Week 2 - Pre-Christmas '24 Low Carb Bootcamp - the first weigh-in!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Here's the link to the spreadsheet

Hopefully you will have seen a good result on the scales (or with your measurements/clothes) in this first week. @CarbONothing is half a stone down, which is brilliant

If you haven't lost/much, don't be downhearted. If this is a new WOE for you, sometimes it can take a while for your body to work out what it's supposed to do.

I have noticed, though, that there's been a fair bit of 'laxness' (which is the word I shall use with some leniency ), and although all that may have been justified, just remember this is supposed to be the first, strict, part of Bootcamp!

Thank you for posting the chicken soup recipe @islandtiger /@islandbengal - it does sound delicious. I would, though, bother with the faffing around with the skin, as crispy chicken skin is totally gorgeous.

Anyway, here's to a good week for us all.

Yes I have
Just totally habit to chuck some berries on my yogurt
Thanks for the reminder!

That’s probably much less messy than my version of fajitas which is iceberg lettuce leaves used as the wraps.

Scale shift stalled
Trust the process
Trust the process
Trust the process

The brainwashing works then!

Is it normal to feel hungry between meals after a couple of months on a low-carb diet?

I’ve been low-carbing for nearly two months and just yesterday started feeling hunger and slight cravings again, which I hadn’t experienced since I began.

I feel full after meals but could still eat more. If the hunger hits soon after a meal, I try to wait, but if it's between meals, I’ll have some FFGY, an egg, or olives.

Any ideas? Just finding it odd.

@Pash01 If you're eating enough, and you're eating enough protein/fat, and keeping your carbs low, then really (by now) you shouldn't be hungry between meals. (And also if you're drinking all the water!)

Do you think you're trying to keep your calories low/portions small? Even unconsciously?

@Pash01 I’ve been low carb for 6 weeks now and I’m finding the opposite and that’s with a small breakfast and lunch , at dinner I’m struggling to finish a normal sized portion . We had lunch out in the week and I had a ham and cheese omelette with a small salad and I couldn’t finish it .

@BIWI the only things I can think of is that I’ve started drinking one coffee or tea again the last couple of days and maybe not quite enough water as I barely manage 2L. I’ve also slightly increased my running to 25 mins 3x a week.

@Floralnomad yes I was the same since 9th of September. I’ve just been cruising along until this week.

It just dawned on me that on Tuesday I forgot to eat! I was very busy that day and then got over excited with some great news so didn’t have my first meal until 4pm! Which is very unlike me. I’ve had two lots of great news this week followed by poor sleep (hence the caffeine, vicious cycle I need to get off of). So yes, looks like I haven’t been eating enough. Thanks so much for helping figure it out! 💫

I’ll be more diligent on the water and eat more protein/fat during my meals. I’ve obviously let a few things slide.

Is the cauliflower rice recipe in the recipe thread? I can’t see it on the spreadsheet. Rereading the rules and realise I’m drinking too many coffees + cream in a day. If we cut back on dairy does anyone have tips for increasing fat intake in other ways?

It's in the recipe thread under vegetarian.
Sorry I cannot master how to send a link
🤯

We add butter and sometimes garlic, chilli, spring onions or cumin just depending.
I'd even double cream. 😋
Posted by @BettyBathroom:

Cauliflower Rice

In a food processor, using the pulse action, process fresh cauliflower until it's the size of grains of rice.
Stick it in a microwave proof bowl, cover with a plate and microwave for 8 mins. Done!
Do not add water

Thanks @islandtiger I’ll try it esp with the added suggestions ;-)

@DrBlackbird or all major supermarkets sell frozen cauliflower rice in packs of 4 individual sachets. I find it a lot easier to use them as and when I need them, 5 mins in the microwave and done.

