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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.

New Year, New Start Boot Camp: Week 1, Now we get down to it in earnest

999 replies

prettybird · 08/01/2018 08:37

Stepping in to BIWI's big shoes and with a loan of her Big Stick, I take a big gulp and lead the first Boot Camp of 2018. ShockGrin

Here is a link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness If your name is not on it, because either it got lost in one of the many copy and pastes, or because you "signed up" after 0732 on Friday, which was when SayrraT produced the spreadsheet, you can add your name add the bottom and at some point it will be re-ordered alphabetically. NB: there is no obligation to add or your name or to weigh-in weekly - this is for those that find the weekly weigh-ins useful for motivation or accountability Wink

These are the Rules for Boot Camp. They are also on one of the tabs of the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness (SoF).

You need to follow The Rules for the first two weeks of Boot Camp. This gives your body a chance to "fat adapt" and for you to learn to eat because you are hungry, not because you crave carbs/sugar. As you get used to this Way of Eating (WoE), you will be amazed to find how often you are not hungry. You will find your fat stores give you sufficient energy.

For newbies, it is important to eat 3 meals a day - even if it is just a nominal breakfast/bulletprooof coffee (coffee blended with butter). Otherwise, you may find that hunger - or habit - will lead you to fall face first back into carby twatdom and then you need to start that process of fat-adaption all over again. Some of us who have now been low carbing for a while have found that we can follow 16:8 fasting or even the occasional 24 hour fast - but this is not something to be done in the early weeks. Don't try to restrict your fat because you think you are having too many calories, as they are important for the process of encouraging your body to change the way it uses its fuel.

So, here are the Rules. After 2 weeks I (or whoever takes over the next stint of the BIWI Replacement Programme ) the rules will be posted for Boot Camp Lite. Many of us who are still actively trying to lose weight tend to follow "full" Boot Camp during the week (maybe with extra berries and nuts) and then allow a small amount of alcohol at the weekend).

1. Eat three proper meals a day.
"You must eat breakfast. It doesn’t have to be a lot, and it doesn’t have to be absolutely first thing, but you must have something. For the rest of the day, if you’re eating enough food and you are in ketosis then you shouldn’t be hungry between meals. But if you are hungry, eat something. (Hard boiled eggs make a great snack).
After the first two weeks of Bootcamp we will relax this, but these two weeks are critical in terms of helping you switch easily to a low carb way of eating - and if you start to feel hungry, it makes things much harder! Eating this way will ensure that your blood sugar levels are kept stable, which will mean that you are much less likely to experience hunger.
A typical high carbohydrate diet can mean that snacking is a routine part of your day. Once your blood sugar levels are stable, by eating low carb, you should find that you no longer want to snack. But the rule of thumb here is ‘if you are hungry, eat!’. (Just make sure you are only choosing low carb snacks, of course!)"

2. Avoid processed foods.
Focus on pure, natural protein as the basis for your meals - meat/fish/eggs. Things like sausages, ham, bacon, pre-prepared burgers etc should be avoided as much as possible. You can have them, but just not every day. Avoid foods marketed as low carb, eg. Atkins Daybreak bars.

3. Eat lots of fat.
Eating fat will not make you fat. Honestly! But it will keep your appetite satisfied, and it sustains your body’s energy requirements perfectly. Fat does not provoke an insulin spike, unlike carbs which do (a lot) and protein (a little). Fry in butter, add butter to vegetables, eat salad with a home-made vinaigrette dressing (not made with balsamic vinegar though, as this is too sweet), add mayonnaise where you can (just check the carb count on your mayo first). Eat fattier cuts of meat – e.g. pork belly, roast chicken with the skin on and/or eat the fat off your lamb chops. Absolutely no low fat/light foods of any kind!

4. Make sure you are eating vegetables and salads with your food.
This is where your carbs should come from, and this is non-negotiable. But choose only those vegetables that are on the allowed list. Make sure that you focus on eating those vegetables that are 3g carb per 100g or less, and this will ensure that your carb counts are kept low. You don’t have to weigh/count carbs – this is one of the great joys of this WOE (way of eating), but if you’re new to low carbing it can be helpful to weigh your portions of veg in the early days, just so that you know how many carbs are in the sort of portions that you like to eat.

