Week 1 - Pre-Christmas '24 Low Carb Bootcamp. And we're off!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Here's the spreadsheet

Four important things:

1. You don't have to be on the spreadsheet if you don't want to - so if your name is there and you want it taken off, let @FinallyHere know, and she will remove it
2. If you've signed up, but your name isn't there, again, let @FinallyHere know and she will add you
3. Just add your weight and don't touch any of the other cells!
4. If you're using your phone for Mumsnet, you'll need to download the Google Sheets app

For Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs.editors.sheets&hl=en-US For apple iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-sheets/id842849113

If you don't want to be on the spreadsheet that's perfectly fine, but please make sure you check out all the resources that on there, on the different tabs. Most critical of all, of course, is the tab with the rules. But there's also loads of information about low carbing, carb counts for various things (including the veg carb counter, which is important), and various different plans and recipes that might help you.

And a massive thank you to @FinallyHere for managing this

Ooooh thank you!!!

@islandtiger your Ottolenghi cabbage soup sounds interesting! Does it take ages to make?
I’ve done so much googling about oils over the years I’ve no longer any clue. I thought EVOO wasn’t good for cooking as it has a low heat point. I use butter mostly but that’s also a low heat point. 🤷‍♀️

That's interesting thank you. I wonder how to get foods in that are high fat but not necessarily high protein - I'm guessing avocado? Not nuts as too carby... oil and butter? Oily fish?

@WellExactly2 it's actually really difficult to eat too much protein unless you use protein powders or you have a medical disorder that affects your kidneys.

I'm pretty sure the olive oil smoke point/whatever it's called is a myth. I remember reading something debunking it. But even if some of it is true, I long ago decided that I wasn't going to worry about that - my reasoning being that if something is natural, unadulterated and has been in use by humanity for millennia, it can't be that bad.

@SpinningTops I didn’t want you to think your TMI post would go unrecognized! It Is A Thing, I’ve dealt with it a couple of times while bootcamping. All I can suggest is that your digestive system is rebelling against the sudden influx of water (when I begin bootcamp I realise I am sometimes doubling my water intake) and/or a spike in vegetable fibre. I was, shall we say, restricted to home for most of this morning…

Standard office packed breakfast and lunch, only change from yesterday was I had mackerel with my salad this lunchtime.

My cheeseburger pie (must be on the meat recipe thread) was excellent, served with Cavolo Nero, and as I had a 700g pack of mince I made enough to freeze two extra dinners for two, so quite a result.

Ah yes ok - I was just thinking about the protein intake remaining mainly the same.

Great to hear how well everyone’s getting on - and thanks for the salad dressing recipes. I’d never thought to just keep it in the original olive oil bottle! Genius. I like cooking with lots (and lots) of butter, or tallow.

I've also had that problem on previous bootcamps @SpinningTops It only lasted a day or two though and preceded some decent weight loss so 🤞. How’s it been today?

Tried the chicken pie this evening and it was delicious and filling. There was quite a bit of prep (for me) so I think I’ll leave it for weekends, but I’ll definitely make it again. Thanks for the recipe BIWI

Am finding it pretty easy to stick to rules this time - apart from the accidental black beans in the chilli on Monday. My appetite is already changing, biscuits no longer appealing but meat and veggies are! Love it when that happens but it’s normally further along the bootcamp.

A decent day today:

B: FFGY
L: salad with homemade meatballs and feta
D: Cod curry with lots of spinach

Not quite enough water but the day is not over yet! X

Food - good, turned down pudding, sticking to plan
Exercise - minimal, but kit ready for tomorrow

@CarbONothing - just to check. Have you read the FAQ about exercise?

Hi @FinallyHere could I be added to the spreadsheet please, aiming to start Sunday so will join the threads for week 2.
thank you @BIWI for organising and for everyone else’s wonderful contributions

@VeryGoodVeryNice So feel for you going through that sugar withdrawal. Mine really was quite something with my monkey brain jumping from one kind of sugar to another, urging me to cram chocolate, cakes, biscuits and then even the kind of hard boiled sweets that I don't even like down my throat.

