The Ongoing Low Carb Bootcamp - Final Festive Fortnight

[BIWIshYouAMerryChristmas]

No spreadsheet to link to this week, as the LBD challenge is now over!

I don't know about anyone else, but I have definitely not had the greatest of weeks, and I'm keeping on keeping on until we get to Christmas.

Not quite sure yet what my own Christmas strategy is going to be, but I also guess it depends on where I've got to with my weight by then. I know that, having achieved my first major target of losing 2 stones, I still have more to go. So my next really major, very psychological target, will be to reach 9 stone. Something I have been trying (and failing) to do for the last 10 years! But now it seems so much more achieveable, especially with all you lot giving such brilliant support.

This week for me starts with a super strict day today. I'm out to dinner tomorrow, with a groups of ex colleagues, and venue is not yet chosen, but is likely to be a Chinese, which always brings its own problems. not to mention the wine

I'm also out to lunch on Friday, so it looks like Wednesday and Thursday will also have to be super strict!

viper i've noticed my diet coke consumption has gone up recently - i suspect it's coincided with the increased alcohol intake with christmas parties etc, as i don't sleep so well when i've been drinking and the diet coke helps with the fuzzy head in the morning

Oh syb so sorry to hear you are so poorly. Hope you're recovered in time for Christmas - let's hope those antibiotics work their magic as soon as possible.
Don't beat yourself up about what you are/aren't eating - just focus on taking care of yourself and getting well

STOP WITH THE EXCUSES ABOUT BAD BEHAVIOUR! UNLESS YOU ARE ILL, IT ISN'T CHRISTMAS YET!

My goodness, my big stick is twitching!

With apologies for appalling grammar ...

I am still on the straight and narrow. God, Mr Rinky's work Christmas do was a tedious affair sober I can tell you. Volunteered to drive to ensure my virtue.

I now only have 0.9lbs to lose to hit my 50lb interim target, and I am going to get there by Saturday morning. And then I drive up to Yorkshire and all bets are off until January 2nd.

Size 8? How fantastic is that. BIWI I want to be just like you when I grow up. I will join a gym, I will get a trainer, I will wear size 8 black jeans.

THC you are such an inspiration. Losing 100 lbs is such an achievement, but doing that as a wheel chair user just blows me away and spurs me on to get out there and get exercising.

I am doing ok. Scales are refusing to budge and still no sign of my period but I am resisting the temptation to start on the Christmas treats. Not doing anything specific until Sunday so I would love to get a few pounds off by then if possible.

DS2 is off school and on antibiotics with a really bad chest infection. I was panicking yesterday because I still had gifts to buy, nothing wrapped, house a tip etc etc. Then I heard a programme talking about those terrible shootings and I quickly changed my tune. High maintenance sister can get a gift token, who cares if presents are not beautifully wrapped with organza bows and as long as the house doesn't pose a health risk it will be fine.

We spent the day snuggled up by the fire watching Christmas films and reading A Christmas Carol and it was just lovely. Plan on doing much the same today. Maybe do a little bit of craft stuff later if we feel like it. I am actually starting to feel rather Christmassy now.

I knew we'd see The Stick again before Christmas

Hello BIWI and all,

I attended my major 'LBD' event on Sunday. The day started really well with the scales showing 8st, 12 lbs, 8 oz! So just below my final target of 9 stone!

(I'm 5' 7" tall, reasonably toned arms, shoulders & legs but with minimal boobage so this weight looks good rather than gaunt.)

I wore a size 8 cerise coloured, Monsoon dress/jacket suit which fitted perfectly and the professionally taken photographs handed out at the end of the event show I looked fine! (DH thought so too!)

So an enormous thank you to BIWI and everybody who posts, regularly or occasionally, for the encouragement, support, practical advice, ideas, the spreadsheet of wonder, information, links, recipes and laughter.

halfthesize... hope you don't mind me asking but does your dc go to your ex's as part of normal contact time? im sorry you have had to go through all this too. this is the first time dd is going to stay - on boxing night, and its cos her grandparents have asked, NOT her father. he has never asked for her overnight. and someone said its ok if i grant it as a favour or whatever, but really if she is going to be overnight for special occasions, she should be going at other times throughout the year too, just so she can get used to it.

im going to see a solicitor tomorrow, a girl from WA is coming with me for support. and my parents are meeting his parents this week for a meeting as the inlaws wanted to 'sort us out'! flip sake. sort themselves out more like!!

anyhow. sorry for taking up the thread with my stuff.

well done itwillendinmiles... you have done amazing! youve reached your target... congratulations. do you still eat strict bootcamp or is it maintenance? do you think this is around your natural weight? im sure you looked fab in that dress it sounds gorgeous!!

Wow smiles that sounds fab! Love cerise, can't wear it myself, not the right colouring!

Jac - count our blessings! the thought of those poor dc, and their families now, is heart-rending.

All alone at work, so playing on MN!

smiles that sounds lovely well done you.

jangles please do share we are happy to hear all about and support where we can. I bore you all with my job interviews FGS!!

