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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:
LittleFrieda · 15/05/2012 11:09

I feel fanstastic. I had brain fog, which I thought was a feature of the perimenopause, but clearly not. I feel really sharp and on the ball. Heck. Why didn't I follow this WOE ages ago. I have a really complex work document to write later and I have already planned it in my head.

My jeans (albeit size 16 ones Grin ) are loose loose loose. At what point does one buy new clothes? I would like to end up a size 12, so don't really want to splash out on interim clothes. It all feels so simple.

teaandthorazine · 15/05/2012 11:21

Great stuff LF - feels good doesn't it?!

Unfortunately I've already slipped up and it's not even lunchtime. Just been round to visit a couple whose first baby I delivered at home -they've just had their second also at home (which I missed) so just had to see them and catch up. Of course they offered tea and biscuits! I only had one biscuit but god it tasted sweet, and the aftertaste is still with me now... Oh well, it was just the one, probably not too much harm done.

Feel a bit queasy now though - hardly surprising when 85% choc tastes sweet to me these days Grin

WillieWaggledagger · 15/05/2012 11:55

LF my work clothes are hanging off me at the moment but I'm holding on for now (don't have any important meetings for a while!)

Thegoddessblossom · 15/05/2012 13:02

I am having a total skive day - massage and nails done. Bliss.

I love Zoe Harcombe. My friend lost 3 stone doing her WoE.

Breakfast: 2 egg, 2 bacon, mushrooms
Lunch: steamed curly Kale, mackerel fillet, celery, coleslaw and the omnipresent mushrooms. Does that win for most random lunch ever? Delish though.

Out for curry for my Dad's birthday tonight. Can I have some suggestions about what to order please?

teaandthorazine · 15/05/2012 13:26

Mmmm, love curry! Quite easy on this WOE if you can avoid the rice, naan etc. I tend to have a dry curry eg a tikka (green spice tikka with spinach, mint and coriander is yum). I guess you could go for creamy-type sauces but watch out for sugar in the sauce.

veg wise: mushroom bhaji, aubergine bhaji, sag paneer all good.

Thegoddessblossom · 15/05/2012 13:44

Thanks Tea!

addition to lunch: strawbs in double cream for pud.

SharonGless · 15/05/2012 14:49

Goddess how about tandoori mixed grill or chicken shashlick. Both come with salad and mint yoghurt. Enjoy Envy

BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 14:56

LF - I bought two pairs of size 10 jeans at the beginning of April. I was GrinGrinGrin that I could fit into a size 10! 3 weeks later, I tried one of the pairs on - I hadn't worn them up until then - only to discover that they just didn't fit any more! Although round the waist wasn't too bad, they were all baggy round my arse - so I had to return them. The denim jeans that I have been wearing are definitely too big - I keep having to wash them and tumble dry them, so that they shrink a little bit!

I was trying not to buy anything new, but my other jeans were literally falling apart, and I had no option.

(And it feels great wearing tighter, closer-fitting clothes - even if you're not at your final target).

Thegoddess - if you tick to chicken (or lamb/prawn/fish) tikka/tandoori you can't go too far wrong. No naan, rice or poppadoms, obviously! Good side dishes are spinach bhaji (just make sure you don't order one with potato in it) and/or mushroom bhaji. Be careful with the yoghurt sauce they serve with the tikka/tandoori - it always tastes suspiciously sweet to me.

Ask if they have plain/natural yoghurt to go with it instead.

OP posts:
Thegoddessblossom · 15/05/2012 15:05

Brilliant - thanks guys. Tikka/Tandoori all the way.

Ilovemyteddy · 15/05/2012 15:44

LF I've given in to buying new clothes as my size 18s are all too big and I too want to get down to a size 12. I tried to just go for cheaper brands (Matalan etc) in this interim phase of being a 14-16, but I fell at the wayside when I 'just popped in' to Phase Eight last week and spent £££! It's such a novelty for me to go into any shop and fit into clothes that actually look good on me. I was 16st when I started this WOE but have been 18st in the recent past, and it's YEARS since I could go into 'normal' shops.

