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Low-carb bootcamp

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

Week 3 - Low Carb Bootcamp - the hard work is over!

418 replies

BIWI · 19/05/2014 07:07

Morning all!

Well done everyone for getting through the first two weeks. Still a bit of carb flu around by the sound of it though. Remember it's really important to keep your electrolyte levels up, with all the water that we're drinking. This means plenty of salt!

I know we're all told to keep the salt down, but it's (yet another) thing when you're low carbing that runs counter to expectations. Cook with it, and put it on your food.

Here's a really good post about salt and why we need it

As well as sodium, we also need magnesium and potassium - salmon, spinach, avocado and (full fat) natural yoghurt are all good.

Bootcamp Light

So now, if you want to, you can move on to Bootcamp Light. The rules for this are on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

(Oh, and don't forget [[www.mumsnet.com/bootcamp the Weight Tracker as well)

Essentially the differences are that you can, if you want, start to skip breakfast if you're not hungry - I know that lots of people have problems with eating first thing. By now you should have stabilised your blood sugar levels, so if you're not hungry in the morning (or at any other time of the day) you don't have to force yourself to eat. Just make sure you don't end up ravenous later on and without anything appropriately low carb to eat!

You can introduce some fruit - berries or rhubarb only (although bear in mind that rhubarb will need to be sweetened, which will mean using an artificial sweetener; stevia is probably the best one to use - brands are PureVia or Truvia.) But be careful not to go mad - it's an occasional thing, and in moderation!

Similarly with nuts and seeds. These can be introduced now as snacks, but go easy. They can quickly add lots of carbs to your diet. Almonds and macadamias are the lowest in carbs. And if in doubt, check the carb count on the back of the packet

And you can also introduce alcohol, but with the same warnings about moderation! Spirits like vodka and gin are the best, as these are low carb - drink them with sparkling water or - if you have to - slimline tonic. Champagne, dry white and red wine are allowed, but these do have carbs, so go easy.

The week 3 (or 4, or 5) stall

PLEASE NOTE! IT IS VERY, VERY COMMON FOR WEIGHT LOSS TO STOP ALTOGETHER AT THIS POINT.

This is to do with your body switching from carb-burning to fat-burning - StuntNun posted a really good post about this last week, I think, and I'll ask her to re-post. It is entirely normal and doesn't signal that you're doing anything wrong.

However - you may feel, knowing this, that you want to stay on Bootcamp for a bit longer. There is no problem doing that, as long as you are getting your carbs from vegetables and salad. You may want to consider doing Bootcamp during the week and Bootcamp Light at the weekend.

So good luck everyone! Here's to another good week Flowers

OP posts:
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StringBeanJean · 21/05/2014 20:14

How bizarre - all this talk of periods and mine started yesterday, too. Are we all somehow in sync?!

Thanks to stuntnun for your brilliant scientific explanations of everything LC, super interesting!

Been away for an impromptu few days, managed to stay LC but everything was pretty low fat and low salt too. I was dreaming of butter so have just scoffed two huge grilled portobello mushrooms drenched in garlic butter. And now I feel sick, gah !

JimmyCorkhill · 21/05/2014 21:20

Off plan today. Had SOS (socially obligated sugar as they say on the sugar free thread!) but very pleased to get back home to my LC dinner which was MUCH nicer.

What is uber bootcamp? I've looked at the menu plans on the spreadsheet. Is it just bootcamp minus dairy? Or is it minus caffeine too? fingers crossed this is not true

Best1sWest · 21/05/2014 22:06

I think you have to stck to the meal plans as far as possible on Uber bootcamp because the carbs are all accounted for. I don't think caffeine is banned though.

Hissy · 21/05/2014 22:18

Thanks all, spectacularly crap day for DS and i, but we're fighting on. He's utterly fed up of it all and with good reason. Tomorrow is a day off, thank god. We'll pray for good luck on friday.

Thanks for all kind wishes, you're all doing so well.

I look forward to the day where I have the space and order in my life again to focus on any kind of food. I'll keep reading and cheering you all on!

LadyWithLapdog · 21/05/2014 22:22

Hissy Flowers and Brew

SoGladToHaveFoundThis · 21/05/2014 22:22

Not sure if allowed to post this but I have lost roughly 20lbs since last summer and many of my clothes don't fit anymore. I am just decluttering my wardrobe and there are a few dresses that I've never worn, hardly worn and some other dresses that I would post for P&P if anybody is interested. Sizes 16 or 18. Will take some pictures and post later if that's within rules.

