Week 3 (or 2!) Jan '25 Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Morning all

So this is our second full week - some of you will be a few days ahead, so coming up to your week 3 (this is very confusing!)

I'm really impressed about the lack of wine so far

We've had a couple of very quiet weeks so far, after some fairly hectic socialising at the end of last year. It does make it easier to stay on track, both food-wise as well as booze.

If you started on 2 or 3 January, when you get to the end of this week, i.e. 16 or 17, you can make a decision about moving on to Bootcamp Light if you wish - i.e. you can reintroduce fruit, nuts/seeds and chocolate. All in moderation, obviously!

And if you check out the spreadsheet you'll see that there are carb counts there for fruit and nuts/seeds, to help you make your choices.

Good luck

Well I had a non-scales related win this morning. One of my favourite pairs of trousers were comfortable to put on for the first time in months. Still don't look ideal because they've got pleats on the thighs so extra weight is very noticeable but I'm thrilled that I could comfortably do them up! KOKO!

I'm experimenting with an app called Recipe Keeper - you can use it to convert a photo into text or to import from a website. Otherwise I take a screenshot and save it onto Pinterest. This is definitely helping me be more organised/not keep going back to the same stuff too regularly (having said that I'm about to have shakshuka again!)

I think it might be possible to make keto hot chocolate with sugarless chocolate, almond milk and a bit of cream. (we are trying to limit sugar as a family, but I might try that for the kids at some point).

Ah, that would explain it @prettybird , I thought it was more of a "favourite posts" list. I shall keep screenshotting for now and see about getting organised via an App or Pinterest!

I'm not trying on my goal trousers until the end of January. I think they'd be disheartening, not inspiring, right now.

I've had a bit of a bump in the road today following a combination of a really difficult day and a work function with a very limited menu. I'm going to launch myself back into things tomorrow though, I'm determined not to be derailed. On the plus side, I didn't fall into chocolate or crisps or sugary things ( believe it or not it was cold chips and a gin and tonic!).

I made real dark chocolate cocoa with almond milk the other night. It was nice but didn't feel like a massive treat tbh.

My usual BC treat is melted dark choc in whipped cream with a couple of strawberries

Good morning everyone. I am afraid due to a couple of life events in the Goodiewhemper household I am still at the starting blocks on this BC. I have been no alcohol and broadly BC compliant but not as rigourous as I would normally be and certainly not enough for any serious weight loss but I suspect I haven't gained either.

I know there is only one week left on this BC but I think I will do one strict week to kick start me and then hang around until the next BC. I am not looking for miracles just to get back on track.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

It does sound like you have done enough to feel proud of (no alcohol and broadly compliant), @Goodiewhemper , even if you haven't been strict enough for weight loss. Especially given the bleak time of year and the fact that you have been coping with difficult life events. I hope your modest success will help you approach your future stricter bootcamping with optimism. xx

I'm in awe of all of you who have any degree of success in busy family households, or with whatever other stresses you face. I'm newly retired, and I have no small children in the house needing me to stock and cook food that doesn't fit with low-carbing. That makes things much easier.

Good morning everyone , just having my first coffee ( black ) of the day then going to Bootcamp at the gym

Regarding hot chocolate, I used to work in a very nice cafe which made hot chocolate with steamed milk and grated dark chocolate, and knowing that chocolate ganache is basically hot double cream and dark chocolate ( then cooled and whipped ) it might be worth trying melted dark chocolate in heated cream , then adding some water to get the correct consistency
I can’t help more than that as I don’t like hot chocolate ( I like the smell, and want one , then have a mouthful and remember I don’t like it ! )

Having a planned fall off the wagon today , as I’m meeting a friend for lunch , the food is lovely where we’re going .. I’ll be mindful ( but the dessserts are so lovely …….. ) there will be a glass of wine involved and lots of chat
Good old DH will be our chauffeur as we live in the back of beyond and it’s too far to walk ( and no pavements on a long stretch of it )

Sorry to hear you are having challenges @Goodiewhemper . I'll keep you company in having a strict week, I'm trying hard not to slide out of BC and ideally I want to keep going for February.

Sounds like you're doing very well under difficult circumstances @Goodiewhemper - please don't beat yourself up about it! Life happens, and life is so much more important than worrying about carbs and calories.

... in the short term, obviously!

@ReconstructionSite if you're using MN on your laptop, try clicking on the 3 dots at the top right of a post - there's an option there to 'save' - I have no idea what happens to posts you've saved/where you'd find them again, but that might work!

(No idea if it works on the app or the mobile site)

Delighted to see I have lost my Christmas weight today 🎉

Is anyone else getting egg fatigue? I boiled 6 on Sunday to eat in the week and there are still 3 left because I can't face them 🙈 I'm probably going to have to chuck them now 🙄 I was also wondering what to have for lunch and scrambled eggs would be the obvious choice but I really don't think I can force them down.

Looking forward to chicken curry for dinner though!

No egg fatigue here but I only have 2 boiled for breakfast . Prior to doing LC I have had a yoghurt for breakfast every day for years but having tried FFGY of various makes I’ve decided it’s not for me , even putting berries in it doesn’t make it palatable .

Egg curry?

Great going @NoCarbsForMe

Bought some lovely artisanal biltong from a market stall today, which I think will be great for snacks. Am I right in thinking it doesn't need to be kept in the fridge?

Amusingly, it was only yards from a stall selling natural dog treats, which largely look exactly the same (though are generally made from offal and ears etc)

Going on my first Ramblers Association walk of 2025 tomorrow, and the biltong will be handy. Only about nine miles as the days are so short and I hate driving in the dark, but I am really looking forward to some longer walks soon.

Pretty sure that being fat-adapted will help me thrive during our longest walks of around 20 miles. No need for all the hikers' standard high-carb refuels.

I love biltong (born in South Africa to a cattle farmer albeit later turned doctor so it's in my blood ). My granny used to smuggle it into the country when she visited To answer your question, we never kept it in the fridge.

We're actually having boerewors tomorrow night - Lidl was selling it. I have made my own in the past using the "family" recipe (with my dad's help, using the sausage filling attachment on his Kenwood Chef).

DS loves beef jerky

Is that the same as Biltong?

I buy some for him occasionally from Lidl because it's quite expensive really for the amount you get

I like it but would love to taste the real deal from SA or US

GOD yes!

The sensible advice I was given on the last boot camp was to eat leftovers from the day before and stop thinking that i need to eat "breakfast" foods.

Other things I have are:

FFGY w berries (when they're allowed), vanilla essence, or cocoa.

Veggie sausages

Some combination of:
Avocado
Cheese
Olives
Pickles

I'm not eating that many eggs tbh but I am eating a lot of chicken and always have some gammon in the fridge.

I've got some gammon on the go in the slow cooker at the moment

I'm defrosting some cod for later to eat with fried or roasted veggies. I'll have a green salad as a starter.

I've sprinkled them with salt which makes them firmer to cook and eat.

@CleanQueen123 I also have coffee with double cream and collagen powder every morning.