Week 4 - New Year Bootcamp - Where We Really Get Going

[BIWI]

Morning all!

Quick post from me as I have to go to work. Damn that RL!

Come and confess all on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

Remember that in this week, it is still likely that you may see very little or even no loss. This is entirely normal and will happen no matter how well you have been following Bootcamp rules

It sounds, though, like some of you are eager to report losses anyway, so that's brilliant!

However, there's been a lot of falling off the wagon recently, so can I suggest that we really get focused in this week and make sure that we don't allow the carbs to creep back into the diet? From here on, we're only really going to see losses of around 1-2lbs a week, so let's not sabotage things.

During the Dr Briffa day there was a session about the Emotional Freedom Technique - or tapping, as it is also known - that was talked about as a way to deal with cravings.

Some videos on here about it

I thought it was a bit 'woo', if I'm really being honest, but Dr Briffa was pretty evangelical about it, and uses it himself.

Could be worth a try?

The other thing he said, about things that you crave, is that often they are things that are perceived as a very pleasurable reward - a piece of chocolate, some cashew nuts or white wine were all the things that people on the day admitted were their rewards/pleasures.

His best advice was to make sure that you don't have them to hand/in the house, and/or that you substitute them with something similar enough but that doesn't give you the same level of pleasure. His example was to replace roasted, salted cashews with unsalted almonds, or to substitute Sauvignon Blanc with vodka, lime and soda. Both will fulfil the same purpose, but one is much less obviously pleasurable than the other - presumably, therefore, you will crave it a lot less?

That sounds very wise. I think it takes up to 3 weeks to break a habit and you can certainly lose your craving for addictive substances including sugar if you stop having them and do not waver over a consistent period (same with alcohol and drugs).

The addictive substances trigger an immediate release of pleasure stuff in the brain (but are followed by a crash anyway and a desire for more and more in order to have the same addictive hit).

Lovely to come home work and read all your messages of support.

You are a lovely bunch, you really are.

Skandi - nothing worse than needing support off someone who doesn't even appreciate what you do or how hard it is. I ran back to work after mat leaves.

The consultant hasn't phoned today. Dh has said that he will come with me to all future hospital appointments to ask questions and take in what they tell me.

yoo hoo - Willie! There's a mistake on the link to the Food Revolution video on the spreadsheet. I've tried to correct it (youtube at the end of the link was spelt youtu.be), but it doesn't turn it into a link any more

Thatgirls, I think there was someone upthread who couldn't eat flax seed as it gave them hives, and I'm pretty sure that sesame was an alternative.

It sounds like you're drinking lots of water. I really struggle with that so my ketostix are often too dark.

Yama, that's lovely of our DH to offer to go to your appointments. It's hard when you're waiting for news. Hopefully if the consultant could have called today but didn't, it means it's nothing too serious. I'm a terrible worrier and can't think of anything else if I'm waiting for someone's call me back. Hopefully you'll be able to distract yourself until he/she calls.

Does the consultant have a secretary who could help you? Xxx

BIWI, I've tried tapping before and for the few days I managed it, I think I did find I slept better. I did it because I was looking for something to help me with anxiety. I did it on the sofa last thing at night but I was always worried about DP coming in as I felt a bit silly. I'd forgotten about it but might try it again as I'm turning into a bit of an insomniac as I find it difficult to switch off.

My take on it is that it is a bit woo, but it's non invasive, doesn't involve medication so def worth a try.

Yama, your DH.

Pjlover, don't feel ashamed. Craving foods and esp carby stuff is actually due to sugar addiction. I think maybe it's withdrawal symptoms. The thing is, if you're snacking on things that are ok on this woe, then you shouldn't worry about how much you're eating. I'm not. If you've been like this for years, like I have, then I'm assuming that the habits are still there and I'm just trying to answer the questions posted Toomuch posted above and then going for olives, or ham, chicken, avocado,cucumber or all of them

Don't be too hard on yourself. I'm sure we'll get there in the end. I went out on Monday for a meal and had mozzarella, tomato, basil and lettuce as a starter followed by steak in peppercorn and red wine sauce and a largish glass of red wine. I also had extra veg and no potatoes and I'm slightly thinking I might have piton for the next weigh in, but I don't think I care as I actually managed to avoid having potatos, more wine and Tiramisu, which is unheard of for me.

