Feb '24 Bootcamp - week 3 - time for a boot up the ...

[BIWI]

It feels like there's a lack of focus right now, going by the posts so far today!

Low carbing is not a forgiving way of eating, and while the odd 'lapse' here and there can usually be accommodated, anything more than that really will show on the scales.

The week 2 thread was also suspiciously quiet, which leads me to wonder how many people are still actually Bootcamping?!

So let's re-set things

Forget about last week, and start afresh. Focus on what you're going to cook/eat this week, and make sure it's Bootcamp-compliant. Perhaps consider going back to strict Bootcamp, rather than moving on to Bootcamp Light.

If you're wavering about low carbing, go to the spreadsheet and read some of the resources there, or to a site like https://www.dietdoctor.com/news The Diet Doctor, as a reminder of the benefits of eating like this, beyond weight loss.

Here's the spreadsheet

You don't have to enter your weight if you don't want to - or if you're taking a break from weighing - but it's good to do so for the accountability.

And good luck! We can do this!

Tapas for me tonight too, I will be looking longingly at the croquetas!!

My DS2 used to love those mummy and me days too, oh for the days when they were content just to have a mooch with mummy!

I feel like everything I eat comes with a side of buttered cabbage and mushrooms these days. What do you all use as your carb-replacement fodder? I should probably make a batch of celeriac mash but looking for inspiration

I know how you feel @PurpleWhirple every meal here seems to come with buttered broccoli and baby corn.

@PurpleWhirple I hear you too - cauliflower or celeriac mash, cauliflower cheese, roasted broccoli or other veg are my go tos

Shoogled sprouts are my "go to".

I find it difficult when they are no longer in season

My go-to is roast veg - mainly pepper, cauliflower and courgette. I often see lovely things like celeriac dauphinoise but never actually get round to making them 🤦🤦

My go to is salad, or roast cauliflower. I can't bear oily or buttery veg but cauliflower roasted in a tiny bit of olive oil is nice. I don't usually have cream in to make LC cauliflower cheese or similar.

https://ottolenghi.co.uk/recipes/grilled-red-cabbage-with-gorgonzola-and-grapes?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=crucifers&_kx=wguO335JlWqmCcX_m-lbhnnCIDa-yWXtQ5facrQBqGk.W7DD6V
this came through my emails this morning , I have a red cabbage in the fridge, I usually just make coleslaw with it , my infamous red Christmas coleslaw was a thing of beauty , but beetroot and dried cranberries aren’t compliant , so giving this a go tonight ( minus the grapes and brown sugar , obviously ! )

My regular veg sides:

• roasted broccoli (usually Tenderstem, but can be 'ordinary') with shallots; roasted in a generous sloosh of olive oil
• sliced leeks, sautéed in butter or olive oil, with chilli flakes
• cabbage, first boiled in salted water, briefly, then gently braised in butter, with the juice of a lemon and some white pepper; occasionally also start the braise by frying a shallot or two before I add the cabbage
• courgettes, sliced, pan-fried in olive oil with a sliced red pepper. And/or chilli flakes
• celeriac or swede chips
• cauliflower, roasted with olive oil and ground cumin
• braised fennel; parboil first, for a couple of minutes, then braise in butter/oil with lemon juice

... or just a green salad, which I usually serve with thinly sliced shallots, and a vinaigrette made with cider or red wine vinegar, and wholegrain mustard

Oh my that red cabbage recipe looks fab, am saving that. I've seen a few nice looking red cabbages in the shops lately and I love my nanna's rotkohl recipe but there's a lot in it that isn't compliant.

Cauliflower in various formats, cabbage (and I feel you), leeks and peppers are common go tis for me. I'm hoping summer will be easier with side salads. In a way it's good as a lot of the recipes I come across are heavy on the meat or dairy and don't really have enough veg in them, so it balances out. But gosh aren't starchy carbs convenient.

Thanks all, plenty of ideas there! I probably need to reacquaint myself with cauliflower, I do like the taste of it when I have it but find the smell when cooking it really off putting.

I like leeks and courgette too so will try to have those more often.

And thank you for reminding me that braised fennel exists BIWI, I do love that but never seem to remember to cook it.

I was out for tapas this evening and stayed on plan apart from a small glass of Cava. Had some lovely anchovies, a tomato salad and a gorgeous hispi cabbage dish with toasted almonds and Romesco sauce, I'm going to have to try to recreate that last one, it was delicious.

I really like the Delia recipe which has been around for over 30 years or so. Red peppers cut in half and inside the cavity you put some garlic, a little chopped anchovy, some fresh tomatoes, quartered, S&P and drizzled generously with olive oil before baking in a medium oven for an about 40 mins. Goes with so many things.

