Week 4 - Pre-Christmas '24 Low Carb Bootcamp: almost halfway through!

[BIWI]

Morning all.

Here's the spreadsheet

Some really good looking losses so far, which is brilliant. It also looks like the 'curse of week 3' hasn't affected everybody, which is very pleasing. Let's hope the same is true of week 4!

I'm going to try a veggie recipe this evening, which was one featured in the Guardian's Feast food magazine a couple of weeks ago, for a paneer curry. It does use cashews in it - and they are very carby, but as there's only 25g in a meal to serve 4 people I think that's OK. I love paneer, but have only really ever had it in a spinach dish, so I'm looking forward to it. (There's also a teaspoon of sugar, but I'll see what it tastes like without it before I decide if it's really necessary!)

What's everyone else cooking this week? Anything new/different?

Thanks, @BIWI

My post should say, I'll be on them for at least another 10 days. (Not last.)

Hello everyone. I hope your week is going well. I didn't log my weight this week. I have been on strong painkillers and thet are playing havoc with my system and despite eating lots of fibrre have been quite constipated. I have found it surprisingly easy to stay on bootcamp and even though the scales don't seem to be shifting my clothes are definitely looser.

My daughter found a recipe for low carb cookies and made them for me.They are delicious and amazingly satisfying with a cuppa in the evening. This is the recipe.
divaliciousrecipes.com/wprm_print/hazelnut-orange-cookies?fbclid=IwY2xjawGjwVBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXEkfVrTS5oj30KrkrSk_5-WUx0Vmdz_ynV4UW_ZNBA3J8RfCRKwMRs5YQ_aem_TTtxPLLs9o2MTjoLNGxtFw

Instead of dipping in chocolate she added a spoon of cocoa powder to the dry mixture. She got fourteen cookies and in the fridge they harden up and have a very satisfying crunch. The recipe says 3g of carbs per cookie. It i think getting more cookies out of the mixture and using cocoa powder instead of dipping in chocolate would reduce this further.

Breakfast today will be my usual green shake with a slice of the Londoner low carb bread. Lunch will be roasted veg soup, a boiled egg, salami and cheese. Dinner will be whatever DH picks up from the fishmonger later.

Have a great day everyone.

Not managed a breakfast yet today, so might hang on until lunch for a chicken salad with dressing and mayo.

I think dinner later will be Turkish in style - i have some lamb mince that needs using and an aubergine that's seen better days, so some kind of kofte and burnt aubergine thing I reckon.

Not doing so well on the water so need to make up for that now!

@BIWI Thanks so much for your post about maintaining. I found it really useful.

I’m having a much better week this week so fingers crossed that the scales will be good to me on Monday 🤞🏽

How's everyone doing? (That includes all you lurkers at the back!)

A recent find that might interest - freeze-dried raspberries or strawberries. They're great for adding a bit of zing to FFGY, but without the carbs.

Here

While the carb count per 100g is high, at 50.9g carbs, the whole pot is only 6g, and you only need a few sprinkled on your yoghurt, so the carbs are negligible

Unfortunately I’m far from being at the point of trying to maintain but appreciate the advice when it comes. I suppose I’m both trying to lose and maintain (each little loss) at the same time.

However, the reality is that I still need to lose so it’s useful to have scales back up and operational. Eating out is the worse for me with all the tempting carbs and Christmas coming 🙈 I love Christmas cake. At least … I am still losing slowly and really want to drop another 3 pounds to reach the next goal. Still a bit by bit process.

Had beef Bourgogne and broccoli and tomato and mozzarella salad last night. Was quite yum.

How's everyone doing? (That includes all you lurkers at the back!)

😂😂😂

I am sorry, I cannot contribute with good recipes. I get inspiration from what others are posting and just about can plan my lunches. For supper, I make some fresh salad with protein in the form of meat, chicken or fish. I tend to make very simple meals- busy work gets the best of me sometimes.

I made an effort to keep to correct food choices even harder this week and put on over a pound back 🤔. I find it very difficult to lose weight past certain mark and on a challenge to overcome this healthily this time around.

Someone randomly asked me last week if I lost weight and I took it as a compliment, although scales disagreed 😬.

Hoping for after Christmas BC or some other virtual group to join.

Very grateful for the support of everyone involved 🌹🌹🌹

Recipe contribution is not obligatory @NoTimeToChill24!

Your comment:

I find it very difficult to lose weight past certain mark

... made me think that it would be worth trying to get hold of a copy of Why We Eat (Too Much) by Dr Andrew Jenkinson

He explores the issue of a set point for weight, which is interesting.

Have had a good week so far here, but have a rare child free night tonight that will involve a takeaway and probably too much wine, so prepared to see some damage in the days that follow!

I feel we can navigate the indian takeaway fine with low carb options, but I suspect the calorific overload and wine will still impact..Trying to eat light and drink all the water in anticipation. But also feeling anxious and twitchy ahead of sending my little boy on his first Beavers overnighter (and he has only slept away at my Mum's once before) 😢

Well done to everyone KOKO, navigating the hiccups that life throws and the stubborn scale phases x

Hanging on in there after another stressful week 😵‍💫 I'm pleased I'm at the point of not feeling constantly hungry because otherwise I might have reached for carby convenience food.