I think I like it Grin

mummyduff · 15/05/2012 16:13

well done Ilovemyteddy and enjoy the retail therapy, I know exactly what you mean.

Hi to all the newbies x

Work early today so breakfast was a little bit of cold pork
Lunch - chicken and bacon salad
Dinner - ???

I have had 3 people tell me today I am looking fabGrin such an incentive to keep going, I even tried on my bikini as going on a girlie holiday to Turkey at the end of June and family holiday beginning of June, it actually is looking ok. However another stone and toning to ensure it looks great. (girls im going with are all skinny minnies) Smile

MNP · 15/05/2012 17:13

Yeah MummyDuff.

mummyduff · 15/05/2012 17:35

thanks MNP x x x

Theeverexpandingrodders · 15/05/2012 18:01

would you be able too look at what ive eaten today and tell me if its enough please

breakfast 2 chicken drumsticks as was out shopping straight after school run

lunch pork a boiled egg and salad

dinner a big rib eye steak oven roasted pepper mushrooms tomatoes and corgette with a little feta cheese.

ive also drunk 2 litres of water and now working my way through my second 2 litre bottle

BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 18:33

That looks OK - but how much fat? How did you cook your pork/steak/vegetables?

OP posts:
Theeverexpandingrodders · 15/05/2012 18:47

i cooked the veggies with butter in the oven and fried the steak in butter the pork was done in the oven but it was a fatty cut.

BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 19:02

Good Smile

And an oily dressing on your salad, I hope?

OP posts:
BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 19:02

BTW - I think the poster who said it was right - you have to change your posting name! Seeing as wot you're contracting now rather than expanding!

OP posts:
Theeverexpandingrodders · 15/05/2012 19:10

no dressing on my salad lol will have too buy mayo tommorow :) Thanks biwi

NotMostPeople · 15/05/2012 19:11

B: a couple of spoons of Greek yog with handful of blueberries.
L: cauliflower cheese from recipe thread, four cherry tomatoes.
S: spaghetti bolognaise, spaghetti for the dc's and leeks for me, which worked very well.

Small handful of macadamia nuts, couple of decaf coffees.
Water

Livelongandprosper · 15/05/2012 19:34

Went to the local pub for dinner last night, I had chicken breast with green beans. With a few crushed new potatoes. With sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce to follow. Then lots of hot flushes afterwards. I think I heated the entire house on my own. Oh well. Back on the wagon today.

Maintaining my weight so far!

SharonGless · 15/05/2012 19:40

B:Had total Greek yoghurt with few rasps
L: spag Bol sauce which had loads of veggies chopped up in it with grated Parmesan
D: chicken tagine with Mediterranean roasted veg in olive oil and oregano

My SIL is really keen to join but has been conned into lighter life before and is trying that first. She will be low carbing by end of the month. Wink

teaandthorazine · 15/05/2012 19:40

Can I just say - cauliflower rice - OMG!

I was seriously sceptical about this, even though it's a staple of low-carb cookbooks. It just seemed a bit too weird... However, I had a half-head of cauli in the fridge and thought 'what the heck' tonight. Fried it up with garlic, five-spice, broccoli and an egg, with a dash of soy sauce - bloody GORGEOUS.

Honestly, if you've not given it a go, try it. It is a revelation and - best of all - it doesn't taste of cauliflower Grin

SharonGless · 15/05/2012 20:07

So do you cook the cauli up first? I have some lingering in the fridge too

kandinskysgirl · 15/05/2012 20:12

B: scrambled eggs with half a tomato
L: Ham salad
d: Paprika chicken (with skin) asparagus and green beans with butter

I had a size 16 and 18 pair of jeans arrive today-the 16 fits perfectly Smile the 18's are going back..I would like to end up a 10-12 but at the moment I am happy.

All my fat seems to be on my tummy so although the weight is creeping off slowly I am definitely loosing inches which is keeping me motivated.