EvaTheOptimist · 21/05/2014 22:33

Jimmy the ubercamp menus are here:

docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Apt3X6v04UsRdEhyN290RldZS2cxNi1vWE5LMkhLaGc&usp=drive_web#gid=9

Yes its dairy-free and particularly low-carb. There are 3 options: for meat-eaters, those who eat fish but not meat, and those who don't like eggs.

I've found it really useful for shifting a stall, though I don't know if the famous week 3/4 stall is different to other stalls!

olivesnutsandcheese · 21/05/2014 22:33

hang in there Hissy, you're coping brilliantly considering such crappy circumstances.

Had an eventful couple of days chez Olives. DS decided to learn how to climb out of his cot while in sleeping bag. Typically he did this (face planting the floor) an hour after DH left to go abroad on business for the week. Cue 3.5 hours of bastard DIY to assemble the toddler bed. Thankfully Pils were around to take DS off my hands while I drew blood and sweated with the screw driver.

Am shattered with doing everything for DS and DSS as well as the new reality of DS being able to escape his bed. Food has weirdly gone well though as not having to consider DH.

B: tsp coconut oil and left over whipped cream (baked a cake for friends 30th but didn't even have a lick Grin )
l: leftover courgette/lardons/mushroom/garlicky cream thing
d: flaxseed pepperoni pizza

... and wine Blush

EvaTheOptimist · 21/05/2014 22:34

Continuing to hope your DS's skin heals well Hissy, so sorry you've had a rotten day.

ImSoOverIt · 21/05/2014 22:49

www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/does-non-celiac-gluten-intolerance-actually-exist

Read this article. Apparently they have decided it may not be the gluten that non-coeliac gluten intolerant people can't tolerate. Perhaps it is just the carbs? Wink

spamm · 22/05/2014 01:17

Thank you so much glen and thanks for the offer SaryaT

Thumbwitch · 22/05/2014 03:57

Very interesting read, ImSoOverIt. But, regardless of whether or not they find an actual mechanism, or if it's gluten or FODMAPs, if people feel better not eating them then that's what they should stick with.

I don't need a diagnosis. I don't think I'm coeliac, never had any dairy issues for starters (which is a fairly common problem for coeliacs as the gut damage reduces the ability to produce lactase, the lactose-digesting enzyme) - but my life has improved immeasurably since giving up wheat and other glutinous grains. So, while it's good that people are investigating it, it's unreasonable to assume that the results of one trial are going to make people like me go "oh it's ok, I can go back to eating gluten!". I'm not.

glenthebattleostrich · 22/05/2014 05:04

DH has found some interesting articles on grains, and in particular wheat, and their effect. We have decided to go wheat free here (not easy as its in almost everything).

DH has suffered terribly with acid reflux for the last couple of years as well as eczema and just 1 week in he has had no flare ups.

I'll try to link some later when I can get to the PC.

Hissy · 22/05/2014 05:41

glen that's amazing that a week makes so much difference!

olives poor you! How's he doing now? Ok or did you take his bedroom door off it's hinges and put it on top of the cot like a lid to keep him in? :)

Difficult stage, I remember mine trying similar.

Hissy · 22/05/2014 05:43

SoGlad that sounds like a fab idea! All being well, posting pics would be great.

glenthebattleostrich · 22/05/2014 06:21

I know Hissy. If I wasn't here I wouldn't believe it myself.

How is your DS this morning?

teawithlemon · 22/05/2014 06:27

Hectic week for me, nuisance in terms of hassle levels, but good in terms of little time to think about food! Hardly been on here but hope everyone has had a better week than me...
eva thank you for the link to übercamp! I hadn't seen the banner across the top! Am stalled, and have been for the past week now, so I think I'm going to need give things a kick start for a few days.
hissy hope your son continues to improve, and the recent dressing change has made him more comfortable.

SarahBeenysBumblingApprentice · 22/05/2014 06:56

Thumbwitch and ImSoOverIt My husband is in a field in which he has recourse to chat with several functional bowel specialists (i.e.
IBS). A lot of them think there is no such thing as IBS, only several entities that we don't know the cause for yet. We were discussing this as he has chronic intractable diarrhoea and has never once thought to cut out wheat in himself! He looked in me in horror at the suggestion.

Hissy ThanksThanksThanks hope you have a better day today.

I came on to quickly put yesterday's food on - have 5 min before I need to run off and get the monkeys up.

