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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 6 - Low Carb Bootcamp - Drawing a Line Under It

380 replies

BIWI · 09/06/2014 07:19

Time for the new thread ...

Am on iPad and have no time to link to the Spreadsheet, but please talk here! Will do links later (unless some kind soul could do them for me)

OP posts:
pingufan · 12/06/2014 20:38

Hi Oolaroola, welcome! I think the bootcamp rules can be found at the top of the week 1 thread.

Ive copied this from it - the allowed foods are on this spreadsheet

docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmNIskihgXotdDR4RTdWVFRzRjBlN0h1UTNMc3hqM0E&usp=drive_web#gid=2

You aren't allowed to eat:

potatoes
pasta
rice/noodles
bread
sugar
flour

And for the first two weeks you can't eat fruit or drink alcohol

The idea behind Bootcamp is that whilst it should be strict (and therefore, hopefully, work!) that it should also be easy - therefore there is no weighing or counting of anything. Just ten rules that you need to follow.

And here are the rules of Bootcamp (the first two weeks)

1.Eat three, proper meals a day.

You must eat breakfast. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but you must have something. For the rest of the day, if you’re eating enough food and you are in ketosis then you shouldn’t be hungry. But if you are hungry, eat something. (Hard boiled eggs make a great snack)

2.Avoid processed food,

and focus on pure, natural protein as the basis for your meals – meat/fish/eggs. Things like sausages, ham, bacon, pre-prepared burgers etc should be avoided as much as possible. Avoid foods marketed as low carb, e.g. Atkins Daybreak bars.

3.Maximise your fat intake.

Fry in butter, add butter to vegetables, eat salad with a home-made vinaigrette dressing (not made with balsamic vinegar though), add mayonnaise where you can (just check the carb count on your mayo first). Eat fattier cuts of meat – e.g. pork belly, roast chicken with the skin on and/or eat the fat off your lamb chops. Absolutely no low fat/light foods of any kind!

4.Make sure you are eating vegetables and salads with your food

This is where your carbs should come from. But choose only those vegetables that are on the allowed list. You don’t have to weigh/count carbs – this is one of the great joys of this WOE (way of eating), but if you’re new to low carbing it can be helpful to weigh your portions of veg in the early days, just so that you know how many carbs are in the sort of portions that you like to eat

5.Minimal dairy

(Apart from butter, which is unlimited). If you are drinking tea/coffee with milk or cream, try to restrict yourself to max 2 cups per day. You may eat cheese, but only in small amounts.

6.You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day.

"The more weight you have to lose, the more water you should drink. This is from www.low-carbdiet.co.uk/. Water is essential to weight loss for those who eat low-carb. The minimum consumed in a day should be:

Your Weight----Litres
140lbs-----2.5
160lbs-----3.0
180lbs-----3.0
200lbs-----3.5
220lbs-----3.5
240lbs-----4.0
260lbs-----4.5
280lbs-----4.5
300lbs-----5.0
320lbs-----5.5
340lbs-----5.5
360lbs-----6.0
380lbs-----6.5
400lbs-----6.5

High levels of ketones in the blood stream can lead to a reduction in ketone production, therefore being well hydrated could aid in keeping the levels low and ketone production ongoing. Consuming enough water can have many other positive side effects: aids your kidneys with the processing of protein, reduces the retention of water, helps with preventing constipation, and reduces the levels of ketones released by your breath, which in-turn will reduce breath odour.

However, drinking a lot of water can mean that you also need to keep an eye on your electrolyte balance. You need to make sure that you are consuming sufficient sodium and potassium. On a low carb diet we can eat more salt, so make sure that you are cooking with salt and adding salt to food, if you like it. Good, low carb, sources of potassium are spinach (raw), avocado, mushrooms, courgettes and asparagus, as well as salmon and yoghurt.

  1. No alcohol

Alcohol is the easiest source of fuel for the body to burn, so it will always use this first before it starts to burn any fat - which is why you need to restrict it, especially in the first two weeks of Bootcamp, when we are encouraging the body to stop using carbs for its source of fuel and turn to fat-burning instead. If you really can't do this - at least try and restrict it to the weekend. Vodka with soda is the best thing to drink. Or Champagne, red wine or dry white wine.

  1. No fruit.

Really. Seriously. Honestly. None at all. Zilch. Nada. After Bootcamp you will be able to introduce certain fruits, but at this stage fruit is simply too carby. We are also trying to break the addiction to sweet things, so cutting fruit out is part of this process. If you are getting all your carbs from vegetables and salad, you will be getting all the nutrients and fibre that you need.

