Low-Carb Bootcamp - Ongoing Support Thread

[StuntNun]

That's it! We made it to the end of our mini Bootcamp. How did everyone do?

The marvellous BIWI always keeps a support thread going so if you have any victories, questions or low carb conundrums then please keep posting here. And don't forget to check out the Recipes thread for some cooking inspiration.

Add your final weigh-in to the Spreadsheet and to the Weight Tracker.

Well done Pisses! I got through with the aid of some pate! I've only just started shopping occasionally at Asda as they have just opened a new branch close by. I found that they actually sell gluten free pate. I haven't had any in years as all the other prepacked varieties I've checked have wheat in them. I treated myself to a pack and had it on some oopsie bread for my supper. It felt really indulgent.

I must say that's its mostly being tired that can send me off the rails. Given the FMS/CFS I can be tired a lot of the time. My common sense tells me I'm tired but my brain just seems to misinterpret it totally and sends out hungry signals. I know that eating does not make me feel better but sometimes the need to eat can get unbearable. I do feel more in control on LC though. I had no chance when I was doing LF!

Thanks Stunt

Allot better today have done a couple of runs, had a small treat last night, scheduled in a carb reefed for next week and will try to be a little easier on myself for the next couple of weeks.
I'm promising myself a new set of scales at the end of the next bootcamp, as if I had them now Im only going to obsess even more. But like a heavenly herald, bumped into our vicar this morning who was shocked by my loss to the extent she wasn't sure it was me and had to check on the rest of the family first (well I believe her even if nobody else does)

Glad you are feeling better today Pisses - it's hard to keep hold of the whole picture all the time when the one thing you are focusing on - scales moving in a particular direction - sometimes doesn't play ball.

I have had my bridesmaid-at-the-wedding weekend last week - didn't quite make a full stone off but was probably only 1-2lbs off. And it all made a huge difference in how I felt about myself. Even at the wedding I was mostly low-carb - it was a lovely buffet with pulled pork and salads vegetables done in cream and things like that, so was perfect. And no dessert. Truck loads of wine though but I am not perfect!

Back onto it this week, hoping to get down to 12 stone (another 5lbs off) as my next goal.

StuntNun that article is really interesting.

I began LC 10 days ago but stopped after a few days due to having a wobble. Anyway, I am now on Day 4 of my second attempt. I walk the dog at a very brisk pace for 5km a day and that has been fine. However today I did a high intensity workout and felt absolutely shocking. I had no energy to put into the workout itself and felt as though I was just pacing through rather than working optimally. I put this down to "low carb flu". But if I've read that article correctly, the writer advocates the intake of slightly higher rate of carbs for those who exercise intensely? But that the carbs should be of the sweet potato/peppers variety rather than a heap of bread or rice?

I do high intensity workouts 3-4 times a week plus the daily 5km brisk walk. I have 10lbs to lose. So perhaps I need to re-evaluate my carb intake based on his advice?

Oh and can I just say...am in total awe of all of you that have stuck with this way of eating for so long. I cannot tell you how much I am craving an orange, berries, or in fact any fruit right now. Bizarrely, I don't miss potatoes, rice or bread at all.

Ujjayi - the reason you felt so shocking was that you're in the middle of converting your body to burn fat rather than carbs. Once you've switched over (which should take around 2 weeks, possibly a little more), you'll be fine - we all have plenty of fat to burn, unlike carbs which need to be replenished for the body to have enough fuel.

When they talk about 'hitting the wall' (running) or 'bonking' (cycling), it's about when the body's carb reserves have all been used up, and this is when you need to reach for the energy bars/Jelly babies/energy drinks.

Even elite athletes, with very low body fat, have more than enough fat to sustain them during endurance events.

If you want to know more, there's a really good book called "The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance" by Drs Volek and Phinney. It's written primarily for athletes, and also focuses on the research that they have done into low carbing and exercise/sport.

... and you will be able to eat berries once you've done two weeks of Bootcamp!

Can someone give me a kick up the arse/BIWI beat me with your big stick please.

Am feeling despondent because I haven't lost any weight in the last week - in fact I've put nearly a lb on. I lost 5lbs in the first 11 days so I know that's a good loss but I'm still feeling a bit and nostalgic for the first couple of times I low carbed and the weight just fell off. Tell me it's just my body normalising or some such thing (and not that I have to go lower carb, as I've really been enjoying my berry crumble, nuts and the occasional apple).

CrabbyTheCrabster Get off the scales!!!!
getting on them all the time isn't good it becomes an obsession, your body will fluctuate hourly, let alone daily. So stop and only get on once a week, same time, same clothing and you will get a better indication of how your doing.
If your already doing this and you've gone up a lb - so what thats like a pint of water...?

