Help me get started on low carbing/ boot camp

[oatcakesandcheeseplease]

Hi I'm thinking of doing low carb - I've been reading through the boot camp threads and wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction of what to do - Id like to get cracking on it as soon I can. When is the next boot camp starting?

In two years I have put on two stone. I really hate that I'm two stone overweight I'm fat, matronly, my clothes don't fit and i feel unhealthy. BUT I can't seem to start a find diet plan that suits me, so instead try to eat a healthy diet. I've been cutting out bread, wheat, sugar and over processed foods as they seem to make my Ibs worse and give me acid reflux at least if I can't diet and lose weight I can be healthy and fat. I did lose weight with weight watcher years ago ( and I put it on again!) but I hate the thought of faffing around with points again

Any thoughts, advice etc would welcome

@Auchan was very helpful to me (I started on Monday!) and pointed me in the direction of some useful sites:
www.dietdoctor.com
www.2ketodudes.com
www.ketogenicforums.com

Diet doctor has some great articles about the science, inspiring success stories and recipes.
I haven't listened to the 2 Keto Dudes podcast yet but the section on their website about the science is great, really easy to understand, and their stories are pretty jaw dropping.

I'm seeing this as a lifestyle change and I know it's only been a few days so I'm still in the honeymoon stage haha. But I'm really enjoying my food, I'm not hungry (I'm actually not always finishing my plate which is a first) and honestly it feels like a revelation. I'm not doing full keto just low carb high fat - I'm breastfeeding so aiming for at least 50g of carbs a day though generally am under that.

At the start of any change of diet weight loss seems to be quick but I've lost 2.8lbs in 3 days when before I'd been losing and gaining the same couple of pounds for 3 weeks.

I'm tracking everything with myfitnesspal at the moment though I think down the line it'll be easy not to do that because it's all so straightforward. Because myfitnesspal can be added to by anyone I have been manually putting in all my foods because they measure carbs slightly differently in America (American products you subtract fibre from carbs on nutritional info but in Europe you don't need to) so it's a bit more of a faff but I'm building my own database of regular foods so it won't be for long. The Sainsbury's website lists all veg nutritional info.

If you use myfitnesspal the trick I find when saving your own foods is to put serving size as 100g and number of servings as 1. Then input the nutritional info given per 100g. Then when it comes to logging food just out in however many grams you ate. That probably won't make sense unless you use myfitnesspal haha.

Anyway I've written an essay but I'm really enjoying it thus far (I know it's only been days). I'd also like to know when the next bootcamp is as would be nice to do this with others

I think you've found the right place - I signed up for the bootcamp last Feb, lost a stone over the first few weeks, and have been flexible about whether I'm low carbing or not ever since (ie, low carb/high fat default but felt free to ignore it when I wanted or it was impractical, eg Easter, birthdays, holidays!). So, after 6 months I'm 2.5 stone down and still not feeling deprived. And not tracking anything other than checking my weight intermittently.

The people who talk about changing your way of eating have it right. Putting fat into what I eat has helped me enjoy it more and feel satisfied. And the tremendous thing has been that during times I have not been paying much attention to the "diet" - my weight has stayed stable.

The biggest problem, particularly when trying to do strict bootcamp, is needing to plan what you are going to eat at least a bit. If you read through one of the bootcamp threads and follow the recipe links, but also just the chat, you will probably get some ideas that will suit what you like to eat. Good luck!

@GrasswillbeGreener it's good to hear you have been flexible at times. Some of the stuff I've read online has suggested some people could never ever eat sugar again without gaining everything back. That's not sustainable forever but scares me a bit like a bit of cake at my son's birthday will cause me to balloon or pasta when having dinner with inlaws will make me completely off track.

Thanks for your replies - they're really helpful. As you can see I've changed my name to reflect my low carb intentions. I've been on the bootcamp thread for almost 2 weeks. a new one starts October but there are still people the to offer support and advice.

I'm enjoying the low carb WOE and so far have lost about 5-6 lbs which is a the first time in almost two years of trying to lose weight that I've lost

Hi NOMORE - I am joining you and will definitely be signing up for the Oct bootcamp.

I have tried but failed to get back on the wagon a number of times this year but I absolutely need to do it. I was really successful two years ago but weight has been creeping on to the point I am scared to weigh myself. My plan is to get to 11st 7, and last time I weighed I was 12st 7 but I reckon I am closer to, or even over 13st now. I will weigh myself on Wednesday after I have had two days of decent eating under my (tight) belt.

