Low Carb Bootcamp challenge - lose half a stone before Christmas

[BIWI]

If we start next Monday, there are 6 weeks leading up to Christmas.

Hopefully that means that we can drop 7lbs in those weeks - but only if we're properly strict.

It's entirely up to you if you want to do strict Bootcamp, or Bootcamp Light across those 6 weeks, although I'd suggest that if you haven't got too much to lose, you veer towards a stricter approach.

It's also, we need to bear in mind, a more difficult time of the year to think about losing weight as there are likely to be more social occasions, so a stricter approach around all of those events is probably a good one!

Who's in?!

STS here, though was another pound and a half down on Saturday. Will koko

I have resisted all mince pies so far. But I will be making some at some point. I think this is one of the big differences for me, the old me would have been eating all the mince pies, now I am able to say I'll have one, make sure it's a good one and really enjoy it but no more random extras at work or out and about.

1 lb down this week so 4lbs in total since the start of this thread. I’d like to lose the other 3lbs but I am starting to wonder where to stop, I was looking at photos from a few years ago when I was 3lbs lighter than I am now but my body shape was totally different, I had a lot more fat around my middle than I do now, even though I weighed less. I’m tall so 3lbs won’t make a huge difference to how I look now. It’s become such a habit eating this way that I’m not sure how to adjust the WOE to maintain rather than lose, I’ve never got to that point before! Mind you I expect Christmas Day will help that along 🤣.

I also measured my waist yesterday, which is the only measurement I took at the start, and I’ve lost 3 inches in total since August. Before I started I was struggling to fit into size 12 clothes, but now I can comfortably get into size 10s. Also just taken my BP reading (my high blood pressure was my main motivation for starting this WOE), and both numbers are in the healthy range for the first time since ending up in an ambulance back in October 🎉.

I am being a bit crap at drinking water at the moment, it’s difficult when the weather is cold. I’m doing a temporary Christmas job once a week which is outside, and on Friday night my water froze in the bottle whilst I was working, it was like a water slushie 🤣.

Into 'onederland' at last.
The numbers moved down again for me this week despite my failings with water.
(Still on the borrowed scales and still very nervous about weighing every week but all is fine so far. My clothes are certainly looser and I'm probably a size down.)

20lb down since summer though 35lb to go to my 'healthy 'weight. I wonder if it can be reached by the end of 2024.

Eating and drinking like this is the right thing to do and feels good. Low carb living is not a strain in the way that dieting is.

If I can only naviagate the unusual occasions (weddings/parties/Christmas etc.) without getting sugar-hooked or despairing - I think it would be possible.

Logging a stay the same as have just returned from a fabulous weekend in the frozen north with friends and don't want to depress myself too much. I had so many good intentions... Buckling down for Christmas now, only a couple of lunches out to navigate but only local cafes so no indulgent meals. Well done all the weight losses, I remain hopeful of joining you all soon!

Yes, the social events are starting to ramp up a bit now.

Trying to go into them well
hydrated, to minimise damage.

Hi all - haven't weighed as I've been away from home since early this morning and just got home. Not a great weekend/Monday food wise - too much social stuff going on to be totally low carbing every day. Have to start again properly tomorrow as I'm home for rest of the week so more in control.
Well done to all those who lost this week

Hi all. Struggled last week in a way as I wasn't at home but fasting on top helped as I've lost another 4lb in two weeks - couldn't weigh on 27-11.

So 9lb in total but a lot more to go! My days are very similar to BIWI's strict days other than a dash of milk in a cup of tea first thing. It's working!

Well done everyone avoiding temptation- it's so much easier for me this time round as I live alone!

4.4lb loss since the start of the thread .

I am very happy with that !

Aiming for 2 stone total weight loss so still a way to go but feel a difference in my clothes already so all good.

In good news, I was under 12st this morning at 11st 13.5lb

I've checked back to last year and I'm 1.75lb "ahead" of what I'd achieved exactly this time last year, when I only managed to break the 12st barrier on 10 December.

Just under 5lb to go to get to what I succeeded in achieving by Christmas Eve last year, which was 11st 8.75lb. I can do it!

Water does seem to be key for me to get the scales moving in the right direction.

In bad news, I was too late ringing up for my traditional Christmas Eve Cut 'n' Colour (which this year would have had to be on the 23rd) as my hairdresser was already fully booked for not just the Saturday but the Thursday and Friday too I've left it totally but I have asked to be let know of any cancellations.

Hallo, I've been suffering from crazy adrenaline surges - I put them down to long covid which has really thrown my nervous system out of whack, but a bit of googling suggests a link to a low carb diet. Has anyone come across this at all, or is able to shed some light?

@StuntNun is the expert at explaining hormonal responses to this WoE. Maybe she knows

@Almahart there are multiple possible causes but all the solutions are to increase your carb intake. How strict are you being? If you're on Bootcamp then definitely switch to Bootcamp Light. If you've cut your glucose intake significantly then you could be suffering from hypoglycaemia or reactive hypoglycaemia. Another possibility is that you've gone into deep ketosis which can sometimes cause a bit of a strange state of mind. When I first went low carb, I found that deep ketosis made me feel hyper alert and energised. If you like, you could list out your food for the last couple of days and I'll make some suggestions.

Morning all. Sorry I missed the weigh in, I had to rush 250 miles "home" on Friday night as my mother is in hospital and it looks like this could be it for her. Staying in an airb&b and eating carby convenience things, so I think it's probably best there aren't any scales around!

Doesn't help that despite her being away with the fairies 95% of the time, for the 5% she's "there" she's being her manipulative, PA self, so my head is all over the place atm. Aargh.

Will attempt damage control and start over when I'm in a place to do so.

Wishing everyone a better week than I'm having...

Hope you are okay @Lovecat

Still haven't weighed - too scared! Will skip this week and try to repair the damage and weigh in on Monday.

I did start some exercise yesterday though. My sister gave me a step thingy and I found a workout on YouTube. Had no idea there were so many variations on going up and down a step!

Thank you @StuntNun that's incredibly helpful. I wonder why that might have happened, when I am usually fine on LC

Seeing what I can remember....

Yesterday I had sausage and egg for brunch, and bolognaise for dinner and four squares of 100% black montezuma melted in cream
The day before was eggs for brunch and stir fry with cabbage, chicken and konjac noodles
Day before that, fish pie with celeriac topping and green beans for lunch, roast chicken and a big green salad for dinner.

The adrenaline waves seem to have stopped now, really strange as I've low carbed lots of times before and not had anything like that. I do usually feel very energetic and clear headed.

I've now got full on cold/flu (ear ache, shivers, painful cough). I think it does make sense to go to bootcamp light while I get over it, I can see that eg yesterday my diet was crappy, no veg or carbs at all, it does take a bit more effort to eat a balanced low carb diet and I don't really have that at the moment.

Sending you love @Lovecat - a horrible thing to have to deal with, especially where there are family 'tensions'

@Lovecat I hope everything goes as well as it can

Lovecat

It isn't really low carb @Almahart so I don't think you need to make a lot of changes. Could you be ill rather than it be anything to do with your diet? I remember one Bootcamp where someone got hit really hard with low carb flu until it became apparent that it was actually regular flu.

@Lovecat so sorry to hear this

Very late posting this week, I'm afraid I have been away from my laptop. 2lbs down this week, which I'm pleased about.

Sorry to hear that @Lovecat, look after yourself 💐

@stuntnun, I think you're right, my first instinct was that it was to do with my long covid and I have had a fluey thing this week. That's reassuring, thank you