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!

@BIWI I think you are doing a fantastic job here. As I said I have been low carbing for a while and am fairly close to goal, however I appear to be very carb sensitive so am needing to still weigh and count. Hopefully one day I won't need to.

Thank you!

Quick question: is it still really important to be having three meals a day? I'm really struggling, because I'm not hungry (bizarrely - I don't think I've not been hungry since I was a child ) - but if I'm going to mess things up by not doing so, I will persevere!

hefzi it is only the first two weeks of BC that you have to eat 3 meals a day. After that, you can eat when you are hungry. Apart from creamy coffee, I often don't have breakfast as I'm not hungry.

Thanks, Mook

Is mozzarella ok?

Yes it's fine - 1.3g carbs per 100g. (Just don't consume a kilo of it!)

Which is the best sweetener to use? I've avoided them up to now, but need to make lc custard at the weekend.

Ta. Bit too late though as having been very, very good for ages I've fallen off the wagon in a probably hormonal fashion with wine.

Ginthief could you take some of these thelowcarber.co.uk/cheesy-chorizo-courgette-bites/ with you to keep in the mini bar and buy bagged saled and mayo to go with them?
I also do salami or salmon or ham rollups on the go. I use the meat to scoop up some cream cheese then put a bit of bagged salad on top and fold it over

Possibly completely unrelated, i have come out in a little patch of spots! Never had this before and have LC'ed on and off for over a year. Anyone else had this or any ideas? Hormones arent particularly wonky now we're out of the first couple of weeks and i have a coil so no periods due or anything like that.

I use a squash with negligible carbs and no sugar. Is it ok to drink two litres of this instead of water? What about drinks like Diet Coke? Thank you.

Nope. Because a) squash will contain carbs, and the amount will quickly add up, but more importantly b) they all contain artificial sweeteners which we're trying to avoid.

Have a read of this article, looking at the impact of Pepsi Max

Buxtonstill - with a name like that why are you asking about squash and Diet Coke?

Beyond - no clue, I'm afraid. Could just be a coincidence.

Thank you Pcat, they look great. I lived on scrambled eggs for breakfast, peparami and cheese for lunch and a ready prepared salad for dinner. Not the greatest week of my life but I got through it. Sadly no mini bar in holiday inn rooms so no fridge facility. I travel regularly for work so need to work on improving low carb options.

I'm out for a colleague's retirement meal at the weekend, Italian restaurant so low carb nightmare.

What would you recommend if the set menu is pasta, pizza and risotto?
The middle of a pizza?

I suggest that you contact the restaurant directly, and ask if you can have a salad.

None of those options is great.

Do they do starters? Perhaps you could have a couple of starters as a main course? Look out for a meat-based antipasti, or starters like aubergine parmigiana.

There must be other options that just pasta, pizza or risotto!

they've done a special set menu for a private party unfortunately

Starters are soup / potato skins / bruschetta / garlic mushrooms with crostini / pizza garlic bread
Mains risotto / 5 pasta dishes / lasagne / 8 pizza options....

You can't be the only person who couldn't eat that! What about all of those gluten-free folk?

I'm amazed that people weren't asked if they had any food allergies/issues.

Can you talk to your colleague about the menu and ask if there is any provision for someone like you?

When does the next Bootcamp start?

Blimey we're only half way through this one!!!

Why don't you join us?

I don't know when I'll do the next one yet.

It's usually around mid-May.

please can someone advise about sweeteners/sugar substitutes? Not for me at this stage as I know we are breaking sweet tooth and don't want to upset what is going on with my metabolism and stall, more for the DCs really as would still like to bake for them while getting them off sugar - I have some Truvia, is that OK or would pure erythritol be better? ta!

I really don't know. There's a lot of stuff on the internet about artificial sweeteners causing the body to react as if it's sugar (i.e. provoke an insulin spike), but also a lot of stuff that denies it's true.

Personally I would avoid as much as possible on the grounds that they're artificial.

Sorry, BIWI, no pressure

It's just sooo gooood!

Maybe I'll join you guys now - might do my own Bootcamp and then progress to Light to catch up with everyone.