Low Carb Bootcamp - Jan 2016 - the questions thread

[BIWI]

Post here any questions (or concerns) you may have here. The main chat thread often moves very quickly in the first few weeks, so specific questions can get missed!

Go to the spreadsheet, and look at the tabs at the bottom - one of those is about Bootcamp rules, and it not only outlines the rules, but also explains why the rules are so.

Will do that now, thanks again!

I started taking 425mg St John's Wort tablet three weeks ago. Today I noticed it tasted really sweet so I have just checked the ingredients.

Among other things it contains: maltodextrin, sucrose and glucose, which I'm sure are all sugars. Is this going to affect my losses or will the doses be small enough for it not to really matter?

I've not lost much in the last few weeks and am wondering if these tablets are to blame rather than my birthday buffet blunder. Gutted if so because I can really feel they are having an effect on my mood.

BIWI or StuntNun what can I take as a sore throat remedy? I usually have hot honey and lemon but I assume the honey is not good for bootcamp.

I am restricted to what I can take due to breastfeeding so lemsip is not allowed either.

I find paracetamol is best for sore throats. But if you're really suffering I would go for a sugar-free throat sweet.

Lemon and ginger tea?

Argh I keep losing my messages. I will keep up with the paracetamol and try herbal tea. I won't be able to get sugar free cough sweets easily as I live in the middle of nowhere and our local shop has a limited range of medicines.

Gargle with some dispersible aspirin

StuntNun did you do bootcamp light throughout pregnancy or did you increase your carbs so you were out of ketosis?

Embarrassing question coming up: apologies if this is TMI

For the last couple of days, I have a horrible trapped-wind-like feeling: it's not painful, but it makes me really feel really nauseated (is that the word I mean, or do I mean nauseous?!) and nothing I can do can shake it. I feel as though a fantastic belch would sort me out, but I've been eating Wind Settlers like there's no tomorrow (which, when I've had this before, has sorted me out) and there's nothing doing. I've finally figured out how to get more fat into my diet, but it seems whenever I have a high fat meal (scrambled eggs with cream; cauliflower cheese with BIWI recipe) it either brings it on or makes it worse.

I'm not eating like a slob, or fast, or drinking when I eat, or any of those other things that can bring it on: I've previously only had it when I had totally pigged out, so I am wondering whether perhaps it;s the fat causing it? I've tried going for a walk, but I can only really hobble at the moment, so maybe I wasn't going fast enough.

Has anyone any suggestions? I've tried mint and hot water, and ginger and hot water, but nothing seems to shift it, and worse, it's waking my up in the night. I don't mind getting up to wee, what with all those litres someone my size needs to eat, but waking up when you don't need a wee is just insulting!

If anyone can shed any light, I will be eternally in your debt (including any ideas for inducing massive burps )

Oops - just to make it clear: I drink my water!

Do you have a hiatus hernia? Thats the first thing that springs to mind for constant trapped wind to me?

hefzi I don't really know the answer but will drinking fizzy water help you to burp?

Bloomin' heck, BeyondBootcamps - I hope not! Though if it doesn't shift in a week or two, I might ask next time I'm in the doctor - I've been hoping it was just a reaction to too much cream, and there was a magic bootcamp solution

Wombat great idea - it never even occurred to me: I shall nip to the corner shop right now and see if that will work. Honestly -I feel like a six week old who needs a piece of muslin, a handy shoulder and a few firm pats!

Thanks, guys - much appreciated

Can someone explain the science behind 'for some people dairy impedes weight loss'.

I like this WOE but it's the cream and yogurt and cheese that makes it enjoyable. I don't think I could I could go without dairy.

Nate, StuntNun is the one who's brill at explaining at the scientific stuff. I'd also really suffer without dairy, as the only other form of protein I eat is eggs- but I've realised that I may end up needing to cut down on the other goodies and just have the odd bit of cheese if I can't lose weight

hefzi I'm not saying your symptoms are due to this, but it may be gallstones as they can become symptomatic with a higher fat diet. Just something to think about if it doesn't settle.

Backonthewagon I followed Bootcamp Light during pregnancy but didn't worry too much about foods such as sausages, gravy etc. which tend to have hidden carbs. I wouldn't normally be in ketosis anyway but I avoided it because of the precautionary principle. Having said that I know a few women following zero carb diets through pregnancy so they would be in deep ketosis. I think you have to see what works for you and how you feel. A lot of women get cravings for carby foods or go off meat and find it difficult to stick to low carb.

Nate I'll give a brief explanation on the dairy issue but if you want to know more give me a shout. There are three macronutrients: carbs, protein and fat.

Fat is not insulinogenic - no matter how much fat you eat, your blood glucose won't go up so no insulin is released
Carbs are insulinogenic - when you eat carbs then your blood glucose rises and therefore insulin is released
Protein is insulinogenic - for reasons we don't fully understand, some amino acids or combinations of amino acids trigger insulin release

Dairy products are hyperinsulinogenic - the amount of insulin released is disproportionate to the amount of carbs and protein in them. The purpose of eating low carb for weight loss is not to keep blood glucose low but to keep insulin levels low. So if foods cause a lot of insulin to be released then they will impede weight loss (since insulin prevents fat from leaving fat cells).

The big issue is that everyone reacts differently to dairy so we can't tell you whether it will be a problem for you or not. The only way to tell is to stop consuming dairy products. I had to stop dairy while breastfeeding my baby who is allergic to cows milk protein. It didn't affect my weight loss as far as I can tell so I'm pretty sure that I'm okay with dairy. But you don't have to try cutting out dairy. If you're eating reasonable amounts (i.e. not loads of cheese at every meal) and losing weight then you're probably fine. If your weight loss stalls for several weeks then it might be worth stopping dairy for a couple of weeks to see whether it makes a difference.

A lesser issue is that not all dairy is created equal. Generally butter and cream are okay since they aren't particularly insulinogenic. But milk and to a lesser extent yoghurt are likely to raise insulin levels.

I hope that all made sense!

Thanks Stunt. Just what I was after. That makes sense. Fingers crossed because I cannot imagine life without cheese!

Mook eek! I hope not - I had a friend who had gallstones, and I remember the agonies she went through: though I am fat, forties, fertile, fair and female I hope it's just my body adapting, but tomorrow, I am going to cut right back: I thought I had nailed it, but I've been miserably uncomfortable all week, so there's definitely something not suiting me.

I hope not too Hefzi
Hope you feel better tomorrow.

Can someone please remind me how you decide whether to go onto BC light?

Had a look around but can't remember where I saw it....

thanks

It's entirely up to you. On Bootcamp the only requirement is that you complete the first two weeks at its most strictest - and then after that you can move on to Bootcamp Light.

But the choice is entirely yours. If you're finding it works for you, and as long as you're eating a good range of nutrition and getting the majority of your carbs from vegetables and salad then you can stay on Bootcamp for the whole 10 weeks.

Some people do a hybrid - so stricter Bootcamp during the week, and then the more relaxed Bootcamp Light at the weekend.

Thanks BIWI