Jac - that devastation in the US - I can't stop thinking about it. I went upstairs and sat with my DS2 (6) while he slept, stroking him and my heart just broke for those families. I can't watch the coverage of the funerals. I went to the church my mum used to take us to and lit 26 candles yesterday. Haven't done that, well, ever!

Even whilst being livid with my Dses (like this morning for example - Christmas mummy morphed into SHOUTING MUMMY) I count my blessings over and over.

Gym this morning - bit half hearted but i went. i am being extremely strict with food too Mrs Rinky, although I am drinking the odd gin.

have to do THE SHOP on my own this week (DH usually comes) and am scared of braving Sainsburys on Thursday or Friday - it's going to be carnage isn't it? And the responsibility of actually selecting the Turkey solo - well I feel quite faint at the thought of it (please remember I am married to Jamie Oliver/Michel Roux Junior/Gordon Ramsay/Heston Blumenthal all rolled into one)

can I just add that I do go shopping on my own, just not THE CHRISTMAS SHOP!!

smiles wow sounds lovely. Can I persuade you to put a pic up? Your outfit sounds lush. And I am amazed at your weight at 5'7" only an inch less than me but I'm guessing one of my boobs probably weighs more than your leg, so I'll try not to worry

Yes totally agree about counting blessings. Have been having loads of cuddles with my 6 year old Ds, while crying inside for those poor innocents and their families who won't have any more time together.

jangle chat away. I love how this bootcamp started with us all nervously listing our menus and checking carb counts, and now 10 weeks later we are onto discussing jobs, kids, husbands, lives, inner thoughts. What a lovely bunch you all are.

Am away to walk the dog and hide from biwis stick.

Brilliant, Itwillendinsmiles - and how apt your name is!

MsRinky - I am impressed. Going to someone else's work do and not drinking is massive!

Jan - we are all here to support you. Never worry about that. We all wish you well. And what the bloody hell are your in-laws doing meeting with your parents?! None of any of their business what is happening between you and your H!!!

I had a brutal session at the gym yesterday, working on upper body. Another one today focusing on legs/abs. I could barely get up the stairs when I got home, and my bedroom is two flights of stairs up! Back again tomorrow for more upper body work. Trainer has really ramped things up - exercises that I was doing routinely before - 15 reps plus 30 sec rest now increased to 50 with no rest!!

:) you guys are brill.

dosh good luck with the christmas shop. amazing how you can get through presentations and scary interviews etc and be dreading the christmas shop...it just goes to show what a nightmare it actually is.... i remember last christmas being in M&S and 2 woman nearly came to blows over a turkey no joke. everyone was stressed out!!

Biwi ur putting me to shame with your workouts

jan I have PM you and have to agree with BIWI re the in laws meet up!!!

MsRinky well done.

smiles please add photo sounds like you had a fab time x

Just had 3 egg omelette for late brunch as had DS2 Nativity this morning, he was Joseph, so damn cute
Now off to DS1 Christmas extravaganza at his school cant wait.

Then only 1 more day of school/pre school runs yipee!!

yeah, the girl from WA said i have a right not to have my marriage discussed by family. my family said they were going to make it clear that they did not want to discuss details of our marriage, but they didn't want to refuse to see them. and anyway it will be like talking to a brick wall. i might tell my mum to have a few words with them like they had no right to come round and upset me on sat night!

i just had a pork steak for lunch! dh would be amazed if he knew what i was eating these days! ha.

aw thats so cute halfthesize Joseph, hope you get lots of cute festive pics

Jan am really feeling for you and DD and sending you both a Christmas hug. Unlike a few people I know who are going through separation or divorce your absolute priority seems to be the wellbeing of DD - you sound like a lovely mum and I wish you all the very best in what must be a difficult time

Lots of lovely pics jan

Good god: I'd forgot about The Big Stick Of Doom.

I had two slices of farmhouse style bread today. Was lovely.

Back on track now, and a question for you all: What did you/are you planning on doing with all the clothes that no longer fit you - and you won't be wearing ever again (except one or two exceptions who may be ttc and therefore keeping back some large t-shirts etc)?

I am currently walking round in some clothes that - quite frankly - are ridiculous: jackets that belong on someone (old me) at least two/three stone heavier, or jumpers that were tight at summertime and now baggy around my ab area. I didn't realise until a colleague pointed it out to me.

Caramel I have thrown them out as I've gone along (charity shop etc) and was glad to see the back of them! Though I am currently wearing elephant bum trousers as I am saving up for really nice work trousers and as I have no important meetings for a few weeks these will tide me over

There have been a couple of nice tops though that I have kept as I might adapt them

Caramel I'm ditching them and have been as go along I will never let self get that big again

THough have to say as I have large boobs( 36 GG /H not many tops have hit the bin .but they are baggy elsewhere

I'm either chucking or taking to the charity shop. I'm not keeping them because I WILL NEVER NEED THEM AGAIN!

I've slung out loads of stuff that was worn out, given a few bits that were still in good nick to the charity shop and put a few carefully selected bits in the wardrobe to hopefully be wearing in a few months as we've just started TTC number 2!