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.

@BIWI I promise that I do get fresh - natural- unprocessed foods locally in my usual shopping each week (we have a standing order for a veg box and 18 eggs from a farm nearby), but since I have to visit the bigger town, I wondered if there were any interesting low-carb foods that I might add to that.

Real cream cheese would be one.

A very good chicken-liver pate would be another.
We are close to the sea but have a rubbish selection of fresh-fish here - I'm hoping Sainsbury's might do better.

This weekend has been really quite difficult in terms of food, as the buffets have had very little LC stuff. Even the meat dishes are drowning in cornflour thickened sauces. There are platters groaning with pastries and sweeties on every table. Nevertheless, I resisted and was highly virtuous - until last night's dessert. A brownie was plonked down and I ate it. I feel pretty annoyed and - the worst thing - it wasn't even very nice! So, we shall see what tomorrow brings.

Last weekend I went out for lunch. I made a celeriac dauphinoise (of course!! 😊Thank you to everyone for this!!)

The problem was with the pudding. The person sitting next to me had made a crumble with rhubarb and blackcurrants from her allotment. There was a huge discussion about the crumble and I just felt unable to say no. I faffed around asking for just a small portion, mainly fruit, when what I really wanted to do was just say no!

I'd be grateful for any ideas about how to refuse food politely.

@LiesDoNotBecomeUs I'm not really sure you'll get what you're looking for. Sounds to me like you need a good deli.

Real cream cheese - suspect the best you'll see is Philadelphia.

Very good chicken liver pâté - there might be something in the Taste the Difference range; personally I'd head to the frozen section, buy frozen chicken livers and make my own!

Fresh fish - our Sainsbury's has a reasonable selection, but it's not great. And since Covid our Sainsbury's has closed its fresh fish, butcher and deli counters, so for fish you're reliant on the pre-packed stuff. Very sadly as I think we could all do with access to better fish

@RooRooCooChoo I hate it when that happens! If you're going to cheat, it needs to be worth it!

@Carrierbagofseedsandstars it's always difficult to navigate that one! But if it's dessert it's easier - just say how lovely it looks, but you're absolutely stuffed and couldn't manage even a mouthful.

I always wonder why we find it hard to tell people we can't eat carbs because we're dieting - you wouldn't think twice about telling them that you couldn't eat gluten, or you were allergic to something, would you?

With close friends, I have let them know that I'm low carbing - although I have found that I also have to be very clear about what that means, i.e. it doesn't mean brown rice, lentil dhal and vegetable curry (which is what some very well-meaning friends served!)

If you don't want to say it's for weight loss, you could always just say you've been advised by your GP that your blood sugar levels are a little high, and therefore you need to keep the carbs low - but definitely tell them in advance, and not on the day.

Morning all. Yoghurt and unsweetened stewed rhubarb for breakfast and a cauliflower cheese in the oven. I'm clearing out the freezer, does anyone have any suggestions for pork mince, other than the chinese pork in lettuce leaves recipe? I don't think mumsnet threads are searchable, have I got that wrong?

We went to a friends last night for dinner and he made the most amazing meal! He was really careful to make sure that I could eat it, checking every ingredient and really doing his research. I had salmon with the most delicious salad and roasted veg. Sounds simple but he must be some kind of wizard because everything tasted amazing and the best bit was he didn’t make me feel fussy for my various allergies/preferences.

@comfortablyfrumpy I like the butter motivation!

@VeryGoodVeryNice sorry that you are having a stressful time. What do you normally find helpful to help with stress?

@Gnomegnomegnome I wish I knew how to make life less stressful. I ended up in an ambulance and being taken to A&E last night because I had a bad reaction to the blood pressure meds. 3 lots of morphine in the ambulance, I’ve never known pain like it. Honestly thought that was the end of me. It was a long night. Back home now but I feel like crap and very tearful today. I’m supposed to be driving to Alton towers later.

OMG @VeryGoodVeryNice that sounds really frightening. I don't think Alton Towers is a good idea today - sounds like you need to be resting.

@BIWI no I just came to the conclusion that I don’t think I could reliably make it down the stairs today, let alone drive to Staffordshire. The kids are really disappointed, eldest understands but now the demon 13 year old is having a strop. Still got chest pains and a lot of morphine in my system.

@VeryGoodVeryNice that sounds terriblle and very frightening. Look after yourself.

Anyone have any ideas for a challenge for next week?

(Apart from STICKING TO THE DIET!)

@VeryGoodVeryNice that sounds scary, I hope you have managed to rest today.

@VeryGoodVeryNice so sorry to hear this. Hope you've been able to rest today.

I was just wondering about different people's experiences/thoughts about intermittent fasting/time restricted eating?

I have often done 16:8 and missed breakfast. There seems to be so much contradictory information with some people/research saying it is good to eat earlier in the day and have some form of breakfast with other people/places saying the complete opposite. I'm aware there's probably a lot to be said for personal preference and what works with your lifestyle etc but I just wondered if anyone had found pros/cons of fasting (& especially timings of meals) alongside low carb for helping with weight loss?

Thank you @BIWI for your very helpful advice.

I've been reflecting on why it felt so difficult to say that I was trying lose some weight. I think, in that situation, it would have felt like an implied criticism of other people there and might have made them feel bad. There is something about trying to lose weight which goes against ideas of body positivity as well.

But thank you, just saying that I'm completely full would have been much better 😊. I will definitely keep the blood sugar one in mind too!

Thanks all, I have been taking it very steady today and sleeping a lot, only left my bed to go and eat the curry I had delivered. Thought I was being clever by not ordering rice and having microwave cauliflower rice but then realised the curry had socking great lumps of potato in it 🤣. I ate it anyway because I hadn’t eaten anything for over 24 hours and one trip downstairs is enough today. I tried.

Hope you're starting to feel better @VeryGoodVeryNice , lots of sleep sounds like a very good idea.

In the circumstances @VeryGoodVeryNice, don't worry - just do what makes you feel better

Yay I got a day off the big stick 🥳. Haven’t moved all day except to eat my curry and my BP is 160/116 at the moment which is isn’t great. So a lot higher than it was before I started those bloody pills, but lower than last night where it was 196/130 in the ambulance. Got a different prescription from the doctor in the hospital but I’m kinda scared to take them after what happened last night. Think I’ll phone the doctor in the morning.

No idea why you would think you warranted The Big Stick @VeryGoodVeryNice - I'm not horrible!

🤣🤣 no you’re far from horrible @BIWI

I do try ...

Link to the week 7 chat thread