Pisses is right Crabby. I weigh daily but I know certain foods will mean I put on weight the next day. Things like cauliflower cheese or gammon seem to do it. I always assume thats down to the salt content, but I find for some reason a curry will also cause a gain. A couple of good piddles will shift it! Drink a bit extra to get things going.

If you dumped a lot of weight last week some of that could be water and you know your body may need to take a bit of that back. Clothes show fat loss. Scales tell lies!

Yesterday's wobble has passed . I am back on board again & thinking more about textures of food because I think that's perhaps why I'm craving fruit (still wanting a sodding orange!).

So yesterday for lunch I made lettuce wraps with cream cheese, smoked salmon, chilli & gerkins - giving a satisfying crunch!

Fillet steak au poivre for supper with watercress salad, avocado & tomato & a blob of gorgonzola (a tablespoon size piece)

Today:
B: 2 rashers bacon, 1 tomato & poached egg

L: lettuce wraps with chicken, olive, cucumber & tablespoon greek yoghurt (very yummy & more-ish...will add garlic next time too)

S: probably turkey escalopes with a pile of veg

I'm feeling really well except for lower energy than usual when working out. Also (warning TMI) I expected to be constipated but I have the opposite problem. Not constantly going tho - just the usual once a day.

Crabby hang on in there! And I'm going to steal that phrase "Scales lie but clothes don't"

Crabby - I know you don't want to hear this, but I'm going to say it anyway.

You need to give up the crumble and the eating of apples!

Plus, don't forget, you're heading into the infamous week 3 ...

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo BIWI not the crumble!! I could give up the apple but not the crumble.

Thanks everyone. I'd forgotten it's week 3. Isn't it week 5 for the famous stall? I feel like I've hardly got going with the weight loss yet!

Ho hum pig's bum. I'll just keep on keeping on. I'm making positive changes, that's the most important thing. I've given my liver a big rest (broke our wine fast with a couple of glasses of red on Sunday with our roast) and will just be drinking red in moderation at weekends only. Am eating more healthily and trying to exercise more. Went swimming yesterday for the first time in over a decade. Slow and sure is the thing I'm most crap at way to go.

Arrg I am struggling today . Spent last weekend away at the sea side with family and they all had loads of fish and chips, crisps, chocolate, wine etc. I managed to resist but I felt a bit deprived with my salad and cheese really. Plus I got given a fancy box of biscuits as a gift and they are a real weakness for me, I'm so so close to the next stone barrier though so I'm really trying to be strong but the cravings for carbs are getting to me today. I'm hoping everyone will eat all the biscuits before I cave in and stuff my face because they are just staring at me begging for a cup of sugary tea right now, I even saw a non-existent fruit pie out of the corner of my eye earlier .

I did buy some strawberries from the market so will have a few with some cream later and I have steak for tea so hopefully that will make me feel better.

Crabby I love the crumble, I use half almond and half unsweetened dessicated coconut for the topping and it's one of the special treats I allow myself every now and then when I'm doing well, have been tempted to put apple in it a few times but I don't want to risk it in case it makes me gain as I can eat it occasionally at the moment and still loose. If you are upping the exercise could that be why you aren't losing as well as you would like? Perhaps you are making more muscle or your muscles are retaining water which is making it look like you aren't loosing as much as you were?

Are Shiratake noodles permitted during bootcamp? (first two weeks).

And are artichokes ok?

I've lost 4.8lb since I last weighed in. Only 2lb off the 6 stone mark!!
Really chuffed. Got a target of 12-15lb by October the 30th. Think it's gonna be hard.

That's 12-15lb off.. Didn't really explain that very well

Shiratake noodles are perfect, Ujjayi! I still haven't been able to work out how many carbs they have - some would have you believe they are zero carbs, but the last lot I bought had a label stuck on them saying around 3g carbs - but that's easily low enough for Bootcamp.

What kind of artichokes? are you asking about?

Brilliant readyforno2. I think ...

I'm in Moscow at the moment (arrived on Wednesday), and food options here are awful from a carb point of view, so I've just had to grit my teeth and get on with it. And be grateful that I'm not actually in Bootcamp right now! And also that I have a week to get back on track before we start properly.

Readyforno2 : well done! Losing 6 stone is no easy task.

BIWI : I was thinking of artichoke hearts. One of my favourite lunches is artichoke hearts with feta, olive oil, lemon juice, thyme & sumac. Delish - usually has a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds too but obvs not when on BC

Artichokes, from the site I found, are 6g carbs per 100g - so not that low carb - OK as long as you're not having them too often I'd say!