New Year Low Carb Bootcamp - The Final Weigh-In!

[BIWI]

So here it is - come and weigh in for the last time and tell us how much you've lost in Bootcamp.

The Spreadsheet of Fabulousness is here

Timid - the leptin reset is very similar to bootcamp, except you time your meals )ish) and do not snack at all, not even drinks with calories. You eat a breakfast with 50g protein within 30 minutes of waking up, andthat sets you up forthe day (I really dont need snacks if I eat a BAB with 50g protein). At least 4 hours between meals & dont eat for at least 3 hours before bed. Im finding it dead easy, and liberating! Bootcamp realesed me from my binging and the LR has realesed me from tinking about food :)

Ive also dropped another few pounds since Monday its just melting away now. Im 2lb away from losing 2 stone - yipee!

Bessie, that sounds like something from Masterchef!

Leptin diet

The hardest thing about this WOE for me has been to accept that calories don't need to be counted.....and I have found that very hard. Even though I have lost over a stone since starting.
This morning I am having omelette with mushrooms, a small sprinkling if cheese and shallot all done in about 40g of butter. It's delicious but even now I am thinking "how many calories" even though I am not counting them and won't.

It's amazing the stranglehold that past advice has over me.

Anyway...it's a yummy breakfast.

Finally:

Today's Guardian

BecauseIm I have a rather delicate question!

I'm on maintenance now, but am having real tummy issues. I thought I had a bug at first but have realised it's linked to me starting to eat more carbs. Is this normal? I'm eating each day a small slice of bread, a few oat cakes, a banana and more veg, but I am getting stomach twinges every time I eat and the feeling I need to rush to the loo. (Sorry TMI) I don't actually have to go, it's just that horrible feeling. This has been happening for over 2 weeks.

Also I'm still losing weight, which I don't want to do, I'm now below 8stone and have lost 2lbs this week.

Is this a normal reaction to eating more carbs or should I reduce the amount or kind of carbs I'm eating?

Sorry for the long post, I'm just a bit fed up.

QLB I'm not surprised you're fed up with that

I'm no expert on this, but I wonder whether you could try experimenting with the kind of carbs you introduce? It might be the grains (in the bread and oatcakes) that are affecting you, so maybe try substituting a a bit of potato instead as you might be a bit less sensitive to that. I know lot of people have problems with grains and gluten.

biwi thanks for that link - the most scary quote: "Michelle Obama appeared to be onside when she launched her Let's Move initiative in February 2010 with a speech to the Grocery Manufacturers Association of America. "She took it straight to them and said, 'You're the problem. You're the solution.' She hasn't said it since. Now it's all about exercise.

"Far be it from me to bad-mouth somebody who wants to do the right thing. But I'm telling you right now she's been muzzled. No question of it." In his book he tells of a private conversation with the White House chef, who he claims told him the administration agreed with him but did not want a fight with the food industry."

thank goodness for the internet otherwise how would we ever fight back against these behemoths.

Fantastic article. ...have shared it on Facebook.

Bessie Scallops! Fabulous. Some of these meals sound Michelin star level.

That greek spinach 'pie' I linked to last night was great, if anyone is looking for a crustless quichey-type-thing with a difference. I used parsley instead of dill and threw in a few toasted pine nuts.

That's really unnerving yet not at all surprising about the Obamas, Mary I often wonder how on earth the message to eat fewer carbs can possibly be endorsed by those in power with grain-based agriculture etc still at the heart of Western economies.

I'm having a really strict few days while DH is working away. I get awful PMT and it always throws me into snack mode. Now I'm past that phase I need a mindset reset, IYKWIM.

I'm going to share that article too. Interested to see what reaction I get!

qlb. I have seen this list of the order to reintroduce things so maybe have more nuts and seeds. Mabe things like sweet potato or cous cous in small amounts might be gentler on your stomach?

1. more salad and other vegetables on the acceptable foods list
2. fresh cheeses (as well as more aged cheese)
3. seeds and nuts
4. berries
5. wine and other spirits low in carbs
6. legumes
7. fruits other than berries and melons
8. starchy vegetables
9. whole grains

19.5lbs in total and 2 dress sizes (I wore a size 10 last night when I went to see Harry Hill!)

I've managed to stay on course for MOST of the duration, but when I have slipped I've found that my eating habits have changed so dramatically that I've just got right back into LCing with zero effort.

I haven't always been present on this thread but it's been a massive support all the same. Thanks BIWI and everybody else who has contributed.