  1. No nuts/seeds.

In Bootcamp Light these are a great snack, but they can very quickly add a whole load of carbs to your day, so they are best avoided during Bootcamp

  1. No sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Sugar is an obvious ‘no no’, but artificial sweeteners are also an issue. One of the aims of this way of eating is to eat pure and natural foods, so including sweeteners is not recommended. Some people find that artificial sweeteners can impede their weight loss, and there is some suggestion that your body can respond to sweeteners as if they were sugar, by releasing more insulin - and therefore laying down fat.

Given that the aim of Bootcamp is to help us lose our sweet tooth and addiction to sweet things, then it is a good idea to avoid sweeteners altogether in this first two weeks.

You might find it useful to print these rules out and stick them on the fridge, or somewhere handy.

Try & go for foods that are

lowcarbforthewin · 12/06/2014 20:40

Super I also think you are possibly eating too much fat. Everyone is different but I have seen other people following this woe perfectly but not losing, and when they limit the fat a bit more they lose. Worth a try! It does get harder when you don't have much to lose. 63kg is great.

Locarblil, huge well done on getting through the day, good luck out tonight, and your next challenge is then just to get through tomorrow with no binge. Think you can do it?

Had some lovely fried mackerel with almond slivers for supper. Had food delivered tonight, was licking my lips unpacking it all. Got some duck legs this week, can't wait to scoff them.

lowcarbforthewin · 12/06/2014 20:41

Lola no rice or quinoa. And you eat till. You're full. If you are eating fat and protein it is almost impossible to Overeat. You need to get back to trusting your body's signals.

Scousadelic · 12/06/2014 20:48

There you all are! I lost track of you this week!

I am on spreadsheet as piscivorous but can't get it to accept any figures from me. Can anyone else manage it please? I am still larger than I am comfortable sharing so always start at 100 and count down. I started a week ago last Monday (2nd) and am down 5lb by last Monday (9th) so need a 100 and a 95 entering.

I thought it was because I hadn't entered from beginning so added 100s to the first couple of weeks but can't get further than that

I had friends staying last weekend but we are all low carbers so ate well which allowed more leeway for gin. Grin so all is good in the world

My broken ankle is very odd, not hurting at all most of the time but every now and again it grumbles and still feels very clunky but I've never broken anything before so don't know what to expect. Worst thing at the moment is not driving, apart from the fact I can only go to shops, etc if somebody takes me, I work 2 days a week and it is costing me £10 a day in taxis as I can't walk to the bus stop to get home (my work is right on a bus route and going one way the stop is right outside but going the other way is between 2 that are quite a way off and it won't stop inbetween) Oh well, hopefully in another 2 weeks I'll be sorted.

oolaroola · 12/06/2014 20:58

Blimey, ok, thanks, that's hard.
I had done a week of the Harcombe and that was hard with a bit of rice some days.
Then I got a three day migrain and it all fell to bits. Don't know if I can go back to so many eggs.
I have a stubborn stoneish to shift.
Looks like I'm gonna have to get inventive!
If anyone wanted to inspire me with some meal plans that would be really helpful.
I'm unfortunately intolerant to fish but love fruit and esp veg.

antimatter · 12/06/2014 22:12

oolaroola - you don't need many eggs!
This week only 2 for me.
Look at menu samples and recipe thread as well.

Locarblil - great day for you! pat on the back Smile

spamm - holding your hand and thinking of you and your family

spamm · 12/06/2014 22:49

Thanks antimatter - waiting for news.

Oolaroola - Welcome and its not as hard as it sounds, there is a lot of good advice on the bootcamp pages - and lots of experienced people here, so we can give you as much advice as you need.

Scous - that still sounds quite painful, and annoying. Hope you heal very quickly.

Supermum - hmm, sounds like you need to try and tweak things and see if that helps. Some good advice here on looking at your fat content to see if that is pushing it up too far.

Weird day today - and I need to make sure I do not let myself slip - but breakfast was fine, no proper lunch - but have snacked on 2 x cheese sticks and butter and almond/coconut butter and 2 small no-carb sausages. Not exactly a meal - and I still feel the snack bug. Am going to try and make Korean beef and cauliflower rice for supper - a proper meal to try and break the snacking, or it could get out of hand!

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

Supermum0203 · 12/06/2014 22:57

Thanks MIFFY for your reply.
Maybe you are right and I am consuming too much fat. I'm not sure, but as I matter of fact, I have just read an article from a doctor about eating too much fat can lead you to gain weight , and he says is nearly impossible unless u consume tons of bacon and butter and oil. On the other hand as fat is a natural appetite suppressant , u tend to eat less as u r fuller for longer.
Regarding the outfit, dh has promised to buy if for me, :)
Nite nite :)

lowcarbforthewin · 12/06/2014 22:59

Spamm thinking of you. Sounds like you have done so well with food today under stressful circumstances.

