Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Low-carb bootcamp

Join discussions about low-carb bootcamp plans, meals and progress. Consider speaking to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Bootcamp - the questions thread

798 replies

BIWI · 13/01/2014 07:24

From experience of past Bootcamps, in the first few weeks the chat threads move really, really quickly and it's difficult sometimes to see/answer everything.

So this is a place to post any questions that you might have. Those of us who are old hands at low carbing will check this thread regularly and make sure that we answer you as soon as we can.

OP posts:
Original poster
BIWI · 31/01/2014 19:22

Are you eating enough salt?

And what fats are you eating? I'm reading "The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance" which talks about how some oils/fats made people feel nauseous - butter, olive oil and coconut didn't.

Sorry, can't remember the science and I'm just rushing out, but I'll let you know tomorrow - although I hope you're better tomorrow

Flowers
OP posts:
StuntNun · 31/01/2014 19:59

Is it normal to feel really energised after a bulletproof coffee? I had one today, with only a teaspoon of coconut oil and a dessert spoon of butter and I was buzzing for a while. I didn't even finish it as it was a bit sickly and coconutty.

LittleMissDisorganized · 31/01/2014 20:13

I think it might be a bug making it all worse today, though the daily thing isn't due to that. DH nauseous - his iron constitution probably means that's his version while I'm shivering in bed and throwing up my stomach contents... I've talked him through how to make lemon pepper turkey steaks so I can have a little bit if my tummy can manage. It smells good.

I'm at the beginning of "The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living" and after their warning about salt in there I am keeping on top of it, but will continue to keep an eye.

I am eating a lot of yogurt/cream, like almost daily, but I often feel a bit better for it Confused and a bit of (like in an omelette) but not loads of cheese eg I don't snack on it or like it in chunks. And I only cook in/ add either butter or olive oil.

Thanks all for helping me feel a bit better. I will stop moaning... well, when I feel better, I don't think I'm a whingy person, although you may disagree!!

HerGraciousMajTheBeardedPotato · 31/01/2014 20:30

It does sound like you have a sicky-bug. Poor you. Not fun. But you know that in 24-48h it will all be out of your system. And it might even boost your weightloss! I lost 6lb through being poorly for 3-4 days (a mild spotty virus, rather than sicky). Don't worry about eating. Rest and rehydration are more important.

HerGraciousMajTheBeardedPotato · 31/01/2014 20:34

BTW I'm sure you don't have to be reminded that even the Mirena has a failure rate. If the regular nausea continues...

LittleMissDisorganized · 01/02/2014 10:13

Yes, you're right, HerGreatest, I will rule that out for peace of mind. I am still on too many post-op meds for that to be at all a good idea.

Willie since I'd only been sick the once and still felt faintly nauseous, I took your advice and had (a small portion of - worried I'd be sick again) a some higher carb veg and some home-breaded turkey (I say home breaded because I know what was in it, no sugary additives etc). And felt better and stayed up watching some bits on television with DH. I know it's unnecessary but I still had a plus of ketones a few hours after, I guess I was thinking, aaargh, a bit of sweet potato and some breadcrumbs, that'll be it, I'll put it all back on. I don't daily weigh as for me that way madness lies. I will report back today/tomorrow if that's ok - bacon and scrambled egg for breakfast and ok, but a background level of nausea.

Original poster
BIWI · 01/02/2014 12:00

Glad you're feeling better, LMD - I think it's fair to say that you've had a pretty shit time of it recently, and you need to be kind to yourself. A somewhat higher carb day isn't going to make you instantly put on 5 stones, and if it's making you feel better then surely that's more important?

Flowers
OP posts:
LittleMissDisorganized · 01/02/2014 12:32

Thanks BIWI, you are so lovely!

Despite feeling nauseous and sluggish, I was still planning to go swimming, it's THE best way to build up all the muscles safely, but have decided, no, stop. The lack of control of my body is horrible. The hindsight in a few days will make it clear. I get to "this is the best I've felt in months/years" for a few days then get worse somehow again. So no swimming today, the pool will still be there on Monday, have a job application to finish and some website content editing to do, that's really enough for today. I am probably in a bit of denial applying for a full time job. I mean, really, could I? Sigh. ODAAT is the best self-advice I think. And stop whining to people I don't really know on the internet.

Original poster
BIWI · 01/02/2014 12:37

Whine away! That's what we're here for. Or shout shit. We're good at that as well on Bootcamp!

OP posts:
Ruprekt · 01/02/2014 15:40

I have a question.........

I am on a few low carbing Facebook pages.....

All of them talk about sugar substitutes and eating fruit etc....so, how do they lose weight if they are still eating fruit n stuff?

Original poster
BIWI · 01/02/2014 17:17

I don't know. Are they though?

