Week 5 - May '24 Low Carb Bootcamp - the second half

[BIWI]

First, I wanted to start by saying 'RIP Dr Michael Mosley'. Although Bootcamp isn't like any of the plans he developed and advocated, I have read all of his books, since he wrote The 8-week Blood Sugar Diet, and have always admired how he worked with and developed his plans around the latest science. The recipe books, written and developed by his wife, Dr Claire Bailey, are really good - easy, tasty and (mostly) in line with the WOE we advocate on Bootcamp. As he moved the Fast800 more and more towards a low carb approach, the recipe books became even more accessible for us.

Like many, I followed the news of his going missing very closely, and was hoping that he would be found alive and well. Sadly, it was not to be. He leaves behind a fantastic legacy, I think, and I'm very sad for his wife and children.

@MissBeck - that's just weekends. There's usually even flowers on the table In fact, this vase of roses from the garden was on the other end of the table

During the week we eat on trays in front of the TV

@MissBeck you can have gravy too! If you slice up an onion and put it under the chicken (probably a bit late for that now though!) and then add some water and the juice of a lemon to that, into the roasting tray (and keep the fluid topped up as the chicken roasts), when it's cooked you'll have all the yummy juices from the chicken and the onion in the roasting dish. Transfer your chicken to somewhere where it will rest, and then tip the liquid from the roasting tray, along with the onion, into a smaller saucepan, and then blitz it with a stick blender. Voilà - lovely gravy, without using any flour to thicken.

😮😮😮Fecking genius!!! You have just changed my life once again!!! Off to wrestle my chicken!! 😘😍

@BIWI Will the chicken taste of onion? cause if my daughter gets a whiff of onion she won't touch it!

No it won't!

Another lb off 😁 Really need to get to grips with the water. I start off so well, but not being able to go to the loo when I need to (my TA is off, no cover, can't leave the children) means that I can only really drink enough first thing in the morning and when I get home from work. I'm tempted to just wear a nappy 🤣

The tragic news of Michael Moseley is just so sad. I too had his 8 week blood sugar book (was looking at it the other day for the exercise plan at the back); several of his fast 800 recipe books written with his wife. Such a huge loss for her and their children. He definitely left his mark though.

Im down to 151.2lbs which is good all things considered.
Bfast - coffee with almond milk
lunch - chilli bake with a feta omelet type topping with peppers, courgette and loads of cabbage!
Dinner - cod baked in garlicky lemony butter with carrots & green beans
snack - 2 squares of 85% choc
All the water & herbal tea

@MissBeck how was BIWI’s gravy? She really is a genius!

I didn't risk it tonight as I'd put the roasties and pigs in blankets in the same roasting tin, but I've screen shotted the post and will do it with my next chicken in a few days. I have to be so sneaky when she's in the house as one slip up and a meal is ruined, accompanied by a meltdown 🙄But when she's not here to see what is happening.........😜

You could also put a thick slice or two or two of orange underneath, along with the slices of onion. That's what part of the turkey recipe that I use for the turkey gravy at Christmas - all blitzed together after roasting.

Personally, because I use a Chicken brick, I just use the jus that forms while the chicken is roasting in the brick

@prettybird oh, I'll definitely do it, I can't stop thinking about it! 😂I also stocked up on prawns after work now @BIWI has given the go ahead for Heinz no sugar/no salt ketchup for my sauce. That cost me £2.49!! How can ketchup be so much??

I don’t eat ketchup but the price of olive oil kills me! I guess it is hard to make and depends on weather etc but still!

I'm really struggling to go to the toilet and I don't understand it. I'm eating plenty of veg. I'm drinking. I'm completely on the wagon. My weight is up.

@Lougle have you tried chia seeds? I soak a tablespoon or two in about 150ml of water for about 20 mins. I then top it up with 150ml of almond milk and a spoon of almond butter and then blend it all up into a smoothie. Lots of water after you've drunk it too,

It just seems to get things moving if you're uncomfortable.

I have some, thanks @UnOeufIsEnough .

Psyllium husk fibre is a very gentle laxative. It absorbs a lot of water in the gut and gets everything moving. It also lowers cholesterol and is a prebiotic. I take 2 capsules a day of 500mg each with a pint of water.

Up the fat, drink (even more) water - try drinking it hot, and do some/more exercise.

Other things you can try are strong, black coffee and a high strength vitamin C tablet.

But when you say you're struggling, do you mean you're just not going, or that it's painful/hard to go? If the former, don't worry about it - that's not really constipation.

Yoghurt or a probiotic can help me in this situation. Or green tea.

@NotDonna I wish I could claim to be a genius!!!

I've just been doing this such a long time that I've had to find workarounds for many things.

Honestly, using onions and carrots as a trivet for roasting chicken or pork, with a cm or so of water in the roasting tray (sometimes with lemon juice or white wine) really does make lovely gravy. You can either serve it as it comes, straight out of the tin, with a tangle of very soft onions on the side of your plate or - better, I think - whizzed up with a stick blender. I usually end up with some leftover as well, which I freeze, and then use when I'm making a soup.

I'm away without scales atm and will weigh myself tomorrow but concerned that I’m not dropping v much as in no more than .5lb a week.

@DrBlackbird it's still a loss though! So it's going in the right direction for you.

However, if you're concerned, then list out for me what you've been eating and drinking over the last 3-4 days, and let's see if can spot anything.

My DH does our roasts like that but still adds blooming flour. I’ll tell him not to!

You definitely don't need flour if you blitz up the veg with the roasting juices.