Jan '24 Dry Low Carb Bootcamp - Week 3

[BIWI]

Morning all.

So I've put the Big Stick down, and let's start this week afresh.

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

Remember, this is only a four week challenge, and we're now half-way through. For the next two weeks, if you want, you can do Bootcamp Light (which simply means that you can add in some fruit (berries mainly), and some nuts and seeds. In moderation only, please.

But NO ALCOHOL!.

Whether you started on 1 or 2 January, we've now completed a whole fortnight without booze. Hopefully you should be feeling the benefits of this beyond just it helping with weight loss. Having moaned about not sleeping better, which is supposed to be one of the key benefits, last night I did sleep very well (having had the worst night's sleep the night before!), so hopefully it's all kicking in now.

Sorry this is late! Moussaka recipe, not sure how ‘accurate’ it is though!

1. slice aubergine thinly, drizzle with olive oil and either grill or fry until they brown but don’t go too soft
2. fry off shallot and garlic in a bit of olive oil until brown, then add 2 tsp cinnamon and a tsp oregano.
3. add your lamb mince and fry off
4. add a tin of tomatoes and reduce u til it’s thick and the tomatoes are properly cooked off
5. in another pan, add a good knob of butter and melt, then add half a little rub of soft cheese and a good amount of grated Parmesan. Melt down until it forms a cheese sauce situation
6. put sauce in the bottom of a baking dish, then layer aubergine, then cheese sauce on top. Then grate more parmasan on the top and bake until golden.

Delicious squid and chorizo last night. The mint and lemon make it taste really fresh too.

I was up early and huddled under a spare duvet on the sofa waiting for the heating to come on. It's so cold, with an icy wind, and it makes me feel misserable and downhearted.

When I went to make a mug of coffee I got a serious case of the fuck-its and I wanted sad, whiny voice a slice of toast with butter and peanut butter. I got bread (real bread!) and put a slice in the toaster. Luckily I came to my sense, thought "Venus, what on earth are you doing?" I took the bread out of the toaster and put it back in the packet.

Instead I made myself a beautiful soft boiled egg - just perfect and comforting. And a dash of cream in my coffee. That's a habit I'm trying to stop, but this morning it was my reward.

Morning everyone, scales stuck today so same as yesterday but still a very small loss for the week. I'll take that as last night I dreamed I ate a whole Terrys chocolate orange and I felt so guilty when I woke up (in the dream my male dog had also had puppies!). It was nice though even in dreamland

I really fancy a curry over the weekend. Has anyone tried to make LC naan breads at all? There are a few recipes online so if anyone has a tried and tested one, I'd be interested to know more.

Almost had a disaster last night and could quite easily have had a case of the fuckits. I worked late and only finished just before 8pm when I realised the chicken that was meant to be for tea was still in the freezer. We had nothing else in and I could hear the siren call of the chippy but instead I went to the co-op, bought burgers and had them topped with cheese and bacon, with a huge salad. Very proud of myself, could easily have been a disaster but I turned it around

Well done for avoiding the fuckits @venusandmars, seems there's a lot of them around at the minute. Must be the weather!

@AllTheBlackCoffee I use this recipe It's worked well, nice soft doughy texture - perfect for curry.

I think it's the weather too. It's so bloody cold! I swear I crave carbs when it's cold.

Those naans look amazing. Might try them with my kebabs tomorrow night

I love the look of those naans, @venusandmars - but what almond flour do you use, given that in the recipe it says:

• Almond flour– Blanched almond flour must be used, for a light texture. Do not use almond meal.

One of the (many) things I love about these threads, quite apart from all the support and sharing, is the food talk. How fantastic to be able to be on a diet thread, to be on a diet, and yet talk and share ideas and recipes for lovely food

I buy this almond flour - but I only use it when the recipe really needs proper fine almond flour as it's eye wateringly expensive

RealFoodSource Certified Organic... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CSUNF4S?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

In good news , I've now reached my next objective, which is to be back into 3 digits: was 11st 9.25lb this morning

Only 1lb to go to get to my next objective, which is where I got to before Christmas.

I might even manage my "stretch" target for this Boot Camp, which is to get under 11.5st

Hmmm, I've just got bog standard ground almonds. Wonder if I could get them finer if I used my coffee grinder? Or would it just turn into some kind of weird and wonderful keto marzipan hopeful ?

Hi everyone, I have had a much better week. I tried the leek and halloumi selection today, it was really nice. Lamb and veg for dinner tonight.

I have been slipping back into a bit too much tea with milk, so next week I am going to try and reduce that and increase my herbal tea instead.

I’m having a good week food wise , and I’ve been to a couple of classes in the gym , however … we usually go out everyday for a walk ( lucky retired people ) but the weather has been ttttttttoooooooooo cold , so I’m a little concerned as my step count is rubbish and I’m watching Ghosts on iPlayer and crocheting when I should be out for a walk ( but at least I’m not eating biscuits )

@Metabolicallycomplicated

Hi BIWI, review went well and I stuck to boot camp as planned all day, scales still stubbornly at 20st this morning but I’m trying not to think about it and just crack on

Glad to hear it! (re the review). I'm sure the scales will move for you soon - just remember, we often say on Bootcamp, 'weight loss isn't linear'. You stuck to the plan, so you will be rewarded for that

Exactly - I also don’t have a time limit on my weight loss and have a long way to go. This is a lifestyle change not a diet, so whether the scales have moved day on day is completely irrelevant. With that in mind I think I’m going to come off the spreadsheet, it doesn’t help me mentally I don’t think!

Anyway wobble over, I’m currently half way through making spinach and ricotta aubergine cannelloni and I’m very aware cooking is my happy place

Ham and boiled eggs for lunch!
Resisted the lure of the pasty. Ferociously cold here and I craved pastry.

I’m saving that ricotta & spinach cannelloni recipe too!
So is ground almonds same as almond flour? And can you grind ground almond almonds into marzipan almond flour?

We normally have an Indian takeaway on a Friday, but for the sake of the diet (and also the wallet!) we're eating out of the freezer tonight. DH and DS will have stuff from there; I'm going to make myself an egg curry, using some of the Green Seasoning from the Andi Oliver recipe I made earlier this week.

I should have read the recipe properly! The recipe for the Green Seasoning makes half a litre. But in the chicken curry recipe you only use 3 tablespoons, so I have a lot to use up

I made the kebab mixture today and rolled it into meatballs. Served on a bed of baby spinach and griddled aubergine with whipped feta. All inspired by you lovely lot. It was delicious

My aubergine parmigiana as recommended by @RooRooCooChoo is in the oven!

I've actually had a REALLY good week. Urge to snack decreasing (despite the freezing temperatures) and I'm feeling very positive. Stuck rigidly to the programme.
Went out last night (just a bunch of friends meeting at one of our houses). Loooooads of food available. Only had cheese, celery and tomatoes. I shouldn't have had that really as I had eaten earlier, plus I'm trying not to eat into the evenings, but it would have been deemed quite anti-social to have had nothing. Esp as I wasn't drinking and they mostly were

I'm going to have a go at making the keto naans with regular ground almonds tomorrow so I will report back on how it goes

If you have a local Indian supermarket they may sell almond flour. Our local one is £10 for a kilo.