Week 2 - Jan '25 Low Carb (Dry) Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Morning

I know that for some/many of us, this is actually only week 1, but as there were some valiant people who started last week, it is now week 2!

As ever, here's the spreadsheet

Just a reminder that if you're using your phone/the mobile app, you'll need to download the Google Sheets app to access the spreadsheet. And when entering your data, only add your weight and - for fear that @FinallyHere will have a coronary, don't touch anything else!

Good luck everyone.

@ofcourseyes - have you not read my post about freeze-dried strawberries/raspberries?

Bearing in mind that we're looking to break the hold that sweet things have over us, it might be worth persevering with the yoghurt. When you say you don't like 'plain yoghurt', does that include full fat Greek yoghurt? IMO/IME that generally is less sour than the non-Greek stuff.

Are you cooking with olive oil? Using oily dressings on your salads?

Why don't you eat cheese? Is it that you don't like it, or do you have an issue with it?

(Sorry - a lot of questions there!)

Those crackers look great @semmalina! Mine weren't as pretty!

Scales are continuing to move downwards (daily weigher) and I've felt cold all day which is normally a good sign. Working my way solidly through the Christmas cheese which I'd been shunning in place of mince pies during December. Well worth the wait, I'm really enjoying it.

Inspired to have salmon tomorrow now@AIBConsiderate , I just need to work out how to cook it. I've done cheese sauce recently but am a bit fed up with it. Prefer a garlicy buttery thing.

I am quite hungry after a day in the office and eating what was available in the canteen for lunch - salad, which they can only serve as a side salad portion 😒and a scoop of tuna mayo. Breakfast was a bit of leftover Greek yoghurt but about half my usual amount.

The cheeseburger pie sounds so good right now!

For dinner I have made soup with broccoli, cauliflower, shallots and a chunk of cheddar. Currently frying off some more shallots in butter to add to the top.

Then, I need to go to the supermarket to get more supplies as I am really finding it harder without a well stocked fridge!

Really interesting to read about all the science. My random question is - are electrolytes electric? I keep getting static shocks both at home and in work, so it must be me rather than dodgy electrics. Anyone else?

Thank you @BIWI and @prettybird .
I really don't like cheese, never have done.
I'll try the proper ff Greek yogurt.
I do cook with olive oil and use in dressings, generally like to make my own as shop stuff is sweet, mayo is fine, can eat plenty of that!

@ofcourseyes i find the proper full fat Greek (not Greek-style) yoghurt to be like eating ice cream! I still have to pinch myself a bit that it’s fine to eat! Admittedly I don’t have a sweet tooth but I’m sure pimping it up a bit (with some of the suggestions on her) would make it even more appealing.

Im still going great guns here and rather enjoying it too. I’m 3+ lbs down and not Feeling so bloated or sluggish. Win.

That cheeseburger pie is a thing of beauty, @BIWI . I think I will make it tomorrow. Isn't it just mind-blowing that a thing looking like an enormous Yorkshire pudding can help us lose weight.

I weighed myself this afternoon and I was astounded to see that I have had a small weight loss. Only 0.8 kg, but I had fully expected a weight gain because I have made zero effort to eat less. All of my 'effort' has been making sure that I choose low-carb high-fat meals, and I have basically just enjoyed chowing through them.
I have felt so full* during this week that I was convinced I was eating too much. I had decided that eating heartily didn't matter, that the bootcamp was not (for me) about losing weight at all, but rather about changing my habits as a preparation for future weight loss.
I know 0.8kg is tiny, but even before weighing myself I had noticed a significantly leaner tummy. I wasn't looking for an inch loss AT ALL so I don't think I have just wishfully imagined it.

I did a full bootcamp three or four years ago and perhaps my body has retained/'remembered' some of the improvements I made there so that it is snapping back relatively readily to being fat adapted. I think I am already experiencing a dramatic reduction in the almost painful food cravings that feel so nearly impossible to ignore. Pretty sure this isn't a placebo effect. Fingers crossed.

*EDIT: It isn't really true to say that I have felt 'so full'. I haven't at any point felt stuffed, fatigued, bloated as I do when overeat compulsively in a cravings-led way. I have just felt satiated.

Is there any view on whether tahini is allowed? My brand says 3.6g per 100g, and it's for use in a dressing so won't be using much, but am very committed right now and also don't want to attract the attention of the Big Stick!

