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.

It's alright MaryZ you don't have to defend me. I know what I meant but it clearly was communicated badly and upset caused that was not intended. For that I apologise.

Maryz has said it exactly and I don't think anyone is being naive or unhelpful . I think those of us that have done this for a while are just trying to remind everyone that this is a longterm change and to encourage you to keep on.

Highjinks Yes I have times when I have not changed weight or shape and it is very well documented on these threads that I lost my 2 1/2 stone before last Xmas yet felt a bit demoralised that I was still in a size 24, just like when I started, so no change of shape there. Oddly enough I went down into a size 22 in a spell when my weight didn't change at all yet people began asking if I had lost weight.

Clearly, as I have been doing this for over a year now, there have been times when I have lost neither weight or inches.

I'm the same, I lost 3lb last week but that really was just the 3lb I had put on the week before. I am ubercamping this week to see if that helps, maybe dairy is not my friend? It is disheartening to STS on the scales and not feel any slimmer either :(

I'm going to keep at it for the whole of bootcamp 10 weeks, but I'm not sure after that, I'm following all the rules but don't feel like I'm making headway.

Also I BORED of water, is there anything else we can drink?

Have you tried it iced with cucumber/lemon slices?

Ms I have been known to take a couple of lime slices and a few mint leaves, bash them a bit, add loads of ice and fizzy water. It's like an alcohol free mojito and feels like a treat.

Some people have suggested adding some lemon or lime slices, a few raspberries or anything that would add a touch of flavour. Booths used to make a lemon and ginger fizzy water so I am going to try making that next. You could also try an iced tea type thing I suppose.

Highjinks Sorry didn't say in my post above, I lost 2.5stone with no change in clothes size over 3 months.

I think someone else on a previous thread who had lost 3 or 4 dress sizes consoled me with the fact that it took ages for her to go down that first size but then it got faster and faster

Ok.

The irony has not been lost on me, this was briefly a bun fight, no?

More like a con-flab

Thanks for the ideas, I'll give them a go :)

I like all the food I can eat but the lack of variety in cold drinks is driving me a bit loopy

[viper] love the idea of the Mojito

I agree that the tone on here is not as helpful as usual. This is a whole new way of thinking and people new to it need all the support they can get and to see that it works.

In an ideal world common sense would let us get on with eating this way, but life grits in the way; lack of sleep, illness, hormones, body issues, emotions ... It's not easy. Add to that that eating this way IS very expensive and/or repetitive at times. I too can't deal with lots of fat and so much meat sometimes.

I think we're all here for advice and support and "stop whineing" isn't helpful and a little harsh.

HighJinks and Ohfuck and MrsInga and anyone else who is struggling, we all want this to work for you. Or something to work for you (if you feel you need to do WW go right ahead)!

If you're not enjoying what you're eating maybe experiment with slightly different things? Eg not liking meat - I never eat meat on this WOE, there are loads of fish/egg/vegetarian options. Eg not liking eating fatty food - maybe find options where its less part of the taste. Eg maybe scrambled eggs "hides" its butter better than tuna mayo doesn't hide that mayo texture? Its important - if you're disliking the food its going to be really difficult to keep your motivation up. I'm sure there are all sorts of different combinations and recipes.

And of course everyone's bodies and systems are different. I wonder whether I've responded well to this WOE precisely because I had become very addicted to carbs in the way I was eating before-hand.

For the record... I don't know my exact start weight in May because I didn't want to ever know it. But I know from records at the doctors that there is no way it was less than 14 stone (196lbs). Now I'm 12 stone 3lbs (171lbs). So thats 25 lbs off in 23 weeks. Average 1lb a week. Too slow??! I hear you cry? Right now, in my size 14 trousers (not size 18) it doesn't feel slow, it feels transformative. Personally I could not have shifted that weight any other way, but that's me - I can't do diets where I feel hungry for 1 day let alone 23 weeks. Maybe others of you have better willpower where that sort of thing is concerned!

I had a lightbulb moment which gave me the impetus to start this WOE in the first place. I had another one towards the end of the summer bootcamp where BIWI pointed out that losing 1lb a week was really good and a healthy rate of weight loss. A quick mental calculation and I thought... OK I'll be doing this until at least Christmas. (For me, a healthy BMI would be 11-and-a-half stone). And that was a bearable thought because I'm not hungry.

Even if you are still thinking "I can't spend months losing 2-3 stone" I reckon you will start to feel better before it gets to "months". I still have 1 stone to go and already feel like a new person.

(I have been weighing since start of this bootcamp and duly lost about 5lbs in 5 weeks, in an up-and-downy fluctuate-y way)

So I hope you can adjust things so your menu IS things you like to eat. Hang in there and keep posting!

I think there are lots of things that contribute to making this WOE very difficult for some of us, well, for me anyway.

