Week 7 - Summer Low Carb Bootcamp - Hurtling to the Finish Line!

[BIWI]

Morning everyone. Hope you all had a good weekend and that there wasn't too much cheating!

Here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

So we have four weeks left. Time to shed a good few more pounds if you stick to the rules

I go on holiday in less than three weeks, so it's nose to the grindstone for me from now on.

New I thought that a ten inch difference between waist and hips is the ideal? Isn't the hourglass figure a waist measurement 10ins less than hips and bust? I'm very small around the ribcage (but large cup size - 32G) so I've never had the hip and chest the same, but always kept a similar ration of 10 difference between waist and hips, I think. And I go in and out in roughly the right places, still.

Ratio not ration.

Well done all the losers fast and slow. We're all heading in the right direction. Welcome back on the wagon Black - you need to have a read of your own recipes!

Another half a pound off today so still 11st 9lbs. I'm pleased considering I had a glass of red on Wednesday and 2 glasses of red last night.

Yesterday:
B - smoked salmon in creme fraiche
S - hot spicy nuts
D - cauliflower cheese

Just realised I didn't have lunch at all and spent ages photographing the nuts so didn't eat those until shortly before dinner. No wonder I succumbed to the lure of wine.

black!!!! I'm jumping back in the wagon with you today, I have been STS because I am not following the rules consistently at all some weekends and I need to get on an even keel. I am going to just get through one day at a time (except have planned Sunday so ican stay focused). I reckon drink water like it is going out of fashion as that always gets the scales moving for me...

Black Chin up! I know weight loss is not easy for anyone but do think it is harder for us larger ladies as the amount to lose and the timescale is daunting. I think we are also so much further from goal that it is harder to motivate yourself as you can't even visualise it, I have been 5st+ overweight for 25 years so can't even picture myself as a normal size.

I honestly think the only way the likes of you and I can do this is to have a "way of eating" rather than a diet so it becomes normal, set small achievable targets that are not just weight based (getting into a smaller size, bmi classification, etc), change our mindset so get into the "treat not cheat" idea and, above all, plan furiously so you have the right foods available and as little as possible to tempt you.

Having said all that I have been rubbish too. I have hovered around the same weight since before Xmas, largely by ignoring my own advice!

willie - yes, always lose from stomach first and have a bit of a hollow back, so jeans always a problem with my chunky thighs and rear! Must try the shred DVD again. I did it a couple of times a week or two ago but work/life got in the way (again).

I've just found out I have an interview for a job next Friday

Tried on a size 12 Austin Reed blue silk suit that I haven't been able to get in to for years and it fitted! Probably still couldn't get into the matching dress but the skirt will do

Had to dig it out of my suitcase of "clothes I can't wear": will need to go through it and get out the nice clothes again and also go through my wardrobe and take out all the clothes that are now too big, so that there is room for my "new" clothes.

Might soon be time for my trip in to John Lewis to spend my £250 in vouchers (won £150 from MN just before Christmas and then got £100 from my dad as a Christmas present).

MrsHP I was managing to sts most of the time during this bootcamp, then in the last week ive shot up by loads :( scared me back into doing this properly. Im on my 3rd pint of water already ...

Biwi - my trigger seems to be a "fuck it" moment because I dont have the right food to hand. and that brings back the cravings like crazy! Then I keep telling myself Ill start tomorrow ...

Timid - you speak so much sense. My first goal is to get rid of that 12lb gain!! I need to get my cooking mojo back . Crabbys blog has inspired ma again though :)

newstart, i agree with crabby. my hips are 12 inches wider than my waist, and i have a waist:hip ratio of 0.7 (for women it should ideally be less than 0.85). i am v pear-shaped, which i don't love, but it is easier than being a natural apple shape

crabby we sound a v similar shape! i am 30F

Then, Black you must make sure that you always have the right food to hand. Meal planning and the right kind of shopping are critical!

Re hips and waist, I think it is healthier to have a larger hip/ smaller waist but I sympathise about the difficulty finding jeans and trousers that fit.

Since starting low carbing in November, I've gone from something like 44/5:35:47 to 41/2:31:41/2. So I feel like I've gone from being more of a pear to more of an hourglass. I'm still breastfeeding so that probably helps in a way (though I don't know what state my boobs will be in at the end of it!). I am especially pleased that my saddlebags seem to have melted away.

I have just got some white jeans from TK Maxx that were marked down from £120 to about £20 (so it would have been rude not to have tried them out). They are more like leggings really and are surprisingly comfy under short dresses/ long tops, while looking quite summery. It also stops me having to bother about what state of depilation/ tan my legs are in. I think a high level of stretch/ elastane may well be the way to go to accommodate curves, this seems to work well for my top half too.

Ah ok, right waist:hip ration is 0.76 so within ideal. My chest is half way between hips and waist but i would happily see it shrink some. But I have a hollow back which as Maid said makes it a bit of a pita for trousers. I would like my hips to fit some trousers before my waist is ridiculously smaller then it. Or clothes makers to make a range of styles that fit different shapes. asking the world-

4am - scrambled eggs (2 eggs)
Breakfast - as above.

