Week 1 - New Year 2014 Low Carb Bootcamp - And We're Off!

[BIWI]

Morning all!

I see several of you have already weighed in on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

As of today, though, we also have our bright, shiny, new Bootcamp section on Mumsnet, including our own Weight Tracker, which will only show your own weight/progress.

You can either use the Spreadsheet as we have done before, which everyone has access to and can see, or you can go here and enter your weight.

Obviously you can do both!

When you're in the new Bootcamp, if you click on the tab that says 'more info' that will take you to a section which has loads of information about low carbing, as well as Bootcamp Rules

Before we get going formally, I have to make an important disclaimer:

I am not a doctor, a medic, a scientist, a nutritionist or a dietician. I have no formal training in food, dieting or low carbing. The information that I provide here is based solely on my reading on the subject, as well as my own experience. If you have any kind of medical condition and/or you are taking any kind of ongoing medication, you should consult your GP before starting a low carb diet

That done, good luck everyone!

Breakfast: cup of tea with splash milk, protein shake with double cream
Lunch: a couple of slices of ham and cheese, didn't feel hungry at all
Dinner: two small steak burgers with cheese and bacon, accompanied by a large salad and a dollop of mayo. Without buns, of course!

Have also drunk x1 coffee with cream, x1 liquorice tea and 2l of water

That looks like a bit too much dairy, but I don't think it stalls me. Hopefully.

Erm, and for those suffering with the dreaded constipation, if the extra water and fat aren't doing the trick, try a couple of bits of sugar free gum and a liquorice tea. Works like a charm

I made BIWI's pork noodles for dinner tonight - absolutely gorgeous. Still can't believe this is a diet...

In other news my scales have broken. AGAIN. Can anyone recommend a good, hard-wearing pair that can take small girls jumping and cats napping on them?

Today's food (in the style of the Fast Show, today I have bin mostly eatin' Pig):

B - 2 fried eggs & bacon
L - Broccoli cheese soup with crumbly bacon on top
D - pork noodles with pak choi
S - ramekin of Total with orange extract and double cream (and it was GOOOOOD!)

Ruprekt – how do you manage to get such bargains in Waitrose?!
ElBombero - I'm sure others will come on with a more scientific and comprehensive answer but the fact is if you go back to how you were eating before you started low-carbing, assuming that you'd gained weight eating that way, then it stands to reason that you'll start to gain weight again HOWEVER if you have the odd off piste moment now and then while eating low carb most of the time and you are at or close to your ideal weight for your height/build, then you should be fine.
I am assuming that if your body has adapted so that it's not primarily a carb-burning machine, if you take in a lot of carbs one evening, then you will simply store the excess as glycogen and you can burn it off the next day. If you keep eating more and more carbs though, then yes, you will have to go through carb withdrawal again – hence a lot of long-term low carbers on here who ate/drank loads of carbs over Christmas getting back on the BC wagon.
This has taken me so long, have probably cross-posted with others (with better answers)

B yoghurt with cinnamon
No lunch really as at work but had some cheese
S on way home bag of pork scratchings
T sirloin steak with creamy mushrooms, broccoli and carrots.

I've not really felt unusual at all. By this stage last time I felt horrific.

Omg I am so hungry! Long day, DH cooking dinner as I type
B: total Greek yog
L: celery, baby bel cheese, salad with avocado
D: chicken casserole, creamed spinach, courgettes roasted in oven with Parmesan

Just reading this back. The company that makes 'Total' (a Greek company called FAGE, so Mr Google tells me) must LOVE bootcamp season.

If the company ever floats, I am totally buying shares.

I've been thinking though, Total is 5% fat, whereas Waitrose greek yoghurt (which I prefer) is 10%. It's higher in carbs though - 6.4% versus 3.8%.

Can I justify having the Waitrose one, due to the higher fat?

Is that the white pot or the blue pot project? I thought the blue one was 3.8 carbs, but don't have any to check, nor can I find it online strangely enough!

Just a quick message from me. A MUCH better day today, scooting around everywhere with the DC and having fun. It was great.

Food was a bit random, though the Ketostix I ordered just arrived and it seems I am in ketosis, which is good. So where's my weight loss?!

B - boiled egg, Total with vanilla
L - Bunless burger with salad
D - um.. not much really. Was out at a friend's who served pizza. I picked a bit of the topping off and that was it. I'm just starting to get hungry now but frankly I'm in bed already and can't be bothered.

Not enough water drunk, will do better tomorrow.

Sorry to hear some of you are suffering emotionally with the carb withdrawal. LittleMiss it's weird when you stop with something that you know was a crutch, I remember when I stopped smoking years ago I'd wander into newsagents out of habit and then realise I didn't need to go there anymore. Once you give up carbs and the constant temptation to 'sugar fix' yourself, you realise as you wander around just how sick and insane all the copious plastic food items being thrust our way are. You can do it, and I'm glad for this thread too. I have tried to re-find my low-carb mojo for years and am feeling very like this place is it :)

They must have changed Total! I'm sure it used to be 10% fat, but just checked and yes, it's only 5% now.

I'd still have that over the more sugary one, though.

Asda ES Greek yoghurt is only 4g/100g carbs, btw, and about half the price of Total (in case there are others slumming it in places where Waitrose is but a rumour, and not just me).

Chocolate got me - bugger.

Tomorrow is a new day...thankfully!