Thank you Willie and MrsHeggule.

That list is very helpful. I especially like no 5

I have definitely been eating a lot of no 9 on the list, so I think that may be my problem.

Am going to go and buy some seeds and nuts today and ditch the bread.

I have been lurking on the bootcamp threads since you started in January and I'm finally in a position to start the bootcamp - just as you're all finishing! Very inspired by your stories of weight loss and general good health. I wonder if you would be kind enough to cast an eye over what I have been eating for the past three days since I started LCing on Monday. Is it OK? Any comments? I want to try and do this properly! Many thanks!

Monday
B: 2 x poached eggs, 2 x rashers bacon
L: chicken mayonnaise, salad
S: Celery with blue cheese
D: Venison burger, cheese, broccoli and courgette with garlic and butter
S: Ham & brie & lettuce wrap
Drinks: 2 x cups tea with milk, ginger & lemon tea, water

Tuesday
B: 2 big dollops total FF yog, a soft boiled egg
L: Ham and cheese salad, oily dressing
D: Spinach with butter, smoked haddock, poached egg
S: Smoked salmon & philly
Drinks: 3 x cups tea with milk, water

Wednesday
B: 2 x poached eggs, 2 x rashers bacon, tomato, mushrooms
L: Tuna mayo and avacado salad
D: Sausages, braised cabbage with cream, steamed carrots and green beans
S: Smoked salmon & philly, a small dollop yogurt
Drinks: 2 x cups tea with milk, ginger & lemon tea, water

Hi kkkaty

I'm not an expert on this but you might want to cut out the tomato and carrots, I think they are quite carby.

Thanks for your reply Bessie. Both are on the allowed list though? Tomatoes at 3.1 and carrots and 2.5!

Welcome kkkaty :) Looks good to me, as long as you are aware of the carb content of tomatoes and carrots :) I do eat them occasionally though.

If I remember rightly there's some confusion about carrots at the start of bootcamp as they were on the veg list twice. "Baby" carrots have 2.5g whereas the older bigger ones have 7gs- I think.

Sorry there was some comfusion

Aargh! Now I'm confused. Does that mean I shouldn't be having red peppers (6.4) in my salads? Why should I not be having tomatoes (3.1) but it's OK to have cabbage (5) and green beans (4.7)?!

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking since the start and gaining huge inspiration from the losses and health improvements. Thanks so much BIWI for all your knowledge and tips. teaandthorazine I have just read The Primal Blueprint and been v inspired by that too - it really is a whole new Way of Living as you describe it! Also like the Marks Daily Apple website with all the success stories.

I've gone from 152 lbs to below 10 stone since 7 Jan (haven't weighed myself for a couple of weeks as my scales are broken, but went into GAP yesterday and squeezed into a size 8 pair of jeans - [shocked] could not believe it! Some of that may be down to vanity sizing on the part of GAP but I was a generous 12 before).

Some things I've noticed:

1. Having a BAB first thing has really helped stablise my blood sugars and made me go longer between meals. I've only started doing this in the last couple of weeks and I've completely eliminated snacking now (was sneaking loads of extra nuts and peanut butter before I started having a BAB
2. My hormones are taking a while to settle down, but things are definitely improving in that department. Acne disappearing after a few mahoosive zits a few weeks ago, vaginal discharge vanished at first but has now thankfully come back (never thought I'd say that but being dry down there is no joke), moods all over the place for a few weeks, but feeling much happier now. Anyone else had these symptoms since they started low carbing?
3. Once of the best improvements has been that after years of insomnia/poor sleep, I am now sleeping like a log - asleep as soon as my head touches the pillow - it's really wonderful. That's one of the main reasons I've kept on with the WOE.
4. My weight distribution seems to have changed. I'm much less pear shaped. I haven't lost so much off my top half, but my problem areas - hips, thighs, love handles have reduced. Still got the mummy tummy tho

Sorry for the mammoth first post - I felt the need to get it all out! Thanks again for all the recipes and tips!

Hi boobashka, sounds like you're doing really well

Any ideas for cooking spring greens please ? Just brought a big bag reduced to 65p so need to eat them tonight.Thinking of cooking spag bol to go with them.

Thanks

I had a lovely lunch recently where they substituted the lentils that were on the menu with wilted spring greens cooked in plenty of butter, and which were served with lovely plump, garlicy Italian sausages.

Yy I agree with pretty bird re spring greens, wilt down in tons of butter it is HEAVEN