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.

[StuntNun]

I'm 4 oz down as well KeepOn but not sure whether to read much into it! After two weeks of STS it's nice to see a loss however small. My DH asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said I would like a leather jacket. The only question is will I be size 14 or size 12 by then?

[NewStartNewStory]

Willie could you remove me from the spread sheet. I am having a bit of a hellish bootcamp (not because of bootcamp, because of unhelpful judgemental twats, who i am surprised haven't managed to cut themselves in half their judgey pants have been hoiked that high from the opinions they have felt to inflict on me daily about my parenting choices for sn ds) I will continue to lurk but i need to kick the ass of rl a bit. I am hoping there will be a january bootcamp for me to jump on board of?

[OhCobblers]

captainmummy the problem is that my weight goes up and down without seeing any major weight loss which is hugely disheartening. I do enjoy the food, but do still get quite hungry in between meals, but possibly not eating big enough portions or enough fat. 1b a month isn't enough for me!!!

[OhCobblers]

ruprekt I've started Übercamp menu A today. Weighed myself this morning and I'm 157 pounds, will post weigh in on Sat morning!!!

[MrsSnuffleupagus]

Hi all,

I need to biggest kick up the bum going, I haven't weighed myself this week as I know I was a carby twat last week and I don't think it would have done me any favours. I've been really struggling to stay on top of everything at the moment, my DH is working every hour he can as we desperately need the money leaving me to run the house and look after our 3 DC single handedly. Don't get me wrong I know how hard he is working and I really appreciate everything he is doing, and I know a lot of people have it soooo much harder than me but for some reason it's just really getting me down So of course what do I turn to? Carbs. I've not been that bad but I just find it so frustrating, I'll start off the day really well then hit mid-afternoon/evening, kids are tired and being a challenge and I reach for the cake/chocolate/ice cream undoing all the goodness

So could someone please come and give me a good talking to? I want and need to do this!

Apologies for the rant.

[Lifeisontheup]

Does anyone know what to eat following a tummy bug, I'm just coming to the end of a mild one and would normally have some tomatoes on toast. I know this was asked earlier on in bootcamp but can't find the answer.
Any ideas?

[Ohfuckohfuckofuck]

Ruprekt et al failing miserably at über amp due to rl nightmares. Sorry.

I look forward to hearing success from you so ill feel motivated next week.

I'm wobbling again (physically and mentally) after an 8lb loss since 2 weeks before official bootcamp start, I've sts now for 2 1/2 weeks. I did drop down then fluctuated back up within a day and stayed there. I'm not cheating and not even eating much dairy. I know 8 lbs over 6 1/2 weeks isn't a bad average loss, but the staying the same size and shape (no inches off either) is depressing given all the effort.

My motivation is seriously dipping. On WW a few years ago I lost 2 1/2 stone in 4 months. It was a steady, motivating and good loss. I only lost my way when I was pg. I love this woe but if I'm not losing weight it's just expensive and a hassle. I'm tempted to WW to get the weight off then switch to lchf.

[MotherOfSoupDragon]

OhFuck, I keep thinking the same, but I know this woe suits me better all round so am trying to stick to it, whether I lose or not.

Having said that, today I am really struggling. In coming down with a cold and feel miserable and just want to stuff my face with carbs. Or at least pour lots of sweet tea down my throat.

I was going to go out tonight, but may cancel now as I'm feeling rotten.

[MotherOfSoupDragon]

OhFuck, I keep thinking the same, but I know this woe suits me better all round so am trying to stick to it, whether I lose or not.

Having said that, today I am really struggling. In coming down with a cold and feel miserable and just want to stuff my face with carbs. Or at least pour lots of sweet tea down my throat.

I was going to go out tonight, but may cancel now as I'm feeling rotten.

[MotherOfSoupDragon]

Sorry for double posting, there seems robe a problem with the app as it keeps losing the connection.

[BerylStreep]

I am increasingly flirting with the idea of a tummy tuck. I have a very stubborn layer of fat over my tummy, that just won't seem to shift. I see people glancing at my tummy every so often, and I know they are wondering if I am pregnant.

Anyone have any idea how much a tummy tuck & a bit of lypo is?

[thenightsky]

Lifeisontheup I went to Egypt 2 weeks ago and got a horrendous tummy bug. I tried the old dry toast thing and found it made me worse. I switched to eggs with a tiny bit of cheese (small portions only) and I improved on that. So, I would have a spoonful of scrambled egg or a one egg omlette and add a single cheese slice off the buffet table. I stuck to plain water to drink with the very occasional small cup of tea.

[StuntNun]

My rule of thumb OhFuck would be to give it a month. It's quite normal to STS on this WOE because there can be changes in body composition that don't show as weight loss. One advantage of LCHF diets is that your metabolism doesn't slow down like it does on low calorie diets and this preserves your muscle mass - which is good because you lose fat rather than muscle which you will need to regain when you finish dieting. However one side effect of this is that some people, particularly men, actually gain muscle even though they aren't exercising any more intensely. I know my weight STS for 15 days but over that time my tummy got a bit firmer so something was happening even though I wasn't losing weight.

[captainmummy]

ohfuck - the thing about this WOE for me is the real food! WW is full of sugar and emulsifiers and thickeners - I hate all that. Processed, chemical, low-fat - I don't see how that can possibly be 'healthy' for you. It's up to you of course, but I think this WOE is so much better for us, andthe weight will come off!

