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.

@AllTheBlackCoffee funnily enough I got it from my local online library after hearing the author on a podcast. I looked her up before starting to read and I wasn't convinced by her background - she's a chiropractor and was anti vax for a bit. That's not to say that there's nothing in what she's promoting, but I like to wait until there's more evidence. Let me know what you think if you do read, I'd love nutritionists to start looking at the links with women's health more than they currently are!

I followed Mindy Pelz on Facebook for a while - can't remember why I unfollowed her though! I think it was probably to do with the number/frequency of posts.

That said, I do think it's interesting that she's coming at fasting from a woman's point of view. Given how much of our life is controlled by our hormones, it makes sense that fasting (and indeed dieting) may be different for women compared with men.

Oh dear, got on the scales today and rather wish I hadn't - if anything I seem to have gained slightly (about 3lb) since Nov bootcamp when I weighed last. I'm finding motivation difficult but my instinct was that I would have a disappointingly small loss rather than a gain.

I think without regular weighing it's difficult though, @Baystard - and remember we've had Christmas since you last weighed!

How are your clothes fitting? That's a much more accurate way to know how things are progressing.

I'd hoped that I'd get on better without the weighing @BIWI but it seems that it just presents different problems.Clothes aren't as comfortable as they should be, so I don't think the scales lie.

I haven't been as strict as I needed to be, I think that I probably equated having a relatively small amount to lose as meaning i didn't need to be quite so diligent bit perhaps actually the opposite is true.

Steak pie tonight, will need to swerve the pastry. Will roast some veg and fry some aubergine slices to bulk up my plate.

I will do this!

You need to have some way to measure your progress though, especially if you know you're going 'off piste' - otherwise it's a bit like driving with your eyes closed and hoping you'll reach your destination safely! (Sorry - the best analogy I could think of )

@AIBConsiderate I'd be surprised if passion fruit was very carby because it doesn't taste sweet. I think it has about 5.5g carb per 100g.

I made the leeks and halloumi yesterday and added a bit of chorizo and some broccoli (both lurking in the fridge). All fried in oo and butter, added herbs, lime juice and some capers. It was very tasty but with the halloumi, capers and chorizo it was a bit salty.

Had pate and salad for brunch today with creamy coffee, and tonight will have roast chicken with FLGV and some buttery mashed swede.

I can see the sense in that, I'm going to resume weighing now @biwi banishes image of baystard in Driving Miss Daisy from mind

Sorry to hear about the covid @LC4life - but glad the Whoosh Fairy has visited at least! I hope you're feeling better soon

Looking for suggestions... I think i need to cut down dairy but if I'm veggie where will i get the right fat- eggs, nuts & seeds? I'm not too bothered about maintaining and not losing loads, but my IBS symptoms have flared up (stress related) and I think at this stage I'd prefer to reduce the dairy and see if that helps, rather than increasing the carbs, which is what the doctor recommended previously. Anyone else been through this?

I definitely wouldn't increase the carbs @bluesupermoon - in my case that would certainly aggravate the IBS.

What makes you think it's dairy that's causing the problem?

But in terms of fat sources, butter doesn't count as dairy, so you could make sure you're using plenty of that. Also, what about avocados? And olive oil - so use it generously when cooking, and add salads to your meals, with an olive oil vinaigrette.

Ah thank you! Yes olive oil & avo for sure, yum! I don't think it's the dairy causing it as such, it definitely seems to be caused predominantly by stress. but i think milk isn't great and sometimes seems to increase the symptoms. Toast has definitely helped in the past! But equally I don't want to undo all my hard work...

Yep stress is a huge factor in IBS. I'd focus on dealing with that tbh. (Although milk anyway on a low carb diet probably isn't very good!)

What are your symptoms?

