Week 1 Early Spring Low Carb Bootcamp - at last!

[BIWI]

Evening all!

Just getting this out there, so that everyone knows where to go/what to do in the morning.

Here's the link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

I'd like to say a massive thank you and to Sayrra and Wombattoo who set this up and maintain it for us all.

PLEASE don't touch anything other than the cell where you input your weight.

If your name isn't on the list, just add it to the bottom, and it will be magically re-alphabetised to include you.

It's called the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness because of all the information and resources that are available to us. Look at the tabs at the bottom - the rules are there, along with the veg counter, and all manner of resources for you to read up more about low carbing.

If you can't access it, or can't input your weight, just add your weight to the chat thread, and someone will do it for you. (I believe it's difficult to do it from your phone).

But more than anything else, a massive good luck to you all!

All I can say to you is follow the rules!

It does work, but only if you follow them.

Good luck everyone.

I had to get up in the night to pee

I really hope I get used to drinking so much water. I haven't even had as much as is recommended, although I'm drinking a bit more each day.

Feeling pretty rubbish this morning after a bad night. Hopefully the fog will lift a small I felt great yesterday.

Sorry for the moan

B: egg and broccoli muffins
L: not sure yet as I'll be eating out
D: Leek gratin with griddled courgettes.

I have no problem drinking the 3 litres and more. I'm constantly thirsty and constantly on the loo anyway. Drinking and weeing several times a night. It's actually become so noticable, that I had a bloodtest last week to check for diabetes. Been too scared to call about the results yet...

I know I'll miss wine tonight, but determined to do these two weeks properly. DH will probably get himself some beer (won't be tempted by that, hate the smell of the stuff), and I'll probably get some nice mineral water, just so I have something to sip in the evening.

Food plan today:

B: Co yo, black coffee (not feeling hungry)
L: Feta omelette with avocado and spinach (after gym)
D: Sausages and homemade coleslaw (the recipe from this forum)
S: Olives

Ifink there's no need to stick to three meals, you can eat when you're hungry, so long as it's low carb. I eat a lot more than other people on here too, for example four eggs scrambled for breakfast, and it hasn't stopped me losing weight. Be guided by your appetite rather than what others are eating.

I'm staying at my mum and dad's house for a few days which usually makes LC difficult. Sure enough dinner last night was a Chinese takeaway. I had duck with water chestnuts and bamboo shoots and the sauce was thin and not sweet so hopefully got away with damage limitation. Still it's steak tonight so that will be much easier. And I stocked up on ready-roasted chicken drumsticks and coleslaw on the way here so lunch is sorted.

B: Coyo with two strawberries (I know they're not allowed under Bootcamp rules but I had scurvy last year so I like to have vitamin C in my diet as well as supplementing)
L: Chicken drumsticks with salad and coleslaw
D: Steak and buttery green veg

Does anyone know if the dizziness is normal for the start of BC?

I've made it into work now & still feel weird. Really dizzy & shaky & my heart is racing!! Is it BC related or something else?

You need some sodium - get some Oxo cubes or a jar of Bovril or Marmite and make a hot drink with it. And make sure you're cooking with it and adding it to your food.

Also, magnesium and potassium - good sources are salmon, avocado, spinach and natural full fat yoghurt - so if you can why not go and buy some yoghurt for your breakfast? Hope you're feeling better soon!

... and if that doesn't help, have a slice of toast. If you feel better after the toast it's an indication that it's the relative lack of carbs which is causing the dizziness.

Thanks BIWI. I've been eating quite a lot of all those things so thought I'd be okay. It's a really horrible feeling!

I've got some magnesium tablet things from last bootcamp as I had leg cramps so will starts taking those again. & keep adding plenty of salt. Does it matter whether it's rock or sea salt?

When I get a chance I will pop to the shops for something salty & some yogurt. Hopefully that will sort it out.

I'm hesitant to try the toast as I've lost nearly 2 lbs so far & don't want to mess it up! Would something like nuts be okay if I need to up the carbs a bit?