Well tonight I made the ‘marry me halloumi’ I posted up thread. I thought it was delicious, DP really not so much so a 50% success rate. Pic of how it turned out. Also just marinated some Brussel sprouts (recipe below) for tomorrow night’s dinner, I’m planning on having them as a side with a cauliflower bake. one of my go to quick lunches is Brussel sprouts and halloumi, cooked in the air fryer with olive oil and seasoning, so if they’re nice then I will also have them with halloumi in future.

@CleanQueen123

How's everyone dealing with "wisdom" from other people?

Smile and nod. And ignore.

I just don't discuss my private affaires with anyone. I'm the only person who decides what I eat. I'm not interested in input from anyone else

Likewise, I change the subject if anyone thinks it's appropriate to comment on my body and its shape and size. Most people are very easily deflected. If anyone seriously asked my 'how I did it' I'll point them to Bootcamp and leave them too it.

So much pressure to be talking about food with anyone other than you lovely people here. Thank you

I love the idea of marinading sprouts overnight @VeryGoodVeryNice, I shall definitely be trying that.

I also do a similar sprout and halloumi combo with harissa, taken from the Green Tray Bake book:

thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/spicy-harissa-sprouts-and-broccoli-with-halloumi-and-spinach/

@VeryVeryGoodVeryNice that sprout recipe looks delicious. I have some lovely fresh sprouts in the fridge so might try this fir dinner this evening.

I slipped on wet leaves and landed really hard on my bum on Thursday morning. My tailbone hurts and sitting is really painful so I have been on my side in bed with alternating cold/ice packs and on strong painkillers for the past few days. I have managed to stay on BC and strangely have not been tempted to dive into chocolate or have a piece of cake to cheer me up. Only thing is the first few days sitting on the toilet was uncomfortable so I reduced my water intake. I am feeling a little better today so hopefully will be a bit more mobile.

Have a great day everyone.

@DrBlackbird butter on vegetables or vinaigrette on salad are easy ways to increase your fat intake... if you need to.

Managing ok while away, particularly as I prepared well for breakfast and packable lunches with a selection of boiled eggs, cold sausages, babybel, with celery, tomato and cucumber. Definitely not enough water. Lots of time on my feet too! Opted for a carvery last night and dodged the worst of the carbs. I've got some celery and pate I can eat today as National Trust cafes are just as hopeless as the zoos we've been visiting for HFLC.

Home cooked but not particularly compliant meal on Friday night. Will try to be very careful today!

Ouch @Goodiewhemper that sounds super painful. Hope the pain eases off quickly.

Absolutely agreed. I don't usually broadcast it but a conversation about weight loss/diets came up in general office chat.

I'll be like the Queen in the future, smile and wave 😁

like the Queen in the future, smile and wave

😁

I'm particularly conscious of any messaging my DDs get about this way of eating- yesterday I explained to them that veggie meals can be quite pasta/rice heavy and eating too much of that plus sugary things makes me feel really tired. Not that I particularly feel the need to justify LC to anyone else, but I do find if I focus on how much more energy I have on this WoE then people don't really comment further.
Happy Sunday everyone and good luck for tomorrow!

Morning all!
Sorry for the lack of participation so far. It was my daughters wedding week last week, and yes, it was a week's worth of wedding activities, including 2 ceremonies (Trans wedding = legal ceremony and very big allaborate wedding), 2 bridezillas, lots of stress and tears and endless food. I didn't even try LCing as expected! 😂
Will be back on track from tomorrow now we're home.

Well my diet is now trashed , unfortunately we’ve had to have our elderly dog put to sleep at 4 this morning , I’ve had an addisonian crisis and am currently drinking options hot chocolate and dipping malted milk biscuits as I feel extremely sick . Will hopefully be back on track later in the week .

Weddings and losing a dog! That is understandable stress I can totally imagine.

We've just celebrated a significant anniversary, looking through the photos & paperwork I can see the flash points and the sitting on emotion in the casual.photos.
I'm encouraging my daughters to elope!

I was a mess after losing my dog, I cried if people were nice, I cried on the school run, in the kitchen. Christ, I still miss that dog but it's gradually got easier to remember all the good bits without the waterworks. Took a long time!