Feb '24 Low Carb Bootcamp - Here we Go!

[BIWI]

So our first official weigh-in won't be until Monday, but I thought it would be a good idea to get this thread up, so that we can all start thinking and prepping for it. This is especially important for those of you who are new to low carbing/Bootcamp.

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness (although it's possible that @FinallyHere might be posting an updated one later)

You'll see that it's divided into three sections, which reflects the fact that for some of us, this Bootcamp is a continuation of the Dry January challenge.

From Monday, the next Bootcamp will last for 8 weeks.

If you're just joining us anew, then it's important that you follow Bootcamp properly, i.e. the first two weeks will be strict, before you relax into Bootcamp Light in Week 3 (if you want to.). For anyone who has been with us for the January challenge, it's entirely up to you how you take part. You can, if you wish, do the next two weeks as strict Bootcamp, or you can continue with Bootcamp Light.

I have a day at uni today which usually knocks me off track as every single one of the on site cafes only serves crappy food - chips pizzas baguettes etc. I think today I’ll take a babybel and a Pepperami with me and just not buy anything at all, instead I’ll look forward to tonight’s tea. Then it’s a no carb and no spend win

Good plan @QforCucumber - if you know there won't be any low carb options, then you should definitely take your own!

20 years ago when I was a real life student I loved the carb loaded offerings of the uni,

now at almost 40 and returning as a grown up without a hangover I find it just awful and expensive and not at all health friendly (not even any salads!)

Slight loss already this morning which just goes to show that water is absolutely the answer (and also possibly having no appetite due to feeling rubbish!), will be on herbal tea again this morning, probably with honey which isn't ideal but figured it's better than throat sweets or sugar-laden cough medicine. Lunch if I can face it - couldn't yesterday - will be greek yoghurt and we have beef & broccoli from Bored of Lunch from the freezer for dinner, DH will have rice and I'll have roast cauliflower. I skipped the cornflour and sweet chilli sauce when I made it so BC friendly. Have a good day all!

@FinallyHere I have just added myself to the spreadsheet. I found a little file on my phone and in 2022 I had maintained at the top of a normal bmi through mostly low carb. Life has got in the way lately and carbs do provide comfort when you are exhausted. Time to get a grip and be accountable. 14lb to lose. I am trying to have a no spend 2024 on clothes as my wardrobe is full. There is a proportion of that that is straining at the moment. These threads really do give support so thank you to everyone who posts. I tried to follow January but no success. My first target is 7lbs. I can see most of it in a roll just below my waist.

Busy day here, I just grabbed this on the way through the station to have for lunch later. 9g in the whole thing, hope it tastes good. Will report back later

Feeling a little bit despondent today. I've not really lost any weight in almost two weeks now, bobbing around the same lb, only to shoot up 1.5lbs at the start of the week and stay there. No change in my clothes either so pretty sure am not losing inches while the scales stay the same.

I have been pretty consistent throughout so don't really understand too much why. I have had a little bit of wine since the end of dry Jan (none since Saturday tho) and a few squares of dark chocolate but pretty much been on full BC since Jan 2. I have an underactive thyroid and am now worried that the diet is having a negative effect on my metabolism. But that just makes me feel worse because if I can't lose weight even when I'm being strict, there's no hope for me.

Sorry for the moan, just need a little vent. I will KOKO but I really want to see some movement on the scales soon

@AllTheBlackCoffee
How much water are you drinking.
Honestly.
If you're not sure then it's probably not enough.
Or that might just be me

Great to see the low carb recipe topic @BIWI . And that cauliflower cheese soup is on my list for next week, sounds delicious. I've had a good 2 days strict BC, it feels good to be back on the wagon, just need to rein in on the snacks, all low carb, but too many and more habit than hunger.

@AllTheBlackCoffee I'm away right now, but back tomorrow - list out for me your food/ drink over the last few days and let me see if I can spot anything that might help.

Anyone else absolutely knackered??

Yes, @merchdrist and I have a headache

@AllTheBlackCoffee are you eating cheese, by any chance? I find that stops me losing weight on this woe

Totally. Is it really only Wednesday?

I've been doing this for two and a half weeks now and so far I've lost five pounds! Was 11 stone 6 and I'm now 11 stone 1. Can't wait until the scale goes down into the tens!

I made a lovely soup this week so delicious and healthy.

Was onions, celery, leeks, garlic, all fried in butter then added spinach and broccoli, chicken stock, pureed and added cream at the end.

I've also been having fried chicken wings with aioli, easy, quick and tasty.

Good morning from me and my cup of coffee with cream. As usual, the morning of day 4 is when I suddenly feel a bit looser and less stiff going down the stairs - one of my favourite NSVs.

Morning all, also absolutely shattered here although I'm still recovering from the cold I brought back with me from the weekend, and I stupidlyagreed to work tomorrow when all I want to do is sleep!!! However I have very little appetite and have eaten mainly as fuel rather than for enjoyment - the beef and broccoli definitely benefitted from being in the freezer even if the green was more grey!

