2015 January Low Carb Bootcamp - the questions thread!

[BIWI]

Evening all!

I'm setting up this thread this evening, because I have to be up and out early tomorrow morning.

So, here is the thread for you to ask any questions that you might have about low carbing.

The chat thread tends to move really quickly in the first couple of weeks, so if you post questions on there you're not always guaranteed to get an answer, as it just might not be spotted. So use this thread to post any questions.

What a bugger about the hayfever - especially as it's still bloody cold! To be honest, I really don't know if antihistamines can affect weight loss, but I'll see what I can find out.

Tough not losing anything for seven weeks. List out for me what your meals have been over the last week or so.

according to this site Benadryl might cause weight gain

Yes, once the daffodils come out it's haYfever time! (Until the trees lose their leaves again...)
So the one I use (coughtescoowncough) contains loratadine which can (rarely) cause you to eat more and (separately?) gain weight.
I might just stick to the nasal spray for now though as recommended on the site you linked. Thanks for that!

Umm, I'm not sure I can remember exactly what I had, so I'd have to go back and reread the thread!
Typically though.

B; few nuts or GF sausage or left overs,buttery egg, BPC with butter and cocnut oil and splash of cream
(I'll be honest though, I don't often need anything really,I prefer to have an early lunch and tea is about 5 in our house if I'm hungry in the evening, which isn't often, I'll eat what I'd have at breakfast, minus the BPC!)

D; chicken, green salad leaves, mayo (helmans, which isn't great, but I only have a bit to be safe), occasionally bacon, eggs, mushroom type of meal.
GF sausage and spinach/salad leaves or pork belly. That sort of thing.

T; as above really, but also mince with leek, spinach,courgette, mushroom and a bit if tomato. Pork belly/steak and some mashed swede as well. Fish too! Chicken fried/roasted in butter and cocnut oil with broccoli and /or cauliflower.

I'm sure this sounds rubbish and I tend to either have the same thing twice a day or for tea and then either breakfast or lunch.
Oh, and I'm not good at cooking so...yeah.

I really like quite plain food though, so I don't need to get all fancy IySWIM?

I'm drinking 3 litres now plus a buttermint tea at bedtime.

Maybe I just have to keep on and wait for the whoosh fairy.

Thank you for this, especially as you're not well.

Could be that you need more fat - chicken/fish are all low in fat. And if you're limiting your mayo, you're also limiting the fat. Why not use an oily dressing on your salad instead?

Make sure you're adding butter to your veg.

I have done some reading, but mostly online. I'm getting fat from avacado, and smoked salmon and 30g of cheese every day. Why is fat so important?

I always add butter to everything and fry/roast everything in loads of butter, I love the taste!
I only limit the mayo because I know it isn't the best low carb wise, but I'm not sparing with it. IySWIM? (I also love mixing it with marmite )

I don't like oily fatty food all the time though, it makes me feel sick, which is another reason why I tend to stick to what I do, but will definitely try to add more, thank you.

Fat is what keeps you feeling fuller for longer. And it's important fuel for your body. And your body doesn't release insulin when you eat it, unlike when you eat carbs (a lot of insulin) and protein (a small amount of insulin).

This is a really good explanation of LCHF - low carb high fat

It's really worth watching that video that's embedded as well. It's long, but very good.

Thank you for the link! I'll give it a go.

This has probably been asked before, but what's the word of God on Hartley's no added sugar jelly pots (1.2g carbs)?

I think the answer is no SF jelly, we are avoiding artificial sweeteners on BC as well. I have had the occasional one over the past year but I don't actually like the taste when you can taste the sweetener.

If you are looking for a dessert type thing try whipped cream and berries.

It's not just about avoiding the artificial sweeteners though - it's also about trying to break the hold that sweet things have on us.

