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!

Ahh Dosh that must be tough situation with your mum. Mine drives me potty at times but at 85 thankfully she is still sharp as a tack. Especially when it comes to my weight loss and scrawny face. Grrrr. . Isn't eggnog the homemade version of Advocaat? Anyway, it's alcoholic you'll be fine. Which reminds me I've got a bottle in the cupboard .......

Hope everyone is ok and feeling Chrismassy.

Dosh what a lovely thing to do, sorry it is so tough for you.

Dosh that is lovely I agree with Mrs HP

Still at target here so I feel like I have a bit of room for manoeuvre over the next few days. Have been eating brandy butter straight from the jar as a sweet treat. You only need a teaspoon which is about 4g carb and it's amazing!

Dinner tonight is roast cauliflower with cheddar, goats cheese, double cream, mustard and bacon on a bed of baby leaf salad - and I'm only cooking for me as DH is out - back in the day it would have been cereal or toast when I'm on my own - this woe lest anyone needed reminding is just a revelation!

Evening all!

I think someone needs to nick my big stick and beat me with it

Met up with DH at lunchtime today, at the pub, and had fish and chips. Whoops!

Thank God it's not just me being bad. The good news is that DS has arrived home but the bad news is that we had a chinese (his choice) and drank champagne to welcome him home .

I did the Tesco shop today and was far less tempted by all the Xmas "goodies" than I have been before.

Finally had a text from friend who vanished last weekend, she is fine, clearly just unreliable.

Good news Viper (on both fronts)

Hello can I join? My eating is out of control & I feel so ashamed.

If course you can froufrou! Although honestly many if us are being a little slack at the moment, but will all be back on track by Jan 7th!!!

dosh that's lovely BIWI I also had fish and chips yesterday
viper pleased your DS is home safely
welcome to newbies

Hi froufrou welcome along What is it that you'd like to change? We've all felt like you at some point, I bet.

I have The Shop to do today which in conjunction with my thunderous PMT is going to be somewhat unpleasant.

Morning all! And welcome, froufrou! Next Bootcamp starts on 7 Jan. Best thing you could be doing at the moment is to prepare yourself for what is to come.

Here is a link to the Spreadsheet of Wonderfulness At the bottom of the spreadsheet you will see various tabs, and if you click on these you will find Bootcamp rules as well as a list of allowed veg.

If you haven't low carbed before, it's also a really good idea to do a bit of reading about it, as you will find that much of what we are doing runs counter to what you would expect/what current 'healthy eating' advice is - and it's important that you understand why. As a WOE (way of eating) it is one that you have to commit to full time - it's not like eating a low fat or low calorie diet where one good day can balance out one bad one! So you need to know what you are in for.

That said, and I think (hope!) everyone here who has come to low carb for the first time will agree that it is a much more pleasurable way to eat, compared with a conventional low calorie/low fat diet. In fact, once you're in the swing of it, you would be hard pressed to say you are actually 'on a diet'!

I'm off to the PILs today. Whilst they are lovely people, and it will be great to see them, I really don't want to go. I have too much to do at home! However, I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow morning, when we have a Skype call arranged with my SIL and nieces in Australia - so we will finally get a chance to see those babies

Ewan, that sounds like a disastrous combination. Good luck!

Welcome, frou. Think we're all just slouching around here at the minute. Jan 7 is when BIWI starts waving the Big Stick around again.

Oh dear. Navigated around the egg nog straight into the vodka jellies. I feel absolutely dreadful. It's going to be a long day.

Ooh Dosh not good. . Dare I ask if the eggnog was good or can't you face thinking of it right now? I had an Advocaat with soda and ice last night. It was good but thinking prob not low carb friendly.

Welcome Frou Frou. You will love it here. This is a fantastic bunch of women and the food is gorgeous.

Diosh, poor you on the vodka jellies. Hope you feel better.

BIWI, so glad you are going to see the babies. Bit naughty on the fish and chops though. Still, even our leader can lapse over Christmas.

Have drunk too much, not enough water and yesterday ate those low carb staples nougat and crisps. Now on train to see my wee dad in his dementia home. I am going to sing to him too. What a lovely idea.

Hope you all have a great day xx

I know it was naughty. But it was very nice! (Mind you, I couldn't eat it all - I left at least a third of it, so hopefully not too bad).

I'm trying very hard not to just slide into the 'but it's Christmas!' mentality - it's so tempting, and very easy.

Hey ladies can I join you for some support I need to lose 10 pounds I've already lost 2 stone I need to lose 4/5 for new years eve do you think I can do it with no carbs maybe Some on Xmas day only?

Shop done, no one died.

Christmas lunch for 6 for £38 (only possible because we have elsewhere acquired some game for my casserole)

not including booze. I have requested that guests bring madeira and sake. Love the idea of eggnog! (sorry Dosh )

Thankyou for your lovely replies. I have tried cutting back on carbs before but with little guidance & no support. No ones fault its just the rest of my family have no weight problems & it can be hard when shopping for food. I also have Crohns disease which isn't helpful. I have around 6 stone to lose & look a right state in anything I put on atm. We have been told by the hospital my Dad has not long (Alzheimers & heart failure) so Jan 7th maybe a good date for me. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone & thankyou.

BIWI I know what you mean about the christmas mentality. I have managed to stay on track during the days, but evenings have led to puddings and snacks. I am trying to not eat when not hungry and up my water intake instead rather than tell myself I can't have something as I know for me that ends in disaster.

Have just planned eating between now and christmas eve and that is all 'good' so hoping for a sort of even keel at least.

Hurrah for all the shopping, DH went this morning with DD (3) - he is brilliant! She even fell over and he averted the crisis by finding peppa pig plasters and putting one on her before they even started the shop. I stayed at home and cleaned and tidied so apart from the fact I have lost my effing sellotape! We are pretty organised now.

Right off to shower then relax!

Welcome, sweetie! 4-5lbs is quite a lot to expect to lose in the next 9 days, especially with Christmas. When you say 'no carbs' what do you mean? If you focus on lower carb veg and salad you should be fine. Better than cutting them out altogether, I think,

Welcome froufrou I hope you can join us on the next bootcamp and feel free to ask any questions here before we start on the 7th.

I may not be the ideal role model for newbies tho ... had a totally off-plan day yesterday with social things involving [gluten free] cake, coffee, spaghetti for tea, wine and mince pies. It was a lovely time seeing 2 lots of friends, but I am suffering for it a bit today, I had a terrible sleep and am feeling very puffy and tired today, still in my pjs!! So I have decided to be better for the next 3 days until the blow out on the Big Day itself.

Oh hello thanks, ok I'll stick to low carb which will mean. I bread pasta potatoes that sort of thing. Got to stay off Chocs too v difficult this time of year! Even 2/3 pounds would be good .....

What are you doing/going to that means you need to lose that much weight by NYE?!