Have meal-planned up to the end of this month mainly from the freezer so not had much opportunity to peruse the recipe threads, I seem to have an overabundance of mince and things made with mince (3x tubs of cooked chilli anyone?!) and I can't stand the stuff 😂. Will miss them like crazy but there will be distinct advantages to DD buggering off in September.........I did however find a rogue pack of pigs in blankets which I'm going to cook up and hide from DH so I can have them as snacks!!!!!!

IF until lunchtime today, and I might have an omelette instead of FFGY, then chicken wrapped in bacon with celeriac bake for dinner this evening. Loads of herbal tea again, it's too cold for water and hoping to carry on the downwards trend. In my head if I can reverse the gain from the end of the last BC by Monday then I have 7 weeks to lose 8lb which is doable.

Thanks @BIWI your insight would be appreciated. Most days I have one cup of proper black coffee, several decafs, at least two or three herbal teas and 3x 750ml of water (one with a High 5 tablet) so I think I'm drinking enough.

Last few days:

MON
B: Greek yog, sploosh of cream
L: omelette (not sure what was in this as DH made it but did have had veggies)
D: LC sausages, swede mash, broccoli, mange tout, veggies in lashings of melted butter (I use it instead of gravy )

TUES
B: nothing
L: bowl of scrambled eggs in butter (had been to the dentist, would usually have more than this)
D: chilli without beans (20% mince), cauli rice fried in butter, dollop of sour cream

WED
B: Greek yog, cream
L: mushrooms stuffed with cream cheese and lardons, salad with olive oil
D: chicken curry (thighs with tinned toms, courgette, leeks, shallots), cauli rice in butter

This is a pretty standard week. I'm not usually a snacker and am not overly keen on breakfast but apparently fasting is not good for my thyroid so I do try and force down some yogurt most weekdays and usually have a bigger brunch on a weekend. I exercise pretty regularly, couple of runs, couple of weights sessions each week. I do LOVE wine but try and stick to Fri/sat and mostly limit to half a bottle each night (tho I have done dry Jan so not had much this year). Don't really have a sweet tooth but occasionally have a couple of squares of dark choc. I have SLC wraps and rolls but only use once or twice a week as I'm a bit scared of them as they taste so much like the real thing my brain tells me I shouldn't be having them.

All that aside, my weight has gone down again over the last couple of days but I've still not dropped below 186 which is where I've been hovering since 26/01. I really wanted to hit 182 by 19/02 (half term for us and 13st) but it's looking more and more unlikely so any advice would be appreciated.

Morning everyone,

Lack of sleep really plays havoc on this world, doesn't it? I had an awful night's sleep and found myself reaching for the chocolates for a burst of energy during a difficult work day then ended up working through dinner (work is awful at the moment) so ended up doing a 15hr fast until this am. This is NOT the way to BC as I know so am determined to get a grip despite a very early start tomorrow and more travel.

On a happier note, I had a cheeky weigh in this morning and have just slipped into the 78s at 78.9kg. I hope it sticks for this week's weigh in.

Bfast: Greek yog and strawberries (I'm doing BC light)
Lunch today : homemade chicken soup with loads of veg
Dinner : left over Thai green curry

woe not world lol although that too

I was hoping to get 0.4lb off this week to get my plant pot 😅however it's looking like I may have weighed in on Monday at the low end of a fluctuation. Such is life! I've been continuing to do alright the past few days - I've swerved cake and navigated a lunch out with success so I'm not too worried. I just really would have liked that plant pot.. I may have bought myself a new lamp however.

Today was leftovers day. A stinky cauliflower cheese soup for lunch and then braised pork shanks with cauli for tea, with some red cabbage on the side. Tomorrow is going to be a halloumi and aubergine day.

I've been away for the last couple of days - Christmas present to DH was an overnight stay in Rye, which was lovely. Would have been lovelier if the weather hadn't been so shit today!

Anyway, back now.

But @FinallyHere I have a problem accessing the spreadsheet - rows before row 86 are hidden for me and I can't seem to unhide them!

Afternoon all - been a busy few days here, uni day yesterday (my work are funding me through a business degree, I’ll graduate at 40 which feels like an achievement in itself) then a full day training on a new software today. Lunch was provided, sandwiches and crisps though so I went for a stroll instead and grabbed a pot of subway meatballs and asked for extra cheese on top.

pork chop for tea while dh and the kids had sausage and mash. All had a creamy mustard sauce and then sides of broccoli cauli and a Greek yogurt dessert.

I did fail slightly at coffee break time and mindlessly grabbed and handful of crisps as they were in bowls on the table and I wasn’t even thinking. It’s the one thing which really irritates me is that all catered meetings etc are sooo carb laden

Incidentally, I had an email from the srslylowcarb company today, with a recipe in it for Yorkshire puddings!

Here it is, if anyone is interested in trying it.

Sorry it's not behaving for you @BIWI

Is it any different for you between the app or any browser? I've tried both and not yet been able to recreate the issue you are seeing.

If you click in the very top square, the one aligned with the row and column numbers, then right mouse click, is there any chance of the option to inside being available. I don't really see how it could be hidden for someone and not for another.

Puzzlin'