Last night one of our tapas dishes was an aubergine and tomato, garlic and cheese gratin. Delicious and definitely something I'll be making at home.

It's hardly a recipe but one of my most favourite things are air fried fennel

Slice the fennel bulb into rings (as you would for an onion) core and all. Melt a spoonful of duck or goose or whatever fat, use a silicon pastry to brush the melted fat over the pieces of fennel and air fry until the edges are slightly singed.

If you enjoy the aniseed-y taste they are delicious with everything

Come to think of it, this is my approach for pretty much any Bootcamp compliant veg and an easy way to help boost my 'Zoe' score ( recommended thirty different kinds of veg each week )

@PurpleWhirple why not try roasting cauliflower? IMO it's nicer than boiled, and you won't get the smell either!

@BIWI forgot about swede chips, they're great in the air fryer - almost as crispy as the real thing! Second roasting cauliflower too, it's my favourite way to have it 😊.

Busy one today - and all about meeeee 🤣. Nails, then tattoo so no excuse for missing water, can't IF though as need to eat first! Then cupboard audit and shopping list - DH has a rare Saturday morning off so I'm making him help with a Big Shop! I can do it myself but just easier with 2 - if I can keep my patience with him in the shop itself!!!!!

Just checking in to say hello and say I'm still here. I'm still not experiencing any weight loss but I'm still here. I really don't think it helps that I'm short and not got a lot to lose!

I've recently started to do some (very beginner!) weight/strength training at home (not able to go to a gym). I know it's good to try to do this as we get older and also wondering if it might help if I can gradually (probably very slowly!) build a bit of muscle to help with some fat loss.

Back home tonight after a lovely few days away. The rain eased off so we had some lovely walks and were able to get outside as much as possible I won't talk about the hot tub for fear of losing my MN members badge

I've been great food wise all week, though I have had a few wines, but this morning the scales gods rewarded me with a whopping 2lb off for the week so far and my lowest weight this year. I can't tell you how proud I am that I've managed to stick with it while I was away, with so much temptation, but I'm really glad to get a boost on the scales too.

Not enough water today though so just hoping that doesn't have a negative effect. Will drink double tomorrow, promise!

@AllTheBlackCoffee 🥰. Well done!

Haven’t posted for a few days because of a bad lapse one day in the week - I met an old friend for a drink and it ended up being carby bar snacks and then a massive bar of choc on the way home. I had two very strict days to follow though, and this morning was slightly down on the scales from last week, thank goodness. Lots of exercise planned for today, so hopefully that will seal the deal.

It’s St David’s Day this week, and I want to be able to have one of my mother’s bakestones with her, in case she isn’t here next year, so need an absolutely exemplary few days in terms of food and exercise first.

Well done @AllTheBlackCoffee that's amazing.

I'm weighing daily and heading into a weekend away with pals at 299lbs so just really hoping I can keep below the awful 300 mark this weekend 🤞🤞🤞
It will definitely motivate me to make decent choices

If you like anchovies, then add some to your aubergine gratin. It is delicious. Hits the pizza spot

@AllTheBlackCoffee

Gratters on sticking with Bootcamp even when on holiday. Such a great feeling and rewarded by the scales, too

It gives me great hope of bootcamping as a way of life, to see how it fits into celebrations, holidays and the like.

Congratulations @AllTheBlackCoffee! Perseverance wins in the end!

We went out for lunch with friends yesterday (the joy of being retired!), and went to a tapas bar. Always good for low carbing, I find, but I had to be very clear and loud that what I was ordering I wasn't sharing! All too often in a tapas bar people want to share - which is fine - but they would have ended up sharing my low carb stuff, and leaving me to share their carby things! Much as I would have liked the tortilla, the ham croquettas and the patatas bravas, I stuck to my churrasco de pollo and broccoli con limon! I snuck in a few padron peppers too, which were being passed round.

Had a brilliant few days in London with my friend from primary school. Quite the adventurers! Managed well with food, mostly - Jamaican jerk chicken with salad and coleslaw; breakfast at dishoom (lovely cheese and chilli omelette with a side of mushroom); lobster and salad - though far too much balsamic dressing was on the salad; M&S lc snacks for the train home. Then dh had made cod wrapped in pancetta on a bed of spinach and puy lentils

Tonight is chicken thighs with a side of turnip gratin: thinly sliced swede, cabbage and leeks, lightly sauted in butter. Add whole grain mustard and plenty of grated cheese. Delicious.

Tomorrow I'm going to try that lovely red cabbage and gorgonzola recipe. Thanks @LilianaVikavanovich