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.

Can anyone recommend something to get get things moving -am a bit constipated . Have lost 3lbs though

janx sometimes on this WOE you need to go to the toilet less often, are you sure you are constipated and not just going less often? I went from once per day to once every two days when I started this WOE.

If you are constipated then the first thing is more fat, more water or a teaspoon of flax seeds can help. I've never used, or had to use, any OTC treatments so can't help you with that.

yourmywifenowdave you don't want to be in pain but if you are feeling better otherwise then I can see why you don't want to go back to carbs etc. Is there another LC lifestyle that might work for you? Or would cutting out major carbs (bread, pasta etc) work maybe if you had small amounts of other carbs (sweet potato, some fruit) and tried to reduce the fat a little? I am not a doctor or nutritionist though so these were just some ideas.

Youremywifenowdave have a read of this Diet Doctor article about gallstones.

janx I get constipated doing this woe too. I use ducolax. They are really good. I would recommend only taking 1 at first though, as they give you really bad stomach ache if you're not too constipated.

I use 1 if I've not been for a whole day, and 2 if I'm either on my 2nd day of not going, or I've been but I know it didn't completely empty my bowels.

Sorry for tmi.

Morning all! I'm going pretty well so far, I think. Started a week early (after a MASSIVE blowout!) and stuck to it. The only issue is I'm finding that I'm not really hitting fat targets, some meals (fish dishes especially) don't have that much fat in them. I haven't been too hungry so far and haven't cheated. Is the fat aimed at keeping me feeling full, or does it actually accelerate weight loss in some way?

Can I have some tips on making cauliflower rice? Thanks

wirecat wash cauliflower whole (except for cut off leaves). Then just grate cauliflower into a microwave bowl. Cook in microwave for about 10 mins. Less if it's a small cauliflower or you're only using half. I then salt it.

Hth

Thanks for the link Stuntnun it makes interesting reading

I think I will hover between BC and BC Light for a while and just see what happens - the attack on Saturday happened after a week of being very lax with the carbs (DD's birthday party and then my birthday!) and the only other time it has happened was before I started LC!

I've got another question. Why do some people avoid olive oil? Is it carby? Have just poured some all over my salad

Almahart some primal and paleo gurus advise against cooking with olive oil, I'm not sure on the details. It's definitely fine in salads, it's just when heated to the smoke point that some people have concerns. I still use it but I have started using more animal fats or coconut oil when cooking. If you're roasting pork, duck or goose you can get lots of lovely fat which is great for frying chicken leg, pork chops, steak etc.

Alma olive oil is fine as a dressing, it's just not good to cook with as something bad technical happens when it's heated. That said, I use it all the time and I'm still here to tell the tale

In other news, I've had a buttermint tea this morning and it has given me horrendous heartburn/indigestion. WTF is that all about?

My GP is very much on the side of the Diet Doctor info. She told me that your gall bladder empties at each meal whether or not fat is present. There isn't some magic communication between your eyes and your gall bladder to say that theres no fat on the plate so to chill out this time! I went very low fat but I can't say it helped much. If you follow the theory that the stones form from stagnant bile salts then it makes sense to keep it moving.

These things are seldom as simplistic as some docs would like us to think so my feeling would be to stay LC (as you obviously feel better in other ways) but just moderate the fat a bit. Lots of basic LC diets that work without boosting the fat to excess. Weight loss might slow a bit but LC is generally considered to have a healing effect on inflammation so it could be worth it.

vdibley - glad things are going well. The fat helps to keep you full, it's very nourishing and also has no impact on your insulin levels, unlike carbs and - to a much smaller extent - protein.

sassandfaff sorry to butt in but you're really misusing those laxatives. Pooing once every 2 days is perfectly normal and you shouldn't use a laxative unless you are actually constipated which 2 days isn't. You will mess up your muscles and whatnot if you rely on laxatives unnecessarily.

I used to be bulimic & use laxatives. Even 2 years later my insides are still not right. Don't use them.

ehric it's OK, you're not butting in.

I don't use them that often don't worry. I have IBS and I've suffered bouts of constipation on and off for over 10 years.

I know when I'm constipated because I can feel It and my belly blows out more than normal and to be honest I feel terrible.

Everyone is different though and I've never been anorexic, bulimic and I never diet- never done sw, we etc. So I haven't got any messed up attitude to food, exercise, laxatives etc. And I would only suggest using them when you know you are badly constipated, which for me would be on the 3rd day.

I have it the opposite way round. I take daily movicol due to all my tablets blocking me up. On low carb, i rarely need them, so clearly there is an issue with carbs going on in me! :)

Hi everyone, good to see how everyone's doing. I've stuck to plan but have put on a lb this week (started last week and lost 10 lbs though so still lighter than I was).

My question - I wear my rings all the time except for when cleaning. Today I tried to take them off and really struggled. This has never happened before, even when heavier than I am now. Can it be some weirdy side effect where I will lose weight (hopefully) from the rest of me, but put it on on my fingers?! Anyone else had anything similar?

Probably fluid retention Juan. I can always tell when I have it by my rings. Have you been drinking all your water or had anything especially salty? Or is AF due?

I'm really prone to fluid retention, but if you up your water it should pass.

Ah that makes sense Chester, thanks. I've been drinking loads more than usual, not quite up to where I should be but getting there.

So I guess my "get out of the cleaning" clause will be short lived :)

I'm very interested in joining you but after a quick flick through can't locate an outline on how to eat sorry. Am I right in thinking no sugar (at all?), lots of veg, water, protein, use butter. Do you totally stop eating bread, rice, butternut squash? Also fruit is that ok despite the natural fruit sugar? TIA

Violetta

Here's the spreadsheet

If you look at the tabs at the bottom you'll find the rules.

But to answer your questions, you totally stop eating bread, pasta, rice, flour, sugar, biscuits, chocolate/sweets and - for the first two weeks - all fruit. Whether it's natural or manmade makes no difference! Your body processes it in the same way.

Lots of veg/salad - as long as it's on the acceptable list. Butternut squash is a bit too carby for the first two weeks of Bootcamp.

Loads of water

Lots of protein - although we're aiming ti eat more fat than protein, and yes, use butter. Lots of it!

While you're on the spreadsheet, have a look at some of the resources that are posted there, so that you can find out more about low carbing and how it works, what the science is behind it, etc.

Please will some kind person tell me how to make coconut porridge? I can't remember where I saw the recipe. Tia.

I found it :)