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.

I got my last batch of Buttermint tea on Amazon @mimosa1

As suspected just a small loss this week despite my waist measurement reducing. 0.9lb off, hope for more next week as I have so much to lose.

Good I love black coffee, as you can probably tell by my user name. I've already had three cups today (2x decaff).

Well my trip to the office was cancelled last minute and the meeting I was going in for moved online. Can't say I'm disappointed as the thought of driving in the snow was not filling me with joy. And the bonus is my lunch is made and in the fridge, tea is in the slow cooker and I actually look half presentable for once. Plus I'm wrapped up in my electric blanket so toasty warm too!

Today's plan:
B: Greek yog and cream
L: tuna and avocado salad (brrrr!), lemon and olive oil dressing
D: chilli (sans beans), cauli rice

Unbeknownst to me, DH has ordered some keto brownies and bakes from Deliciously Guilt Free and is very excited for me to try one. I'm not sure as I've been avoiding sweet things, but I'll have a go later and keep a strict eye on any cravings and weight gain. I have to admit, they do look very good!

What a lovely DH you have @AllTheBlackCoffee

I drink black tea and coffee too. I will occasionally have a flat white from a coffee shop but at home I make double espresso in a stove top pot and have with hot water. I much prefer it to coffee without milk which tastes odd to me now.

@mimosa1 thank you, I don't want to derail the thread but thyroid issues also run in the family - mum had them, DSis has them and I've often wondered but my bloods are always in the "normal" range for these hormones so getting the dr to take it seriously is impossible. Snow has stopped here in the big smoke (not at home so keeping an eye) so going to brace M&S in a minute.

@blackteaplease I suspect DH will eat the majority of them (he's doing BC too) so his good deed is not entirely selfless, but I'll take the positives where I find them

Why cant you edit all posts. I prefer it to coffee with milk. Grr

Oooh , I love a black coffee too , why ruin it by putting milk in ?

Yes milk ruins coffee for me.

@mimosa1 I got a pack of Buttermint tea at my local Tescos last week.

I managed to train myself off cappuccinos to preferring Americanos . Now I find cappuccinos far too milky

I will still have a splash of milk if I'm having an instant coffee though

I've managed to train myself from latte to flat white (or cortado if they do it) in cafes but can't drink black. I have a splash of milk in instant coffee but limit it to 3 or 4 cups a week plus one or two of the above when out and about. I have tried using cream instead of milk when I make it at home but still much prefer milk. I do have herbal or black tea sometimes in cafes but TBH I begrudge paying so much for a teabag and hot water.

Aubergine Parmigiana sounds delicious, I'm adding that to my list for sure.

I'm trying to like black coffee too, it's an uphill battle but I'm onto a splash of lacto free at the moment. I'd still much prefer a flat white though, think I've got an ignorant palate!

I've put on 2lb despite being strict and still being in keto. I have been drinking loads of water ( much more than normal) , so I wonder if I was dry as a crisp before and this is my hydrated weight

I have finally got round to making the whipped feta dip. Very tasty! Next time I'll put in more chilli flakes and garlic

Someone was asking about the ground walnuts, flaxseed, Q10 etc. It's Linwoods who does bags of it, which Lidl sells occasionally (but is usually available in Sainsbury's/Tesco). They also do plain milled Flaxseed.

What do you use it for @prettybird ?

I used it mixed with grated Parmesan and ground almonds (very approximately equal parts) plus plenty of seasoning for the coating for homemade chicken "nuggets"/goujons or for coating a flattened turkey steak when making turkey parmigiana.

I dip the meat in beaten egg before putting them in the mixture to coat.

Yes all symptoms of anaemia bless her, a HB of 5 is a lot more than just a lack of iron in the diet, she should be on iron tablets and investigations for internal bleeding etc right away.

Evening all, works gotten really busy so I’ve been run off my feet the last couple of days. I’ve stayed on track but my eating has been very disordered and sporadic which I know is dangerous for me. Sure enough my cravings are starting to grumble so I need to get myself back eating regularly again this week.

today:
B: 16:8
L: cream coffee because I needed to grab something and didn’t have any leftovers
d: I’m going to have lamb burgers with butter fried minted sprouts and spring greens

Rough menu for this week:
lamb moussaka
spinach and ricotta ‘cannelloni’ made with rolled up fried aubergine
bacon cheese and broccoli bake
chicken stir fry
beef mince bobouti (usually make this quite a sweet curry but will obviously adapt it)

Change of plans, found harissa paste the cupboard so have discovered harissa fried sprouts and OMG it’s heaven. Having with lamb burger and a dollop of feta.

It may have been a small loss last week but the amount of times I've had to hoike up my jeans today is ridiculous. Which is fab as pre Christmas by the end of the day I felt like I was bursting out of them and would whip them off as early in the eve as I could.

I need to look at milk intake, I don't drink loads of tea and coffee but on office days I can rack them up. I've made a ritual of coffee and cream, but that could be pushed back to late morning. But tea has to have milk.

Tonight's dinner is a homemade chicken saag using up a bag of spinach I have Instant pot saag with a little bit of leftover salad on the side. Lunch was a simple tuna mayo salad I knocked together.

That sounds interesting!

On the curry theme, I'm making Andi Oliver's chicken curry - chicken is currently marinating in the fridge, for cooking tomorrow. Recipe is quoted in this thread

I have some low carb wraps, and I'm thinking of using one of those, folding it into quarters, and frying it as if it were a paratha. The others will have rice with theirs.

Love the paratha idea! Which low carb wraps do you use?

These ones from the Srsly Low Carb Company:

Oh I miss parathas 😔

I've just had Parmesan chicken made by sprinkling a coating of ground almonds and Parmesan cheese over a chicken breast, then baking in the oven. Baked ratatouille and some leeks on the side. It didn't look as deliciously crispy and brown as the breadcrumb version that everyone else had, but it was bloody delicious and I don't feel deprived at all.