Week 7 - Back-to-School Low Carb Bootcamp - the last fortnight!

[BIWI]

Morning all

So we're very nearly at the end! Only a couple more weeks, but still time to drop a couple of those pesky pounds.

Time to take stock of where you are/what you've achieved - and to ask yourself if you're properly 'Bootcamp compliant'. Remember at the beginning, I talked about it taking 66 days (on average) to create a new habit? Well so far, we've completed 42 days. Hopefully that means that we're all well on the way to feeling that a lower carb diet can be a new habit, a new WOE.

And with that in mind, this week's challenge - should you choose to accept it ! - is to find a recipe that you have cooked before, or one that you like but haven't cooked, and adapt it to a lower carb one. Or simply to find a recipe that's new to you, but that is a low carb option.

Here's my choice: Bacon wrapped cod with bacon buttered greens

I like this idea because a) I want to eat more fish and b) as it seems to be impossible to buy cod that isn't skinless and boneless these days, this will work well.

Urgh still feel rough, other than the takeaway curry on Sunday I haven’t had a meal since before I got taken to hospital on Saturday, just not feeling up to cooking. Haven’t got much of an appetite and just been surviving on low carb snacks. Managed to make it to the supermarket today though so at least I have a bit more choice of snacks now. Picked up the new BP pills today and I’m terrified of taking them but my BP is currently through the roof so I feel like I have to try them.

I'm quantifying my weight loss in tangible things.

My goal is our dog plus both cats.

I've already lost 'more than the fat cat' and the equivalent to an average sized Dachshund.

I may try and randomly pick one up on my dog walk just to feel how heavy it is.

@VeryGoodVeryNice I hope the meds are behaving themselves and you begin to feel better.

Just casting my eye on the spreadsheet, and it's amazing to see that we have FOUR Bootcampers who have already lost a stone!

Brilliant. What an achievement in 6 weeks.

Hi all, just checking in. Am doing okay, food wise. Not as much veg as I should be eating but still bootcamp friendly. Am having a bathroom refit so coping with periods of time with no water or loo. Therefore definitely not drinking all the water and am feeling a bit stressed.
In other news I got my eyebrows micro bladed and they are a nice shape but much fuller than I anticipated, so also feeling a bit self conscious. I know hope they will settle down, but still.
I think I've reversed the weight gain from my inactive weekend and slight overindulgence. In good news I'm not really missing chocolate much anymore. Have made the decision to stop buying the nice stuff because that seems to be working for me.
Hope all of you are doing okay.
I know bootcamp officially ends soon, but I'll be sticking with this until Christmas and then afterwards until I hit my target.
Actually I'll probably be doing some form of this forever!

Bit nervous about Christmas - historically this is where I get out of the loop and struggle to get back on it again.

@fruitstick I love the idea of measuring in fat pet terms. I have a chunky cat and might try this too

What does happen at the end of bootcamp @BIWI?

Do we jump on the next launch me or is there a follow up support group? Or do we get released into the wild?

LOL at being released into the wild

I keep the last week's chat thread going, and when that fills up, I start a new, general support thread. So there's always someone around (hopefully) to chat and help and share their experiences.

If you want to keep going, I believe @FinallyHere has added extra columns to the spreadsheet, if you need that as a resort.

I'm not planning on running another one for a while, to be honest. It takes a lot of my time, and it's very disheartening to realise - as I did this morning when browsing the spreadsheet - that there are now only 12 posters taking part - despite over 100 signing up in the first place.

(That's not to say that those 12 people aren't important, obviously!)

From now on, I'll continue to post stuff I find interesting or important in the Low Carb Bootcamp topic, but there won't be any more specific Bootcamps.

@BIWI we do appreciate the effort

Thank you!

I do absolutely know that it's appreciated - honestly, it wasn't mean to be a moan from me

Just a reality.

There will always be a thread for Bootcamp support, information and general chat - just not (at least for now) a more formal, organised 'thing'.

I'm always dreadful at posting my weights as I need to get on to a laptop to do so . Doesn't mean I'm not following the Boot Camp

Oh @BIWI I appreciate you, although I can see why it can be demoralising!

I didn't like to share too much on this thread, but bootcamp has helped me an incredible amount over the past 6 weeks.

