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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Bootcamp Week 5 - Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Staying Alive - chat here!

419 replies

BIWItheBold · 13/05/2012 10:26

Welcome to week 5 - how time flies when you're having fun!

Those of us who have been here since the beginning may be finding the going tough now. You may have found that your weight loss has stopped, or you may even have put weight on

But hopefully you will also be enjoying the food now, and settling into this as a new way of eating. You may also have discovered the other benefits of low carbing - not being hungry, having better skin, sleeping better, fewer problems with conditions such as IBS or even asthma, fewer hot flushes (for those of us of a certain age Grin) etc.

A month in, whilst you should be more used to eating like this, you will also have discovered that it's not always possible to follow a strict low carb plan because Real Life has an irritating habit of getting in the way.

But that's an important lesson for us all to learn. There are two key things here:

First, it demonstrates very clearly that you have to plan what food you buy and how you're going to eat. For example, I do quite a bit of travelling for work - going to meetings by train all over the country and sometimes abroad. If I don't plan my meals, then I will end up eating something like a sandwich because that's all that is available. I went to a meeting on Friday where the client very kindly suggested that she order lunch for us. I knew that if I didn't say I was low carbing, then we would sit down to a plate of sandwiches. It feels awkward to have to ask for special food. But - if you had a medical condition that meant you couldn't eat wheat, there would be no issue with such a request, would there?

Dieting is often seen as a trivial issue, and we think it's silly to have to ask for special/different food. But think of the impact/implications of being overweight. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc etc. None of these is trivial.

So in these situations, plan ahead and ask for something that suits you.

If you're travelling - eat properly before you set off. Get to know what shops are available at any station you're travelling through - there are an increasing number of M&S Food shops at railway stations and service stations, where you can always buy cooked meats/fish, small portions of cheese and salads (there are one or two without pasta/rice/noodles/potatoes!)

Second, despite your best efforts, sometimes life seems determined to sabotage things. Even if you ask people to cater for you, few people really understand what a low carb diet is. This has happened to me twice since Friday! My client very kindly ordered me a salad for my lunch. I was provided with a bowl of lettuce - with no dressing. Presumably whoever made it was thinking "this person is on a diet, therefore it must have to be fat-free". On top of the lettuce was sweetcorn (one of the carbiest veg there is), a dollop of coleslaw - presumably with sugar in it, like most is - a huge mound of grated carrot, some sliced cooked chicken, cucumber and tomato.

At least I could eat the chicken! But it was very dry and so to make it palatable, easy to eat, I ended up eating more of the coleslaw than I intended. I also was in the embarrassing situation of having to leave a lot of the lunch that I had specially ordered.

And last night, at dinner with friends, I had again plucked up courage to tell them of my low carbing. Despite being reassured that the meal would be low carb-friendly, it was anything but. And it was (mostly) served plated up, so to not eat it was to have been very rude. And it was delicious, and I was hungry ... Smile

But this is life. We have to get through these kind of occasions and accept that they may throw us off course briefly, but that this is a longer term process we are involved in. To use a horrible cliche, we are all on a journey here.

So if it happens to you - just accept it. Don't obsess about it. Avoid the scales for a while, and make sure you are super good for the following days. Don't use it as an excuse to jump off the wagon, for that way, surely, fatness lies!

Come and tell me how you're all getting along. How has life changed for you since we set off on this journey?!

OP posts:
BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 13:12

jan2011 - welcome!

When you say you're not following all the rules exactly, what do you mean? Tell me what you're doing! And why aren't you following them? They are designed to make life easier not more complicated.

My concern is that if you aren't following them then you won't see any weight loss which is, after all, the whole point of Bootcamp
Grin

OP posts:
BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 13:12

Carb counts for wine, per 100ml:

Wine, red
0.3
Wine, rose
2.5
Wine, white, dry
0.6
Wine, white, med
3.4
Wine, white, sweet
5.9

OP posts:
Thegoddessblossom · 18/05/2012 13:29

Can someone please tell me how I make a cheese sauce without using the packet? I mean is it just loads and loads of cheese and a bit of milk?

MmeLindor. · 18/05/2012 13:31

Oh, I am looking forward to a glass of wine. I may have to cheat slightly and go onto Bootcamp Light a couple of days early cause I am going to London next Friday with a friend. And to meet some really lovely MNetters Wink

Going well here. H arrived last night and is impressed with my dedication. We had big fat yummy omelettes with mushrooms, spinach and salmon last night.

B: 2 eggs, scrambled with chicken breast and mushrooms

L: salad with chicken breast and homemade mayo

We went out for lunch and I asked for the chicken with salad rather than potato and resisted having a scone. Which was actually easier than I thought.

Mummyduff
Congratulations.

BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 13:43

Cheese sauce - cream, or creme fraiche, heated up with cheese melted into it.

Easy peasy! (As long as dairy doesn't cause you problems, of course)

Wink @ Mme - and food is looking good! Especially the resistance!