[bigkidsdidit]

Can anyone clever suggest something for me to cook tonight, I'm going sets for the weekend and don't want to buy anything extra. I have: chicken breasts, half a head of broccoli, half a swede, a whole cauliflower, romaine lettuce, sour cream, soft cheese...

[bigkidsdidit]

Going away

[googoogoggles]

For those of you having a wobble (and I know I'll have one at some point, though my head is still in the right place as I type), perhaps keep thinking of those who've done done well on this WOE long term. I've tried all sorts of diets in the past, and they work for a bit when I'm in the zone (as they do), and then I go back to my usual ways and the weight either piles back on or creeps up over time. I do think the difference with this WOE is the advantage of not being hungry or craving sugary things when you're in ketosis, which makes it much more bearable. I agree it's a pain having to plan so much and not be able to go into a cafe and grab a muffin or something. I also, like Negroni posted, find it really tough if I've upped the carbs (wine/gin/nuts or cake etc) and have to re-deal with the carb munches BUT I also feel more determined this bootcamp to keep at it for longer. It was Crabby's post earlier this thread that was a bit of a light bulb moment for me, as I remember we both started back in May at almost the same weight give or take a pound but whereas I went onto BC light after 2 weeks and ate lots of yoghurt/flaxseeds/berries/nuts and then went back to my old ways by weeks 9-10, Crabby must have stuck with it much longer with fewer off-piste moments so has now got under 11st (well done, you, by the way!). I, on the other hand, have only just got below 12st, having to shift some of the weight I'd dropped. Obviously, we're all different (ages/level of activity), but I wish now that I'd stuck at the bootcamp bit longer to give this WOE a proper chance. So, this time round, I'm trying to keep on BC for a while longer, trying to only introduce total/fruit/booze etc at the weekends and hoping my head stays in the right place and I can get back on track when I have a cheat, planned or otherwise)). Sorry for the long post –just felt I needed to say how I feel I am finally beginning to grasp that this has got to be a long-term thing for me (and that's a bit of a daunting thought sometimes with my history of associating carbs with comfort eating...) and that maybe it's a good thing to get my head around losing weight slowly and steadily (again, hard after the gratification of quick-fix diets I've tried in the past)
(and I'm not stalking you, Crabby honest!)

[Lifeisontheup]

I've just put on a pair of jeans which I haven't been able to fit into for a year and they fit!!!!! And I don't have that huge muffin top (more like a victoria sponge top) hanging over them. Felt great when I went out.

I also don't have the red marks when I take my bra off. I may not have lost much weight in terms of actual pounds but my shape is changing.

[StuntNun]

I agree with GooGoo and Captain that this WOE is so much healthier than any kind of mainstream diet and the not feeling hungry makes all the difference. I've been so focused on my weight not shifting for the last couple of weeks that I'd forgotten how much progress I've already made. I'm sixteen weeks in and I've lost 26 lb, so why am I having a wobble when I STS for a while? It hasn't come off linearly though but in fits and starts with some increases and the occasional whoosh! My lightbulb moment was walking upstairs carrying DS3 this morning I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and realised I'm not fat any more. It's easy to look in the mirror and see the wobbly bits that I still want to lose but in actual fact I'm the lightest I've been in more than ten years. And that's worth celebrating.

Anyway I didn't pop on to MN just to make a motivational speech, I am seeking cooking advice. I have a much bigger than expected due to online grocery shopping huge pork shoulder joint to cook so I was thinking about making barbecue pulled pork in the slow cooker. I have found a recipe for a lowish carb barbecue sauce but I have no idea what to serve with it. Does anyone have any suggestions for accompaniments?

[captainmummy]

Bigkids - I'd cut a pocket in the chicken breasts and stuff with cream cheese. Bake until done and splosh some cream over. Break cauli into florets and roast in oil. Serve with mashed swede and brocolli and lettuce if you like.
lifeisontheup - well done! Fab!
Stuntnun - well done you too. Mashed cauli or swede? Ribbons of cabbage cooked in butter? Celeriac chips? Salad of course. Cauli rice made into a type of rice-salad?

[HighJinx]

I am at all the people who are losing weight and/or inches.

All I am losing is motivation.

I think I need to log everything I eat and monitor the carbs/fats etc (which I hate doing) because I think I may be having too much. It is now 2.5 weeks since I lost anything at all and it is so tempting to turn to another tried and tested weight loss method.

Well done to everyone who is doing well. I am happy for you just bloody jealous too

Apologies for moaning.

[bigkidsdidit]

Ooh stuffed chicken breasts! I might well do that, thanks captain

[Ohfuckohfuckofuck]

I do like the real food aspect and I never ate many of the emulsified foods when on WW before, it's not essential to buy he products to succeed. But I agree that only on this woe do I not feel hungry and miserable.

The thing is, it's all very well to say that it suits me, but I have 3st to lose before I'm even within touching distance of the top end of a normal bmi. I know that it's not a perfect scale, but it's not so imperfect that it is irrelevant.

I plan to stick to it until the end of BC & continue keeping BC light for weekends only. But I need to see a loss of at least a stone by the end of BC to make it worth continuing at this point. To be honest I'd rather feel a bit miserable for a further 10 weka dropping the weight faster, then maintain with lchf than spend 6 months shifting a stone.