Not bootcamping, but low-carbing.

[crunchyfrog]

Started 2 weeks ago on Monday and was 10lb down as of yesterday.

I have maybe another 28lb to shift I think. So cross with myself, 3 years ago I had lost 6 stone (not healthily), maintained using low-carb for about 18 months using low-carb, then gained back 2 stone from medication, and another stone and a half through eating crap.

So here I go again. Sigh.

Starting weight was 13 stone 3, weight now 12 stone 7. I'm not hugely hung up on weight, I'm always heavier than I look, but I am desperate to get my waist size into the healthy range, under 32".

I'm planning to do an egg fast at some point, but currently sticking to eating twice a day (all I want), something egg based in the morning/ early afternoon, and masses of salad/ veg/ meat etc in the evenings.

I haven't felt the need to snack much, but I'm drinking 3l+ of water a day. Skin looks great!

Anyone else without the discipline for bootcamp want to chat?

[CiderwithBuda]

Decided to just concentrate on reducing carbs (no bread or biscuits) this week and am 2lb down this morning! I have had sweet potato, brown rice, pasta and fruit. And granola. Swapped my handful of biscuits after lunch for two oatcakes with peanut butter (sugar free one).

I have even had wine!

[PenelopeGarciasCrazyHair]

I'm baking a birthday cake today too, trying desperately not to lick the beaters and scrape out the bowl

I pre-cooked a load of food last night and DP thought it was ALL for dinner. Swede mash, turnip gratin, sausages, chicken, lamb chops - he thought it was his birthday! Most perturbed when he found out he only got chops and mash with broccoli.

I forgot to weigh myself before I started, but I think that's probably for the best as I start getting obsessed and weighing every day. I think I'm better off just looking in the mirror and seeing how my clothes fit me rather than aiming for a number as I just get disheartened if I think I look thinner but the scales say I'm not.

[crunchyfrog]

Weighed today, 1lb off but to be expected given the birthday baking in the house!

Struggling to eat enough calories, I think I had about 900 today. Will be better tomorrow!

My salad at lunch takes so long to eat, you can't get it down you as fast as a sarnie!

[middlethird]

Thanks for the feedback - I do hope I'm winning!

[PenelopeGarciasCrazyHair]

I've always been the kind of person who has bread with her butter rather than the other way round, so that's one aspect of this that I love - it's finding something to butter that I struggle with!

I'm planning on getting very organised now that my big shop has arrived today, make up lots of portions of mash, bake a big turnip gratin, make a curry and pre-cook some chicken etc so that meal times are just about heating up and adding veg.

Just had some scrambled eggs with bacon and mushrooms. Drinking coffee with double cream in it, can't be bad!

[hopebeyondreason]

Thanks for the info on the muffins, Penelope. Maybe that's something I can prepare the evening before, if I have an early start. Good idea about using sauces for me too.

Actually, when I tried this before, the amount of fat I was expected to eat was a bit if an issue for me. Having been brought up with the 'fat is bad' mantra, I needed time to get my head around it. Food does taste better though.

[PenelopeGarciasCrazyHair]

Welcome Hope! I agree that it's difficult to eat properly when you're out and about early. That's one reason I have included the Atkins snack bars, even though they're not very natural and don't address the issue of craving sweet things. For me, when I'm out working, just taking a cup of tea in my insulated mug and one of those nut bars is a brilliant breakfast and keeps me going until I get home at lunch time.

I know some people pack a snack box to take out, with salad, olives, ham, cheese and all that, but as I'm driving I need something easy to hold.

I also don't love omelettes, which is a pain on this WOE as it's the perfect breakfast when you do have time. They just make me feel sick as they're too rich first thing in the morning. I can stomach one for lunch, just about!

As for your DH, you can make similar food for you both but just add a creamy sauce or some butter to your veg and add some potatoes or whatever to his. I have to do this with my DCs, I'll make lamb chops and then for them I'll make normal mash, but make celeriac mash for me, they get gravy and carrots, I'll have some green veg and a creamy sauce. It is a pain, but still easier than making totally separate meals.

The MIMs are Muffins In a Minute (or is it in a Mug?). Anyway, a quick low carb cheaty cake type thing. If you google it you'll find lots of variations. I make them like this:

Put 3 dessert spoons of ground flax seeds in a mug, add a big teaspoon of butter, one egg, 1/2 tsp of baking powder and whatever you want to flavour it with (some blueberries, cocoa powder, spices, you can make savoury ones too) then microwave for a minute (mine take 1.5 mins so they are technically MIMAHs!)

I make plain ones with a bit of salt in and then slice them into 'bread' to eat with cheese, bovril or sandwiched with egg and bacon.

