Week 6 - New Year Low Carb Bootcamp _ Where I start to wave my big stick again

[BIWI]

Morning all

Here it is - come and confess all

Now. Three things have come to my attention.

1. There is a lot of baking going on. Sweet things and bread substitutes.

Please remember that we are trying to avoid sweet things and that we are trying to avoid using artificial sweeteners.

1. A lot most of you are falling off the wagon - either 'accidentally' () or because situations arise where you have not planned ahead or deliberately.

This is not a very forgiving WOE. Lapses/cheats like this will have a big impact - at the very least you will not see any weight loss for a while - most likely, though, you will see a gain of around 3-7lbs. You really have to plan ahead and make sure you do everything you can to stay focused and avoid the carbs. Going out for a meal or to dinner at a friends does mean that you have to think about what's going to be on offer. You cannot assume that low carb options are going to be available (although most restaurants should be fairly easy to navigate).

1. There is a lot of moaning about seeing a weight gain or not losing.

May I refer you to 1 and 2 above?

Please, please, please go back to Bootcamp/Bootcamp Light rules. They are there for a reason!

I can tell you that almost every time someone posts "I don't know what to do, the scales aren't moving for me/I've gained half a stone and I don't know why, because I'm being really good/have been following the rules" this is a massive signal that, actually, they haven't.

Fat is key.
Water is key.
Too much alcohol will stop weight loss.
Dairy - especially cream and cheese - can be an issue for many (yoghurt is better tolerated)
Artificial sweeteners are to be avoided.
Fruit should be severely restricted.

We have only five weeks of Bootcamp left, including this week. Let's get serious and back on track.

I would add to what everyone else has said that once you have a small cheat or anything I think it breaks your attempt to move away from sweet things an makes you crave sweet thing again. You have to then spend a good week or so re-breaking that sweet habit.

mumat you haven't failed, it's just a small slip and you will be fine - go back and read timidviper's lovely post about the scenic route - I have had plenty of slips and still managed to lose three and a half stone so don't stress about it. The main thing is then not to go into a downwards spiral and think "oh well, I've ruined it now, I may as well eat all the DCs biscuits too" - I like willie's post that if someone slashed one of your tyres, you wouldn't go and slash the other three, you'd just get the one fixed. Just pour yourself a large glass of water and be philosophical about it - try and work out what the trigger is and what you can do to try and avoid it next time.

And yes, one you are on maintenance you can have the odd planned great (Briffa says as long as you stick to the WOE about 80% you should be fine) (but if you have a problem with puddings it's probably best to avoid them until you feel you can take them or leave them). I managed to maintain a good year doing that.

mumat39 - we all slip from time to time. It may be that you are overcome by cravings or you go to your Mum's and she has spent time preparing a meal that you really have to eat!

I find it really helps not to have food that might derail me in the house. I buy the DCs snacks that wouldn't ever really have appealled to me & I get rid of all of the kind of things that would tempt me. That way, it takes temptation out of the way.

I had supper out at a friends house last Saturday & her daughter had made us all individual pots of creme brulee - I had to eat it, otherwise I was saying my diet was more important than the effort her DD had gone to. So, I slipped on Saturday night - but I just enjoyed the creme brulee & moved on.

Don't get disheartened if you slip up, just try to think of ways you can help yourself not slip up again. (Get rid of the lindt chocolate! )

I honestly promise you that eventually the cravings really do go away or become very infrequent - but it takes time. Stick with it.

I agree not to get too upset with a slip up. It's not worth it. A few carbs one day does not mean weeks of this WOE have all been a waste. I've had a few planned "cheats" I don't like that word but I make sure I don't go mad. I also try to plan something so I know I can look forward to it. And I do really look forward to it

For valentines for example, I always buys DH chocolates. We're both on this diet so we agreed I'd just buy 4 chocs. I spent ages in the shop choosing those 4 chocolates! We had them last night and they were delicious, I'm not going to feel guilty about it.

My next planned cheat is Mothers Day. DDs always make me a cake, so I've spent ages looking through recipe books, we've found a flour less recipe, (less carbs) and the girls are going to use only half of the suggested amounts so they'll make a small cake. This means we will all have one piece and it will be gone. Again I'm really looking forward to that cake and it will stop me giving in on a day to day basis. I just say to myself...I'm not eating that, I'm saving my treat for Mothers Day.