I am lying in bed wanting to eat something I shouldn't again. I took myself off to our nice local park to get out the house. I had bad cabin fever. It was so hard. Of course it was full of mums and babies, people sitting with partners, there were people doing a military fitness class (looked so fun, I used to love exercise), people riding bikes. I just felt jealous, jealous, jealous. I want to fall head first into a bit vat of sugar. I'm not going to but it feels so impossible with everything I've lost to have to deprive myself of sugar too. Feeling massively sorry for myself. Tomorrow will be a better day I'm sure. I would give anything to be healthy.

Hissy · 12/06/2014 23:05

I've not been on here much, can't keep up and struggling tbh. Fallout from DS accident I think, need to refocus on myself somehow.

spamm sorry to hear your news, hope things aren't too rough, and that your H can open up a bit. :(

lowcarbforthewin · 12/06/2014 23:16

Thinking of you Hissy, how is your ds? You had a huge shock, I'm sure it will take a while to get on top of things. Be gentle with yourself.

Supermum0203 · 12/06/2014 23:21

Spamm and Locarbfor, really appreciate your comments. I'm going to keep an eye on my fat intake and maybe eating less mayo may help to move the scale down.
Good night :)

SayraT · 13/06/2014 08:00

scouse I've added your weight on sheet. You didn't have a starting weight in column c so the other weights had nothing to be deducted from. You are now officially 5 lbs down on the sheet Smile

oolaroola its not as hard as you might think, there is a thread somewhere with alternatives for usual carbs but here are a few examples:

rice - cauliflower rice (grated or chopped cauliflower florets, great for curry)
spaghetti - courgette ribbons
potato - swede or celeriac (makes chips and good mashed as well)
pastry - almond pastry

I've had success with cauliflower as a pizza base but others haven't. What kind of things do you normally eat. You could tell us and we can tell you how to make them LC quite easily...as long as you don't eat toast every day!

lowcarb hope things are going ok and you are managing to control your cravings. Is there anything you can use to help make you feel better about yourself instead of sugar? What about a massage,manicure, haircut or something (I don't like any of these things but I know plenty of other people do).

B: BPC
L: Burgers with cheese in the middle, lettuce, cucumber, peppers
D: No idea, heading to OHs for weekend, he said he would surprise me
S: FF yogurt with blueberries

lowcarbforthewin · 13/06/2014 08:06

Feeling better today thanks. I think getting it all out helped. I'm guessing the next few weeks might be rough as I am having counselling and so a lot of stuff will be coming up. And it's that old thing of feeling bad but not being able to medicate with food. I need to plan a haircut for next week. Stupid thing was going to sit in the park was my big treat of the day and it was lovely. It just brought up so much too.
I've never had a manicure, are they nice?

SayraT · 13/06/2014 08:25

I've had one or two but "beauty" isn't really my thing, it can be quite relaxing and nails look good after. I do too many things that break nails/chip polish so not much point in me having them. My mum loves getting pedicures and gets them every few weeks, dad also gets stuff done because of arthritis in hands and feet which he really enjoys. Its a paraffin wax thing he gets.

Plenty if us used to/still do try and rewards ourselves or console ourselves with food, I think it is good to try and find alternatives. I go for lots of warm baths with nice oils and read a book, I find that nice and relaxing and I feel 'nicer' for longer than I would having eaten chocolate or something.

Keep posting here over the next few weeks if you need to lowcarb we will help you through it. Same for anyone else out there, you might think that you are the only one doing or feeling as you do but you won't be and by posting your problems or struggles you might help others that haven't posted.

lowcarbforthewin · 13/06/2014 09:13

Sayra I think I would chip them within five minutes too and be cross! But might try it. I think buying myself a new book or something on eBay would be good too. I also want to try reiki. I generally hate woo but I do think reiki is very relaxing and healing if only because someone is treating you gently rather than because of any spiritual reasons.

And thank you. It is so important to share. I feel good every time I get through a desire to binge. I have been looking at my legs this morning and certain lumps and bumps on them I had for years have gone. They are slowly starting to look so much better. It is very encouraging.