I'm 3lb down form Monday today, which will undoubtedly go up over the weekend when I slacken off a bit but we'll see!

B: BPC
L: smoked salmon and avocado salad +mayo, a pepperami
D: 3 sausages, asparagus, grated courgette, hollandaise sauce, strawberries.

NB: the strawberries have made me hungry! Diet Doctor [[http://www.dietdoctor.com/]] says that if you're hungry your insulin isn't suppressed enough. There's a lesson there for me I think.

Good luck for today everyone.

SarahBeenysBumblingApprentice · 22/05/2014 06:58

SoGlad I think that's really kind! They're the wrong size for me but I bet someone could use them.

Thumbwitch · 22/05/2014 07:04

Ha ha, SarahBeeny! I love that they think there is "no such thing" as IBS - as a syndrome, of course it has the option of having a multiplicity of both causes and effects (which of course they, and probably you, know). Sounds a lot like the early stages of ME - no one "believed" in that either until they could find a test for it.

I prefer to go by empirical evidence when it's widespread enough - I had IBS, believe me it was extremely unfunny being quite regularly caught in the middle of town with severe abdominal cramping and an urgent need for the loo (It even happened in Florence - oh the shame of having to beg an Italian restaurant for use of their loo)! Haven't had it since giving up wheat.

Your DH is hilarious in his blind refusal to even try going wheat free - is he worried it might actually work and then he'd have to believe in something he doesn't want to? Ah well, if he'd rather live with chronic diarrhoea, that's his look out - but I think he's slightly crazy to do so. It's not as if it's that difficult any more - so many wheat free options these days!

Thumbwitch · 22/05/2014 07:06

I enjoyed reading the comments in that article as well - a lot of people posting who clearly feel the same as the functional bowel specialists your DH speaks to - but I agree that, in general, 2 weeks is needed to really feel the full effects of a GF diet. If you're not seeing an improvement after 2w, chances are you've not got a problem with gluten. It took only 3 days before I noticed a substantial improvement in my GI symptoms. :)

olivesnutsandcheese · 22/05/2014 07:41

Interesting read about gluten & others experiences of ibs etc. Back in my early twenties I did an exclusion diet to see what was causing my ibs. Having been ruled out for Coeliac disease, wheat was top of my list and removing it from my diet helped enormously.
Interestingly my symptoms have only really disappeared completely since going low-carb since Jan. Quite amazing to literally have farted about twice in 4 months Grin

Hope your DS had a better night Hissy & thanks for the toddler sympathy. A lid for the cot! I should have thought of that Grin
He slept ok last night but naps are the issue. I fear my life (and time to mumsnet) as I know it is over and now I have to learn to multitask while keeping eyes on a serial bolter/climber.

Food today
b:eggs with butter
l:lunch at DMs - she's good at meat & salad (although normally says 'it's time to stop the diet, you're slim enough' while packing me of home with carby crap she doesn't like Hmm)
d:sausages & buttered greens

Have a good day everyone ..... it's nearly the weekend Thanks Thanks

FolknNorah · 22/05/2014 07:48

I agree. I first realised I had issues with wheat and gluten after I'd had my first dc. I was bloated, prone to dreadful stomach ache that had me in bed angle to tolerate anything, ached all over particularly in my joints and felt like chit. Sound familiar? So on the advise of my gp I went wheat and gluten free. Almost straight away I felt better and the bloat disappeared. All within four weeks.
Tha was before I had lots of fat to lose as well Grin

SoGladToHaveFoundThis · 22/05/2014 07:48

Hi, will post pictures as soon as the morning madness in our house is over.

LittleMissDisorganized · 22/05/2014 07:50

Morning all!
tea and others that are 'stalled' - if you've just started this bootcamp, you probably don't need to do anything different. The 3,4,5 week stall (mine started week 2 for 3 weeks until week 4) is a physiological thing, whereby your body is resetting itself to burning ketones (from fat) and kind of checking to see whether this is the new status quo or whether things are going back to the old normal. Keep on keeping on. Hop off the scales for a week, or even two. They will move again. Read StuntNun's post at the start of this thread and just keep going, enjoy all the lovely food, maybe add back in a little of what you've missed the most.

A bit on the run as bright and early GP appointment, no sleep, and horrible facial pain. Hurts to swallow. Lovely! Thank God for yogurt which is the only thing I can really eat easily. Sayra my yogurt maker arrives today Grin I shall tell my DH it's all someone else's fault!! (we really have no kitchen space for any more of my great ideas appliances!

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