I thnk we only live once, I don't want this diet to make me miserable so there will be treats and cheats. The trick is not to let it get you down, only do it occasionally, accept it and get on with the job!

awaits BIWI's big stick

Morning all. Sorry to hear that our Inner Gobblers are re-surfacing!

How do you feel about three strict days next week? I've devised a meal plan for that which is non-dairy. I haven't worked out the carb counts yet, but I'll try to do that today. Here is the plan:

Day 1
B 2 eggs, scrambled with butter
L Tuna mayonnaise (buy Delouis mayonnaise, as this is 0g carbs), wrapped in Little Gem lettuce leaves, with sliced cucumber
D 2 chicken thighs, skin on, pan-fried in butter and olive oil
100g bag baby spinach, wilted, with garlic butter and broccoli florets fried with chilli flakes

Day 2
B Mushroom omelette, fried in butter
L Smoked salmon and avocado with a green leafy salad with a home-made vinaigrette (olive oil, wine vinegar, salt and pepper)
D Home-made beefburger (100g steak mince, mixed with salt/pepper and olive oil), with home-made coleslaw (finely sliced white cabbage, grated carrot, finely chopped shallot, oil and vinegar, and mayo) and celeriac chips

Day 3
B 2 boiled eggs
L 2 chicken thighs, (cold ? but pan-fried as on Day 1), with coleslaw and salad
D Roast belly pork (and crackling), with swede mash (mashed with lots of butter) and braised fennel

With the exception of the coleslaw, all the veg is under 3g carbs. There is no dairy - which also means no milk/cream in tea/coffee. And no yoghurt for breakfast.

No snacking either.

If I put this together as a proper plan, with recipes, etc how would you all feel about doing this next week?

I like the sound of that biwi.

I'm focusing on my hot drinks. I got into the habit of coffee with cream. Yesterday I bought the cherry and cinnamon tea and licqurice tea. Also almond and coconut uht milks.

Yesterday was recovering from my medical.
B flax porridge with cream and peanut butter
L left over take away curry.
D shepherds pie made with left over roast lamb with cauliflower mash. Strawberries and lots of cream

Today will be
B 2 boiled eggs,salami, stilton, cucumber butter and Mayo
L left over shepherds pie with some buttered vegetables
D sausages, butternut mash, creamy braised cabbage, onion gravy. More strawberries otherwise they'll go off.

Can't keep up with everyone but keep going.

Menu plan is a great idea BIWI - I do find i stick to the same foods for breakfast and lunchevery day, so it'll be better for me to have it written down and shopped for! I like all those foods - do you think i could substitute salmon fillet for the smoked? And i dn't normally eat breakfast -so the eggs will go. I'll have my normal rooibos-with-coconut-oil.

Yes - I'm also aware that not everyone likes eggs, so I may also need to do an alternative breakfast.

That sounds like the sort of thing I'll need to knuckle down to it between two wedding weekends. My only issue is that due to timings and going to the gym most mornings I have breakfast at work. We do have a microwave, so could do scrambled eggs, but an omelette would be pushing it! Also, fennel is rank Aside from that, sounds fab!

Does anyone have any inspiring pork based low carb recipes?

I am always a bit nervous of pork, as I have a tendency to make it chewy somehow.

Roast belly of pork is fine - but that is a weekend treat.

I'm looking for some come home from work & rustle up in half an hour or so recipes.

How about a stir-fry, using pork fillet?

Slice the fillet into thin slices, and marinade in sesame oil, a dash of soy sauce, the juice of half a lemon/lime and add a shake of Chinese 5 spice powder (avoiding the ones that have sugar in them!), some finely chopped garlic and ginger.

Leave it to marinade, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes.

Then stir-fry for about 3-4 minutes - no longer as it will get tough. Serve with some stir-fried broccoli, shallots and chilli.

Or, there's a recipe for slow cooked pork with coconut milk, ginger and lime on the recipe thread - put it in the slow cooker in the morning

Thank you - shall try both of those. Will remember not to overcook the stirfry, so it doesn't go chewy too.

And remember, pork fillet can also be eaten slightly pink (unlike other cuts of pork).

I didn't know that - I prefer meat less well done - so that is good news.

Other than roast, pork is my least successful meat - but given it is generally cheaper, it is about time I got better at cooking it! (Less likely to be confused with horse too! )

There's also a nice recipe from IPD which I think I put on the recipe thread for thai meatballs made from pork mince.

If you slow roast a shoulder of pork (taste v similar to belly, just a bigger joint) at the weekend it'll give you piles of crackling and then a lot of leftovers.

