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Low-carb bootcamp

Preparing for Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootamp

23 replies

BIWI · 08/10/2015 07:30

For all those who have signed up, or those who are thinking about it - here's a thread to get you in the right mindset, and to outline what it's all about, and what the rules are.

On Monday, I'll start a Week 1 thread, in which I will link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness, created and maintained by the lovely SayrraT. Each week (if you want to - it's not compulsory!) just add your weight. If you find that your name isn’t there, just add yourself to the bottom of the list, and Sayrra will re-sort it into alphabetical order.

If you don’t want to use your actual weight, you are welcome to index it – start with 100, and take one away for every pound that you lose.

Here is a brief reminder of the rules:

We do not eat any of the following during Bootcamp:
bread
rice
pasta/noodles
potatoes
flour
pastry
sugar (which includes honey/agave syrup/maple syrup)
chocolate/sweets
biscuits/cookies
crisps
balsamic vinegar (other vinegars are allowed though)

And here are the ten rules of Bootcamp:

  1. You must eat breakfast.
  2. Avoid processed food/meat (e.g. ham, bacon, sausages, etc)
  3. Eat lots of fat
  4. Make sure you are eating vegetables and salads with your food (try and keep these to veg/salad that's 3g carbs per 100g as much as you can)
  5. Be careful about dairy (apart from butter, which is unlimited)
  6. You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day
  7. No alcohol
  8. No fruit
  9. No nuts/seeds

10. No sugar or artificial sweeteners

More detail/explanation of these rules will be on the spreadsheet – look at the tabs at the bottom.

Please be aware that Bootcamp, although designed to be simple to follow (no weighing or counting of foods!), is not easy - the clue is in the name! The world is not designed for low carbers, and you will have to plan ahead to make sure that you have plenty of low carb foods available to you - if you are out and about a lot and rely on being able to buy food on -the-go, you'll have to be very careful.

Plan your meals as much as you can, and make sure that you've removed any stuff from the house that might tempt you to cheat!

(If you have a medical condition, or you are taking long term medication, especially for blood pressure, please take advice from your GP/consultant before starting to low carb.)
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debka · 08/10/2015 12:37

Thanks BIWI. I signed up last week but actually started on my own on Sunday. I felt very motivated and thought I'd act on it. 5 days in now and I'm feeling remarkably good. Haven't craved carbs at all, or been hungry at all either. TBH I am struggling to believe I will lose weight eating like this! I have probably had more cream than is advisable- following the recipes in the recipe thread so should probably cut down on that. I'm eating IPD moussaka for lunch, with salad, and it's delicious :)

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Wombatinabathhat · 08/10/2015 19:41

Thank you BIWI

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PaddingtonStareBare · 08/10/2015 22:59

Thanks BIWI

I've started to plan meals for next week and starting to lok at what I can have for breakfast etc so I'll have a look at the spreadsheet later, doesn't help I tend to eat a family vegetarian diet with a bit of fish and minimal chicken.

Where there is a will there is a way !!

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Huntthepigsear · 09/10/2015 11:45

Thanks Biwi. I've been reading the John Briffa book as recommended and it is very interesting. I'm not sure I believe all his claims, but it is compelling reading.
I have been doing Bootcamp light since Saturday and am really impressed with how unhungrey (real word Grin) I have been. Felt shaky and jittery on Mon/Tues but that has now settled and I feel great.
I have one question about the no fruit rule, does that include avocados? If it does, that rather scuppers my weekday breakfasts! Thanks.

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BIWI · 09/10/2015 15:15

Avocado is fine!

Which of his claims are you concerned about? Because I don't think you need to be - there's a lot of evidence to support what he writes about, and a lot of other people who have written other stuff about the evidence to support low carbing.

"The Diet Delusion" by Gary Taubes is a really good book for this - although it's a really weighty tome! But it's incredibly thorough and very well researched. It might be worth getting hold of a copy of that if you need a bit more reassurance.

Another one is [[https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Big_Fat_Surprise.html?id=YJicAwAAQBAJ&source=kp_cover&hl=en "The Big Fat Surprise", by Nina Teicholz )

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fluffywol · 09/10/2015 16:16

Can I ask a question before I start BC re. Myfitnesspal, please? I've been low carb for 7 weeks now, and have already lost almost 1.5 stone, which MFP has really helped, as I can track my macros, which I found helpful, as well as calories (which is very much secondary imo).

My question is; should I stop tracking on MFP for the duration of BC and just follow the rules of the latter or will it be helpful to see exactly what I'm eating in the way of fat and carbs? I also have a pretty crap short term memory and in likely to forget what I had for each meal.

Please don't shout at me Wink

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Huntthepigsear · 09/10/2015 17:35

Phew! That's a relief about the avocadoGrin

I guess the main claim I am a bit dubious about is the possible metabolic advantage. Tbf, he only says this is 'possible'.
I liked all the quoted papers, but felt that when they disagreed with his claims, he often was quite categorical in denying them. However, when there were papers which possibly supported him, he sometimes over stated their results. I think the most striking examples were to do with the epidemiological studies. When they refuted low carb, he would say they were 'only epidemiological studies' but when they agreed with them he was just saying 'this study shows that...'

Don't get me wrong, I don't think a low carb diet is unhealthy and I am hoping it is a good way to lose weight, but I don't think it's quite as brilliant as he makes out to sell his books
I'm sure you have heard the saying "There are lies, damned lies and statistics"Grin Having written several scientific papers myself, I am always skeptical.
In fact, my first forays into low carbing have been very promising and I am amazed at how satiated I am with what is definitely less volume of food. I also feel great, after a shaky start and am really looking forward to starting properly on Monday. I also think my skin is better as I have been plagued with acne in recent months, despite calorie counting. That is one of the big reasons I wanted to try this kind of WOE as 'primal' diets seem to all claim this. Fingers crossed this is true.