For one we were assured the sugar cravings would go, but they haven't for me. I think this is because there are physical and mental cravings, the physical cravings may go, but emotional eating is very difficult to change. As I said below life carries on and we have to cope with all sorts; if emotional eating was how we coped before, it is difficult to change that and I think I would need something really good like steady weight loss to make me feel it is worthwhile, that I could cope without the comfort food. I'm sure I can't be the only one who has used food for comfort, so maybe someone understands what I mean.

It seems there are - for me anyway - lots of things making this WOE quite difficult. Yes, I could buy belly pork to save money, but I've discovered I don't like it very much. I don't like fish either (and it's very expensive anyway), I'm easily bored of stew and just veg doesn't fill us up. It also needs to be family friendly. Yes, to avoid boredom I should try different recipes, but there isn't always time to search the Internet, nor am I a confident cook.

I too intend to mainly stick with this WOE, because in some ways I do feel better, but I am finding it much more difficult than I expected and not losing weight after the initial week's loss.

Yes I know all about emotional eating! I did some today to cope with a mind-manglingly complicated piece of work - I snacked on cheese and nuts. Which while low-carb is not necessarily going to help!

I love the idea of your food just for meeeeeeeeeeeeee Maryz

For what it's worth I started low carbing in the original Bootcamp in April last year.
I lost 2 stone and have maintained since then but my body shape changed quite dramatically as well as my skin improving, no thrush, came off ADS, mental health improves, concentration levels.

Those who are struggling I really would urge you to read/ re read two books
Dr john Briffa - escape the diet trap
India knight and Nerys Thomas - idiot proof diet
BIWI also recommendeds Gary Taubes but I find it a bit weighty ( no pun intended)

I have lost weight on SW/WW before but not kept it off. Because I understand WHY this works and the health benefits I have stuck to it. I have the odd fuck it moment but generally I love this WOE

We have been lied to by governments for years and years and the health food industry about what is actually good for us. "Healthy food" is not a muller light yoghurt which is full of chemicals and flavorings and makes your teeth itch

Maryz that's a really good point about having low carb treats and getting your mind to think whata lovely treat you have had.
What other Diet allows you full fat hollandaise sauce! Yum

Holy Cow NewStart! Way to go, proper bootcamp with shouty Sergeant Major pep talks! You are right though, it is a way of life, and one can't expect weight loss all the time. I think the quick initial losses make us think we should expect it all the time. I'm still bumbling along, staying the same, but sticking to it. I've stuck with it for over 6 months now, and whilst I lost a stone relatively quickly, I have since maintained my weight and not put on. I know it is because I drink too much wine, and have too much dairy, but other than that, I am happy with the way I eat and stick to the rules in terms of food. I feel so much better, and fitter.

NYE last year I saw a friend at a party who looked amazing - she had been cycling loads, and she really motivated me and some of my other friends to give it a go. We went out a couple of days later, and after a mile, I was ready to turn back. I remember so clearly talking to my other friend at the time, and telling her how awful I felt all of the time - I actually felt quite tearful. I went on a skiing weekend in January, and felt overweight and shit, and tired, the whole time.

I started LC again at the end of March, and I can honestly say that I feel so much better as a result. So much so, that I completed a 90 mile cycle event about 6 weeks ago, and I don't think twice about cycling 35 miles every weekend. So for me, whilst I really would like to lose more weight, it is about a whole lot more - having energy, not being a slave to food cravings, enjoying delicious, wholesome food, and hopefully avoiding diabetes, which my Mum has.

The other thing to remember is that weight loss is never linear - I have a couple of graphs on my profile of my weight loss journey, which show the daily fluctuations, but also the overall downward trend. I am a daily weigher - I have to be, otherwise I will bury my head in the sand - but I am learning to accept the daily fluctuations.

Anyhow, that's my take on things. For some people, WW or SW will work for them, and if so, go for it. It wasn't for me.

To answer some other posts:

Stuntnun 26lb is absolutely fantastic! Well done, and keep going.

BigKids I know I am far too late for suggestions for your dinner, but when I read your post I thought - Caesar chicken salad with finely sliced garlic fried broccoli and garlic cream cheese dressing affair. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your dinner.

Googoogogles what about making a shepherds pie for the hoards, and bulking it out with a few lentils? You can then make your own version with leeks and mashed swede, so that when you sit down to eat, it won't really look any different?

MotherOfSoupDragon I have some really good recipe books, which I turn to time and time again - the Idiot Proof Diet Cookbook is very good, as well as the Harcombe diet recipe book. I am also considering buying the Paleo cookbook. They can really help to inspire, and it honestly doesn't need to be about lots of meat and buttered veg. Tonight I had a slice of roast veg crustless quiche and some cheese coleslaw. It was delicious.

The psychology of eating is a minefield! I have heard the trite explanations for years of "I eat when I'm sad" or "I eat when I'm bored", well I just ate, for anything and everything! I could be any or all of those things but I did not fit into any simplified model. Unfortunately few of us do so there is a limit to how much info any of us can get just from a chat thread which is possibly why some people are still having issues, you have to find what works for you and why.

