PREPARING FOR BOOTCAMP
I thought it might be useful to post this, for all those of you who haven't done low carbing before - and also a reminder for those of you who have! 
We will start on 19 January with our first weigh-in. You can either add your weight to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness, which the lovely SayrahT will administer, or you can add your weight to the Weight Tracker, which MNHQ provide for us.
The Spreadsheet is collective, which means that everyone can see everyone's weight/performance. If you don’t want to use your actual weight, you are welcome to index it – start with 100, and take one away for every pound that you lose.
If you don't want your weight to be public at all, then use the Weight Tracker, as that is individual/private to you. I will post a link to the Weight Tracker and the Spreadsheet in the very first post on 19 January.
Here is a brief reminder of the rules:
We do not eat any of the following during Bootcamp:
bread/wraps/bagels/pitta/naan/chapattis
rice
pasta/noodles
potatoes
flour
pastry
sugar
chocolate/sweets
biscuits/cookies/crackers
crisps/poppadoms
And here are the ten rules of Bootcamp:
- You must eat breakfast.
- Avoid processed food
- Eat lots of fat - you should be eating food in the ratio fat:protein:carbs
- Make sure you are eating vegetables and salads with your food
- Be careful about dairy (apart from butter, which is unlimited)
- You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day
- No alcohol
- No fruit
- No nuts/seeds
10. No sugar or artificial sweeteners
More detail/explanation of these rules will be on the spreadsheet – look at the tabs at the bottom.
After the first two weeks, things are relaxed slightly and you can move on to Bootcamp Light. (Or you can stay on Bootcamp if it suits you, or do Bootcamp during the week and Bootcamp Light at the weekend)
Recipe Thread
There are some lovely recipes on this thread . This is stickied at the top of the Bootcamp/Low carb board. Please feel free to add any low carb recipes that you come across!
Planning
Make sure you've got rid of as much carby stuff as is practical. On the basis that if it's not there, you won't be tempted. And make sure that you have planned all your meals for the first week, and that you have plenty of low carb foods available to choose from. (This doesn't mean Atkins stuff by the way - but real, proper and unprocessed foods).
It's really helpful to take measurements as well as to weigh yourself, because sometimes you can lose inches but not pounds. And it can make your progress much more tangible.
One other thing to consider is to have a blouse/dress/pair of trousers that currently don't fit, and to keep trying them on so that you can see your progress. (If you're currently a size 18, don't try things on that are a size 8 though - this will only depress you - make it something that is achievable, so something that's a size smaller than you currently are)
It can also be really helpful to keep a detailed food and drink diary. Not only does it help to keep you on track, it also lets you see how certain foods might be helping or hindering you - and if you have a bad day you can see the impact it might have!
One final word from me – the disclaimer! I am not a doctor, a scientist, a dietician nor a nutritionist. The advice that is given here is based on my own experience of low carbing, as well as the reading I have been doing over the last few years.
If you have a medical condition, or you are taking long term medication, (especially medication for blood pressure) please take advice from your GP/consultant before starting to low carb.
As ever, if you have any questions, there will be a separate questions thread - and feel free to ask anything that you're concerned about.