Jan '24 Dry Bootcamp - our last week

[BIWI]

Morning all. Hope Storm Isha didn't do any/too much damage.

Here's the spreadsheet - hopefully fixed now!

Although this started out as a 4-week challenge, I realise of course, that January is the never-ending month, so we'll continue right to the bitter end, which will be a week on Wednesday!

Don't panic though - I will be starting another one for February, only this time it doesn't have to be a dry one.

I'll start the next one 'afresh' so it gives other people a chance to join us, which means that (if you want to) the first two weeks will be the usual strict Bootcamp. If you're happy on Bootcamp Light, or you simply want to be able to have a drink (!), then it's entirely up to you.

So thinking about our last ten days - what do you realistically want to be able to achieve? I'm still hoping to get the scales to start with 9 rather than 10, but that does mean I'm going to have to be super strict, as that leaves me with 3.25 lbs to lose. I have two meals out before the end of the month, but they're both in places I know I can make good choices, and I'm finding it easier to forgo the alcohol too, so I'm not too worried about those.

For me, then, it's a weight challenge - but it doesn't have to be weight. It could be a specific item of clothing (thinking about those of us who have holidays coming up), or your measurements, or anything else that you think you can work towards over the next ten days.

Just added the DD choc cake to the desserts thread. Deffo a keeper!

Wonderful. Thank you for organising this.

That cake looks lush. Deffo having a go at that this weekend!!

Happy February everyone.

We made it.🥳

No change for me since Sunday. But I'm happy to have lost 7lb this bootcamp

Thank you for the recipe thread, I'll definitely check that out

Another new low for me this morning and 4.2lbs to lose by half term to hit the goal I set myself (2 and a half weeks left for us) which seems doable.

Had 2 glasses of wine last night to celebrate DHs birthday although TBH I wasn't that fussed and almost ordered a fizzy water as my first drink but felt like a bit of a party pooper so went for a red wine. I made sure I drank a bottle of water before bed so am feeling fine this morning, just a bit tired but that's nothing new.

I have also reached the lowest weight I've seen for a long time, today. And achieved my third target, which means I'm now 3/4 of the way towards a stone, and just over one point away from the desired BMI range. This makes me very happy.

DH and I are going out today - first to the cinema, and then out, out! I'm actually feeling quite nervous about having a drink for the first time in a month. Although I'm sure I'll enjoy it when we get there

I'll do that @BIWI. Thank you. Was back on the pints of water and lemon yesterday and will reinstate herb teas. I think a bit of consistency is needed 🤔. Congratulations everyone for amazing achievements in January, not ever the easiest month to resist carbs.

Have fun going out out @BIWI

I'm feeling very pleased with myself. Two people in two days have asked me if I've lost weight. That's always a lovely boost after the hard work of never-ending January

My weight has rebounded upwards a wee bit today so my interim objective is to stabilise at under 11.5st and my objective for the next Boot Camp is to get under 11st

That's going to be a challenging target but will hopefully keep me on track during my week away mid March

I am late this week logging in but am finishing at 182.74 (78.4kgs) which is up a bit from last week but down 4.5 lbs since the start of this BC. I. Not going to lie but I am a bit disappointed as I thought I would do better. I really wanted to hit 75kgs by 1st March. Hey ho. I will keep going but I seriously need to look at where I might be going wrong. I haven't been consistent in posting my daily intake here and so possibly have been eating something that is not as BC compliant as I thought! I need to make the time to post every day for the next one. I will hit that 75kg by the end of April! Onwards and downwards. 😀

Congratulations on your losses @BIWI!

Yay @BIWI well done!

I've had a surprise loss of another 3ibs, but can't see it in my jeans wearing, so maybe it is dodgy scales. Will koko regardless

Thank you both! I had hoped to get below the 10 stone mark, but that hasn't happened - quite. Just 1.75lbs to go!

Congrats on more losses and hope you enjoyed your evening @BIWI , we are out out all weekend which could be an extremely interesting experiment!!!!!
Been an odd couple of days chez W, DH's birthday on Wednesday and we went to a local Italian (not ideal for BC but not my choice). MIL and DH ordered starters of arancini and courgette fritti and I had a forkful of each. A glass of wine, cauliflower cheese and baked mushrooms with pesto later and the scales were up 3lb yesterday morning. All the water yesterday and they've disappeared again 🤷🤷🤷. Fritti were worth it, arancini wasn't!!!!!
I have a carfull of sparkling water, sparkling wine loads of beer for DH and pre-prepared omelette for our breakfast this weekend, the event is at a caravan park so food options are likely to be challenging. But I also have lots of snacks like sun-dried tomatoes, boiled eggs and cold meats so hoping there won't be too much damage done (& I can dance the worst of it off 🤣).
Have a good day all!!!!

We had a lovely evening - I was mindful about what/how much I drank, but still had a bit of a headache this morning, which is a clear reminder to keep an eye on the alcohol going forward!