5. Be careful about dairy (apart from butter, which is unlimited).
Dairy can impede weight loss for some people. If you are still drinking tea/coffee with milk or cream, try to restrict yourself to max 2 cups per day. There are a lot of carbs in milk, so if you are having several cups of tea/coffee per day, you will quickly rack up your daily carb count (e.g. 1 medium latte contains more than 12g carbs!) You may eat cheese but again, don't overdo it. Full fat yoghurt is the best way to include dairy in your diet - but beware, it does contain carbs. Total Full Fat is the best

6. You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day.
"The more weight you have to lose, the more water you should drink. This is from www.low-carbdiet.co.uk/. Water is essential to weight loss for those who eat low-carb. The minimum consumed in a day should be:
Your Weight----Litres
140lbs-----2.5
160lbs-----3.0
180lbs-----3.0
200lbs-----3.5
220lbs-----3.5
240lbs-----4.0
260lbs-----4.5
280lbs-----4.5
300lbs-----5.0
320lbs-----5.5
340lbs-----5.5
360lbs-----6.0
380lbs-----6.5
400lbs-----6.5
High levels of ketones in the blood stream can lead to a reduction in ketone production, therefore being well hydrated could aid in keeping the levels low and ketone production ongoing. Consuming enough water can have many other positive side effects: aids your kidneys with the processing of protein, reduces the retention of water, helps with preventing constipation, and reduces the levels of ketones released by your breath, which in-turn will reduce breath odour. However, drinking a lot of water can mean that you also need to keep an eye on your electrolyte balance. You need to make sure that you are consuming sufficient sodium and potassium. On a low carb diet we can eat more salt, so make sure that you are cooking with salt and adding salt to food, if you like it. Good, low carb, sources of potassium are spinach (raw), avocado, mushrooms, courgettes and asparagus, as well as salmon and yoghurt."

7. No alcohol.
Alcohol is the easiest source of fuel for the body to burn, so it will always use this first before it starts to burn any fat - which is why you need to restrict it, especially in the first two weeks of Bootcamp, when we are encouraging the body to stop using carbs for its source of fuel and turn to fat-burning instead. If you really can't do this - at least try and restrict it to the weekend. Vodka with soda is the best thing to drink. Or Champagne, red wine or dry white wine.

8. No fruit.
Really. Seriously. Honestly. None at all. Zilch. Nada. After Bootcamp you will be able to introduce certain fruits, but at this stage fruit is simply too carby. We are also trying to break the addiction to sweet things, so cutting fruit out is part of this process. If you are getting all your carbs from vegetables and salad, you will be getting all the nutrients and fibre that you need.

9. No nuts/seeds (unless you are veggie: check the SoF for veggie rules)

10. No sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Sugar is an obvious ‘no no’, but artificial sweeteners are also an issue. One of the aims of this way of eating is to eat pure and natural foods, so including sweeteners is not recommended. Some people find that artificial sweeteners can impede their weight loss, and there is some suggestion that your body can respond to sweeteners as if they were sugar, by releasing more insulin - and therefore laying down fat. Given that the aim of Bootcamp is to help us lose our sweet tooth and addiction to sweet things, then it is a good idea to avoid sweeteners altogether in this first two weeks.

OP posts:
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StuntNun · 08/01/2018 10:21

I would like to post a caution about cheating on this way of eating. It can be hard work to make a big change to your eating habits and some of you may well eat something that isn't allowed on Bootcamp. This is a bad idea because it delays the process of fat-adaption so it will take longer for you to start effectively losing weight and it will prolong the duration of carb flu (if you're unlucky enough to get it - not everyone does). It does happen though; if it does then the best thing to do is drink lots of water and get straight back to eating low carb.

Another problem with cheating is that everyone has a different carb tolerance and some people can get away with eating something carby/sugary and still lose weight whereas other people will stall their weight loss for a week or more eating the same food.

The biggest problem with cheating is that it can be triggering for others on these threads to read about people cheating and it makes it much harder for them to stay on track.

So if you do cheat, whether deliberately or by accident, then it's fine to come on here and say you've eaten something you shouldn't and you need support to get back on track. But please don't give details of the food in question and especially don't post that you ate x but still lost weight. While this can happen it doesn't work like that for everyone so it can be demotivating for other Bootcampers.

Scabbersley · 08/01/2018 10:23

I ate a croissant on last bootcamp #croissantgate

I still lost weight for a couple of days and then stalled massively

don't do it kids

step away from the carbs

blackteaplease · 08/01/2018 10:26

Morning all, placemarking for later.

Scabbersley · 08/01/2018 10:36

B: lots of coffee with almond milk. A bag of pork scratchings!
L: sprouts and whatever green veg is in the fridge drawer and needs using up, microwaved with butter and some cheese and low sodium salt and black pepper. With a dollop of DeLouis mayonnaise.
D: stir fry veg with pork belly

Haven't drunk a sip of water yet Blush MUST DO BETTER

littlebillie · 08/01/2018 10:41

Thank you pretty bird I have 10lbs to go I put on a bit over Christmas just started with bacon and eggs today

TheWayOfTheWorld · 08/01/2018 10:44

Flying visit to say hello and good morning, will be back later. Have added myself to the SOF - weighed myself for the first time in a couple of months and was not quite as bad as I feared. Also took my measurements, which I shall do monthly.

