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?!

Cheeseburger pie

Thank you @N2022 , the meatballs where Simon Howie 3.5 carbs per 100g was split between 3 so only had 100g with sauce and rocket, felt so drained this afternoon but been a walk in the rain this evening and not hungry just missing crisps

Pie looks good!
We had quick halloumi/veg curry-delicious and warming. The others had wraps with it as we are out of naan’s.

Curry with cooked chicken and green beans, a tikka masala spice pot, tinned tomatoes and yogurt.

I planned to do the last bootcamp but life got in the way, nothing awful, just socialising and too many opportunities to fall off the wagon
I'm trying again. Did OK last week until an off-plan Sunday lunch with dessert and drinks at friend's house.

Started again Monday and, though I have a quiet week, we are away for the weekend (staying with friends so I can't dictate the food). The following week I have 2 lunches and 1 dinner out then another weekend away and the week after that already have 1 lunch and one dinner out planned in. It's difficult as I struggle to find LC options locally

Wow the cheeseburger pie looks fab @BIWI . The fuss pots in my household wouldn't entertain the topping but I wonder if I could only cover one end of the dish with sauce (prop it up a bit in the oven maybe. It might make the other end a bit dry maybe but that's not my problem ).

@N2022 and @thehoundschicken I've not made meatballs for ages, thanks for the inspiration. I quite like adding Italian herbs and garlic. I second whizzing up in food processor, great for homemade burgers too (I find they and meatballs taste better if you make them several hours ahead of cooking, the flavours come out more richly).

I've not made lasagne for ages as nobody else will eat it but it looks fabulous @prettybird, I might make it just for myself. Does it freeze as well as a pasta lasagne would do you think?

Good few days, happy feeling like I'm in control again and I'm getting more pleasure from an evening meal eaten whilst genuinely hungry than I was from chocolate or bread.

Enjoying being in shoogled sprouts season too, one good thing about this time of year!

Everyone's menus sound amazing.

Had the cauli cheese with some green beans for lunch, 2 hardboiled eggs for breakfast/snacks, and a cup of tea with almond milk (1.5g carbs for 100ml). Then tonight it was lowcarb Cumberland pie, using swede mash and crushed pork crunch instead of breadcrumbs for the topping, with broccoli.

One thing I love about this WoE is that in finding potato and pasta substitutes I find I'm eating a ton more veg. Had 7 of my 5 a day today!

The water has gone well today, the bladder less so (thank God it's Children In Need this week so I can keep leaping up and going to the loo on the pretext of taking the Pudsey Bear ears round the classrooms... )

Good morning everyone. I was late home yesterday so didn't get the chance to post. For breakfast yesterday I had coffee with a splash of cream, a smoothie made with avocado, kale, cucumber, about 100ml soya milk, water and protein powder. Lunch was green salad and two baked eggs. For dinner I had salmon cooked with butter, and a little cream, served with corgette, broccoli and pak choi. I got in about 2 litres of water between herbals and my water flash and I had a second cup of coffee with cream mid morning.

Breakfast today will be same as yesterday, for lunch I plan of having mozzarella with a few cherry tomatoes and cucumber salad. Dinner will be baked salted cod surf greens.

That pie looks delicious @BIWI. I think I will take some mince out of the freezer before I go to work and cook that this evening to have in the fridge for either lunch or dinner tomorrow.

I can't remember who mentioned the watery courgette. If you haven't already done this, try salting before cooking. This draws out the excess water. Then fry in some olive oil before you later it. This results in a firmer texture and it is less watery.

Have a great day everyone.

@BIWI would you mind linking to the meat recipe thread you mentioned earlier? I can't find it - thanks!

@TheRoaringGirl : You'll find the Meat recipe thread linked to on this thread. In case the link doesn't work (I'm doing it from the app, so it doesn't work for everyone), this "master" thread is currently about the throes or fourth from the top of the Boot Camp topic.