I like leftover pork fried with fennel, then a splash of lemon juice on it for a lunch.

I used to also fry it up with beansprouts and then mix with ribbons of cucumber, spring onions and hoi sin and stick in a wrap. Obv you could do a lettuce wrap, and I guess could sub the hoi sin for a chinesey stir fry type affair - fry the pork in soy, five spice, ginger and garlic and then drizzle with sesame oil once cooked.

Mumat am really sorry to hear you've been struggling.

I won't offer any advice as I've been (much) worse than you the last week so it would be pot calling kettle black.

Just sending you solidarity though and hope the lovely advice I got earlier this week is helpful to you too.

And comforting myself with the knowledge that I've been quoted (fame at last!) and invented a new phrase (inner gobbler!)

BIWI I'm up for that 3 day challenge. I've never cooked pork belly before and I've been meaning to for ages, so this is a good excuse to try it.

Smoked salmon and avocado is one of my default lunches too!

Am doing my Ocado shop on Sunday so let me know everyone if we're going to do it!

Since there is some wrestling with gobblers going on, I thought I would list the things that are FAB about Bootcamping/things I have learnt that make me pleased I did it. I bet you all can think of stuff for you, that will encourage you.

• I do not need carbs in my meal to feel full (a revelation!)
• Not eating carbs means I feel comfortable, not bloated
• Mushrooms are nice
• Feta is nice
• Avocados are nice with stuff (still can't eat it on its own)
• DD will eat scrambled eggs if I mix grated cheese in (result!!)
• DD will eat plain greek yog (thrilled about this as I hated her scoffing all those sugary bloody fromage frais)
• There are a hell of a lot more interesting things to do with broccoli and cauliflower than just steam it
• I have tried new recipes everyday and it's got us out of a food rut
• It's made me think about what I eat and not do the mindless hand to food bowl then to mouth ad nauseum.

And instead of "cheat" I prefer Willie's description of going "mindfully off plan".

Afternoon all, am about to go on holiday and mindfully off plan a little wine so just thought I'd drop by to say goodbye.

BIWI those meals look great, just what I need when I get back.

Roast pork can be reheated so that its soft not tough in a plastic bag in simmering water (and also frozen in portions) Crackling can also be revived under the grill. For all those of you wanting to do pork but not sure about leftovers.

Just had leftover steak and spinach and broccoli for lunch. Supper will be in the car so am taking mussels and spinach and cream in thermos with me.

Biwi
I would eat that midweek to get back on track although as you say some people may not eat eggs.

Had a lovely meal out last night
Marinated olives
Sauteed garlic field mushrooms in truffle butter (with focaccia but DH ate those with his sardines)
Flattened rump steak with rocket and Grand Padano with a side dish of French beans and shallots
two glasses of red and a vodka and slimline

DC are off school and got friends coming to play shortly and stay for tea. I may need wine later too. Sorry

Choos - Have a fab holiday!

This is Jacaqueen calling civilisation. Come in civilisation. Over.

Oh good there you all are. I am up at the holiday shack and have had no Internet for a few days. This place is in time warp and mobiles don't work either. Still lots of lovely walks and time spent with DS2. He has just got into Hama beads. Deep joy.

I am sorry to read that some of you are struggling. I put on over 10lbs at Christmas and have only just got rid even though I have been fairly strict. Despite that I am thrilled at how far I have come and how much my behaviour around food has changed.

I still overeat, but I don't binge.
I still use food when I am stressed, but I am aware of what I am doing.
I still use food as a reward, but I am trying hard not to.

The food I eat now is mainly low carb. So although I still have an element of destructive behaviour, the damage is limited.

I am 43 and have had a bad relationship with food for most of this time. It is going to take time and effort to change this behaviour. Our emotional attachment to food is so ingrained it is extremely difficult to break the habit.

This time last year I would have used the excuse of a few days away to cheat and 'treat' myself. Fish and chips from the world famous local chippie. A fudge donut from the world famous cake shop. Etc etc. Yesterday I walked past the cake shop twice and didnt even think about going in, and IF we go to the chippie I will have smoked haddock and salad. Instead of food DS got a DVD from the charity shop and I bought a posh air fresher.

Sorry I am rambling on. What I am trying to say is you have to remember those non scale victories and stop measuring your success only by how much weight you have lost.

Right we are off for a walk in the sunshine to see the snowdrops. That is another non scale victory, as this time last year when I was three stone heavier, I did not want to leave the house.

Have a great holiday choos!!!