Thnaks chipping, I'll try celery with the peanut butter thanks. The yoghurt/peanut butter combo that BIWI suggested is delicious and well worth trying

Food today

Breakfast - eggs and bacon

Lunch - veg soup, plus some form of protein (maybe some ham)

Dinner - Peppers filled with slice of brie and some olive oil/herbs, baked in oven

Snack - yoghurt and peanut butter

Lots of water with lemon juice.

I am pretty much keeping to this plan 90% of time but finding it really difficult to drop my glass or two of red wine most days, help!! Please someone tell me how the lbs melted off once they binned the alcohol, I need some motivation (and BIWI's big stick!!).

Also was going to ask if anyone else is noticing inches lost more than the scales shifting? My weight loss seems quite slow compared to other ways I've lost weight in the past eg slimming world. But this way I'm losing inches off my waist in particular but not seeing it on the scales so much. Is it because fat is lost rather than water weight/muscle mass? Not complaining, it's nice to have a neater waistline

Exercise today - going for a 1km swim

Have a good day everyone

tiger, the alcohol from your wine will be burned first, before burning up the fat, so you will definitely be delaying good fat burning! No alcohol means constant fat burning :)

I am hardly drinking any alcohol - I would love a glass of red wine some days, but I am finding it hard to shift weight as it is. I did have a tall glass of Pimms at a garden party at the weekend, and was shocked at how tooth-achingly sweet it was. Presumably due to sugary lemonade.

Is it helpful to think of alcohol as containing an energy source that the body will use instead of fat? So that you won't burn fat while your body can use the alcohol instead?

cross post

Thanks, I'll make that my mantra, Black!

Constant fat burning, yeehaa

Thanks herecomes too

Morning everyone. Chipping, that's brilliant. I've a lot to lose, and it defeinitely feels doable, doesn't it. I'm thinking long term, a pound or so each week, and by next summer when we go to Florida I'll be pretty much there.

I was down a lb this morning which takes me over the 10lb mark (18 lbs since I started in January - calorie counting ) and when I told dh he said 'is that all, it looks like you've lost way more than that' so I think there's definitely inches coming off where weight doesn't always seem to be.

I really enjoyed my breakfast this morning. I made oopsie rolls last night so had a BLT without the T. Roll, lettuce, may and bacon, washed down with a coffee and cream -yum!

I take it back: I've just tried on the matching dress to my silk skirt and jacket combo and I can get in to it! :):) Too dressy for an interview though as it is just above ankle length (shift style).

Just adding to what others have said about their shape changing: I would not have been able to wear it previously at the weight I am now. My backside hips are definitely smaller.

In fact, dh even said to me (after I'd tried the dress on), "You're definitely slimmer now than before even before you got fat " . He did go on to say that he meant it as a compliment!

woop woop! Good for you prettybird! Good luck with your interview :)

It occurs to me that this approach to food would lend itself wonderfully well to a weight loss spa with wonderful low carb food!

PS also good wishes for the interview prettybird!

Hello again Black how exciting to be featured on MDA.

and Crabby I love your blog, the photography is terrific.

B: Lidl yog
L: cream cheese pancake with spinach and nutmeg
D: tuna and artichoke salad

I weighed myself for the first time in weeks today (I've been a bit under the weather and haven't been in control of all my dietary choices) and it turns out I'm quite a bit under my target. Which was a surprise, albeit not an unpleasant one. I might look more seriously into re-introducing a few carbier elements, maintenance-style.

morning everyone. hope all is well with you all. been mostly in bed since Sunday with consecutive migraines but luckily they weren't killer ones, just a painful, bloody nuisance keeping me housebound.

Tried my dress on today for friend's wedding tomorrow. Look like a fecking pink sausage in it. Really terrible.
So been out to look for another dress. Could I find one? could I hell. So I'm going to wear a floaty black dress I have. I've bought a hot pink bra to go underneath it as you can sometimes see my bra straps and a nice sparkly necklace.

I've lost a stone now and can honestly say that I've never been hungry or eaten healthier meals than on this WOE. I really can see myself staying on track as I'm really enjoying the meals I'm making.

I made waffles this morning to celebrate making it this far - used 1/3 cup ground almonds, about half that of coconut flour, mixed in an egg, melted butter and bit of milk. They worked great in the waffle machine.

the only cheat I've done is having a teaspoon of honey on greek yogurt once a day. i decided that if I'm going to do this I should get the best honey I could find. I ended up buying a kilo jar from a website called FunkyRaw - its lemon blossom honey, raw, not micro filtered and really delicious with a lemony edge. It cost £16 (£12 + £4 shipping) which I thought was OK and it arrived next day after ordering.

I also discovered you can buy a 3.5kg tub of raw honey from Amazon for £25 but thats a hell of a lot of honey

steak and broccoli tonight. Yum!

I always have problems with trousers - what fits my thighs (where the weight goes ) is way to big round my waist.... always looks sloppy & tatty.......

Been doing so well...... had coffee with DM this am & that piece of gluten free brownie was just calling my name.... have to say it was yummy though rather sweet - this is why I prefer going with the kids - they have the cake & I get a tiny nibble!!!!!!!!!!!!

B: plain yog & cheese
L: salad with mayo, piece salami and piece cheese
D: roast chicken thighs with veg for tea
S: naughty high carb, full of sugar GF brownie.......