They are super high fibre so excellent for keeping it all moving along too.

[hopebeyondreason]

Octopus, it doesn't sound a lot to me, In fact, it doesn't sound enough (although I don't know what MIM is). I think peanuts are something you have to be careful about. I've been eating peanut butter, but I think I need to find another type of nut butter instead.

[hopebeyondreason]

Hi Ladies,

May I join you, please? I really identify with what Op and others have said here. I have tried bootcamp before and lost a little weight, but couldn't keep it up. I'm looking for something I can do for life, rather than a diet. I just can't do the starving myself approach any more.

So, I'm on day 3 and I started at 13st 11lbs - I have put an awful lot of weight on since Christmas (partly due to being post menopausal, I suspect). I would really like to lose 3 stone, but I am also doing this for health reasons. I fear I have become addicted to sugar - chocolate, white wine (an issue for me too, Middlethird), and too much crap generally - so I am going cold turkey on that. I am having the occasional teaspoon of peanut butter to help with sugar cravings. I am allowing myself milk in tea and a little full fat natural yogurt, but I am being really strict with cheese at this stage, as I love it. I'm not yet drinking enough water. I'm not going to count carbs or calories at this stage. I'm not even going to list what I am eating. I just want to avoid the bad stuff.

I do have a couple of concerns. Firstly, I am a self employed, and everything is fine when I am working at home. If I am out all day, I leave very early in the morning and have no time for my usual breakfast of omelette. I have yet to work out what to take to work that will work for me both in terms of ease and in terms of keeping the hunger pangs at bay. Secondly, providing family meals will be an issue. Due to health issues, DH severely limits fat in his diet and would be resistant to me providing meals for him or the kids that have a high fat content. I may have to eat on my own.

I may get bored with eating the same old thing (not much of a cook). Thanks for the list of meals, Penelope.

Congratulations to those of you who are already seeing results

Hope

[Octopus37]

I have found today difficult and feel as if I have eaten too much.

Had:

MIM with almond butter for breakfast
A 100g bag of salted peanuts and two mini babybels for lunch (cause of work I am very time deprived at the moment so have to have lunches that I can eat on the go)
Some berries with greek yoghurt
An omelette with feta cheese and salami
A handful of almonds
Some more feta

I just feel as if I want to eat and eat today (prob emotional cause I am tired and overwhelmed). Also realise that I prob need to vary my diet a bit more to stop myself from getting bored. Also tried some clothes on in Peacocks tody and everything was unflattering (waists seem to have gone high) so have now convinced myself that I'm not losing weight.

[PenelopeGarciasCrazyHair]

Went out for a kids' birthday meal, Italian restaurant so slightly limiting!

I had chicken in breadcrumbs (I know!) but instead of the spaghetti I asked for it with courgettes and green beans. I'm not a big pasta lover so I enjoyed it just as much as I would have done before.

Managed to swerve ordering a dessert but did snaffle a few mouthfuls of the kids' leftovers. Otherwise I've had a successful day, only eating things that are on my allowed list.

[CiderwithBuda]

Middle - that is definitely not a lot of food. The great thing about low carving is that you don't have to weigh your food and count. And you should eat if you are hungry.

Well done on cutting down the booze. It's one of my downfalls too. I'm currently drinking slightly lower alcohol wine but it's still wine! Found a lovely Sauvignon Blanc which is 10% rather than 13% which WAS on offer in Sainsburys but it's now 10.50 a bottle! So will be knocking that on the head! And will switch to white wine with lots of soda.

Was doing well yesterday till DH cooked and did pasta with meatballs!

[PenelopeGarciasCrazyHair]

Middle, that doesn't sound like a lot of food to me and it's all natural and healthy stuff too. I just wish I enjoyed olives and avocados etc, I can manage with replacing the dinner carbs with veg, but I do miss the sweet stuff and end up replacing pudding with MIMs and snacks with Atkins bars, which doesn't address the real issue of craving sweet stodge.

I usually eat a huuuuge amount of food (2 toast for brekky, biscuits with tea 2-3 times a day, proper dinner at lunch and in the evening, after school snack like crisps etc, then pudding, chocolate or popcorn while watching TV in the evening). What you've listed sounds like one meal to me!

I struggle with eating a lot less volume, even though it is all rich and satisfying food. I'm just used to feeling 'full' so I suppose upping the water should help there.

I don't drink and enjoy soda water with meals, so no probs there, I think I just need to stop grazing. Working at home doesn't help as I'm permanently in the kitchen surrounded by whatever food I fancy. I think getting organised with ready to eat snacks is a big help.

