Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
BerylStreep · 15/05/2012 20:39

Have just had roasted butternut squash in coconut oil, chicken breasts and home-made tapenade.

O M G

Delicious

teaandthorazine · 15/05/2012 20:40

Sharon - you grate the cauli raw and then just stirfry it. I'll put something on the recipe thread.

teaandthorazine · 15/05/2012 20:42

Beryl - where do you buy your coconut oil from? I never seem to be able to find it in the supermarket. Can you use it like any other oil?

BettyBathroom · 15/05/2012 21:20

We shred our cauliflower in a food processor and then steam it in the microwave for 8 mins - very easy and goes very nicely with a take away curry!

Meals today
B - boiled egg
L - chunk of parmesan & some nuts
D - Prawn Fajitas with lots of veggies and sides but without the tortilla

Went shopping today - most things I tried on were size 10 - a few were too big and I had to shout ask the sales staff for a size 8 - I can hardly believe it!!!! I love my new shape - praise be the BIWI! Grin

BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 22:01
Grin

Sainsbury's sell coconut oil - it's in a glass jar and with all the other oils - but it's hugely expensive! Around £6.95 a pop. It is lovely though, especially in oriental-type dishes.

OP posts:
NigellasGuest · 15/05/2012 22:20

today I've had:

B: 2 scrambled eggs (with butter & cream) with some cherry tomatoes and lettuce.

L: More salad, this time with tinned mackerel, mayo and olive oil.

D: beef casserole without the potatoes.

Have been drinking the water but it's awful finding loos when you're out and about. It seems to go straight through me.

I've cut back on cheese and yogurt today, following BIWI's advice!

What I am loving is the fact that I do feel full a lot of the time. Not like before, when I would just have 3 fat free fruit yogurts in a row to try and fill a gap! I am also finding that I am having less of a craving for something sweet after a meal. I just wait a bit and it goes away (sometimes). I know that over the coming weeks at some point I am going to have a major major need for some sweet sugary carby comfort food though - probably when I'm pre-menstrual again. I hope I will be strong enough to resist.

androbbob · 15/05/2012 22:25

Evening! Back from the gym and showered - did a Zumba class. Been ok today - getting a bit jittery as TOTM is due in the next day or so and is usuallu preceded by a carb fest! Had sausages today - from the butchers and had very little in the apart from meat - probably not the best choice, but shopping not coming until tomorrow.

Today I had:
B: 2 boiled eggs
L: left over chicken stir fry from last night - veggies fried in butter
T: sausages cauli mash (looks like mash but is just a load of cauli) and some fried onions
Had about 3 litres of water.

A quick question for BIWI - portion sizes? Any advice??

NigellasGuest · 15/05/2012 22:31

whoops - forgot to mention the four cups of coffee with cream Blush

Also, today I've bought something called arla apetina garlic and olive snack - I will have it tomorrow at some point as it looks like it passes the Bootcamp test - BIWI do you give it the thumbs up? Wink

BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 22:36

NigellasGuest - I can't see the problem with those - as long as you're OK with dairy? Just check the carb count on the pack.

androbbob - the general advice with low carbing is to eat when you're hungry, and that calories don't matter - which would imply that portion sizes are up to you! That said, it would be wise to make sure that you're not eating massive portions of anything. Why are you concerned about it?

OP posts:
BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 22:42

What Atkins says:

"I encourage you to eat until you're satisfied. Just don't confuse being satisfied with being stuffed"

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 15/05/2012 22:49

Hello Wine

NigellasGuest · 15/05/2012 22:58

BIWI as far as I know I'm alright with dairy - it's never occured to me that I'm not.
What would the symptoms be if I'm NOT ok with dairy do you know?

BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 22:58
Shock

No wine on Bootcamp!

OP posts:
BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 22:58
OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 15/05/2012 23:00
Grin
BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 23:05

I managed 4.5 litres yesterday Shock

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 15/05/2012 23:06

Bloody hell BIWI - where did you put all that?

BIWItheBold · 15/05/2012 23:13

I don't know! Although mostly down the loo I suppose Grin

I wasn't setting out to drink that much - I just seemed to get through it very easily. Not so much today - am just finishing my last glass before I go to bed, which will make it up to around 3.5 litres.

OP posts:
MmeLindor. · 16/05/2012 00:24

I want praise.

I went out for a meal with my cousin and ordered surf and turf, but with salad instead of fries. And no wine. And I took the breadcrumbs off the prawns.

Today:
B: Spinach and mushrooms with scrambled eggs
L: um. Kind of forgot lunch
D: surf and turf with salad (and no wine)

MmeLindor. · 16/05/2012 00:34

Oh, but a question - I ordered the salad with vinigarette - is that ok?

WillieWaggledagger · 16/05/2012 07:34

Mme you are positively saintly!

vinaigrette good, but sometimes people put sugar in them so I would take care

re portion sizes i find that because i'm eating full fat i am satisfied with less anyway - i'm not consciously trying to eat less but i'm not trying to fool my body with low-fat stuff

Thegoddessblossom · 16/05/2012 08:12

Hi all.

Dinner last night - Reshmi kebab (patti of lamb with an egg on top); chicken tikka korai, with sag paneer and cauliflower bhaji.

No nuts, no dark choc, no poppadoms, no rice or naan, or birthday cake after. But I did have a glass of red.

B today: greek yog with strawbs.

Gonna try cauliflower rice this week.

BerylStreep · 16/05/2012 09:03

Teaand I got my coconut oil in my local asian supermarket, at a fraction of the price of Sainsburys - a 500ml jar for £2.25. It is solid at room temperature, so you need to scoop it out with a spoon. A little goes quite a long way.

Actually, Asian supermarkets are fab for low carb eating - they sell massive bunches of herbs for next to nothing, those big banana shallots, the long thin aubergines, and those shiratake noodles, which so far are sitting in my cupboard waiting for inspiration.

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 11:07

Recipe on the recipe thread for using shirataki noodles, Beryl!

Well done, MmeLindor. And yes, vinaigrette is postively encouraged - ask for it to be just oil and vinegar though. If in any doubt, ask for it on the side. Pre-prepared dressings often use sugar. And avoid balsamic vinegar as it is way too carby.

OP posts:
MmeLindor. · 16/05/2012 11:17

Willie
Thanks :)

B: fried egg with mushrooms and salmon
L: broccoli soup
D: low carb lasagne

My mother looked on enviously today, as I ate my salmon and eggs and expressed interest in joining me. Particularly when I told her that I have already lost 1.5kg since Monday.

Had a bit of pain in my legs last night, but seems to be ok today. Other than that feeling pretty good. I am noticing that I sometimes don't actually need a proper lunch cause I am still full from breakfast.