I have read quite a bit about this and, if you are still having cravings, I suggest you read around a bit too. There is a lot of stuff out there.
As Gless says John Briffa and Idiot Proof Diet cover this. I also like Body Clutter (very american and schmaltzy but rang bells for me) which is by the women who set up FlyLady and SavingDinner, and Doreen Virtue does a lot of relevant books (Constant Craving is my favourite). I know Fat Is A Feminist Issue has also had a big impact on a lot of people.

Unfortunately weight loss is not just about eating less and is as much to do with our brains as with our bodies. As we are all so different there is no "one size fits all" answer to cravings but I promise you, as a recovering Creme Egg addict, it can be done!

Oh goodness - I'm so sorry that some of you are obviously feeling so downhearted

I have a very unreliable signal here, and hate typing using the iPad so will not be able to reply until Saturday.

But please don't fight. We are all here to support each other.

It can be frustrating when people post about not losing, especially when

A) I have warned about weeks 3-5
B) rules are being broken

Invariably when people post "I haven't cheated/I have followed the rules to the letter" they aren't.

But also, there are some people for whom low carb simply doesn't seem to work.

If it doesn't, there is something that you can try, called the fat fast. It's extreme, and I don't think it sounds very nice, but if you want to know more then let me know.

Right, I am sure that I'm not cheating, so BiWi if you're sure I'm doing it wrong, please tell me.

Thursday
B: half an avocado, slice of home cooked ham, salad leaves tossed with a dollop of hellman's mayo.
L: cauli rice, chopped shallots, green beans fried in butter with 2 eggs mixed in.
D: cottage pie made with 20% fat mince, shallots, 1/2 stock cube, water, with swede mashed with leek fried in butter, more butter and served with Brocilli.
S: two tbsp of lidl ff yogurt, 1 black coffee
4l of water

Weds
B: breakfast out, eggs benedict without the muffin (ie 2 poached eggs, a slice of ham and hollandaise).
L: tin of mackerel, lathe bowl of mixed leaves, 1 chopped shallot, a few cherry tomatoes and a dollop of Hellman 's.
D: homemade meatballs in a tomato sauce with olive oil and courgette ribbons fried in butter, a few leaves and olive oil.

1 cup of black coffee, 1 cup of tea with milk, 3.5l of water.

Tuesday
B: kale fried in butter with 2 eggs scrambled in.
L: lots of green beans and ham fried in butter.
D: pork belly, egg fried cauli rice (red cabbage, kale, shallots, tbsp if soy for 4 if us, garlic, grated ginger and tsp if tomato purée)

4 Brazil nuts, thumb sized piece of cheese 3.5l of water

Monday:
B: 2 boiled eggs, mashed with butter and spring onion.
L: chicken salad (mixed leaves, tomatoes, shallot, leftover chicken, dollop of mayo)
D: jumbo prawns cooked in fennel seeds, garlic, fresh tomatoes, shallots, squeeze of lemon, massive knob of butter splash of olive oil, served on courgette ribbons fried in butter.

S: 2 tbsp of lidl ff yog, 1 black coffee, 1 coffee with cream, 3.5l if water

Sunday
B: 3 rashers of bacon, 2 eggs, mushrooms, fried.
L: h/m brocilli & Stilton soup, made with h/m chicken stock
D: roast chicken with skin, h/m no carb gravy, broccoli, cauli, green beans (all ftied in gatlic butter) braised cabbage, mashed celeriac with cream.

1 coffee with cream, 3l of water, I black tea

Hopefully that's enough to go on. Like I've said many times, I'm really hoping to stay on this woe, I've evangelised enough about how it's much better for insulin levels etc.

I also could accept a temporary cessation in weightloss, if I felt better, lighter or changing in shape. But I'm not. I'm not totm or anything either.

I'm certainly not sedentary, but don't currently do any structured exercise. On Sunday I overhauled the back garden & ached a bit on Monday. On Tuesday I did the much smaller front garden. I walk at least 2 miles a day & rarely sit down until 9, (thanks dc), go to bed between 10/10.30 & coughs/wet sheets (dc not me) aside, wake up at 6.30/7. Except today when DH had an early meeting.

What I hope is that I'll see some movement in the right direction on Monday, however small, but for now I feel entitled to feel frustrated and to seek support/constructive guidance.

Are all the people who are saying 'don't be impatient, lose the weight slowly' actually sts on the scales and with the tape measure for week after week too then?

Yes. Happened to me last BC. That's what I was trying to say. That I wish I'd kept on with it for longer than I did then maybe I would be be much closer to my ideal weight. Who knows? I do hv body shape changes tho to encourage me now - stomach much flatter (tho skin bit saggy after DCs!) , and arse maybe a smaller , so that helps AND less up and down I think mood wise. Must be tough if you don't hv any positive signs at all. Got to run, will try to look at food later tho don't feel expert enough to comment to be honest