The Diet Doctor did an interesting experiment (OK, sample of one, so not hugely scientific!) to see what impact artificial sweeteners had on him, and he concluded that it looked as it would have an impact on weight loss.

have a look at this

I can't eat berries so one of my best investments for those 'need for sweet' moments has been a vanilla grinder. Its like a mini pepper mill but with vanilla pods in it. They look fearsomely expensive a first sight but they last ages. I have Greek yoghurt with extra thick cream and the vanilla powder on top. As you lose your capacity for sweet things its surprising what starts to actually taste sweet and its a very luxurious texture. Its satisfyingly naughty when everyone else is digging into a pud. Especially if they are fat phobic like my family and are eating low fat crappiness! Makes me feel smug like a big cat!

Lots of interesting stuff on the effects of sweeteners. Even the ones calling themselves natural are far from that by the time they reach your kitchen. Theres been a lot about whats called the cephalic response to sweeteners where your brain thinks 'ooooh sweet' and pumps out a load of insulin etc to deal with it. No actual sugar arrives to neutralise it so, like a kid with nothing to do, it gets into mischief and starts messing up your metabolism.

Ground vanilla sounds gorgeous miffy, where did you get it from?

I have one of those too, I got mine in Asda but Waitrose sells them as well (thats where I first saw them).

I do see what you mean about breaking the hold sugar has. I'm trying to be good, I just crave that 'dessert' sensation. A lifetime of being told sugar = a treat has probably screwed us all on that front.

I am quite (and I know this is shamefully disgusting) partial to spoons of double cream if nobody's watching, so I might grab some of that. Or, sod it, clotted cream and those vanilla beans.

It's insane how your tastebuds change! I tasted things in spinach today that I didn't know were there.

Ta sayara, i've found one on my asda online order so there is now one in my basket

Question... What is the best oil to buy to make mayo etc. We tend to cook in hard fat, but reading 'escape the diet trap' and how all oil is processed (and the processing unhealthy) and have no idea which is best to replace the vegetable oil with (which we have been using up first as had a 5l bottle of it)? Or if we should even change at all as all oil is processed!!?

I was just going to say that I got one in Sainsburys but I see you have one on order.

I know what you mean about the dessert sensationPlay. That's why I like the Greek yog with cream. The vanilla, or even cinnamon, adds a sweetness but it more that rich mouth feel. Bit like soft icecream. It fills a need without going off the rails with sugar or sweeteners. I find that even now I could quickly awaken the old sugar cravings. I don't wantto go back down that route!

Beyond I use olive oil in its various grades for things that need an oil. Aldi do a light one that is good if you need something pretty bland for frying but if you look carefully theres a medium grade one that is nice in mayo. Its got a bit of extra flavour but its not bitter like mayo made with EVOO. You have to look for it as they mix the light and extra light together and I only found it because I picked the wrong bottle one week. They have different coloured caps. For oil and vinegar dressings I use EVOO or, if I'm feeling rash and the budget will stretch, I like avocado oil. Like you, I use hard fats for any frying.

How many g of carbs do you aim for a day?

We don't aim for any particular level of carbs, PlayNice.

If you're doing Bootcamp, just follow the rules and you'll be fine.

Okay! I am following the rules :). I'm getting about 20-30g of carbs a day. I only asked because I quite like this Soupologie Kale and Spinach soup, but it does have a smidge of potato in (coming in at 7.6g of carbs per 300ml serving).

That's not too bad - and if you keep the rest of the day's veg/food low, you should be fine.

Thank you so much, BIWI. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer all my questions. I think I've got it now. Thank you :). Self esteem has taken a bit of a beating this year with health and relationship, and losing this weight is really cheering me up.

My pleasure

Hello all. I'm in week 9 and doing ok-ish weight loss wise - bounces around a bit but general trend is down. I haven't cheated and whereas I'd like to credit that with my amazing will power, the truth is that my lovely Dad died on Feb 15th and I kind of went off food. I've tried to be mindful of the rules - probably haven't been eating as much as I should.

But - his funeral is on Friday and it's going to be a very difficult day for me, I think the fact he has gone may hit home in a way it doesn't seem to have done yet. Plus, there is a big family rift, and there will be people there I really don't want to see. So question finally!) is - how much damage will I do if I hit the gin?! I fear I may not be able to resist ...

I've been reading the main thread and it's so helpful, both in terms of meal ideas, and to see other people sticking at it, and for the support on offer. So thank you all for that.