Links to the Boot Camp Low Carb Recipe threads www.mumsnet.com/Talk/lowcarbbootcamp/4676617-links-to-the-boot-camp-low-carb-recipe-threads

@Baystard : it does freeze well . I'm about to freeze the remaining 2 portions (one courgette base, the other pasta based for dh). Having it three nights in a row is a bit much

For those that don't like courgette or aubergine, which I'm not keen on either , I have tried it with "sheets" of leeks. I préfères the courgette version, but if I were to have done leeks again, I would have cooked them slightly to soften before using. Plus I'd have cut them onto smaller, bite sized chunks as the leeks don't cut as well as pasta while you're eating it.

1*1/2 lb down this morning, hopefully shenanigans later won't derail it, plenty of water yesterday and peppermint tea. I made cauliflower and leek cheese bake with bacon, cream and blue cheese - the recipe asks for double cream but I only had single so made do and it tasted good with the added advantage of using up things in the fridge!!!!
DD is hugely busy with school stuff, work and footie at the moment and playing taxi means I can't have wine in the evenings!!!! Long list of chores this morning before picking up DH to drive to Swansea 🤞for kind traffic. Will have an omelette late morning so I won't be tempted by snacks on the drive - he's a bugger for sweets and crisps. Fallen out with Asda's frozen spinach, it's changed packaging and shape of the "pellets" and us more like sludge in the pan when defrosted instead of individual strands, first world problems I know ....... I do like spinach in an omelette though

Thanks @prettybird

The cheeseburger pie sounds nice, not sure if either of my DCs would eat the topping though, one doesn't eat eggs at all.

@TheOnlyMrsW I have stopped buying frozen spinach but freeze my own now. I put it in the freezer in a plastic bag then once its frozen crunch it all into tiny pieces by squashing the bag, then you can sprinkle it into omelettes or whatever.

Only managed about 2L of my 3L water target yesterday, including coffee as was out all afternoon. l did take water bottle with me but was so busy concentrating that I didn't drink much. Will try harder today. Food wise there were biscuits at the hobby club but I only had one as well as the snack I took with me to avoid this temptation.

I know they aren't particularly recommended on here, but I have some of those keto sticks that you wee on to see if you are in ketosis, I did one this morning and it went darker than I've ever seen one go before, which is encouraging (I did one last week and it was the palest of pale pinks, barely a colour change). TBH I am going to need all the encouragement I can get this week as I am going out for meals tonight and Friday and will be at a long meeting with sandwiches, crisps and cakes on the table on Thursday.

@EversoDisorganised the reason we don't recommend them is that if you're drinking the amount of water that you should be, then the stick should be showing only a pale colour. So I'd ask you if you're drinking enough?!

And re the cheeseburger pie topping, I'd defy your DC to know that there were eggs in there. Mixing eggs with cheese, mayo and cream makes a sort of custard, which fluffs up when you bake it. It's very light and airy and tastes mainly cheesy.

@TheRoaringGirl

Here's a direct link to the meat recipe thread

... just in case @prettybird's link does work (as it doesn't work for me!)

Perfect, thanks to both!

Had a delicious dinner of chicken topped with a mix of spinach and ricotta, with a pile of shroogled sprouts and peppers as my child is currently refusing to eat peppers....!

So far today has been greek yogurt with a spoon of peanut butter. Lunch time will be the challenge as I'm at a class which provides lunch but all of the carbohydrate variety! I'll take a snack with me and try to power through with that and cups of tea.... Best of luck everyone

Thanks for the tip @EversoDisorganised, will carry on with the 2(!) bags I've got going until they're done then will reassess 😊. Need to get off MN and on with my list!!!!

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Just wanted to check in with you and ask if you want me to take you off the spreadsheet, as you haven't entered a weight so far.

I know a couple of posters have already said they aren't using it - which is absolutely fine. It is not essential to be on the spreadsheet!

@BIWI I drank LOADS yesterday and my wee was very pale all day and not dark at all this morning so I don't think water intake is a problem, no.

One of my DCs probably would detect egginess (autistic and with very acute taste buds). The other likes omelettes so might be ok but won't eat anything with onion or shallots in so we have to sub in leeks or celery 🤦‍♀️.

I just haven't got round to getting on a laptop to put it in!