Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp - the questions thread

[BIWI]

In the first week or so of Bootcamp, the chat thread tends to move very quickly, so if you have any specific questions, post them here - and then there's more chance that they will get spotted!

You eat as much as you need to fill you up.

If you're eating enough fat and protein, you should be satiated pretty quickly - and it should keep you feeling full for longer (and especially if you're drinking all the water).

Do some reading about low carbing - start off with the resources that are on the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet. A calorie isn't a calorie isn't a calorie!!!

Hi

I'm a newbie (to both bootcamp and Mumsnet). I've successfully done Atkins before so thought this made sense to try.

A couple of questions:
Is weak low sugar squash ok? I don't like tea or coffee and just get a bit bored of water all the time.
Is diet coke ok? I've tried to cut it down (because I don't think it is particularly good for you!) but its useful to have if I need to go out to dinner.
Peanut butter - is it a no? I have the whole earth one which is basically just peanuts and palm oil.
Thanks

Squash is a bit of a no-no I'm afraid - even if it's low sugar, it's still got sugar in it! And it's full of artificial sweeteners, which we're trying to avoid in Bootcamp - so the same answer re Diet Coke I'm afraid!

You could try to make water more interesting by putting slices of lemon or lime in it, or cucumber, which makes it taste very refreshing (and gives it a taste!)

Peanut butter is also a bit tricky - check the carb count on the back of the jar. Many of them are really high! Sorry, don't know what the Whole Earth one is.

Thanks, that's really helpful. Is a splash of lemon juice in water ok? That is my other regular drink. I do like water with slices of lime or lemon in so will sort that out. Shame re diet coke as well but I thought that might be the answer.

The peanut butter has a carb count of 7.4g per 100g.

Redbed, it seems there's evidence now that diet drinks might stop you losing weight, despite the fact that they have no calories in - www.dietdoctor.com/study-avoiding-diet-beverages-helps-women-lose-weight
I was pretty much addicted to Diet Coke before I started bootcamp but don't miss it at all now. I think a little splash of lemon juice should be fine. Good luck!

A splash would be find - as long as it is, literally, a splash and not half a pint!

The peanut butter isn't too bad (some of them have many more carbs than that), but it's quite dense, so it would be very easy to consume a lot of carbs when you're eating it. If I were you, next time you're going to have some, weigh out the portion you would typically eat and work out how many carbs it has.

Thanks. I worked out I had the equivalent of 4 teaspoons - 20g so not too damaging. And got me over the time of day when I would normally 'pick' at food.

And yes, just a splash of lemon juice - any more would be a bit sharp!

So, next question before I study the bootcamp rules again - avocado - ok or not?

Carb counts for avocado vary wildly - I think it might be to do with the variety, but I'm not sure! On balance, because they are so full of lovely fat, I'd say go for it.

Yayyyyy to avocados. I'm already planning dinner for tomorrow night - mashed avocado with pepper and some bacon on top in crunchy lettuce leaves. Might even add a dollop of mayo if its full fat Hellmans we have in the fridge (which I think is ok?!)

Definitely - as long as it's full fat and not light/lite! (Just check the carbs though as different brands of mayo do vary - you can't just dollop masses on your plate)

Thanks, it's 1.4g of carbs per 100g so looks like that's my dinner sorted tonight