May Low Carb Bootcamp - the questions thread!

[BIWI]

Welcome! From experience, the first couple of weeks of every Bootcamp sees very fast moving chat threads, and so if you have a question, it's easy for it to be missed.

So post anything you want to ask on this thread and I and the other experienced low carbers will try and keep and eye on it and give you our best answers.

Here's a piece about it which I found a while ago, after DH and I both suffered from rummy problems after eating chocolates sweetened with stevia

There seems to be conflicting info about whether it provokes an insulin response too.
Thanks for the article, I did feel a bit nauseous this afternoon so I wonder if it was because of the stevia? Think I'll stick to the unflavoured coyo!

Tummy problems, obviously!!!

Stevia really upsets me. I thought it was because the Truvia I tried is bulked out with other sweeteners but I paid out a fortune for some of the pure liquid and that was just as bad! Not worth the pain!

Morning, I have a few questions if I may:

Should I watch the carbs in spices like paprika, ground cinnamon etc?

Does Lurpak spreadable count as butter? It has vegetable oil added.

Thanks in advance

Wine - unless you're using huge amounts of the spices (which I think is incredibly unlikely), then no need to worry.

Lurpak spreadable counts as butter. But get 'real' Lurpak - it's much nicer!

Thanks BIWI!

Hello - a question from a newbie to the concept of low carbing and I still have a lot to learn! Wasn't able to join the May bootcamp because I was a few days away from giving birth (baby is four weeks old today) so I've been trying to read up and educate myself about low carbing instead.

So: do you ever calculate your daily carb intake? I understand that during the first two weeks of Bootcamp you focus on eating vegetables that have less than 3g of carbs per 100g - but don't you have to watch your portion sizes to be sure you don't overdo it?

I've also had a look at the Recipes thread and noticed that some people have calculated the carbs in their recipes. Again, is that because there's a carb "target" to aim for? How many carbs is too much or too little (is there such a thing as too little carbs when you're doing Bootcamp?).

I won't even ask about carb counting when doing Bootcamp Lite and beyond, because I haven't even got around to reading that part of the spreadsheet yet

Congratulations!

The whole point of Bootcamp is to make it easy to low carb.

It's not an easy 10 weeks - the clue is in the name - but the idea is to make the process as easy as possible, so no counting or weighing of anything.

If you just follow the rules, you'll be fine.

There's no point trying to set a daily carb limit because everyone is different in terms of the number of carbs that they can tolerate.

I understand. Thanks BIWI! I'll read the rest of the spreadsheet and will be back if I have any more questions

I should know this, but is there any limit on the amount of coconut oil in drinks, or is it totally unlimited?

Not as far as I have determined! I'd guess it's about your personal taste/preference.

Great thanks! I really like it in tea

I've been LCing since the beginning of April, following BC and BClite. I know it's normal to have a reduced appetite. Is it OK to go without food all day? I'm just not hungry, or if I am I don't feel hungry enough to eat a meal. I can go without and wait. This is a very unusual feeling for me! I am just not used to getting a bit hungry and.....that's it. No feeling ravenous, shaky or bad tempered and HAVING to eat something.

Yes! It's one of the huge advantages of low carbing - it means you can follow the WOE without having to have massive willpower to get you through that gnawing hunger.

Just be careful, though, that you don't go too long without eating.

Thanks BIWI.

How will I know when I am 'fat adapted'? Also how long does it take?

It can take 2-4 weeks I believe.

Here's a really good article about it

Thanks! that's a very interesting article.

Hello I would like to start the lowcarb boot camp. Is this the best thread to start on? Really keen to do this to lose weight and then perhaps keep with moderate carb/Paleoish diet.

Do I just follow the rules in the boot amp two week programme and go for it? The only bit that freaks me out is only two coffees. Can it be three if I do everything else right

If maintaining how do I gradually increase carbs after the initial strict period? Do I have to do it gradually?

Chopsaway - just join us on the current chat thread. We're mid-way through week 6 (of 10) at the moment, but you're welcome to just jump in!

Yes, if you're joining Bootcamp you need to follow Bootcamp rules

There's no rule about the number of coffees you can have though - not sure where you got that from? However, you do need to be careful with coffee if you drink it white, because you can consume a fair few carbs in the milk. So either keep the amount of coffee that you drink low, or switch to black coffee or coffee with double cream.

mrswhiskers Yes, do it gradually. That way you'll find the level of carbs/the type of carbs that you can eat without putting weight back on.

Right, more questions!

What's the rationale behind adding double cream to full fat Greek yoghurt? I mean, it sounds amazing and I want to try it (I really love double cream - all forms of cream actually). Is it purely to increase the fat content and make it more satiating?

Olives as a low carb snack - I bought Sainsburys Basics green olives and the carb count is 7.7g per 100g! How? It is the vegetable oil they come in?

Speaking of oil, BIWI could you share a good vinaigrette recipe? I usually go for a lovely treacly balsamic, which will obviously have to go. And is olive oil generally discouraged, for dressings as well as cooking?

I'm sure I had another question, but I've forgotten it. Thanks so much

Just remembered my other question! Clotted cream: yay or nay? Is anything with a carb count of less than 3g per 100g considered OK for Bootcamp, or does that rule only apply to vegetables?

People add double cream to yoghurt if it's not a full fat yoghurt - or, if it is, because they like the taste/texture it adds. Plus the fact that cream is generally lower in carbs than yoghurt, so the total of the 'whole' will be less than if you were consuming the whole amount as yoghurt.

Re the olives, I really don't know why the carb count should be so high with the Sainsbury's Basics - it would suggest that there might be some sugar in the dressing they're in? The oil will not be adding carbs as there's no carbohydrate in fat!

if you look at these olives you'll see that the carb count is very low

In terms of a good vinaigrette, I'd go for 3-5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil with 1 tablespoon of wine or cider vinegar, with salt and black pepper. If you like you can add mustard, or garlic or some finely chopped shallot. But definitely avoid balsamic!

Clotted cream is perfect for Bootcamp.

And yes, anything at 3g or under is perfect for Bootcamp. (However, bear in mind that some foods you eat very little of - so a higher carb count is acceptable)