Week 1 - Summer Low Carb Bootcamp starts here!

[BIWI]

Morning all! There are over 150 of us signed up for Bootcamp, so it?s going to be busy I think. If you haven?t already put your name on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness, here is the link so that you can add yourself:



Just add yourself to the bottom of the list and the lovely WillieWaggleDagger, our SpreadsheetMeister, will ensure that it is re-sorted to remain alphabetised. Don?t touch any of the blue columns!
We work in pounds, but if you are a metric person, there?s a tab at the bottom of the spreadsheet that says ?conversion? which will recalculate from metric to imperial.

It?s up to you whether you choose to enter your actual weight or to index it, i.e. you start today at 100, and for every pound you lose you drop by 1.

You will also see on the tabs on the spreadsheet the rules for Bootcamp, as well as rules for those of you who are vegetarian, and rules for Bootcamp Light, which you can move on to after two weeks of Bootcamp.

There are only 10 rules, and the thinking behind Bootcamp is that it should be as straightforward as possible to follow. If you follow the rules (yes, all of them ? and especially no 7!), you will lose weight.

The idea behind Bootcamp is that we have a strict fortnight of low carbing, to break the addiction that we have to carbs and sweet things. You are making sure that you are switching your body from burning carbs to burning fat, and you will go into what is called ketosis in these first two weeks.

All that this means is that you are fat-burning.

In the first few days of low carbing, especially if you haven?t done it before, you may feel a bit rubbish ? you may have headaches or just feel generally tired and achey. This is known as ?carb flu? ? and it means that you are withdrawing from carbohydrates. Sugar (which is essentially how the body views and uses carbs) is highly addictive, and your body will be craving it. Don?t give in! After a couple of days you will feel much better.

If you are feeling odd or ill, make sure that you are getting plenty of sodium, potassium and magnesium. Add salt to your food and cook with salt. Try making a drink from Marmite/Bovril. Good foods to include in your diet are spinach, salmon and avocado. Drink plenty of water and make sure that you really are keeping your fat levels up. Take some paracetamol if you have a headache (not aspirin or ibuprofen as these drugs can impede weight loss).

[BIWI]

Oh buggeration - an invisible link again!

Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

[BIWI]

A couple of very important caveats:

1. I am not a doctor, a scientist, a nutritionist nor a dietician. I have, however, done a lot of reading about low carbing over the years, and I have also low carbed myself. I am currently maintaining (just about!) a 2 stone loss. All advice I give here is based on what I have read and my own understanding of how low carb works.
   
   
2. If you are on any kind of medication, especially medication for blood pressure and/or diabetes, please consult with your GP before you start low carbing. If you have any concerns generally about your health, this would also be a wise thing to do (although you should also be prepared for your GP to rubbish low carbing, given that this is the conventional view!)

[LackaDAISYcal]

Morning.

[rubybricks]

have logged start weight on the spreadsheet, am heading to tesco later to stock up, but started the day with two cuppas with milk, is it ok to take coffee black?
good morning fellow bootcampers, good luck with day 1!

[dontmeanto]

Morning! Weighed myself...bluergh. Apparently I felt the need to gain 3 stone in this last pregnancy! But hey ho, its coming off starting today!

[BIWI]

Coffee black is great, because you aren't having the carbs in the milk.

However, some low carb experts think that coffee can cause an insulin response, so it's not always advised. Personally I think it's up to you. If you're losing weight and still drinking the coffee, then no need to give it up.

[TheOrchardKeeper]

All done

Need this so badly! Hoping I adjust fairly quickly...

[dawnpreview]

Think I have added my weight.
I don't usually eat breakfast, but forced myself to have some scrambled eggs today. Going to dring plenty of water and try not to think of chocolate!

[sammisatt]

Morning! I've been lurking on this thread for months and have been low carbing it since October. I have pretty much stuck at it and love this way of eating however there has been a bit of carb creep of late (nuts and berries mainly) and i have gained a couple of pounds and I am about ten pounds off target and I've been trying to lose this ten pounds for months but it won't shift.