I was recently put on antidepressents called Mirtazapine but I am going to ask to come off them as they make me feel sluggish and my appetite since starting them has been insane, which is not going to help me if I end up having even lower self esteem. On Saturday I actually went to bed early purely to stop myself eating - I was like a woman possessed!

So today really has to be a new start for me - I have quite a few BC Light ingredients so will start that way first and do my two weeks of proper BC in early September.

Plan for today:

B: greek yog, flaxseed, coconut flakes and berries
L: will be something from M&S
D: tuna mayo salad with boiled egg, oily dressing and lots of green things

I am off on a couple of mini holidays across the bank holiday weekend and next week so will stick to BC light for the next two weeks and then start BC proper on 4th September - back to school mentality should be good for that new start!

If anyone else has experience of Low Carbing while on appetite-increasing anti-d's it would be great to hear how you managed it!

Hi lisbapalea thanks for replying. It sounds like you're on the right track. I see what you mean about appetite and anti d's. If you go onto the boot camp thread it's called pre summer boot camp - our last weigh in you'll find a whole group of people keeping the thread ticking over til the next boot camp in October and they've been really friendly and helpful and have got loads of knowledge to share - esp BIWI who runs the BC
I think you're right to set yourself a date to start otherwise time just fritters away and before you know it its xmas.
Come over - you'll love it 😍

Hi can I join you too? Ive tried a low carb diet in the past but keep giving in to temptation at parties where it seems everything is carb based .. sandwiches, cake, pizza etc.

I'm 2.5 stone overweight and also feel sluggish and matronly. I've no nice clothes and hate the way I look. I've also been taking mirtazapine but am weaning myself off them as they didn't seem to be helping but my appetite was ridiculous on them. I'm menopausal, so struggling to lose weight.

I've ordered some exante shakes for breakfast as I struggle with eating eggs first thing in the morning.

I'm always struggling for easy meals.. I can't cook really, and have no imagination so end up with meat and veg every day.

We could post what we've eaten maybe, that would help with ideas for meals maybe.

I found bootcamp a bit too strict and couldn't keep up with the long threads so got a bit disheartened.

I'm another intending to sign up; I've lost a stone over 3 months and would like to lose another stone 🙂. I've been generally following the Bootcamp rules and am the lightest I've been for 5 years (11st. 2lbs)
Interestingly I've lost my appetite for most carbs, which is a real bonus!

Hi Justchillaxing and Mavisflump great that you're doing low carbing Come over to the bootcamp thread "pre summer boot camp - our last weigh in" that's where I am, and I'm finding it really friendly and helpful.

See you there 🤙

Hi NOMORE

I find the bootcamp threads too busy, they take too long to load on my phone and I can't keep up with everything, plus they get sidetracked with other things.

I've been lchf for just over a week so not ages but so far really enjoying it. I've found the last few days my appetite has decreased dramatically which is great. The first 7 days I lost 4.5lbs which I guess is mostly water but makes me lighter than I've been since Jan 2013! I've spent all those years on and off diets (and the 5 years before that).

I especially like it because I can be creative with cooking as I'm using real ingredients rather than bullshit like quark

I don't eat meat though I do eat fish eggs and dairy. There's tons of recipes online Just maybe try one a week til you've built up a repertoire? I also eat a lot of veg but add fat to make it interesting
So...
Mash celeriac (boiled) and cauliflower (steamed) with loads of butter and cheese.

Grate red cabbage add spring onions and season well with loads of mayo for an easy coleslaw.

Roast cauliflower with slices of butter on top. Bloody delicious.

Mix brocolli with cream or creme fraiche top with cheese and stick under the grill/in the oven.

Cook a bag of spinach in a wok with a little butter. Add salt pepper and nutmeg and some creme fraiche.

Makes the veg more interesting x

I bloody love spinach wilted in butter!

I have to stay away from cream because I think I'm maybe intolerant but it definitely stops me losing weight.

Today I had bacon and eggs for breakfast, lamb steak with spinach and leeks cooked in butter and tea will be tuna mayo with salad and a little natural yoghurt as dessert.

plus they get sidetracked with other things.

Yes! We do. It's all about support and helping to motivate each other. And developing friendships.

I'm sorry the threads take so long to load - but are you bookmarking your place? That should be quicker.

It's definitely worth joining us and joining in!