Week 2 - January ’26 Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Morning all! Spreadsheet as per:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gsWvWpGzTSJld1avBi9-uLJveFZes9Qa2ORKthPMl8E/edit?gid=1415293539#gid=1415293539

Very glad to see that there are some great results already!
On the last thread, there was mention of pulled pork - there’s a really good recipe in one of the Fast 800 books, which I shall search out. I may already have posted it in one of the recipe threads, so I’ll check that too.

Calling @Eskimodesert - we’re over here! Come and join us.

Here’s the recipe for Cheeseburger Pie:

Cheeseburger pie

500g minced beef
50g finely chopped onion (or use shallots for a lower carb result)
150g chopped mushrooms
100mls double cream
2 heaped tablespoons of mayo
150g mature cheddar grated
3 eggs
Worcestershire sauce
salt & pepper to taste

1. Fry mince, onion and mushrooms together until cooked; season to taste, add a sloosh of Worcestershire sauce
2. Place in a greased pie dish*, flatten with spoon
3. Beat eggs and then add mayo, cream and cheese and stir together
4. Pour over the top of mince and bake in oven Gas mark 5 for 20 to 25 mins until set and golden brown

This freezes very well.

Lovely with salad, cauli mash, or stir fry (Great in lunchboxes when it's cooled)

*the first few times I made this I mis-read the instructions and was putting the mince mixture into a casserole dish. It works, but not as well as if you put it into a baking tin - a bit like one you'd use for making brownies. Then the final result is something more solid, that you can cut into squares.

I have problems talking to my young adult DCs about it too, so I tend not to and just do it by stealth, declining the rice or whatever. I grew up with a Mum obsessed with weight, dieting and health foods and it really hasn't done me any good at all and so I have tried to always focus on eating a healthy balanced diet with the DCs. They are both slim, healthy and active and always have been but DS has autism related food issues and I definitely can't suggest that cutting any single food group right down in front of him is in any way positive as he would waste away without bread and pasta. Unfortunately for me, literally the only benefit of HFLC for me is weight loss, I don't feel any different otherwise on it and don't massively enjoy it but it does work when I stick at it. Ironically my mum is now slim, physically very healthy and eats a very balanced diet by anyone's definition in her mid 80s, it took a long time for her to get to that though.

@SprinklesofRain@CointreauVersial
Were you slim or dieting when DC were younger if you don't mind me asking?
I am finding it difficult to help my DC find a right balance now they are teenagers.
DS will eat any amount of sweet stuff you put in front of him(example:advent calendar was empty by 4th Dec)
They know mum and dad are on some sort of diet on and off...and I am trying to pass on healthy habits
I hope they don't think I am obsessed but wouldn't dare asking 😉

That had a pie like layer on top, was that just cheese?

also is chocolate not allowed boot camp week 1 and 2

Never been slim since having them but whatever approach I have taken I have always tried to frame it in terms of healthier eating, so for this I might just say I am reducing my carb intake, increasing my green veg and trying to cut down on UPFs. But when they were younger I just quietly got on with it and didn't say anything at all. They have no idea that I have got 15 years of my weight records in my phone, or have tried all sorts of things over the years, when I went to SW it was when they were at school for example. I just wanted to do the opposite of my mum who went through all the WW, SW, Slimfast, you name it to no avail and we all knew about it.

I never mentioned my weight as being a concern to me at all when the DCs were younger, although I might now say something like "I have gained a bit of weight and would like to improve my diet to make sure I stay healthy". DMum still worries out loud in front of my DCs if she has put on a few pounds (if anything she's underweight now) and uses terms that I try and avoid such as it being naughty to eat biscuits.