They could just be lucky people who can eat higher levels of carbs than others. Without knowing what else they're eating, it's impossible to know.

OP posts:
SteeleyeStan · 01/02/2014 17:26

star avocados are brilliant in LC - very low in carbs, nutritious and tasty.
My MFP lists a medium 100g avocado (Tesco, so not an American figure) to be 2g carbs, but even if the figures vary, it's not going to be very high, surely.

SteeleyeStan · 01/02/2014 17:27

Damn this ketosis lowers your ability to tolerate alcohol... Blush

Original poster
BIWI · 01/02/2014 18:21
Grin
OP posts:
WillieWaggledagger · 01/02/2014 19:27

people have different ideas of what low carb means (see 'low carb not no carb' comments from people who don't understand that there are carbs in veg).

some people want to stay out of ketosis, which is fine, but weight loss will be slower and might possibly be harder to stick to because you don't get the benefits that come with being in ketosis like appetite suppressed, and probably get blood sugar highs/lows too. they might need to restrict calories/fat too if they are eating fruit

TeaOneSugar · 02/02/2014 12:33

I'm planning to start the family low carbing from tomorrow and will sme advice before I do some meal planning later.

DH had his diabetic review a couple of days ago and (as I predicted) it wasn't good, his blood pressure is up and his blood sugar is out of control, to the point that they've recruited him for a drug trial (another thread entirely). So as I've struggled to control my eating since before Christmas we've agreed to low carb properly together.

MY question is, I'm a veggie (DH isn't and neither is DD) so we'll be having a combination of veggie meals and meals which are essentially the same but where DH/DD have the addition of meat or fish and I have a veggie protein. Are there any veggies around who've done this successfully and can you recommend low carb veggie proteins?

I'm fine with eggs and cheese and I see I can have quorn bacon but will have to be careful with the low fat sausages. I've added marinated tofu to my on-line shop for protein in salads for lunch, then I'm struggling a bit and probably need a trip to Holland and Barrett. My concern I suppose is that I'll end up eating lots of vegetable and less protein than DH and it won't work for me.

What else should I be thinking about and can anyone recommend any good recipe books for a semi veggie low carb household.

Also, DH is sceptical about having full fat mayo, butter and cream (after years of low fat) I've explained the science but he's not buying it, what else should I be saying?

StuntNun · 02/02/2014 13:14

Tea cheese and nuts could be good protein choices for you as well. They vary a lot in carb counts and obviously can be high calorie so you need to be a bit more careful.

TeaOneSugar · 02/02/2014 13:58

I saw there were nuts on the boot camp rules, is just such a completely different way of eating it takes a bit of getting your head around, i need to lose a couple of stone, DH a bit less, eating full fat and things like nuts and avocado after following slimming world is a bit alien.

mirpuppet · 02/02/2014 16:10

TeaOneSugar

I'm not a vegetarian but I borrowed this book from the library.

HerGraciousMajTheBeardedPotato · 02/02/2014 16:59

TeaOneSugar how about "Try it for 6 weeks and see." By then he will have got past the switching over to fat-burning stage, and have lost at least half a stone. He should also be seeing a difference in his well-being and a levelling-off in his blood sugar. His recent blood tests will give him a benchmark, and another test after 6w of faithfully following this WOE ought to convince him!

As for nuts, brazils and walnuts are the lowest-carb, but I have always found that my weightloss stalls if I eat them. Sesame seeds (tahina) and pine seeds do not cause me any problems.

TeaOneSugar · 02/02/2014 20:47

Thanks everyone for the advice.

DH will be having regular HBA1C tests because of the drugs trial he's now on, so we've agreed going to see what the results of the first test are and decide then if he wants to continue. He has an appointment to start the trial on Tuesday so we'll know more about timescales after that.

I'm not sure if he'll mention it to the doctor, TBH the diet sheet he brought home the other day is a load of rubbish so probably not much point.

His skinny latte habit is going to be a problem.

Original poster
BIWI · 02/02/2014 22:46

Buy yourselves a copy of "Escape the Diet Trap" by Dr John Briffa and make sure that your DH reads it. And sign up for his weekly newsletter. If you're going to follow this WOE properly you really need to be comfortable about the science behind it.

OP posts:
jill36 · 03/02/2014 00:07

Did I see somewhere that Total greek yoghurt is allowed on BC?

StuntNun · 03/02/2014 07:14

Yes Jill, but make sure it's the full fat version. Lidl do a full fat Greek yoghurt as well that's much cheaper (£1.58 for a kilogram).

Thumbwitch · 03/02/2014 14:23

A question about lupin flour - does anyone have any opinion on whether it's an acceptable flour to use? It's meant to be good for low GI/high protein diets, and is higher in protein than grain flours. I don't think it has much in the way of thickening properties though (not a lot of starch in it) so it's not an ideal substitute for everything!