We had dinner at an Argentinian steak restaurant, so I had a steak, with salad, and blue cheese dressing, which was really lovely. I couldn't even manage to eat all of it, and focused mainly on the steak. (I did nab 3 of DH's chips though!)I was rewarded, even with the alcohol, with a half pound loss on the scales this morning.

I have to say, though, that the discovery of Tanqueray 0% and Captain Morgan Spiced 0%, along with the Big Drop Citra 0% beer, is a game-changer for me, and I can happily see myself continuing with those in future. The Captain Morgan in particular is a winner, as I can drink it with sparkling water rather than using an artificially sweetened tonic, as would be with the Tanqueray.

Good luck for your weekend @TheOnlyMrsW - sounds like you're as well prepared as you can be!

What a win BIWI! Glad you enjoyed your evening.

Not much planned chez whirple this weekend beyond the usual kids sports runs. I'll have a walk with a friend tomorrow morning assuming the weather is okay and probably do some batch cooking and food prep on Sunday. One of the DC is away next week on a school trip so we are planning to eat the things the fusspot won't touch. DH has requested lasagne so I might try a version with courgettes layers rather than pasta.

@PurpleWhirple I got this cook book for Christmas, and there's a recipe in there for spinach 'pasta' for using in lasagne.

Recipe makes 2 sheets, approx. 34 x 27cm, or 10-12 lasagne sheets cut into rectangles approx 13 x 9cm (serves 6)

370-400g defrosted spinach, squeezed from a 900g bag of frozen leaf spinach*
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
100ml almond or cow's milk
10g psyllium husks
extra virgin olive oil, for greasing

*900g frozen spinach becomes 300g once it is defrosted and squeezed well; frozen leaf spinach is easier to squeeze than chopped spinach

Pre-heat the oven to 220/200C fan. Line 2 baking trays with baking parchment and grease each one well with olive oil. Prepare another piece of oiled parchment the same size - this will be your top sheet.

Whizz all the ingredients in a food processor till the spinach is finely chopped and you have a paste. Divide the mixture between the prepared trays. Put the oiled top sheet of baking parchment over the spinach and carefully press it out for form thin rectangles measuring roughly 34x 27cm and about 5mm thick. Carefully peel off the top piece of baking parchment. Tidy the spinach up as necessary and even it out with a flat-ended tool such as a fish slice or dough scraper. Repeat the same with the remaining half reusing the top sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until it is firm to the touch and set through. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the tray. Peel the spinach sheets off the paper and cut into rectangles.

Big win Biwi- well done!

I am sitting in the sun and glad to say the South Beach restaurants are great for low-carbers, with lots of Med diet type options. Even the complimentary drinks ( vodka coolers ) in the fridge are labelled as keto-friendly!

Egg white omelette with whipped feta, kale and tomato and avo for brunch followed by shredded chicken salad with curried cashews and a glass of dry rose in the evening. It's a tough life! I won't lose weight, just hoping to maintain.

Very envious of the sun @cathyandclaire!

Hi all,I went completely off track this week and had a disaster. I have started again today though so hoping to get back to it, I don't want to self sabotage as I feel so much better on this way of eating.

Picked up a ready meal from M &S ,as we had a train journey and wouldn’t be home til late ( and I didn’t want to start cooking , I will post a couple of photos of as it might be useful
it was tasty , cooked in 30 mins , cooked some beans and mushrooms to go on the side

had a night away , and fell into a pizza , but back on now and chucking water down like a good un

Spotted another good 'on the go' option in M&S today (soz, no pic) that I think is new. They are now doing sous vide egg bites similar to Starbucks in their 3 for £7 range. They were roughly 3g carbs per 100g so pretty good, esp as a grab and go.

@Goodiewhemper don't give up on your 1st March target, it's not impossible. Could you list everything you ate over the last 2 days. Really everything. Were there any cheats? Did you drink all the water? Or do you just lose weight slowly (but maybe steadily). And can you share your menu plans for the next couple of days. We can really help there. We can give you ideas, we can help you plan...

@Frumpyunicorn jump right back in. Whatever damage you did, you can undo. Stick with us. What are your food plans for tomorrow?

@cathyandclaire shivering in the cold and sheltering from icy winds. I'm so envious of your warm holiday. Our veg box has included big lettuces for the last 3 weeks. I can't really bear much salad in this weather...

I've been sticking to tried and tested bc recipes this week. Delicious shaksukka with kale, red pepper, shallot, eggs, smoked paprika, topped with feta and parmesan. Rest of the feta for the whipped fet dip... Sausages with mashed celeriac and buttery leeks. dh honestly thought he was eating potato.

Have also experimented with the 0% gin. That worked for me. Crystal glass. icec cubes, slice of lime, icy fizzy soda. A smoked salmon and cream cheese canape...