I know, it's probably the kick up the bum i needed to reduce it.... yes been working on the stress a lot since first diagnosed, but this week has caught me off guard somewhat. I will focus on that and the milk and see if it does the trick. Symptoms are still relatively mild so i will be grateful for that. Sorry you suffer with it too x

Well - I don't generally suffer from it, if I keep the carbs low!

Definitely look at the stress levels and how you can reduce those though.

Stress is a factor in IBS for me too but low carb has been amazing in keeping symptoms away.

It did make a mystery return after Christmas despite boot camp eating... but turned out to be first signs of Covid!

Oh god sorry to hear that about the covid! Interesting to hear links between LC and IBS. I think on the whole this WOE has been beneficial in terms of feeling less impacted by stress. Good opportunity to learn more and change things up a bit...

Hello all,

Wishing you better @LC4life.

I had pork ribs (BBQ sauce for the non BCerd) with homemade coleslaw and celeriac mash today for both lunch and dinner (leftovers). It was glorious!

I'd forgotten about celeriac until someone mentioned it upthread and i remembered how much I liked it last BC I did (ages ago) .

We ran out of cabbage so I used broccoli stems instead for the coleslaw and it turned out great with carrots and one beetroot shared among 4 so hopefully not too bad.

So far managed to swerve the cake my 6 year old desperately wanted to bake today - he accidentally tipped in 3x the dose of vanilla essence so not as hard as it might have been...

I have to travel for work again next week so hoping to stay strong!

Have a good weekend all.

Good morning bootcampers.

So, my final weigh in was today.
I've stayed the same as last week, which I'm grateful for after a funny week of being ill and everything going to pot. The tape measure was kinder, which I'm very happy about, and not sure I deserve.

So, I've reached my goal for this BC, and looking forward to signing up to the next one and hopefully shifting that next stone.

Good luck to everyone for their final weigh in.

Thank you to @BIWI for organising this amazing group 💐💐💐💐 and thank you to everyone who was part of this. The support has been amazing and made all the difference, and the recipes have been so helpful and inspiring

Morning all, I am away this weekend and went for a meal with my friend last night where I did have carbs. However unlike last time I was away where I went completely off plan, I stuck to it until dinner yesterday and will be low carbing today as I am having roast dinner minus potatoes. Tomorrow might be tricky as I am at a funeral, but this time I am trying to be mindful and have low carb as much as possible rather than completely giving up.

I'm a daily weigher. And for some reason this week weight has been creeping back up. Back to where I was at the end of week one. Feeling thoroughly demoralised.
I know I just need to KOKO but it's so frustrating.

@potas I know the feeling - last weigh in I recorded weight 2lbs higher than I'd seen on the scale in the previous week, (I'd had a whoosh but then it seemed to creep back up again.)
This week it took me 4 days to see that same number again - I focus on making sure I drink ALL my water as that makes the difference for me - and as of today I'm another lb lower.
I'm hoping it will stick for tomorrow's weigh in, but if it doesn't I just need to tell myself it's just a minor blip and it will come back down when my body is ready.

To be honest given what my body had dealt over the years in terms of what I've fed it - I can't really be upset with it when it decides to do whatever it's doing, just think of it as being patient with your best friend (because it REALLY is). 😊

@potas I'm a daily weigher and the scales have been all over the place for me too, up when I've been angelic, then dropping a few lbs and then climbing up again. I agree it's frustrating BUT with daily weighing I can see the overall trend is downwards and, at my lowest this week I've lost 9.2lb since Jan 1. So that's helping to keep me going and seeing the bigger picture makes me slightly less pissed off with the random daily gains. Trust the process is my new motto!

Got the day to myself today as DH and DS are off out for the day. Currently lazing in bed but going to get up shortly and do some jobs - ironing, cleaning, maybe clear out the bathroom drawers of doom. Amazing how productive life without a groggy head on the weekend can be.

Food wise:
B Greek yog and cream
L might do a fry up if I'm hungry but equally might give it a swerve if I'm busy
D roast pork, buttered veg, cauli cheese