Starting at 154lbs and today's menu (so far):

B: creamy coffee, 2 sausages, teaspoon of mustard
L: egg mayo with mixed leaves, tom and cucumber

ilovecherries · 08/01/2018 10:47

Absolutely seconding what StuntNun says. I really didn't feel that well initially on low carb, and managed to have every side effect going, plus some new ones I created just for me. I was about a month in before I really started to feel better. I think my degree of reaction was unusually severe, and probably a reflection of quite poor metabolic health caused by years of obesity. It's only now I feel well that I realise how chronically unwell I felt for many years. I count myself beyond fortunate that I managed to dodge the T2 diabetes bullet that I suspect was hurtling towards me.

Anyway, when I was going through the rather torturous, for me, process of adaptation, I found it really upsetting over a holiday weekend where there was mass reporting to falling off the wagon, followed by weight loss. I was at a point where I was clinging on by my fingernails, and NEEDED to believe this would work for me. Part of that for me was following the rules to the letter, and I found it massively triggering to read about all the lovely (as I thought then!) foods others were eating, and yet having better results than me.

I'm much more psychologically robust now, and can cope fine with whatever other people choose to eat, but I'm mindful that there may be someone reading who is where I was 7 months ago. So it's great if the focus is on all the amazing food we CAN eat, and quickly asking for help and support to get back on track if there is a slip. Sometimes these slips have an emotional trigger, sometimes they are down to lack of planning, sometimes they are an accident because we eat something we expect to be low carb, and then it isn't. Whatever the cause, come and get support and a loving kick up the bum :)

Twoo · 08/01/2018 10:51

TheWayOfTheWorld we are weight twins of twin weights [grins]

TimeIhadaNameChange · 08/01/2018 10:53

Morning!

I'm weighing in at 9st 0.3, which is 5 lbs higher than my lowest pre-Christmas weight, but since that low was very much the result of illness I'm not as disappointed as I might be that that increase occurred.

In other news, I finally got back to the Couch to 5K plan that I started at the end of last year. As I hadn't done it for a few weeks (illness, then the holidays) I was going to start again at the beginning of the week I'd got to, as otherwise I was going to be going straight into a 20 min run. However, since someone on another thread said they'd done that run yesterday I thought 'sod it!' and went right into it. Am very pleased with myself!

Mandelinka · 08/01/2018 10:56

Lidl shopping done, also managed to get 2 new cookbooks from my local charity shop - Lean in 15 and Abel and Cole (books were £2 each, I borrowed both books from my local library a while ago and enjoyed reading them for inspiration )

My scales are at 147.7 lbs this morning. Managed to gain 7 lbs in the last 6 weeks. Hopefully lot of it is water retention...Confused

Off to put groceries away and get myself some late breakfast
Later!

Twoo · 08/01/2018 10:57

ilovecherries you Post has resonated quite a lot for me. I know what you mean about reading about others cheating and how it can help you slide into being naughty too.

I fully intend to follow this woe to the letter. So far, so good. I am mindful it is only 11:00 o’clock though Grin

prettybird · 08/01/2018 11:03

Wise words from Stuntnun

I'd meant to mention carb flu in my OP but forgot. Not everyone gets it - I was fortunate enough to be one of those that didn't suffer from it.

And yes, too many details of carby twatdom can be triggering and/or de-motivating for other Boot Campers. Share only if you need to and if you're struggling or stalling, post up what you've been having and we will attempt to advise.

After the first two strict weeks, if you do go "off-piste", try to do mindfully. Enjoy what you're having as a once off and then get straight back on to the wagon - and drink plenty of water.

OP posts:
mummymacphee · 08/01/2018 11:13

Morning all!

Added my starting weight to the spreadsheet - 14 stone 1.4 lbs!! How the hell did that happen? This is the heaviest I have EVER been and I need to do something about it now so going to give this Bootcamp all I've got and hope to see a good start to a long term change in my eating habits.

I'm trying to think positively about all the things I will gain - healthier body, more energy, etc rather than the things I am losing as I don't react well to deprivation!

Good luck everyone!

TimeIhadaNameChange · 08/01/2018 11:14

I meant to ask, are FatHead pizzas allowed on BC or just BC lite? I meant to make one last week and realised I had no mozzarella in so bought some yesterday, but am now worried I'll have to wait. Any ideas?

AthelstaneTheUnready · 08/01/2018 11:15

Oh dear, Stunt and ilove, was that for me? Blush But we hadn't started yesterday so tec'nicly I haven't gone off-piste...?

Today so far has been some full fat yoghurt and an egg, and not enough water if I'm to get through 2.5L.