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Huntthepigsear · 09/10/2015 17:42

Oh, and I have tried WW/SW/slimfast/MFP, etc over the years. I can lose weight. I cannot keep it off, so all those above WOE haven't worked for me. Their common denominator is low fat, usually reasonably high protein and high carbohydrate. So whilst I may have questions about Low carb, I also don't think low fat is right - for me. I think I'm just an all round sceptic. Grin

Sorry for the long posts, but I've been thinking about this a lot recently.

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Wombatinabathhat · 09/10/2015 19:58

Well done fluffy
That is a fantastic result Thanks

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fluffywol · 09/10/2015 20:50

Thank you Wombat. I'm rather pleased with it.

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Wombatinabathhat · 09/10/2015 21:02

Blimey fluffy - I'd be over the moon.
would you mind detailing a bit of what you've been eating to achieve your result?

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BIWI · 09/10/2015 21:17

fluffywol - if it's working for you (and it obviously is!) then there's no reason to stop it just for Bootcamp.

Huntthepigsear I know what you mean about Briffa. If you're a scientist yourself, then I think the Gary Taubes book will be much more 'satisfying' for you.

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fluffywol · 09/10/2015 21:38

Thanks BIWI. I'm looking forward to Monday, see you there!

Wombat, I pretty much did what is recommended on BC, eating 'real' food & very little processed, such as meat, fish or poultry cooked with plenty of butter or lard etc, eggs in various forms, lots of low carb veg, small quantities of full fat dairy - it doesn't appear to cause a stall for me - and the occasional treat of a square of Lindt 90% chocolate, a low carb muffin or a dozen or so almonds. Good quality pork scratchings are amazing too, perfect if you like savoury snacks like crisps. Not forgetting loads of water -** I try to have about 5-6 pints a day. I still have another stone and a half to lose, but I'm planning on sticking to this WOE for life when I've done so. I don't know about anyone else, but luckily I've found it really easy and haven't even been tempted to cheat. Where's my halo? Grin

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Wombatinabathhat · 09/10/2015 22:21

It's here
Thanks for sharing and I look forward to seeing your posts on the main thread from Monday.

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fluffywol · 09/10/2015 22:54

You too Wombat Smile

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Huntthepigsear · 10/10/2015 09:02

Sorry fluffy, I missed your post. 21lbs in 7 weeks is amazing, well done.
Thanks BIWI, I've just finished the John Briffa book, so will have a look at the Gary Taube one. I do find the subject fascinating and agree that all the info about reducing insulin secretion makes physiological sense. As far as I know, low carb for diabetics is becoming more common place now as well.
BTW, I wouldn't dare say I was a scientist Grin I'm a medic and did research - very reluctantly and very badly- many years ago. The hangover from that though is reasonable skill in understanding and picking apart scientific papers.

I had scrambled egg with a little bit of smoked salmon this morning because my sodding DH had eaten the rest and it was lovely, and very filling.

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regenerationfez · 11/10/2015 16:56

Hi I'm ready to go, although hunt I did read the John Biffa book too, but am still a little concerned about the cholesterol aspect. My fridge has broken, so I'm having to buy food by the day, as it was in ye olden days, so can't stock up on cream etc. I've been really rubbish for the past few days, but will weigh myself and give myself a massive push, as I actually enjoyed doing the interim Bootcamp, fell off the wagon and everything didn't taste as good as I remembered!

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BIWI · 11/10/2015 17:44

Ah. Cholesterol. Another myth, I'm afraid. Read Dr Malcolm Kendrick on this "The Great Cholesterol Con", or Zoe Harcombe's blog.

All the evidence points to low cholesterol being bad for women, especially as they get older. here's an interesting piece by Zoe Harcombe

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regenerationfez · 11/10/2015 19:57

hmmm... that is interesting. I know the books all say 'why should something that the body makes itself be bad for you?' (I didn't even realise that!!!) but virtually every one I've told about my lc plans have told me to get my cholesterol tested. I suppose it spooked me.

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debka · 11/10/2015 20:51

Thought I'd just pop my head in and say I've finished my first week lone-ranger style bootcamping and have lost a remarkable 12lb! I have enjoyed my food so much, haven't had a single craving and have felt great. WIN! Looking forward to next week!

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BIWI · 12/10/2015 06:41

regeneration - people tell you that because they know that low carbing = high fat, and people still think that fat is bad, fat makes you fat, and fat increases your cholesterol levels, etc. None of which is actually true!

debka - that's brilliant! Just be prepared for the weight loss to stop/slow - if not in your second week then almost certainly in the third and fourth week. It's something that many of us experience - it's something to do with your body setting into low carbing, plus of course the rate of loss that you've had simply can't be sustained. The initial high loss is firstly water, (which you'd also lose on any other diet), then glycogen (which you only use up on a low carb diet), and then fat. After that, your body is switching to fat burning mode, and once weight loss starts again, it's much more likely to be in the 1-2lbs a week - like any other (sensible) diet.

But what a fantastic start you've got off to!!!

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Billionnairewannabe · 12/10/2015 08:52

Morning campers?? just wanted to check in...did my height weight bmi at one of those Boots machines yesterday and hopefully the fact that it is off the scales ?? should motivate me! Had my Total yoghurt and black coffee for breakfast, off to the gym now and then pancetta omelette for lunch.
Well done to all of you who have started already - your huge successes is motivation for me! Hoping I'll be in the same boat in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to this...thanks BIWI for the advice and motivation??

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Billionnairewannabe · 12/10/2015 08:55

Blurdy iPad...emoticons changed in to ??

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