This is my third year of seriously low carbing. The strongest motivation to stay on the waggon is exactly to avoid having to go through that again. 😎

As for 'haven't since Sunday' I absolutely plan my meals around sufficient veg matter to keep me regular no matter what. In increasing order of effectiveness I'd rank raw cabbage (as coleslaw or just chopped in any kind of salad, spinach wilted in butter and roast celeriac. All.the.water, feeling relaxed and then a good strong coffee after a meal with plenty of veg and all is right in my world

DH laughs at my dedication (and willingness to discuss) I don't care because this level of comfort in my life is really important to me.

And a wonderful bonus of high fat low carb

@Nightvax Welcome & consider it done

Wouldn’t you know on day 1 my scales stopped working! I’ll enter my last known weight and get new ones.

This time around I need to be more careful about cheese and cream consumption. I went a little bit overboard with those as compensation for dropping carbs. Plus more water.

Had the feta and Parma wrapped chicken with a plateful of veggies last night. I do find myself waking up in the middle of the night feeling hungry sometimes to the point of a mild stomach ache but drop back to sleep.

Anyone tried celeriac chips? I'm going to give them a go with ham and eggs today.

Ohhh yes there's a LC dirty chips recipe that sounds amazing but I've never tried it...

They don't get crispy, just be aware of that. But they're tasty.

@FinallyHere I’ve been mainlining vegetables this week but because I take codeine at night my system doesn’t need much excuse to bung itself up. Took a max strength senokot last night and still nothing 😬. Weighed myself today and I’m still 3lbs down despite carrying 5 days of food around with me…just hope the ‘eagle lands’ before weigh in day on Monday 😂

@VeryGoodVeryNice 😁

I'm a big fan of celeriac chunks brushed with duck or goose fat and air fried for something like 25-35 mins, not exactly chips but delicious.

They go particularly well , IMO, with a dip of smoked hot paprika mayo/FFGY

I'm in plse. Placemarking :-)

@FinallyHere please add me to the speadsheet, ty

Lowest weight this year I think slightly surprised to see I have never been a full lb under 9 stone apologies, I do have a very short small frame all year. Almost 3lbs off since Monday morning. Doubt I'll maintain that over the weekend as I'm off to stay with family and catch up with old friends but it has motivated me to try my best!

WFH so nice breakfast of corned beef (emptying the fridge) with scrambled eggs and shallot. Lunch TBC, dinner in the hands of my mother but I think a beef stew with probably dreadful veg, will dodge the Yorkshire pudding.

Quite happy not to drink, like a PP earlier in the week, really finding even small amounts not worth it in my old middle age. I had all of September off and saw no real benefit but then as soon as I had a couple of glasses a couple of times realised I really wasn't liking the impact next day.

Done. Welcome.

Where is the exercise FAQ mentioned earlier, please?

Just back from a dance class.

breakfast : 3 boiled eggs and some Boursin this morning

lunch : ham and tomatoes, spoon of cream for pudding, have drunk almost 2l so far

yesterday,

lunch : whole small plaice and tomatoes, asparagus and broccoli

supper : was out, so I had most of a M and S naked chicken kebab salad (whole thing would have been 11 carbs) + cheese kebab tapas (less than 1 carb)

tea : a little pot of clotted cream

also snacked on cheese ? too much cheese

I've had an annoying (not my fault) slip up today. Met a friend for tea, said I'd just be getting peppermint so she took me to a place that does the 'best peppermint tea'.
It was made with honey.
I had to drink it and decided to just enjoy it.

But still feel annoyed - who puts honey in tea?

I now have the added problem of an afternoon tea party. I've had lunch and I'm hoping I can just make excuses and not eat. But you never know with these things and I'm a people pleaser.