Feb '24 Low Carb Bootcamp - week 7, the penultimate week

[BIWI]

Morning all.

Sad to be back, and envious of those still away - and those yet to go!

I've skimmed the thread while I was away, but not read properly, so I'll catch up later today. In the meantime:

Here's the spreadsheet

Only two weeks left before our final weigh-in, so might be a good time, if things have slowed down, to consider going back to strict Bootcamp?

Whatever you choose, let's make these last two weeks really good ones.

Good luck everyone

Delicious grass fed steak with mushrooms and asparagus tonight.

@biwi we are still here - it’s been so good having the group to check in with, I’m away for next weeks weigh in but will definitely be carrying on into April. I’m determined to loose another 10-12lbs by mid summer.

🙏 for all you and @prettybird @FinallyHere gave done to guide us

Is anyone else mentally planning forward for the next bootcamp already? I’ve got my target for this one, and then the target that I’ll aim for next time (the heady heights of overweight rather than obese).

Still here and KOKO. I'm drinking all the water but find myself unaccountably hungry.

{Dosed up on ibuprofen and something called phenylephrine Hydrochloride capsules so hopefully no space for sugar substitute stuff. Throat much better so at least I'm not constantly sucking the no sugar pastiles today. }

It's probably a mirage but I figure so long as I stick to low carb it will be all good. Celeriac chips and hot Smoked Paprika mayo dip tonight. Mmm-mmm.

A strange combo for dinner tonight. We have beef bourguignon from the freezer from months ago (past its best for sure!) with the keto cauli cheese left over from last night and some broccoli.

I am having cheesy leeks for tea. That's all I fancy! 😂

I'm still here and very much still sticking with bootcamp.

However, I'm having a very hungry day today that I think is linked to being premenstrual. I'm never normally hungry in the evening (normally finish eating by 6.30pm ish) but currently feeling so hungry!

I've noticed it's been quiet the last week or so and that puts me off posting a bit, so maybe it's a bit of a vicious circle? I like it best when the threads are busy tho so I have plenty to read and distract me from food.

Crazy busy office day today so only just having time to post. Breakfast was Greek yogurt and cream, lunch was an SLC roll with cheese, ham and butter and tea was a slow cooked chilli with cauli rice fried in butter. I bloody love my slow cooker for days like today!

I've treated myself to some lowish carb chocolate eggs for Easter - https://www.prodigysnacks.com/products/salted-caramel-chocolate-egg?selling_plan=3522920674&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=21019093431&utm_medium=ad&utm_term=prodigy%20chocolate&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhe_-n6-BhQMVBphQBh34Bwm7EAAYASABEgIL4PD_BwE Not cheap and deffo not completely BC compliant but certainly better than a heap of Cadburys. They arrived today so, in the interests of research, I tried one and was very impressed. The rest have now been hidden away out of my way and will be used an an occasional treat.

Those eggs look fascinating, @AllTheBlackCoffee . Let us know what they taste like.

I’m away with work for the next three days, which comes with high risk of inappropriate snacking. Setting myself up for today with a huge breakfast, to make it easier to say no.

i just re-read and saw that you had already tried one! Time for another coffee I think.

Nearly 3lb (2.8) down on the scales this morning which just goes to show how being strict and all the water makes such a difference - still have the bloaty feeling though so going to keep on. Out for a lovely friend's 50th this evening, looking at the menu they've taken away a lot of the LC-friendly vegetable options (used to have a lovely charred broccoli dish on the sides) but will make the best of it. Early start tomorrow for a office day so won't be having alcohol.
https://avucciria.co.uk/

I've been hungry this week @Magnolia82, putting it down to last week's blip meaning I had to start again on getting rid of carbs similar to when you'd start LCHF, but haven't given into cravings so far...........

@Whicker I have a long-term goal of 10 1/2 stone which is just under a stone from where I am this morning, it will take me into the "healthy" BMI and then to hopefully work to keep there or thereabouts. I have a feeling it will be a bit of a slog towards the end so I also need to make sure I don't get distracted and just go fuckit!!! Happy to loosen up a little here and there - but I know that bread makes me feel terrible so will avoid that, I haven't really missed pasta, rice, potatoes etc so will keep away from those. My loosening up of the rules will probably involve reintroducing things like pulses every now and then but other than that I can't see me going back to a complete carb-fest!

Reasonably chilled work day so going to do a bit of meal-planning for next week and get ready for tomorrow's office day foodwise. Also hopefully get a loaf of LC bread into the oven to avoid cravings over the weekend.

Oops that was a bit epic, feel free to skim!!! Have a good day all!

That menu looks lovely @TheOnlyMrsW Not sure if you're asking for suggestions but I'd go for the lamb skewers and the caprese salad. I'm out for a retirement lunch next week and we've gone for a Turkish grill place and I will be having similar.

I forgot to tell you all about my NSV yesterday. I was going into the office and grabbed my jeans out of the wardrobe while I was getting ready. It was only after about an hour I realised they are my smaller jeans and last time I wore them they were so uncomfortable, I had actual seam imprints on my legs when I took them off They fit me perfectly yesterday

DH is away this week and DS has requested pizza for tea so I will be sampling the one I bought from SLC a few weeks ago, which I'm quite excited about. I will report back!

I'm still here!! was 1/2 pound down yesterday and another pound this morning, so am quite pleased with myself!