My son died 3 years ago, after nearly a year of cancer treatment. It's been hard and I have very much used food, and sugar in particular, to get me through the day. I was using food in the way that others use alcohol to numb the pain.

I've always been a comfort eater, so was overweight to start with, but it definitely got worse after he died and I've ended up with high blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as feeling even more shit about the world, having no energy or motivation to do anything.

I think Bootcamp came along at just the right time for me, as I was ready for something to change, but there is no way I would have been able to do this without this thread, to keep me on track but also have somewhere to go to talk about it, and feel supported.

I've been made to sit with a lot of feelings I'd literally been eating, but on the whole I feel better physically, and emotionally than I have for a very long time.

So I know I'm just one person on the spreadsheet, but it does mean an awful lot.

I will also keep going after boot camp.
I have 2 motivations.

My endoscopy on Monday showed a normal oesophagus. My eosinophilic oesophagitis seems to be totally under control.
The gastroenterologist has recommended re introducing anything I cut out very slowly if at all.

And if that isn’t enough motivation I’ll be 25 years married just after Christmas and going on a romantic beach holiday with no children.

BIWI thank you for the all the work you do on this. I think perhaps you under estimate the reach. I have followed before silently but have realised it is much more effective for me if I actually use the spreadsheet.

@fruitstick - so sorry to hear about your son. 

@BIWI I am following and am really grateful for the time and effort you put into this. I have never recorded my weight on the spreadsheet, but it doesn't mean I'm not here. I actually don't have lots to lose, am officially a healthy BMI and am quite short, so my weight could look quite low (but I gained a stone over the last year & need to lose that).

I have appreciated the answers to my questions. I also often don't have lots of time to be really active on the threads (which I appreciate might be frustrating/disappointing for you) but I am here and thankful for this group.

@fruitstick I'm so sorry for your loss. That's unimaginably awful x

I'm so sorry to hear that @fruitstick

I totally get the whole 'eating your feelings' as well. Not quite as traumatic/tragic as losing a son, but my (younger) brother died very suddenly and unexpectedly earlier this year. And that led to an absolute and complete fall off the low carb wagon for me.

Thank you for your replies - it really wasn't meant to be a moan

I'm glad that you all find it so helpful and supportive, and I really do hope that we can keep that level of support going in the future, even if there isn't a formal Bootcamp.

We could always have a weekly check-in/weigh-in, if that helps?!

Oh @BIWI I'm so sorry to hear that .

I’m super grateful to you too @BIWI.

I’ve lost 2lbs since the weekend, mostly because I haven’t really been eating much. Also haven’t been urm going to the toilet since the weekend, not anticipating that for a while after the amount of morphine I had. Feeling a bit more like myself today and heading to the coast for a couple of days. Took new BP meds for the first time last night and I was terrified but so far so good, still here anyway!

Glad to hear you haven't had a reaction to your meds!

Glad you're still with us @VeryGoodVeryNice !

Just to add my thanks and gratitude to @biwi, and @FinallyHere for the spreadsheet. I don't think I'll ever go back to carb eating, this woe suits me very well even if I don't lose as much as I'd like.
B: boiled egg followed by 40 mile bike ride 😅
L: bacon, chicken, lc bread and cheese
D: Red thai chicken curry, brocolli
Snack: protein bar on bike ride.

Blimey - 40 miles?! How long did that take you @OldandTired66?

Hi

I have had a few stressful weeks and not really kept up with the threads, final push to the end of this camp! Hoping to get 2 more lbs off to make the stone 🙏🏼

Will read through the threads this evening 🙈

I imagine many of you came across this, or similar article, last week:

suggesting that red meat can increase the risk of diabetes

I read it and wondered how on earth it would be possible, seeing as meat doesn't have an impact on blood sugar.

Anyway, I came across a great article by Zoe Harcombe, which effectively dismisses this 'research', and the claims that it made, here, which is worth a read if the news story had concerned you in any way.

Just wanted to echo what everyone else has said @BIWI, I have done maybe four solid bootcamps over the past ten years but have dipped in and out over many more, this woe has made a huge difference to me. I'm really glad you will be on ongoing threads.