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Low-carb bootcamp

Join discussions about low-carb bootcamp plans, meals and progress. Consider speaking to a medical professional before starting any diet.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

The Pre-summer low-carb Bootcamp questions thread

334 replies

BIWI · 15/05/2016 21:36

Ask anything you want here!

Hopefully between me and some of the other experienced Bootcampers we can answer your questions.

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mumchkin · 28/05/2016 01:14

Ah damn... You're all right of course. I've been using my fake sugary goodies as a crutch! Time to get serious. Thanks

bettyblueeyes83 · 28/05/2016 12:52

Hi,

Really stupid question, forgive me. Where is the 'allowed veg' list? I can't see a tab for it in the spreadsheet. Does it just mean the veg listed in the veg carb counter tab? Or just non-starchy veg/veg grown above ground? I know I should know this by this stage but I followed the Diet Doctor challenge meal plan for the first two weeks so I have not picked my own veg until now. I'm struggling to get a variety of colours in and I'm craving this, what I've got in my basket is all green. Is a bell pepper allowed?

Thank you!!

wombattoo · 28/05/2016 13:05

Hi betty. I don't think there is an 'allowed list'. The tab on the spreadsheet lists the carb counts for all veg, and the choice is yours. The advice is to try and eat veg with less than 5gm of carbs (I think)

bettyblueeyes83 · 28/05/2016 13:12

Thanks Wombat. The 'rules' just refer to only eating veg on the allowed list, so I thought there was an actual list. But maybe it just means less than 5g and you have to figure it out yourself from the carb counter. That would make sense!

Veryflummoxed · 29/05/2016 08:35

Hi. I thought it was less than three. Although I was confused by this as cabbage, which lots of people eat, is five.

BIWI · 29/05/2016 09:49

The idea is that you should focus on veg that's 3g carbs per 100g - but it doesn't mean you can't eat other veg.

Just keep things in proportion! If you're eating lower carb veg, then your overall carbs will be lower. But it doesn't mean that you can't eat something like cabbage as well.

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MushroomTree · 29/05/2016 10:50

Does a headache equal not enough sodium? I've finally got into the swing of having enough water and for the last three days I have a headache by the end of the day.

NotdeadyetBOING · 29/05/2016 11:14

I am struggling to get my head around why LC diet results in lower sodium. Is there loads in carby foods?

BIWI · 29/05/2016 13:40

It's because of the water we drink as much as anything. When I'm back in front of my laptop later I'll find you a proper explanation!

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wombattoo · 29/05/2016 13:43

Apologies for the misinformation I gave about veg Blush

Veryflummoxed · 29/05/2016 16:44

Thanks BIWI I get it now. Confused

BIWI · 29/05/2016 16:45

Here's what the diet doctor says about salt and low carbing

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NotdeadyetBOING · 29/05/2016 18:54

That is brilliant, BIWI, thank you. Makes sense now. Presumably you can just add plenty of salt to food rather than drinking salt water if you prefer? I am a bit of a salt junkie, so really nice to be told it's ok - or more than ok.

Sorry to keep pestering you with Qs, but you clearly are the guru on this stuff…..! I switched from skimmed milk to semi-skimmed milk (to have in my coffee), but seems like you lot are using cream. Is it really better? If so - presume lower carb??

Mookbark · 29/05/2016 18:58

Not it's to do with the carb count, and I think there's some other reason that someone clever will be able to tell you. But, for example the semi skimmed milk in my fridge is 4.6g of carb per 100mls, whereas the double cream is 1.5g. If you do want a splash of milk in your drinks, BIWI advises full fat, because of the increased fat content.

Mookbark · 29/05/2016 18:59

Oh, and cream tastes so much better, too. Grin

BIWI · 29/05/2016 19:23

Milk is much carbier than cream, which is why it's recommended - and you tend to use a lot less of it in coffee than milk.

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NotdeadyetBOING · 29/05/2016 20:18

Switching my supermarket order…. This all feels SO WEIRD!

StuntNun · 30/05/2016 10:14

When you switch to a low carb diet you tend to need more salt for three reasons:

You are eating less salt from processed foods, low fat foods, bread, ready made sauces, soups etc.

Another action of insulin is to signal your kidneys to retain sodium. So when your insulin levels drop, your kidneys will start to excrete more sodium into your urine than they did before.

You have started drinking a lot more water, you are peeing more often, and you are depleting your glycogen stores which have a lot of water stored with them. So the water balance of your body is changing dramatically. This is closely linked to the electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium etc.) in your body with the result that you lose electrolytes and need to replenish them.

So the upshot of all this is that you need to take more salt (and sometimes more potassium and magnesium too) during the first weeks of going low carb. Long-term you may need slightly more added salt than you used to but you still shouldn't need more than the recommended amount so it isn't a licence to eat loads of salt.

If you're feeling tired, fatigued, headachey, generally lacking in energy then try a salty drink: salt in water, miso (if you can find a low carb one, stock, Bovril (again check the carb count), Oxo cube dissolved in water. If you feel better within about half an hour or so then the problem was too little salt.

If you get cramps, particularly in the legs, then this can mean you need more magnesium. You can get this from magnesium-rich foods or from a supplement. I was dairy-free for over a year so I take Osteocare which has calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.

We used to recommend sea salt, rock salt or pink salt for their electrolyte content but the latest research shows that these aren't effective ways to replenish your electrolyte levels.

stilllovingmysleep · 30/05/2016 10:35

Question: I have been feeling parched / VERY thirsty for the last few days despite drinking enough water (I think). I also have been having leg cramps at night. Ideas? I do take multivitamin daily plus a host of other vitamins.

trixymalixy · 30/05/2016 10:58

Still low sodium is sometimes the cause of leg cramps.

trixymalixy · 30/05/2016 11:04

What does KOKO mean?

Mookbark · 30/05/2016 11:15

Still see stuntnun's post up there ^^ Low salt and magnesium is probably to blame. I have a bovril drink if I think my salt is low, usually perks me up very quickly. I also take a magnesium supplement, which has the added benefit of helping things along in the toilet department. Grin
Trixie keep on keeping on. I had to ask in my first bootcamp.

bettyblueeyes83 · 30/05/2016 11:23

Ahhh, that's reassuring about the leg cramps. I got a really bad one last week and briefly convinced myself I had Deep Vein Thrombosis. Will start back on the magnesium and drinking bouillon.

MushroomTree · 30/05/2016 13:37

Thanks for the info. I had a marmite drink last night as no bovril. Will also invest in a supplement to be sure I'm getting enough magnesium.

BIWI · 30/05/2016 15:05

KOKO means keep on keeping on

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