OP posts:
ohforfoxsake · 18/05/2012 14:02

The moussaka topping in IPD is a 300ml pot of cream, 3 eggs and a 200g block of feta. As its baked it thickens up. I guess you can use any cheese though. Essentially its a cheesy-custard.

teaandthorazine · 18/05/2012 14:06

Downside of this WOE:

Am on nights this weekend, and normally would toddle off for a little nap now, aided by the post-lunch sugar slump. But because my bloody sugars are so annoyingly stable now, I'm not tired!

Have packed my bag with cheese and nuts to ward off the temptation of the inevitable biscuits, sweets, toast and that 3am bowl of cornflakes. Might take a bit of dark choc with me to help me through...

Breakfast - protein shake with flax
Lunch - three eggs, scrambled with full-fat Philly, steamed asapargus, fried mushrooms. Water. Feel quite stuffed - ketosis has definitely knocked my appetite on the head.

moonshine · 18/05/2012 14:09

Did someone mention wine? Well I know I'm only a few days in but would it be ok to drink a couple of glasses of wine tomorrow and maybe one tonight? I presume you won't lose weight on it but does it stall or put back weight loss a lot?

And also, is there a particular cookbook anyone would recommend with lots of lc recipes eg is the P2T one worth getting??

Thank you all!

BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 14:20

moonshine - Bootcamp should be an alcohol-fee zone!

Alcohol is a very easy source of fuel for the body, so it will burn this before anything else. In other words, you won't be burning fat.

Definitely get the Idiot Proof Diet Cookbook - there are some fab recipes in there. Just note, though, that it doesn't give carb counts at all, and a lot of the recipes use a lot of dairy, which can cause problems for some.

OP posts:
Thegoddessblossom · 18/05/2012 14:29

Bollocks I made it with milk. Way too runny. Oh well, maybe it'll thicken up when I bake it....

NigellasGuest · 18/05/2012 14:33

the possible problems caused by lots of dairy- are the problems stalling related or are there other symptoms?

Thegoddessblossom · 18/05/2012 14:34

Do you think if I pour cream into the dish and then bake it it will improve things or make the whole thing a write off?

moonshine · 18/05/2012 14:35

Oh you really are being cruel to strict with me then. Ok, shall attempt no booze, or at the very least just one glass tomorrow - as I'm in for the long haul I'm prepared to stall a little bit as long as the overall trend is down! Life at the moment has such few pleasures so even tiny things help!

moonshine · 18/05/2012 14:38

NigellasGuest - I lost nothing doing one week lcing but having a little bit of milk in my coffees. This time have given up totally (and have only had some spoonfuls of cottage cheese and a taste of cheese - no other dairy really) and 5lbs have come off in 4 days - co-incidence?? I certainly didn't have any stomach aches indicating milk etc was 'irritating' me.

BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 14:46

NigellasGuest - it's more to do with impeding weight loss (although Dr John Briffa is certainly of the view that lots of people are intolerant of dairy products - will find a link), which is why I suggest limiting it.

Also, with milk especially, there are lots of carbs in it, and it would be very easy to over do the carbs if you keep milk in your diet.

OP posts:
BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 14:50

Dr Briffa - dairy products can help weight loss apparently

This is an interesting view. I know, for myself, that if I eat cream then I am much more likely to see no movement on the scales. Yoghurt seems to be OK.

OP posts:
MmeLindor. · 18/05/2012 15:32

BIWI
You linked to Text from Dog, which might aid weight loss due to excessive laughter

ohforfoxsake · 18/05/2012 16:13

Goddess - did you use eggs too? They will help thicken it up. I baked a moussaka yesterday, over did it and it was very thick once cooked (and burnt).

DoUntoOtters · 18/05/2012 16:24

That is hilarious. I am actually crying. Grin

Moggiemad · 18/05/2012 16:57

Hi Everybody
Moggie here reporting in, Ive lost 2 pounds this week and Im delighted! Onwards and downwards with the low-carb WoE.

smokinaces · 18/05/2012 17:58

Salt and pepper celeriac crisps.

Wow.

Yum.

May have to make another batch.

BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 18:00

Whoops! Blush

Hang on ...

OP posts:
BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 18:01

The real Dr Briffa thread!

OP posts:
mummyduff · 18/05/2012 18:29

thanks ladies the new nephew is so so cute Grin.

Thats a great thread BIWI I have to say since cutting down on carbs I feel so much better in myself, not bloated and I have loads more energy. Dont know if this is related but DH says I am a happier person also Smile

NotMostPeople · 18/05/2012 18:36

I'm still ploughing on with the odd weak moment but I'm trying to make my weaknesses ones that aren't too awful, so I've had a couple of bits of chocolate but it's been 85% coco.

However I have to say the difference in how I feel is amazing especially in regard to sleep. I haven't had as many good nights of sleep in a row for years and years.