[middlethird]

SHIT! I now feel like I've hijacked?! Sorry

[middlethird]

I'm petrified of the whole thing. Utterly petrified of eating too much (salad plates are huge), I'm eating the wrong thing (hidden carbs), just being hyper aware of what I can't eat (rather than can).

I wanted to do bootcamp, but I know from experience, I have to be a 'lone ranger' to succeed. Which does go against the general grain! I've won with both - but as this is more of a lifestyle thing, I don't want to use the support group as a crutch and then fail - handling the humilation is terrible for me! I also have an issue with booze... but that's a was whole other story

I'm 2.5 weeks in. 7-8lbs lost. I feel amazing. I am not drinking, except for a couple on the weekend. And then anything I drink has soda in it... which is a huge deal for me. I really feel like this is a WOE for me. But the overwhelming panic is hard to ignore!

So, I guess I need some help? I'm lurking in these threads ALL THE TIME... Today I'm going to ask for some input please...? I have eaten:

Greek yogurt, .5 small avocado, couple of nuts. (not together)
140g turkey with salad (leaves, small peice of pepper, little sprinkle of cheese and drizzle of olive oil)
Dinner will be lamb curry and cauliflour rice...
WATER! oh, so much water... (2 - 3ltrs)

I just feel like its tooooo much food?! I have an issue with portion control... but I'm not hungry in between meals, which I usually am...

HELP!

[BIWI]

Thing is, this weight loss lark isn't easy - what's important is finding something that works for you.

[CiderwithBuda]

Hi BIWI! It's not you it's definitely me!

Chipping - I must take my advice and look at the blog myself!

[ChippingInLatteLover]

Sorry to hear you're struggling Cider - I think many of us do, in many different ways, hence the need to lose weight. I'll have a look at that blog, thank you :)

Lots of weight related shitty things happening right now, I wish I could just take a magic pill and wake up 'average'. That's all I want 'average'.

[BIWI]

Oh no, I absolutely get you! One of the reasons I came up with Bootcamp was because I was sick and tired of weighing and counting, which led to me becoming obsessed with food/calorie counts, etc. So I totally get where you are.

[crunchyfrog]

Thanks BIWI

Over the last couple of years I've really cut down processed carbs, and noticed a big difference. In large part due to reading and being inspired by your threads.

I want it to stick, and I can't do that if I'm obsessing, which is absolutely my problem, not a criticism!

[BIWI]

I'd just like to say that low carbing is something I see as a long term WOE, not Bootcamp. Bootcamp is only for 10 weeks!

I can quite understand how it might not suit everyone, and I wish you all the good luck with an approach that works for you

[Octopus37]

I have had today:

Lots of cups of black tea and water
Muffin in a minute with almond butter
A pack of mixed spiced nuts
3 mini babybels
An omlette made with feta cheese and salami
Some greek yoghurt with berries
I am eating a pain au chocolate that my hubby bought me, but it is the first carby thing I have eaten all week.

[crunchyfrog]

Well, I had birthday cake on Sunday. Homemade by me. I decided, if I'm going to have carby food, it's going to be the good stuff. Back on the wagon today, almost excessively so.

Greek yoghurt for breakfast.
Couple of grapes.
Salad of raw veg (broccoli, asparagus, cauli, caeser dressing, lettuce) chicken and olives.
Another yoghurt.
Dinner was ham, cheese and boiled eggs as I am far too tired to cook!

2.5 litres of water, 1 cup tea and a small gin.

chipping I get what you're saying, I am glad that the boot camp works for so many, the approach is just one that doesn't suit me!

[CiderwithBuda]

Hi Chipping! I do know. I'm not sure why I struggle with Bootcamp. Actually I'm struggling with everything at the moment diet wise. Can't stick to anything. DH has now. started asking me meal by meal what diet I am on!

I think it's the 'all or nothing' that gets to me with Bootcamp. It is an unforgiving way of eating. But I know people who have gone low carb and lost substantial amounts of weight but don't go as hard core as Bootcamp. I like the idea of clean eating too.

Have you had a look at DeliciouslyElla? She has a blog and it's all really healthy food. It's not low carb but you might find some ideas.

[ChippingInLatteLover]

Hi Cider :)

Crunchy you do realise that BIWI is all about low carbing long term, not as a 'diet' don't you?

I get that you probably do, but I wouldn't want others to think that wasn't the case :)

My heads all to fuck right now. I need to low carb to deal with other health issues and it's the only thing that maintains/allows me to lose a bit of weight, but being a non egg eating vegetarian it's hard work and the worst thing is, unlike other 'plans' it's all or nothing with low carbing