Jan '26 Low Carb Bootcamp - final weigh-in and ongoing chat

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Already seen great results from @KellyonaHeli and @Almahart - really well done!

Spreadsheet for its final outing:

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

Just because it's the end of this Bootcamp doesn't mean we have to stop chatting - and many of you have talked about doing Ubercamp as well, and I look forward to hearing how that goes.

My “for now” target is to get, and stay, below 145lb. My ultimate target is 133lb, which is 9.5 stone, but I’d be happy anywhere between 9.5 and 10 stone.

@BIWI I wonder whether the weight loss injection option has reduced interest in all other approaches to eating and weight loss?

I accidently joined at WLI thread last year because someone was asking for LCHF recipes, and I think I recognised a few names from previous bootcamps... In my very brief time on that thread it looked like a real mix of people who were taking WLIs and also making really concerted attempts to overhaul their diet and lifestyle, and those who were eating / drinking a lot less, but still on a diet of the less healthy stuff.

The thing I've always loved about bootcamp is the abundance of fresh food and unadulterated ingredients. Recipes that are satiating, luxurious, free of UPF. Thank you.

@CointreauVersial so sorry to hear about your DDad

@Almahart on the UPF topic, it's good that your craving is for banana, potato, and mueseli rather than banoffee pie, chips and flapjack (the less healthy version of the same ingredients).

Yes definitely, @venusandmars - WLI is the 'latest'.

Over the years I've got used to the fact that lots of people sign up for Bootcamp and then a) never actually start or b) drop out after the first week or two, as it's too difficult. But usually there's been a good core of people left. For the last few Bootcamps it feels like only a handful. I realise that many people just lurk (which is its own frustration!) but it does feel like a lot of effort to keep it going, staying on top of things, liaising with @FinallyHere, who does sterling work with the spreadsheet, being around first thing every Monday to start a new thread, etc.

I was wondering about WLI too. @venusandmars I really have no cravings for UPF at all. I think because I have been on this BC for longer than usual, I think it must be nearly three months now, I really have retrained my eating habits. I've actually decided to keep going as I realised I'm not that bothered even about the baked potato etc. I've lost the weight I put on when I was ill and am now at the weight I usually was when I started previous BCs. So I'd like to see if I can shed another few pounds before mid May which is when I go away and really will draw it to a halt for the summer

Off on holiday today ( it’s all inclusive , send help ! )
Seriously , I know there will be lovely salads and charcuterie , cheese etc , it’s the little cakes and pastries though …
Anyway , back home in 2 weeks , with a souvenir few lbs , I’m sure

edit for spelling

Oh have a lovely time!

I'm still here, slowly losing and have a question about chia seeds. They're not listed as particularly low carb, but they're included in keto recipes. I gather it's something to do with your body not absorbing them, but can't quite get my head round it.

I've been getting into chia pudding with berries and a bit of cream and am wondering if I should knock it on the head

@SemmaLina

with a souvenir few lbs

I read that as IBS! Let's hope you don't come back with that

I'm on holiday too, not AI but B&B in a big resort hotel. I did have some bread this morning with breakfast but there were lots of LC options cheese, meat, eggs, cucumber etc so going to try and stick to those as much as possible. Last night I had tapas which was ok, lots of padron peppers, prawns, olives, chicken but a few carbier things. Just trying to be moderate really.

Hope you enjoy your holidays @SemmaLina and @SprinklesofRain

I've been plodding on with intermittent fasting and lowish carb which is working for me, albeit very slowly (much more slowly than LC alone). It has been sustainable over a prolonged period though and I don't feel like there's an end date so I'll aim to keep going.

I lurk a lot @BIWI because I'm using the browser on my phone and my short term memory isn't good so I struggle to retain who-said-what to the end of the page. Then I feel bad that I'm mainly posting things about me rather than engaging with earlier posters properly. I'm sorry - I know that there wouldn't be a BC to lurk in if everyone did that though.

That's OK - no worries!

I'm a bit the same, and it did actually help
me a little that this last BC was a bit quieter, but I can also see that for @BIWI and (sorry but can't remember the name) our spreadsheet owner it's a lot of effort for a smaller number of participants. Did OK this evening, grilled sardines, salad and a few of DH's chips, but also a couple of sangrias. This week's main aim is just not to go mad and end up with the fuckits.