Right - so next week's meal plan (if I ever get my appetite back) is definitely the mushroom curry, cheeseburger pie, chicken thighs (skin on) roasted with a celeriac dauphinoise, sausage traybake and the thai cauliflower soup for lunches possibly interspersed with the odd omelette.
I am food shopping tonight along with things for the weekend, we're off to visit DH's family and staying in an Airbnb just outside of Glasgow with our middle one. Due to arrive at tea-time tomorrow - the plan is a bit of a picky tea for tomorrow evening so that DH/DS can have their carb fix but I can also stay on-plan. Pizza, doughballs, crudites, dips, meats and cheeses, DH will have beer and I'll have sparkling water or soda.. Cooked breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes on Saturday before a day wandering the city with eldest DSS and youngest DSS as well as DH's mum. Dinner Saturdays is booked at a nice-looking Indian restaurant, I'll need to make good choices while we're out (MIL is a cake-pusher) and keep on top of water intake because I struggle more at weekends and there will be a real temptation to forego water in favour of wine to deal!!!!
Still no appetite at all - I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday's omelette, I'm not really worried as it does happen sometimes around totm but it's going on a little longer than normal. Easily hitting the water (herbal tea) target most days and scales are very very slowly going downwards.

The top is the egg, cream, mayo and cheese which is all whipped together. You pour it on top of the meat mixture, and it puffs up to create a lovely soft, cheesey layer.

And no, chocolate not allowed in weeks 1 & 2. From next week it is, in moderation! and only chocolate that’s at least 70% cocoa.

Any thoughts on making either the pie or the laksa veggie? Tofu/quorn maybe?

The pie is in my list for next week. How many does it serve?
I feel bad saying this but by the end of the week I’m craving a glass of wine . Fell like an alcoholic .
still constipated and really don’t understand how I can be with the amount of veg and water I’m putting away

Thank you @BIWI !

Found yesterday such a struggle - brain just not functioning properly and despite feeling full to the point of sickness on protein and fat my craving for biscuits was out of this world! Fortunately didn't cave.

That cheeseburger pie looks incredible! I'm going to try making it this weekend.

Bought a salad out today (complete rip off) because I stupidly left my lunch at home. But it was actually delicious and felt like a really treat, despite just being an chicken and bacon salad.

Despite deliberately not weighing I definitely feel as though I've lost which is inspiring. The mention of chocolate was dangerous (major chocoholic here) so despite wanting some very much am going to try not to purchase any until this full 8 weeks is done.

Thanks again BIWI, for setting this up, your recipe tips and your patience. Well done all!

Well done for not caving in to the biscuits @Eskimodesert!

My jeans continue to loosen off, I'd say they were "snug" now. I'm quite pleased as though the scales haven't moved much I've gone from being unable to have the button fastened 2 weeks ago to being able to comfortably wear them all day. Thank you @BIWI and everyone for making this thread so supportive!

Does anyone know if Greek soft cheese (the yamas one) is the same taste as philly? I've struggled to find a cream cheese without the added incredients (or that is watery) but I'd like one with the characteristic "cheesecake" taste. I tried macarpone but it's quite a different taste.

The cheeseburger pie sounds good, I might try that.

I haven’t told the kids I’m trying to lose weight. DD is 14, and whilst she hasn’t shown any signs of issues around food, I feel like it’s a vulnerable age. I’ve just told her some of my clothes are a bit tight since Christmas so I want them to fit a bit easier.

Tonight’s dinner was chicken with broccoli, asparagus and a leek all stir fried and then some Boursin melted in and stirred through. It was pretty tasty with a good grind of black pepper.

Better on the water today breaking the 3l barrier. I think I start late - it’s a long time after my coffee that I go looking for water, so tomorrow I’m going to try to remember to walk into work a different way, and fill up my water bottle on my way in (I don’t take it full because it’s another thing to carry on the train!)
L hm minestrone with extra spinach and parmesan
D Fish and prawn coconut curry, lots of veg in it

@Pinkelefant in answer to your question....I was that annoying person who ate whatever they wanted and never put weight on, and lost weight with every pregnancy. It was only when I hit perimenopause that I realised I could no longer do this, and started to develop that awful midlife spare tyre.