What's more, having been mostly on it last week, I've just noticed my patch of flaky skin on the hair line has disappeared - I REMEMBER that happening last time! All my skin smoothed out and looked soft and healthy.

Scabbersley · 08/01/2018 11:16

i think fathead pizzas are BC aren't they?

god they are good

NotAPuffin · 08/01/2018 11:27

Weighed in at 18 stone 1 this morning. I LCHFed for september and most of october last year, and lost just under two stone, then threw myself off the wagon with gay abandon at halloween and never really recovered. I put a stone back on. I'm feeling very motivated and positive and delighted to be back on the wagon!

So far today I've had a small lump of cheese for brekkie and a litre of water (I've to drink 4.25!) and I'm feeling great.

I'm also starting yoga at home which I think is contributing to the feeling good. It's going to complement bootcamp nicely.

I'm afraid I'm a cheater, in that I'm calorie counting as well; my portion control is well out of whack after a lifetime of overeating, so I need defined limits till I settle into it.

Scabbersley · 08/01/2018 11:31

I have to calorie count a certain amount notapuffin

otherwise I can easily eat three bags of pork scrachings and a whole pack of marmite cheese a day

Gammeldragz · 08/01/2018 11:38

Morning all, let's get Bootcamping!

Prettybird like you I am back over the 12 stone mark at 170lbs, I was 169.4 yesterday, but then I decided to preclude bootcamp by having marmalade on toast as I'd been craving it for days - it made me feel sick so that will serve me right! My lowest weight last year was 163lbs, so my Bootcamp goal is to get below that.

Brunch - 11am, I am an old hand at this so it's allowed but I had two courses just to show willing.
Bacon fried with cabbage, mayo. Greek yog and cream with cinnamon.

Good luck everyone.

StuntNun · 08/01/2018 11:39

Nope Athelstane not aimed at anyone in particular. It's just something that is likely to happen at the start of Bootcamp and I thought I would mention it now to give people an idea of the expected etiquette. Some people are "moderators" and some are "abstainers". Cherries is an "abstainer" and finds that staying 100% strict works is the best way to stay on track. I am a "moderator" and find that the occasional planned cheat helps me to stay on track.

Having said that, I'm a long-term low carber (5 years in June thanks to BIWI's bootcamp back in 2013) so a cheat for me is more likely to be a roast potato with my Sunday lunch or a cafe latte in a coffee shop than anything particularly carby. It's amazing how much your attitudes to food change over time. I could happily live the rest of my life and never eat grains again now that I know how much healthier I feel when I eat low carb.

abbey44 · 08/01/2018 11:39

Morning. I've been LC since the end of August (started at 15st 4 and weighed in this morning at 12st 9) so I know it works and it suits me too. I feel so much better for it, but I'm looking forward to having the moral support of Boot Camp for this next few weeks, especially for those times when the weight seems to plateau.

Today (and probably for most days) breakfast has been a two-egg omelette, with some cheese. I haven't been having lunch (don't get hungry, blood sugar is level all day) but I do eat dinner early - between 5 and 6pm usually - and tonight's will be salmon and stir-fry sprouts with lemon. (Can I just check here - do we have to weigh the veg for a portion, or is it as much as you want?)

Starting this at 177, I'd really like to see 160 by the end of BC. Fingers crossed and good luck everyone!

RaindropsAndSparkles · 08/01/2018 12:00

Just place marking. Will have to catch-up later.

princessbear80 · 08/01/2018 12:02

Checking in for my second boot camp. Lost 17lbs on the last one. This woe really feels good and suits me. However, I enjoyed A LOT of carbs and put on 6lbs between Christmas and New Year. Started LCHF again on Jan 2nd, and have lost my 6lb plus one other. I’m now only 5lb away from what I thought would be my goal weight (10 st) but I think I probably want to lose a bit more than that. So my goal for this boot camp is to get into the 9s then see how I feel.

Good luck everyone! Smile

Scabbersley · 08/01/2018 12:04

I didn't particuarly enjoy any of the carby stuff I ate over Xmas. I did get into the habit of sitting down in the late afternoon and reading a book with a milky coffee and a mince pie. That was nice. And also the wine, all the wines.

But I do dry January so the booze free two weeks will fit in nicely.

ilovecherries · 08/01/2018 12:04

unready, absolutely not :). It wasn't about anyone, it was more just 'this is what sometimes can happen' and it's good to be aware of it. I had actually written my post early this morning, forgot to post and when I saw what Stuntnun had written, it reminded me to edit it and post. No one will get jumped on for posting anything, and people should feel free to post their successes AND their struggles. It's more a pre-emptive message to try and avoid the sort of 'oh, I've been so naughty' kind of mentality that seems rife in so many slimming clubs (well, all the ones I went to, anyway!)

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