Week 5 - Autumn Low Carb Bootcamp - Almost half way through!

[BIWIZ]

Welcome to another week!

Here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

I have been a carby twat, I have to confess, but I've been making the most of my last couple of weeks without work. Tomorrow I start my new job, which will also be the first time I've worked for someone other than myself/my own company for over 16 years

So from tomorrow I will have to be more disciplined in all manner of ways - working out what to have for my lunch in an office, rather than just rummaging around in the fridge, planning meals that I can easily cook when I get home from work, etc.

There are now 6 weeks left of this Bootcamp (including this week), so I'm really hoping that I can jettison a good few pounds in this time.

However, firstly there is the matter of the works 'annual conference' that I have been invited to join. On Wednesday I'm off to Marrakech until Friday ...

It's a tough job. Obviously.

Good luck everyone for this week.

[Ohfuckohfuckofuck]

Well done BiWi! £700 is fantastic, you're a very good person aren't you?

Went out for dinner last night, to fecking Pizza Express! Low carb nightmare! But had a lovely chicken and pancetta salad with added goat cheese and left the lovely smelling dough sticks to DH. Had one glass (albeit large) of wine and an espresso. I felt very virtuous.

I'm hopeful for tomorrow, I have a good feeling. Hopefully lots of you can shou. A great big 'I TOLD YOU SO!' and I won't mind a tiny little bit.

As I understand it the 'low carb' claims on bread, pasta etc are bad science. Tests have shown that they have exactly the same effect on blood sugar as the standard variety. DB is diabetic and took part. In a controlled experiment debunking hem. I think the results are mentioned on Fooddoctor.com (or net or co.uk!). But you're losing weight, so maybe you can tolerate them.

[Ohfuckohfuckofuck]

Also, as I was one of the prime moaners last week, I feel obliged to point out that I am nothing but grilled to hear of the successes of others. Although I may feel envious, it is motivating and I have a tendency towards feeling warm and fuzzy at the good news of others

[OhCobblers]

BIWI I was following Bootcamp light from June and then Bootcamp from Sep. I have only drunk alcohol on the days mentioned in the previous post. I have been drinking at least 2.5 litres a day but for me that is a struggle to maintain but I do do it, just mentioning that it's hard for me.

My period throws me for days as I am very bloated for about a week. But I have been basically fluctuating between 11.3 stone and 10.10 since June. I started übercamp for 3 day from Wed and am down 3lbs (ie, 11st). On good days my trousers are a little baggy but i really expected to have lost more in over 4 months. I'm cutting back on the dairy for longer but not sure how to progress from here. Am rather disheartened to tell the truth. Like others have mentioned I have lost more weight in less time by calorie counting and I did keep it off. My current weight gain has taken 2 years just because of sheer indulgence!!

[Frenchfemme]

Brilliant photos goodasitgets - great results and a real inspiration.
I'm not sure how I dare show my face on here at the moment as I've fallen so far off the waggon that I can only just see it in the distance! No real excuse, apart from a stressful time trying to introduce a new rescue dog to my nervous young dog and 5 cats. I was told the dog likes cats - didn't realise they meant for his dinner! More wine than is sensible has been deployed. I am determined not to give up though, as when I stick to the rules I feel so much better.
Great run BIWI and well done on raising so much money. Hope you're warm and dry now.
I will try posting my food for a few days from tomorrow, and hope to get even more inspiration from seeing how others are doing.

[timidviper]

Well done BIWI, great achievement.

I've been fairly crap this weekend but am quite laid back about it. I have learned to just get back on the wagon at the earliest opportunity and not regret it, as that way I never feel deprived. I have expounded my theory before that you can undertake anything like a car journey, motorway (straight there, no breaks or detours, not much fun but arrive quickly) or the scenic route (can have breaks or detours, takes longer but journey more enjoyable) and I am definitely taking a scenic route!

MrsHP I do agree with you that we are aiming at breaking our sweet addiction and eating wholesome food but I do sometimes have a small amount of sugar free sweets or chocolate as a treat. I am fortunate that we have a local Old-Fashioned Sweetshop which has a big sf section so my theory is, if I am going to cheat and have something sweet, I might as well do it with as few carbs as possible! The threat of an explosive bum if you overindulge helps too! Having said that I can't believe how little I crave sweet foods now to how I used to.

[BIWI]

whodunnit - I'm not sure about GI but only because I find it too bloody complicated!

Re the low carb 'fake' food - ultimately it's up to you. If they help, then that's great. The only thing to bear in mind is that artificial sweeteners can impact on weight loss. But if you continue to lose, then you'll know that they aren't a problem for you. I prefer to avoid artificial things as much as I can, but it isn't always possible especially when I'm drinking gin and slimline tonic

ohcobblers - you know the drill list out your meals/drinks over the last few days and let's see if there's anything we can help you with

And I'm totally ignoring any reference to alcohol-free months.

[OhCobblers]

Mon
Breakfast : scrambled eggs /mushrooms cooked in butter
Lunch : tuna mayo with green salad OR egg mayo (can't remember which)
Dinner : grilled chicken with courgettes and aubergines.

tues
Breakfast as above
Lunch as above
Dinner lamb fillet with kale and courgette

Wed
No breakfast
Lunch ham and eggs
Steak with salad and bearnais sauce

Rest of week übercamp menu and no booze plus between 2-3 litres of water a day. It's been pretty much like this menu wise the last few months and even when I have drunk how can it stall weight loss so much?
Snacking has been olives with almonds or plain olives, chunks of chorizo, salami. When I was eating dairy then chunks of cheddar.