EwanHoozami · 13/06/2014 09:39

oola I actually found it easier once I stopped trying to substitute LC replacements for high carb food. Completely personal taste of course and if recreating your usual staples works for you then that's brilliant. But I had to stop seeing a pizza or pasta as being things to covet by making food in their likeness. I don't know if that makes sense Confused but I do know that low carb food is amazing and varied and delicious just as it comes, rather than pretending to be something it isn't

Here's my week's plan for dinners, if it helps.

goats cheese, avocado and asparagus salad
smoked haddock, spring onion and saffron omelette
Spicy cauliflower soup
chicken liver and chorizo salad
Salmon with feta and pesto crust & green beans
aubergine burgers and coleslaw
Mayo and smoked paprika-marinaded chicken thighs with whatever veg is knocking about

JimmyCorkhill · 13/06/2014 10:05

lowcarb I heartily recommend a pedicure. A manicure lasts for approx 3 seconds on me but a pedicure can last for ages. Plus you get to sit with your feet in bubbly water whilst reading a mag or sipping your (black) coffee. It's just bliss and I'm not someone who usually feels comfortable in salons.

lowcarbforthewin · 13/06/2014 11:22

Ooh I don't know if I like the idea of someone touching my feet. Too squeamish, and my toe nails are really sensitive. Maybe I should go to a beauty salon and go down the list and try everything and see what I like. I might end up thinking a bikini wax is the most delightful experience known to man and get my eyebrows tinted blue. Wink

Pork belly for lunch. I think I am addicted.

Birdinacage · 13/06/2014 11:59

lowcarb - Like Jimmy said go for a pedicure, so relaxing and it makes your feet feel wonderful afterwards, I don't usually like people touching my feet but once I got used to the idea I really enjoyed it. A manicure is ok but very quick and more of a beauty/aesthetic thing but a pedicure is nice and pampering if that's what your after.

I find it really helpful in fighting the impulses to eat carby stuff to direct my treats/rewards toward other interests and hobbies or nice activities instead of food. It takes away the 'special' status of things like chocolate, popcorn, icecream and so on for me and then I can focus on the negative aspects of eating them.

Also one thing which has helped a lot is the realisation that the enjoyment of those foods is now just a memory. I remember eating them and in my memory they taste wonderful but if I were to eat them now they would taste awful as my tastes have changed. I have had to accept that they no longer taste like I remember and not having them now isn't missing out because I won't get any enjoyment from them any more anyway, it makes it much easier to say no.

oola - Although it looks a bit restricting this woe can be a great way to discover new foods and dishes as it really gets you to focus on what your eating and think about your meals instead of just chucking in something ready made like pasta sauce jars/chicken kievs, oven chips etc.

I enjoy cooking and experimenting with food and I've found so many things that are low carb friendly that are so so much nicer than the food I was eating before that I don't find I miss most of the carby stuff any more. I really like using courgette ribbons in place of pasta so that I can still eat pesto or spag bol or other pasta based dishes and I actually prefer the courgette versions to the pasta ones so it doesn't feel like I'm missing out on anything. Celeriac wedges are amazing too, nicer than potato imo, haven't tried the cauliflower pizza base but cauli rice is great and goes with every curry I've made so far

My new clothes arrived this morning so with much trepidation I unpacked them all and braved a trying on session. I fully expected everything to look terrible and be far too tight but they all fit me, even the totally unforgiving jeans went on and did up without squishing me and they looked good. I have been in size 16 (uncomfortably) to 18 trousers for years now so managing to get jeans in a 14 not only over my ample backside but also done up and looking decent is a massive achievement for me and really makes this worth while Smile.

antimatter · 13/06/2014 12:16

Celery sticks + Philadelphia + Marmite
what a treat!
IMHO better than chocolate
so much flavour!

I am going to replace cream cheese for double cream and will report soon Grin

doineedhelp · 13/06/2014 12:30

me again with a couple more questions.... thanks Grin

if i am off to the pub after work, what can i drink that isn't water - tonic water and lime? or soda water and lime? Is this the extent of my choice?

Also, is it normal to have completely different bowel movements on LC. I was always a 'once a day kind of gal' but since starting BC i seem to be once every 2 or 3 days? Is this what i should expect (sorry for TMI)

Thanks
doineedhelp · 13/06/2014 12:31

p.s. if you are worried about chipping your nails get a shellac manicure, it doesnt chip and lasts a good 2 weeks

JimmyCorkhill · 13/06/2014 12:44

Birdinacage congratulations on the new jeans. A successful trying on clothes session is a massive ego boost.

doin I just have a sparkling water which is very boring - sorry. Or a red wine which is not boring but I don't know if you are abstaining from alcohol or not.

EwanHoozami · 13/06/2014 13:03

doineed You're eating less bulky carbs, so your deposits will probably be more, erm succinct

i.e. no more big carby daily poos Grin