I guess for those of us who have sugar addiction issues, everything we eat will have to be considered from now on. A bit like an ex-alcoholic might with booze except for us it's the wrong sort of carbs.

Waffling on, sorry. Just wanted to say you're not alone. Big hugs to you. Xxx

I have been mega busy so no time to post really but have had a quick scan of the thread. Sorry to hear about the back pain, the funeral, the non-sleeping children. January is a horrid month (despite being my birthday month).

Please will someone help with the flaxseed crackers - I'm doing something wrong because I'm basically making flaxseed sand. It doesn't go crunchy, it doesn't form cracker shapes. I only had grated cheddar in the fridge so used that - is that the problem or am I not rolling it out thinly enough? :(

In more positive news, I tried on a skirt last night that was v tight around the waist last time I wore it and it isn't any more :)

Which recipe are you using, Kiri?

Thanks all for the lovely well-dones... Now have moved from Kenya to UK and it's bloody cold! Am trying my hardest not to drink copious amounts of red wine to compensate...

The one you posted the other day BIWI. I combined 50g each of butter and flaxseed and 100g of grated cheddar (it's the prebagged stuff so fairly chunky in consistency). I didn't roll it though, I pressed it onto greaseproof paper on the baking tray so that it was about 2mm thick,

Thinking about it, there is no way it was the right consistency to be able to roll it out between cling film and then transfer to a baking tray.

Kiri - I made flaxseed crackers yesterday - 100g milled flaxseed to 1 egg and some cheese. i used 25g parmesan and rolled in betweenmy silicon baking sheet and clingfilm, and chucked in oven.

Lovely with salted butter.

Welcome to the UK boobz!! Wow yes, that must be a temp plummet. Red wine medicinal in those circs surely?

Mum sometimes after the food quantities I have eaten in a day I think surely i will have gained, and I haven,t. If you are eating the right things you will be fine.

Was it milled flaxsee, Kiri?

Talking of milled flaxseed - I bought whole linseeds and tried to mill them. I tried in the processor (they just went round and round without being cut) and I tried in the mortar and pestle (too much hard work).

Buy them ready-milled in health-food shops.

Any ideas of what to do with whole linseeds?

I nearly bought unmilled by mistake too, but they looked soooo hard I thought I'd not be able to mill them myself so went for ready done ones. Its a shame they are so expensive though. Holland and Barrett seem to be the only place round here to get them too.

Yes, milled. I did try them the day before with unmilled and that was an unmitigated disaster so I made a special trip to H&B. They didn't have any plain milled so I had to get some with added probiotic and vitamin D.

I am usually quite a good cook, honestly :o

I have a feeling that whole linseed are not actually digestible and just go straight through you, whereas milled you can actually get something out of them

Welcome back to the uk boobz!

Sorry to hear you're in such pain Yama, hope treatment is not too scary

Skandi I hope tonight is better for you

Jac hope the funeral went ok

I have seen linwoods milled flaxseed in waitrose btw

When you mixed the butter, cheese and flaxseeds together, what kind of consistency did you get?

Hi all, hope everyone's ok this balmy Friday evening ((jac))

I get milled flax seed from Sainsbo's, makes a lovely bread substitute when mixed with ground almonds and eggs and baked. . You do pick jelly textured seeds out of your teeth for hours after a slice though

I just made possibly the most gorgeous dinner I ever have!

Slow cooked creamy chicken (from the hamlyn slow cooker book,I missed out the flour).
With Jamie Oliver's roasted cauliflower and steamed Kale.
DP had a jacket potato with his.
Definitely making that again. I bought the chicken breasts from the butchers and I think that made a difference,they were nice and plump.

Kiri no idea about the crackers as I haven't made them but be careful with ready grated cheese. It often has flour in it to keep the grated bits separate so they don't clump together I have been caught out before ......