[BIWI]

Well my first thought would be that you're not eating much fat - although obviously it's difficult to say from what you've posted. But all of your protein is lean protein, and if you're grilling things then there will be even less fat.

The reason that alcohol stalls weight loss is that your body uses that as its first source of fuel. So when you're drinking, rather than burn fat your body is burning the alcohol.

Are you on any medication? Are you sleeping well? And are you under any particular stress?

[OhCobblers]

Would only a few booze filled nights cause such a yo yo effect on the weight?
I cook in butter all the time oh I forgot to mention I also eat pork scratchings a lot!!!
Sleep is fine
No meds just painkillers when required and yes sometimes stressed but I'm sure no more than the next person.

[BIWI]

You aren't on the spreadsheet, so I don't know how much you weigh. How much do you have to/want to lose?

And just frying in butter may not be enough. You could need to eat fattier protein.

It's difficult to say about the alcohol, but it's worth bearing in mind that every time you drink you are stopping the fat burning.

[OhCobblers]

Sorry also forgot that I eat pork and mushrooms cooked in butter with creme fraiche quite a lot (lunches and dinner)so perhaps need to eat other protein cooked in a similar way? Certainly feels and tastes a fattier meal.

I only entered on week one of the spreadsheet but think I was 11 stone (152lbs) but need to lose 1 and a half stone.

[BIWI]

How tall are you?

[BIWI]

For all those of you who are/believe you are really stuck. If you genuinely, genuinely, genuinely (are you sure? ) following Bootcamp rules to the letter, then you might want to consider the Fat Fast. This is something devised by Atkins. (If you have the Atkins book it's worth reading up about it.)

here is a good post about it

Personally I think it sounds dreadful, but if it helps you ...

[OhCobblers]

5"4
Thanks BIWI

[BIWI]

OK, so your desired weight loss seems reasonable. I'd definitely look to increase your fat - either by using fattier meats or making sure that you cook with more fat and add more fat to your meals. And make sure that you're drinking enough water.

What about your portion sizes? Are you eating a lot? Or - are you keeping your portions too small, perhaps?

The other thing to consider is the dairy - I know you've been doing ubercamp on some days. Do you keep a food diary? I wonder if it's worth making note of your weight day-by-day to see if dairy is an issue for you?

[OhCobblers]

Fattier meats? So more pork, bacon? Mayo with lots of things? Have already decided to ditch the cheese and Greek yoghurt to see if that helps. So I will fry whatever I have for dinner in butter (rather than roasting or grilling) and with my usual green veg and salad. Eat pork scratchings (!) for snacks. Is there anything obvious I should just try and eat more of which would help? 3 litres of water a day without fail!

[OhCobblers]

By the way, fat fast looks horrific!!

[JustasmallGless]

Ohcobblers which pork scratchings are you eating? Only because I grabbed a different brand the other week and it had loads of additives including rusk and potato starch

[BIWI]

Yes, I think fat fast looks awful!

If you're eating pork, go for pork belly
If you're eating chicken, go for thighs (or a roast, but make sure you eat the skin)
If you're eating beef, go for full fat mince or stewing steak

Cook with fat (coconut oil is brilliant for frying), add butter to your veg and make an oily dressing for your salads.

And if dairy isn't a problem for you, then snack on cheese (assuming that you're hungry of course - no need to snack if you aren't)

[BIWI]

... and creamy sauces too

[LilyAmaryllis]

Bigkids I'm sorry that both your children are at such exhausting ages!

and well done for the run and the £700 raised BIWI.

B - scrambled egg, lettuce, cucumber and oily dressing
L - tuna mayo and cheese salad
D - Spinach and Feta "pie" , cauliflower and salad
S - a handful of nuts

DH came home from his sister's having stayed the night, and said his sister had picked an argument with him about my WOE! Along the lines of, "tell her to stop, its really bad for you". I was very impressed to hear that DH's response was "I can't tell Lily what to do!" (Wins New Man award of the week). He also did try to defend the WOE with some half-remembered factoids from me. And said - "how can it be bad! Lily looks fantastic" (another award). Really amazing that eating low carb high fat really does have entrenched strong reactions from so many people. (I can see I will have a fun SIL encounter ahead too...)

[prettybird]

Had a brilliant time in France last weekend and only put on two pounds but haven't yet got round to updating the spreadsheet.

Managed to stay pretty much on Boot Camp barring a pain au chocolat or two and a tarte aux pommes except for alcohol until the wedding meal on Saturday night . The cremant de Bourgogne on tap might have had something to do with that .

I did however cycle about 110 miles including 100km in one day (having cycled the sum total of 8 miles in the previous month and about 30 miles in total in the last 6 months ) so I am pretty impressed with myself . Dh did take the strain at the front all the way (I learnt at some Ladies' coaching sessions in the winter how to cycle within a wheel's length of another cyclist which dramatically reduces effort although doesn't stop your bum hurting ) - but I had to take the panniers (although they weren't too heavy on the day trips)

[StuntNun]

I had a random craving for a curry chips today so tried to compromise with roast duck in curry sauce from the local Chinese takeaway. I'm sure the curry sauce was a bit carby but it satisfied the craving without being quite so disastrous as the chips would have been. The scales will tell all tomorrow. Anyway apart from the duck curry debacle I have had:

B: four strawberries, double cream and Greek yoghurt
L: bacon, celery sticks and Philadelphia (random lunch I know!)
S: ten almonds
D: roast chicken with carb free gravy, one small spud, one mini Yorkshire pud, courgettes fried in butter and steamed broccoli

[OhCobblers]

Just mostly I've bought Mr Porky but when I buy others always check the carb content. Which ones should be avoided? Thanks

[halfthesize]

Well done BIWI on your run