Delicious dinner last night of belly pork with a sort of cheesy leek and mushroom bake to use up one of those oven cook melted cheese things. Felt like a proper Friday night treat.

Survived two meals out this week, and glad I batched cooked at the beginning of the week. Find headspace for meal planning is much easier when I have more energy. Have a great weekend all!

So no parkrun for me this morning, the weather is completely foul. I am feeling the effects of less exercise this week. I did manage the squeaky exercise bike for 20 mins this morning instead. It's my least favourite thing but I'm hoping to have moved the scale a tiny bit more by Monday. Predictably, I had maybe half a bottle of fizzy wine on Thursday which made me feel just terrible. My tolerance has gone down a lot. And having resisted bread at lunchtime, I succumbed to the munchies later.  I'm trying to hang on to that learning so that I don't overdo it tomorrow. Friends are kindly cooking lo carb lunch for us, and we are taking more keto orange cake. Definitely a crowd pleaser. Good luck with resisting (or moderating @ReconstructionSite ) temptation this weekend everyone. In it for the long haul here but loving all the ideas that make this WOE so interesting.

Thanks for the reminder about the dehydrated raspberries pieces BIWI. Had some that had been lurking in the back of the cupboard since a previous bootcamp with my FFGY this morning. Yum.

I'm plodding on. Luckily I have very few social activities planned until mid-Dec which makes sticking to the rules much easier!

I'm trying to eat more eggs (to replace some of the mountain of cheese I normally consume) this bootcamp. Working out well so far. Still pretty much on strict bootcamp with the very occasional piece of dark chocolate.

That is really good to know about the freeze dried raspberries thanks @BIWI 😊

I am still bobbing about above 14st and really want to see the 13's!

Am really enjoying not eating carbs to be honest I feel so much better. And not craving sugary things.

Still a bit over eggs as have probably eaten too many. 🤣

Had a yummy tuna steak cooked in butter with garlic and roast veg last night.

Have a big party tonight so pleased I've been doing this and hoping that even though i'm still miles away from maintenance, that my current loss is going to make me feel better in my outfit tonight!

Have been to the gym and am drinking loads of water.

Fingers crossed for the next stone down next week! 🤞🤞🤞

Delurking to say thank you BIWI for running this bootcamp. I've been doing low carb a long time and go through phases of sticking to it and then letting carbs creep back in. Lately, carbs have crept back in, but getting back on track this week.
Upping my water intake yesterday saw a huge overnight loss (I was struggling to drink enough with being very busy at work).
Drinking enough water really does make all the difference!

Managed a run this morning but then rain got in the way of gardening! Off to a party tonight, might have some eggs before I go as not sure what the food will be.

I've made a note of a few recipes here recently and definitely going to track down some freeze dried berries! Thanks BIWI.

These look lovely, I keep a bag of frozen raspberries from Aldi, I blast them for 10 secs before adding to ffgy and it does help give them a nice bit of flavour.

im on week 3, not sure on weight as my scales have broken but I have had a little bit of toast yesterday as I’ve been feeling pretty rotten with a chest infection. Have been keeping up with the water though and on the upside I haven’t been feeling hungry for sugary treats!!

Hope everyone else is KoKo and feeling better for it.

Have had a v slow loss this week so far despite being compliant (although I did enjoy @prettybird’s orange and cardamom choc pots which I made for dinner with friends - WOW). Bit discouraged with the rate but ploughing on and making sure I have plenty of water. About to restart my Levothyroxine so that may help a little too.

Also just enjoyed a delicious meal of pork belly with the dauphinoise subbed for broccoli at Cote - highly recommend as a dine out option!

KOKO fellow campers 💪🏻

Is anyone else struggling a bit with water now it's chilly? No problem in the summer but suddenly a nice cold glass of water doesn't seem as appealing 🥶

I know what you mean. Are you partial to fizzy or still? I put a slice of lemon or lime in at the start of the day. But I also get through a lot of luke warm rosehip tea. It's usually by accident, I just don't get round to drinking it hot. Anything like lemon and ginger herbal ( or 🍋fresh) tea is fine lukewarm. I think there was a mention of those Pukka teas, some great flavours. I'm assuming here that can count towards our water ration but I hope @BIWI will correct me if I'm wrong. 😉

All of those teas should be fine - just (as ever) check the back of the pack in case there's unwanted/unnecessary sugar in there for some reason.

@CleanQueen123 - in addition to drinking more Rooibos, I also pour a pint of tap water and let it sit on the kitchen counter to come to room temperature, so that I can glug on that.

I also say 12st 10.75lb on the scales this morning. It would be lovely if I could drop another 3/4lb by tomorrow and so stay on track with my very challenging target by Christmas, for which I need to lose 2lb a week

I promise I'll be good and not be discouraged if my total loss doesn't quite match that It's the journey that matters

Thanks all. I am quite partial to fizzy water actually so I'll pick some up. And I have a cupboard full of bootcamp friendly fruit teas but somehow it's always been a mug of builders tea that's made it into my hands this week 😬

As long as you're not drinking several pints of milky tea a day, there's no problem with the tea, @CleanQueen123!