I was thinking that Steeleye and I'm sure sure it used to taste different, too.

I'm enjoying the Lidl one, and that has 10% fat

Chester Chocolate nearly got me too! I nipped into Marksies for some olives and had to walk past chocs to self-till bit. I did waiver for a moment, then got a grip and walked on by. It was hard though. I could taste that chocolate in my mind.

Still feeling like a pile of shite.

Breakfast - slice cheese and tomatoes
Lunch - same as yesterday.
Dinner - same as last night.

Thumbwitch I started a low carb in another time zone thread here because I'm in Australia too. Maybe we can share brand names ect for low carb things. How are you coping in the heat?

Oh good plan, hazchem! Will join you over there too.
Heat is shocking - we're just above the Central Coast part of NSW though, so not nearly as bad as in Adelaide and Melbourne! Where are you?

Last night was the hardest so far for me - I really wanted something sweet. I didn't succumb but god it was hard! just ate more cheese. I am a mouse anyway, so loads of cheese shouldn't really bother me. And I'm a butter and cream person all the way - haven't done low fat spreads since I was at University (degree in Food Science might have had something to do with that! It's amazing what you discover about food and "food")

What I really need to do is find something I can have the cheese on/with, to replace the rice crackers I'd usually have - any ideas?

Today has been ok so far but I have the sugar withdrawal headache still. Was worried it might progress into full-blown migraine, but hasn't so far - so not taking any painkillers for it (keeping them in reserve in case of migraine).

B - greek yoghurt with a tiny splash of vanilla - still way too sour so tomorrow will add double cream as well.
L - 2 egg omelette with mushrooms, cheese, broccoli, and the leftover fish from last night. At least 2oz butter in there, as not only the mushrooms but also the fish just sucked it up.
D - haven't decided yet but it's my turn to cook so will probably get lamb chops.

Just outside of Canberra. So not crazy not but it hurts to step outside hot.

I use cucumber slices. Low carb and watery too :)

Ah, good idea. I had cream cheese in celery, that was nice (and very reminiscent of my mum's parties in the 70s! ) but it doesn't work for other cheese.

Outside is a bit of a no-go for me too - not only do I get super-heated really quickly but the insects are having a field day on me every time I set foot outdoors.

Morning everyone! :)

I've noticed I'm sleeping better, MyPrecious, although yes, I'm having to do the 2am dash to the loo as well - also waking up for it in an absolute muck sweat all over (sorry for TMI), but then I'm 48 this year so I'm probably due the menopause...

Didn't have the Malay beef in the end last night as I'm out tonight, so will do it today in the slow cooker in an effort to be prepared. Thankfully I'm onstage rather than socialising so there shouldn't be any temptation going on!

Plan for today:

B - eggs & bacon
L - broccoli cheese soup
D - Malay Beef with cauli rice - I haven't made this in years and I don't remember it being all that successful - is there an 'uber' recipe anywhere that's failsafe?

Wet & rainy here, although reading Thumb and hazchem's posts I suppose I shouldn't moan! I didn't realise they'd changed Total, I remember it being 10% last time I did this WOE. I have to go past Lidl today so I'll see if they've got any of their full fat stuff in.

Hope everyone has a great day - sorry to hear you're still feeling rough, Crabby

Thumbwitch.....once bootcamp is over I will post my Parmesan Shortbread recipe.

It is fabulous! Hot from the oven with inch thick butter and cheese.

Dh and I have cheeseboards in the evening and it is great!

For now I would eat it with lettuce or celery.

After 3-4 static days I had a visit from the whoosh fairy last night. 1/2lbs lost during the night.

Happy! happy! Happy!

1 1/2 even.

Right- I know I'm going to get shouted at, but I'm a bit disappointed today. I did full bootcamp last week so I've been at this 2 weeks. I lost 8 lb in the first week, which obviously I was thrilled with, but only 1lb this week. I know that 9lb in a fortnight is good, and I know weight loss slows down, but I wasn't expecting it to slow down by so much so quickly. I have a lot to lose (approx 6st from my starting point, although lost about a stone before Christmas) so was expecting the first stone or two to drop off.

I'm nervous, I've agreed to a charity event at the end of June that involves me being 13 stone. I'm currently 15st8. Please tell me that this is totally doable on this WOE?!? My eventual target is 11st, which puts me into a healthy weight officially.

Morning campers,

Had a very odd day yesterday, felt off colour, had some bad news and spent the day constantly eating. Everything was low carb but I feel very guilty about the volume I've managed to stuff into my fat face. I've learnt I eat my feelings. Does anyone know of any tools / books that would help with this?

Here's the disgusting list of food inhaled:

About 4 x coffees with cream
Bacon and cream cheese pancake with cauliflower cake and asparagus
More pancakes with butter
About 1.5 shredded chicken breast
5 x babybels
Bowl of total with vanilla
Salmon mouse with dressed salad
Bowl of Bol with cheese on top
Handful of olives
2x oopsie rolls spread with cream cheese

Blleeeeeeuuuggghhh feel grim looking at it. I can't wen blame it on PMT. going to have a cleaner day today with less snacking and dairy:

Scrambled egg with chicken (lots of butter)
Roast beef salad with lots of dressing
More Bol with celariac chips
Snack: salami and pork scratchings

Also going to plan some special food for the weekend so I don't feel too tempted to fall into the vino.

Happy Friday everyone!