I turn forty next month and really want to have lost a bit more by then so need a bit of a kick up the backside ie a couple of strict weeks.

[cathyandclaire]

Morning all. :) just off to make leek and bacon mini frittatas to stick in the fridge for lunch and snack emergencies, determined to lose the extra 4lb that have found their way onto my midriff since last bootcamp!

[barleywood]

And I'm in

Mainly for maintenance and accountability since I'm currently lighter than I have been since my teens....a very long time ago.

Not a great time to be starting with a holiday weekend coming up but in for a penny in for a few lost pounds

[AngieAir]

I faced the scales this morning after a farewell Portguese custard tart yesterday. Not as bad as it could have been and I'm feeling very positive about bootcamp.

Now I have very little desire for bread, pasta, rice, crisps, pizza etc but why is it so difficult for me to resist pastry, sweet or savoury?

Any tips re managing pastry cravings? I suspect I shall spend a lot of time at the supermarket, staring forlornly at pork pies, empanadas, borek, cinnamon whirls and apple turnovers.

[CrystalTits]

Looking forward to the challenge and to supporting one another. This is my first foray into LCing.

[toomuchtoask]

Morning. I have weighed myself and plan to have stir fry veg and chicken for lunch. Tuna and veg for tea.

Any ideas for snacks when low carbing? I don't like cheese. I guess veg sticks or cucumber sticks/celery would be good? I don't nuts (yes I've tried them all!). Grateful for ideas. Would yoghurt be ok?

[toomuchtoask]

Sorry I've just read the spreadsheet properly and that clears up the snack question. Thank you for the detail. You've put a lot of effort in.

[MummyAisha]

Morning,

Have weighed in and started the day with a mushroom omelette. Not quite sure whats for lunch or dinner just yet though

[ZimboMum]

Have added weight. Let's do this!

B: two fried eggs in butter with some mince that needed eating fried in olive oil with salt and pepper.
Looking forward to lunch already so will post that now:
L: little gem lettuce with half a spring onion, prawns, avocado and homemade vinaigrette.

[mummy2evie]

Hi, I'm in. Just had a lovely early lunch of fried (in butter) courgettes, mushrooms and 3 eggs, washed down with a pint of water:)

[middleagedspread]

Im in. Just had Total full fat yoghurt with mixed berries & a sprinkling of ground roasted nuts.
It seems odd that puree celeriac is allowed, it tastes very carby.

[snowballinashoebox]

I never did get the hang of spreadsheets 101. Help! and no caffeine and... and I weigh 174 how did that happen.

Half way through my first litre of water and lovely breakfast so am so determined that i am going to do this.

[HappyHippyChick]

Right, added my weight to the spreadsheet. I was tempted not to put my actual weight, but think seeing myself as the fattest mnetter will help keep me on track! . I am not starting properly until next Monday as it's my brothers wedding and we are away for the weekend, but will try and cut down carbs as much as I can...

[HavingAnOffDAy]

Yay - signing in

I really need to stick to this WOE this time - I'm off on family holiday in August & want to be slim for the first time in years! I also have a girls weekend in the sun booked for September & want to look hot - and not in a sweaty way

Will add my weight in a second. My scales are busted (calibration I think ) and give a consistent reading but add quite a lot on (unless I gained 3 stones overnight )

Working away today & tomorrow so am hoping there is plenty of protein available for the lunches that are being provided. I may email ahead & claim special dietary requirements. Dinners should hopefully be easier from room service/hotel restaurant.

[PennyHofstadter]

TMI... I've now drank 1.5ltrs of water this morning plus a couple of black coffees. I'm off for my third wee in a hour! It's lucky I don't get my loo breaks monitored!

[geologygirl]

Morning all! Hope things have started off well for you all.

I've added my starting weight to the spreadie and had a mushroom omlette this morning for breakie. Not sure about lunch but Im going to nip out and get some salad stuff to go with some fish I have in the fridge.

Need to start necking some more water now

[BobblyGussets]

Hi, I haven't signed in yet, or dared weigh myself, but I have been having a look at the spreadsheet and can't see the "Allowed foods list". I can see everything else. Any ideas please