Just looking at everyone's menus have made me realise that I've been eating way to much processed meat- salami and babybels!

I'm frequently on the go at work and have little time to prepare breakfast and lunch, and don't have a fridge.

Any suggestions please?

Mmmmmorning :)

After doing all the reading I could manage yesterday, I've decided to start today so that I can get over the dreaded first 3 days over a weekend. My first weigh in will be on Monday and I'll weigh in on Mondays from then on :)

Today is a bit of a rubbish day to start life-wise because I'm off out for a team lunch. I've checked out the menu and I can have a Caesar salad with added chicken if I ask for no croutons. It's Parmesan and bacon and salad leaves with a full fat Caesar dressing apparently so I think that should be fine.

I'm at work today and usually don't get time to eat breakfast, but I've found a protein shake that i LOVE the taste of with 2g of carbs, 2g fat and 19g protein (115 cals) so I've added a tablespoon of coconut oil to that to take to work. I've got a busy evening this evening and DP is out, so I may do the same thing at dinner time if I get back late and don't cook... stops the takeaway cravings! Making the shake with almond milk (unsweetened obviously!)

I've got a 2.2 litre bottle of water on my desk staring me down, and I need to get through 2 of those A DAY according to the sheet . I've added a super green supplement to it (it's all natural, all of your 5 a day but only 6g of carb and seeing as I'm having protein shakes today, I want to make sure I'm still getting the nutrients I need)

Macro's for today:
25g Carb (8%)
89g Fat (61%)
100g Protein (31%)

Please add my weight to the tracker BIWI & Co! 257lbs

Morning all, I'm feeling a little bit wobbly emotionally this morning and have just had a little cry. AF isn't due so I'm hoping its down to the LC rather than me losing my marbles.

Today's plan looks like:
B: eggs scrambled in butter, whole avocado in olive oil
L: chicken thighs in tinned toms, leeks, shallot, mushrooms, garlic, courgette
D: lamb steaks marinaded in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Rosemary, with roads asparagus and broccoli

I've got a friend coming over after school so will have a BPC before pick up to keep me away from the inevitable nibbles she brings.

So, last night was a success. We went to a mexican and I ordered chicken with cheese on top and jalepono peppers. It came with rice and chips which I left, although I did lick some salt off a few chips. I also drink wine (your accusations were misplaced BIWI!)

Anyway, I am 2lbs down. I am out tonight again but have already checked out the menu. I will drive again so no drinking.

This morning I had the egg/bacon muffins. They're not for me. Back to greek yogurt tomorrow.

didnt drink wine.

Morning all!

So a cheeky weigh in this morning tells me I've lost 4lb so far this week! I know my weight fluctuates daily though so if it's still a 4lb loss by Monday I'll be very happy

Meals for today are planned and dinner is already prepared for later:

B- egg muffins with spinach, mushroom and tomatoes
L- feta and olive salad with a left over low carb sausage and olive oil dressing
D- low carb lasagne made with courgette 'lasagne' sheets

I just need to make sure I get enough water in today, I'm out and about at work and that's where I struggle.

Hello all first time posting since Monday! I think I'm doing things right but I've never done low carb without some kind of restriction on fats/dairy so am nervous for weigh in on Monday atm it all seems to be going too well and I'm half expecting to find I've gained 6lbs as I'm stuffing my face with previously 'banned food'.
Also just curious to know does anyone else find they have a bigger lose in week two rather then the first week?? I think my body is slow to adjust and then it just seems to fly off and then plateau again, think this is the reason I find it hard to stick at it.
Anyway good luck for the weekend everyone. Let's hope Monday makes losers of us all...

Dammit. I've been reading the backs of labels so bought myself some very nice polski kabanos in tesco for only 1.5g carb. But, that's processed, right?

And, so are kippers.

Dammit.

What are you all eating for snacks? Is the best option to roast a chicken and nibble on that when you're hungry?

Ideas, please!