There’s a Big Stick? <looks around in a panic>

@BusyFrizzyLizzie I'm not the expert but I eat away at stuff less than 5% carb, so I'd be fine with tahini at 3.6g per 100.

Today I ate;
B. omelette with green beans and cheese. Creamy coffee.
L. tomato soup with cheese topping
D. peppers stuffed with leftover bolognaise topped with cheese

Can you hear a faint 'thwack thwack' noise a way off in the distance? You'll hear it getting louder if you reach for the chocolate hobnobs

@BitOutOfPractice BIWI has a big stick which, on previous bootcamps has started to make an appearance around this point.

@Leaving20 that is a useful rule of thumb, thank you!

In which case I am very much looking forward to making Ottolenghi's stir fried kale with tahini, chilli and soy tomorrow.

Made shakshuka tonight: really tasty and filling. Dh now wants me to make it regularly (I've made it once before for supper that ds' veggie girlfriend can also have). Didn't have coriander but did have plenty of parsley

Adapted the BBC Good Food recipe (ie took out the peppers food of the devil ) and adjusted the spices slightly. I liked the addition of feta.

I'll make sure I have coriander next time.

Strictly speaking, as it's made from sesame seeds, it's a 'no' - but I think for the use you're talking about it's fine!

@BusyFrizzyLizzie I’m safe for now from the Big Stick because I’m being Golden at the moment but I will extra vigilant now 😇

This thread is definitely helping keep me on the straight and narrow.

just had turkey keema for dinner

We joke about The Big Stick - but it does play an important role in Bootcamp.

Low carbing isn't a very forgiving WOE, and so it's important that it's done 'properly'. And this is especially the case in the initial, strict fortnight of Bootcamp. If, when posters 'transgress' (as it were!), I don't point it out clearly to them, then the only thing that will happen is that they won't lose the weight that they want to.

Sometimes it's very obvious that it's an error, simply because they don't realise what they're eating/why they shouldn't be eating that, but occasionally it can be more deliberate. And that's when you'll hear the thwacking!!

Herding cats would be easier

How funny @ColouringPencils I’ve also been getting loads of electric shocks but have been blaming my new slippers!

Now the initial chocolate cravings have gone, I’m finding this WOE surprisingly easy. But I only have to cater for myself.

Met up with some friends tonight for coffee but I had a black tea and no cake! Safe from The Big Stick for now.

On the struggle bus today. Feeling headachy and flat - I know that I didn't drink enough yesterday so that's my kick up the bum!

B. Boiled egg and Keto protein (not ideal but running late)
L. Chicken Caesar salad
D. Steak and broccoli

Lots of water though!

@RatatatCat sounds like you might need to up your electrolytes - are you eating plenty of salt? (That's the key one)

I SWEAR. This happens to me. So weird.

I think some of it is that when I'm losing I get colder and I wear my Uggs, which on carpet make me shocky.

But some of it is weird...

My slippers are a bit Ugg like @MrsTerryPratchett and I kind of shuffle when I walk in them. Just had a massive electric shock from the kitchen light - a real crackly one 😆

Hate that!!!

Just checking in for the evening. I've not been very talkative this bootcamp. Apologies. I've not been well for a week (cough, runny nose, awful pain/ache in my back between shoulder blade area (lungs??) which has been really unpleasant.

Anyhoo.....It's been nice being back on bootcamp after I went AWOL. I felt shitty as soon as I put all the crap back into my body, it was quite startling! Headaches, poor sleep, constantly craving sweet things (And having them). It was quite a bizarre time. It's all stopped again now!

B: Coffee with Double Cream
L: Leftover roast chicken and veg
D: Sausage, Bacon and Eggs.

Lots of lovely inspiring recipes and photos of dishes showing up

And a great bit of science c/o @BIWI

My food shop arrived today laden with yogurt, veggies and meat.

I bought a cauliflower to slice, fry and / or roast like a steak which I've never done before so any advice gratefully received. The cut offs will become a LC cauliflower cheese.

My only sweet treat is sweetener in coffee. I know I'm meant to stay away from it sorry @BIWI and your big stick. But I think it's already having its affect on my bruised coccyx I don't have a sweet tooth but need it for coffee

Oh and lots of cheese in my shop too