So I've never been massively overweight, but have been low-carbing to a varying degree since 2010 (in fact, that and Couch25k were the reasons i first joined MN). I was always careful not to frame things in a way that made the DCs conscious of weight loss etc. and I always felt like I was setting a good example regardless....we maintained a tradition throughout their childhood and beyond of sitting round a table every evening and eating a healthy home-cooked meal....they just got used to me swerving the rice and having extra veg instead.

Maybe the reason they don't support me low carbing is because I'm not obviously overweight/obese, so they can't see why i bother? I try to explain that I'm not depriving myself, just choosing a slightly alternative way of eating that I enjoy, and that suits me best.... and it really does. Anyway, the DCs have all left home now, and it's gratifying to see that they choose to eat pretty healthily.

Well, we had the salmon laksa this evening, and it was very well received, clean plates all round. I didn't increase the chillies and I'm glad I didn't, because it nearly blew our socks off! Maybe my red chillies were particularly potent? I did succumb to a small glass of rosé, I'm afraid..but just one.

Liking the look of cheeseburger pie. That has DH's name all over it. I bought some beef mince to make meatballs (would use parmesan and egg to bind, instead of breadcrumbs), but I might make that instead.

All going well but looking forward to cracking into the Christmas/birthday chocolate next week- just a tiny piece of 70-85% after dinner, feeling the lack of pudding after getting far to into it over the last few months.

@BIWI please don't delete me, I am lurking and reading, just struggling with this pesky virus.

Consider yourself not deleted @CherryogDog! Hope you’re better soon

@CherryogDog hope you feel better soon.

@CointreauVersial interesting. I have got away with it for different reasons, despite being at least 3 stone overweight all my adult life I have never considered myself a fat person, never let my weight stop me doing anything and been fortunate (so far) for my health not to have suffered, my cholesterol, BP etc OK, no aches and pains and I lead a very active life. However you can only get away with that for so long and the BP has now edged up. We gave up eating at the table together years ago, it was torture for my ND family and they are all so much happier eating separately so that makes it easier for me to change habits. Even if we are all eating the same meal we spread out, so maybe one in the kitchen, one in the dining room, a couple outside or in the living room. This also came about because from late primary age they did a lot of after school activities and with DH and I trying to exercise too it became rare for us all to eat at the same time. It wasn't how I envisioned family life and I found it upsetting for a long time but actually I like it now too. We have Christmas dinner together but the DCs don't hang around long, we eat out together too and they don't mind that as there is more distraction and I tolerate a bit of under the table phone use.

Thanks @BIWI 😊

Thanks @SprinklesofRain 😊

Ah, @SprinklesofRain I don't have the challenges of ND here... the only threat to our family dining was dragging DS off his X-box in his teenage years. 😆

Nice day ahead....woke up too late for breakfast, as I have a class at the gym shortly, and can't eat beforehand. Will have a nice eggy brunch, then going charity shopping with youngest. Planning souvlaki for dinner; DH will have his with flatbread; lettuce wraps for me.

Weekend will be a test of my resolve, as DH and I are going away on a mini break. Restaurants are such a challenge, but I will do my best.

@CointreauVersial if you can, have a look at their menus online before you go. It helps to stop the impulse choices! I know that sometimes restaurants only have sample menus, but it can give you an idea of how carby their menus are overall. And don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions. IME most good restaurants are happy to do that for you.

Yes! I am going to find somewhere beforehand that gives me options. At least it's easier than (say) a wedding where you have little choice.

@CointreauVersial I often mix starters in restaurants with a side salad or a side of veggies depending on what there is, can be helpful with this woe.

Still little appetite but I've made myself eat this morning so I'm not tempted to snack in the car - DH does it constantly on longer drives and it drives me mad! 1lb down though which again feels hard-won! Settling in for a challenging weekend, but at least if DH's family drive me into a bucket of wine there will be plenty of steps to counter it 🤣