And in an NSV am about to leave the house in my thin jeans. Bf was ff yog, cream, berries and walnuts. Lunch will be a goats cheese omelette. Going to look for lc crackers/bread in Waitrose now

@TheOnlyMrsW lots of nice things on that menu. I'd have the beef carpaccio or the cured salmon to start accompanied by fried friggitelli peppers. The lamb skewers look good, as does the prawns with chilli and garlic. There's nice side of green beans, pine nuts and pecorino. In fact writing all that out I think I've just completed my menu plans for Friday/Saturday/Sunday

Last night we had ostrich steaks which were really delicious. They're a bit on the lean side so I cooked them in lots of butter and then used the left over butter to cook a selection of mushrooms. broccoli and creamed spinach with it. And there's a small portion left for my lunch today.

Dinner will be a curry made with halloumi cheese, green beans and tomato, with cauliflower rice. Yum.

It's DH's birthday today. We decided not to celebrate by going out for dinner, which is we would usually do, given that we've spent so much on going out for dinner on our recent holiday!

So I'm cooking tonight. We're having:

Parmesan-baked ricotta with tomato, olive and basil salad
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/parmesan-baked-ricotta-tomato-olive-basil-salad

Beef cheeks in red wine sauce with cauliflower purée
https://www.agfg.com.au/recipe/beef-cheeks-in-red-wine-sauce-with-cauliflower-puree-chef-recipe-by-jose-pizarro

Dark chocolate mousse (a recipe posted originally by @StuntNun)
https://www.delscookingtwist.com/dark-chocolate-mousse-the-one-and-only/

(I've added some freeze-dried raspberries to the mousse too)

As Bootcamp-friendly as I could make it! Although there will be wine

@AllTheBlackCoffee that was my thinking too, although I may not have a starter and instead go for the cheese plate for dessert, I can't manage 3 courses at all nowadays!

@venusandmars thank you for your suggestions - with you on the starters, but absolutely despise green beans!!!! The chickpea fritters are absolutely gorgeous but as I had an off week last week I'm not going near anything non-BC compliant!!!!!

@BIWI your menu sounds delicious apart from the olives otherwise known as the devil's testicles your DH is a lucky chap!!!

Brunch was cherry toms, peppers and mushrooms in an omelette with halloumi and crispy bacon so I've at least got some vegetables in me!!!!

I'm still here! Had a terrible day yesterday, got into a fight with my BIL. Long story, but we are clearing out my parent's house, is emotionally draining and I don't Have a great relationship my older sister, I find her v dismissive and controlling. Came down yesterday morning to find them scoffing my expensive low carb M&S cereal ( her Dorset cereal was in the cupboard but she hadn't bothered to check ). I lost the plot then BIL started shouting at me and called me ungrateful then proceeded to cancel the restaurant he'd booked for the even and said they'd be driving back home instead.

The rest of the day was very strained and after they'd gone I REALLY wanted to order a carby takeaway! I eventually decided instead to go to the supermarket to buy some nice cheese, meats etc and got some breaded chicken to have with salad ( so a few carbs, but I didn't totally fall off the wagon )

Pretty proud of myself!

That sounds hard @Appalonia

That sounds horrendous @Appalonia. Well done for staying on track, you should be super proud!

Thank you. X

Coming out of lurkdom! I've been following along but two weeks behind and I've been enjoying the inspiration!

I'm 12lb down so far but my NSV is that my big jeans are feeling too big again! They're going to need a belt to stay up properly.

Had a nice slow cooked pork and leek casserole for dinner with lots of broccoli and butter.

Whoop whoop to the smaller jeans posse, sounds like a few NSVs this week!!

Had the SLC pizza tonight, was nice enough for someone who's not had real pizza for ages but carby and very small and I'm not sure I'll buy again. I love pizza, it's one of my favourite carby things so I think I might save it for those very rare occasions when I step off the wagon. Itch scratched anyway and everything else today was ultra LC so I'm happy.

Got me a Nando's dinner date with DS tomorrow as DH is away all week and DS has had a few exams this week and in need of some TLC from his mamma so I'm very much looking forward to not fucking cooking that.

@Appalonia that sounds tough well done for staying on track.
Found the answer to the menu dilemma - don't go as water coming through ceiling 🙁. Currently no hot water or heating (have a log burner so not baltic) and chinese for dinner as nothing planned........love salt and pepper chicken wings but batter 😡so avoided may have snagged the pepper and oniony bits had pork with mixed veg and avoided DH's rice too. V nice but not in the plan ooops. @AllTheBlackCoffee I hear you on the not cooking, there's an interesting thread elsewhere on the same theme!

So typically not a good reaction to the chinese, awake at 2.30am so absolutely shattered. Had terrible carb cravings this morning but was saved from diving into the toast by the plumber turning up!!!!!! Imagine that the chinese would have had an impact on the scales but wasn't going to stand in the bathroom without clothes to check 😂.

No plan whatsoever for today as was supposed to be going to the office but that's out of the window............sticking to plenty of water for now and will address food once we've hopefully got our heating & hot water back!!!

@Appalonia well done for resisting the takeaway.

I'm absolutely fuming about something that's happened at work today and it's taking every inch of my willpower not to demolish the Easter eggs I've bought for DS that are sat in the corner of my office. Have got a peppermint tea to try and distract me but it's not working at the minute and I just almost cried during a call with my boss (anger rather than upset) which has annoyed me even further. I really need to learn how to cope with my emotions without food but I don't know how. Waaaaahh!!!!!!