Don't worry about it @SprinklesofRain - you and @RightTurnClyde are both here now, joining in, so you're not lurkers any more

Grilled sardines sound nice @SprinklesofRain , I often see them when I'm on holiday and love the idea but worry about there being bones (I like my fish very carefully filleted as I have a fear of fish bones) so haven't been brave enough to try one.

I made mayonnaise again yesterday, and DP gave me some eggs from his own chickens, so I’m having a delicious, high protein, UPF-free egg mayonnaise for lunch tomorrow. Had to buy salad leaves though, I planted some rocket but it hasn’t germinated.

I planted salad leaves in Feb in my greenhouse and have been harvesting for a couple of weeks now. I'd never thought to do them inside before, and always lost outdoor ones to slugs. Someone on another thread suggested using a long trough and it has worked really well, if I didn't have a green house I could have done them on a windowsill.

I would love a polytunnel to grow my own veg but then I work out what it would cost by the time I've bought even just a greenhouse, and feel better about just buying them.

Woo hoo - scales dropped fractionally today after a several-weeks-long stall, here's hoping it's the start of a whoosh.

I bought one of those mini plastic greenhouse things from Aldi, but I haven’t assembled it yet as it has been windy. Might do it tomorrow 🙂

Make sure you peg/tie it down or weigh down the bottom shelf with a couple of bricks or similar so it doesn't blow over. Ask me how I know this....

@BIWI do you have any plans to start a new BC soon? I went shopping today to start my own BC tomorrow, I’ve done a couple under different names and although I haven’t been brave enough to weigh myself yet, my clothes are telling me I need to get back on the straight and narrow. Turns out my idea that I can eat whatever I want because I am so active does have limitations eventually.

Back from the holiday , with 4 pounds ( not ibs ! ) gained
Not surprised , there was a fair amount of cocktails drunk and pastries eaten , we had an amazing time and saw some wonderful places
Had a really lovely salad one lunchtime , spinach , red grapefruit and avocado , I’ll make that at home with either some feta or maybe salmon as a protein

My garden has gone mad since we’ve been away ( the weeds ! ) so that will keep me out of mischief , I had a cold frame for my birthday last year , which has a lot of seedlings for me to sort out ( it’s quite sturdy , which is why I had it and not one of those plastic greenhouses that my sister had until there was a particularly gusty storm … )

Glad you had a good time @SemmaLina! And don't worry, those 4lbs will soon disappear.

@Aloealoealoe45 sorry, but I don't have any plans for another Bootcamp right now. As I explained up thread (I think it was on this thread!), running one takes up a lot of time and energy, and as fewer and fewer people are interested in low carbing these days, it's questionable if it's a good use of my time.

That said, this thread is for those who are still Bootcamping (or at least low carbing), so post here and we'll all help you feel accountable!

Oh, and I'm always here if you have any questions or concerns - either on the thread or by PM.

I'm back too, haven't weighed myself but also consumed a fair amount of cocktails and sangria. However it was a very much needed relaxation break, I rarely drink normally, probably had more in a week than I will the rest of the year so back to normal now. I did eat a lot of fish and salad, but also too much bread. I also came back to a very overgrown garden and the weeds have taken over my allotment while my back was turned too. Planning a re-boot from tomorrow, I have had a chia seed based overnight "oats" breakfast and am doing some menu planning.

Thanks @BIWI, I completely understand and I’ve really appreciated these threads over the years. I’ve just weighed in, 10 stone 5lbs which wasn’t quite as bad as I expected, but I want to get down to 9 stone 9lbs if possible, that seems to be my ideal weight. Boot camp for one, let’s go!

I've had a marvellous few days away too. I didn't go mad but I did generally eat a bit more than I would at home, almost always had dessert, and also had a bit more alcohol. I've come back about 4lb heavier than I left but hopefully that's mostly water.

@Aloealoealoe45 I'm starting at 149lb (or I was until a week ago!) and also prefer to be about 135-136lb. My immediate goal is to be fairly strict for a week and see how I get on.

Chicken fajitas planned for this evening. I'll just have mine with lots of salad instead of wraps.