Stealth I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think processed food is completely banned, just to be kept to a minimal, so not every day

Major, major fail here. Been feeling increasingly depressed past few days. Weighed in this morning and have lost 3lbs which delighted with but just eaten two pastries

Dont worry snowdon, onwardsand upwards. I ate a kit kat yesterday! Just get back on it and give yourself a few days to get back into ketosis.

stealth Loads of supermarkets and deli counters seem to do different kinds of olives and antipasti in smallish pots. I've currently got a pot of queen olives with lemon and coriander from Sainsbury's sitting in my fridge for a snack. They're nice and salty and very low carb.

Another very shaky, tired gym session. I wasn't hungry in the morning, but starving for my lunch now!

I also braved calling the GPs, and am relieved to find I don't have diabetes.

Very glad to hear that, @BursarsFrogs! But I could have told you that

And in any case, even if you did have, low carbing would be the perfect way to help deal with it [smile

@snowdonstreet, I'm sorry to hear you're feeling miserable. It demonstrates how much of an emotional crutch food is/can become. Why do you think it led you to self-sabotage? Because sabotage is what it was

@stealtheatingtunnocks processed food isn't completely forbidden, but you do need to try to keep it to a minimum!

And you should find that you don't need to snack, once you're into low carbing - which should be very soon, if you've been following Bootcamp rules properly! You should find that you're not hungry in between meals any more, so you won't need to plan for snacks.

@Lucy7400 - I'm very glad my accusations were misplaced! Perhaps you were challenged to prove me wrong?!

However, should you find that you're hungry, then a piece of cheese is always a good one, or some olives (and nuts once we get through the first two weeks of Bootcamp).

@NameChangedForVanity - have a read of some of the resources on the spreadsheet (look at the tabs at the bottom) and hopefully they will reassure you about fat/eating fat

@Hesdeadjim - two lots of protein shakes in one day? That's not Bootcamp! Bootcamp is about proper food. Have you got any idea what's in those protein shakes? They may well be low carb, but they're full of artificial ingredients (usually), which we're also trying to avoid.

And:

I've added a super green supplement to it (it's all natural, all of your 5 a day but only 6g of carb

That's a lot of carbs from one drink!

Have you read Bootcamp rules yet?!

Sorry - how weird - seems that my post above got a bit scrambled - the snacking advice for stealth slipped to under my post to Lucy!

Good news BursarsFrogs!

I'm back from my team lunch: I had a caesar salad and asked for no croutons, and had chicken on it instead. It was bloody lush! Tons of Parmesan, a rasher of bacon and the dressing was really creamy so I think it was probably a lot of fat and not many carbs, if any. It was all baby gem lettuce so no hidden carbs to account for :)

I've had 2.7 litres of water so far and another 2.2 litres to go. I've also had 500ml unsweetened almond milk and will be having another 500ml if I don't get time to cook dinner later.

Question: Does the almond milk count towards my intake? If so, I'll have drunk just under 6 litres of water today and according to the sheet I should only be having 4.

Can I drink too much?

Feel strange today...been LCing for 12 days now, lost 9lbs, haven't felt remotely hungry in all that time, had no cravings, hardly ever needed a snack and generally felt absolutely fine doing it. Today though, I have a headache and I just want to eat! Not craving particular things, just feeling like I 'need' something. Have just had a snack of cheese and salted peanuts (I know, I know...) and, even worse, three crackers.

I only had about 18g of carbs yesterday, whereas most days I've been around 40g...could it be that decrease triggering the carb flu others have mentioned?

Otherwise, all fine.

B: cheesy, buttery scrambled eggs
L: beef stew and buttered green veg
D: undecided as yet, but definitely not my usual Friday Night Pizza!

Thanks for the tips Sayrra and StuntNun - I shall cut down on the chorizos for sure (god I love them though). Today has been actually better on the appetite front and i"ve stuck to yoghurt with cream, scrambled eggs with broccoli and not a lot else yet..oh water of course