating/how many carbs you're eating?

@nappiesandcontracts I asked about periods/menstrual cycles in the week 2 chat. @BIWI posted a link to some info. I'll try to find it.

My cycle has always been between 24 and 28 days. My period finally arrived on day 50. Not sure if it was linked to low carb or not? I'm 40, so maybe start of perimenopause or maybe just a one off strange month for no reason? I'll wait and see what happens this month.

@nappiesandcontracts This was the article @BIWI posted when I asked about this.
www.larabriden.com/have-you-lost-your-period-to-a-low-carb-diet/

@BIWI I am definitely eating less than I was before LC but not depriving myself or going hungry…I’m too greedy for that 🤣. I bought a bulk pack of pregnancy tests and have done quite a few in the last 3 months and I’m not pregnant thank fuck. I know I’m peri and have been for a while so maybe this is just the next step.

My work trousers feel roomy! Not loose but roomy!

Regarding periods, I missed my first one after starting boot camp (although had all of the symptoms including swollen abdomen, headaches, rage! etc just no actual period). I think it’s probably my age though as fine this month.

TROUSER UPDATE

Week 1
Week 3
Week 6

Notice how they are no longer pulling at the fastening 😊

Great progress!

@fruitstick congratulations, that's the first change I notice when I start losing weight, my clothes become loose

Brilliant progress and great to have a record of it xx

Welcome (back) @Notmytotoro I have added your name to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

There is absolutely no pressure for you to record your weight. Lots of us find other ways to keep track... and just make use of all the resources provided on the other tabs.

I’ve been taking the odd photo here and there to check progress and tonight’s one is the first time I can see a real difference. First one is the 5th September, annoyingly about a week in to LC when I’d already lost a few pounds, as I didn’t think of it before. And the second one is tonight. Excuse the terrible pants in pic one and messy bedroom in both 🤣