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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.

Week 9 - Low Carb Bootcamp - the last fortnight is here

386 replies

BIWI · 05/03/2018 06:33

Good morning all

I see from the end of last week's thread that some of us have been struggling with various demons.

We only have two weeks left, so time to gird your loins (however you do that!), and plough on.

Hopefully the snow has gone, or is disappearing rapidly, and that there's enough appropriate food in the shops. At least our problem is not being able to find what we want - I saw a very sad piece in the news yesterday about a dairy farmer, who was having to throw all his milk away, because the tanker couldn't get to his farm to collect it. So days' worth of money for him gone Sad

Anyway, here's the lovely new thread, and with the fantastic Spreadsheet of Fabulousness.

Good luck this week. Stick with it and keep the focus.

Flowers
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StuntNun · 06/03/2018 21:02

Almahart the best way I've heard it described is"body fat burns in the flames of dietary fat" as if the fat you eat is the kindling for the burning of body fat. When you're near your ideal weight it isn't that you need to eat more fat in addition to what you were already eating, it's that you increase the proportion of fat in your diet. Also cream coffees and big snacks are going to cause your insulin levels to rise and this way of eating works by maintaining low insulin levels. So reducing the number of times you consume calories per day can speed weight loss even if you don't consume any fewer calories as a result.

Athelstane how about a bulletproof coffee to boost your fat intake without adding more protein?

StuntNun · 06/03/2018 21:09

BlackMozart the Fixing Dad book has low carb recipes for 800 calories a day (it's based on the same research as the Blood Sugar diet).

Apparently fat is only satiating when it's being used up, not when it's being stored. So that's why you're still hungry after a Big Mac but not after a couple of slices of pork belly. Also fat is more satiating at a lower calorie intake. So when you eat LCHF you feel satiated at fewer calories then when you eat a standard UK diet.

5milestoempty · 06/03/2018 21:42

Place marking

Almahart · 06/03/2018 22:07

Okay this is all making sense and yet is completely confusing at the same time

I get the no snacking and I get the changing the proportions of what you eat

But why would a bullet proof coffee ever be a good idea in that scenario? Is it because it is maximum fat for the calories? And so it would tip the balance of daily intake fatwards?

StuntNun · 06/03/2018 22:46

Almahart it's because in Athelstane's specific case I believe she is underrating calories and she is definitely undereating on fat (her macros are about 5% carbs, 45% protein, 50% fat) so simply adding more fat (in the form of BPC) simultaneously increases her calorie and fat intake without further increasing her protein macro.

BlackMozart · 06/03/2018 23:00

Thanks stuntnun

AthelstaneTheUnready · 07/03/2018 06:19

Thanks, @StuntNun - unfortunately I tried the bulletproof coffee yesterday and it had a dire effect on my bowels. I'm not even sure I can claim the fat in it for the day's food, it went through so quickly...

Like I said, I did a bit better with the calories yesterday - up to 1421 - so now am looking for good, substantial fat sources that won't up the protein.

AthelstaneTheUnready · 07/03/2018 06:33

ok, so a quick google (those bodybuilding sites are weird) suggests avocados, pork scratchings, and macadamia nuts - sound good?

Bluntness100 · 07/03/2018 06:46

Morning all.

Interesting discussion. The thing is, it doesn't need to be high fat. If you look at something like the Dukan diet it's low fat low carb. But it's miserable. The thing about fat is it fills you up and is enjoyable.

But it is a proportion of your daily intake. I've put on weight I think four times in my life, I tend to be relatively static, and I've used low carb to manage it for years. The reality for me, and the reason I didn't post my menus, just said I don't follow exactly, is because to lose weight I also need to manage my calorie intake down, but I find it quite easy to do on low carb/high fat as I can manage my appetite. On carbs, I struggle and feel hungry often, then over eat and gain weight. When I over eat on carbs, it's sugar, every time.

But if you think about Athels diet, she's not gained any weight, is consuming quite a lot and is relatively sedentary. That's a result in itself.

So whereas this really isn't a calorie controlled diet, calories do count. At the beginning it's not important as you lose the water weight but then as you move into keto, your appetite wanes, you've more energy as you're burning fat, and you can easily reduce your intake, you don't have those insulin spikes, thus losing weight with little effort. That's how it works for me anyway. You can then easily maintain.

It's not for everyone but for some of us who aren't major carb fans, as said, my downfall is sugar, but I can easily forego bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, crisps etc, then it's prob the easiest weight loss and weight management woe there is.

So for me it's not carte Blanche to stuff myself, it's more an easy way to control my appetite and subsequently lose or maintain weight,,,,

LeapinLizards · 07/03/2018 06:47

Morning all, I have had a mini-whoosh. After keeping an eye on calorie intake yesterday and doing intermittent fasting, i am down 2lbs overnight. Shock

Obviously, it may not stick but I'm pleased nonetheless. I find myself thinking: 'If i keep this up, I'll be at target in 3 days' etc etc which is nonsense but I do it anyway. Grin

Grimbles · 07/03/2018 07:40

I do track calories on my Fitbit as a result of also tracking macros. I am set up at the moment to have a 500 cal defecit and I nearly always hit that target - I don't stress too much about it but it's a handy prompt to think more about what I eat.

Almahart · 07/03/2018 08:45

This is really interesting and probably explains why I haven’t been losing weight

Is there a guide to ideal calorie intake?

And how on earth are you measuring all these things? How do you know how much fat etc you’ve eaten?

Almahart · 07/03/2018 08:56

Oooh forgot to say I lost a pound over night - same one as last week but am still pleased

TimeIhadaNameChange · 07/03/2018 11:27

Grimbles - go and buy some trainers and then start the Couch to 5K plan with Athel. It would be great if you did it together, you'd get support from each other! (Not that I'm getting bossy or anything...). If you want further inspiration, there's this thread and this one with lots more people singing its praises!

For the first time since taking up running I got a stitch this morning Sad. But, in good news, I ran the whole 33 mins at 5mph or above. Up to now the most I'd done at that speed was 10 minutes, and that was broken up by walking intervals, so I'm chuffed. The stitch is now but a memory, and I'm looking forward to Friday's run!

StuntNun · 07/03/2018 12:04

Oh no Athelstane did you use a lot of butter and coconut oil in the bulletproof coffee? I would only start with a teaspoon of each and work up to more slowly. Avocados, pork scratchings and macademia nuts are definitely all good options although they will increase your protein intake as well.

Almahart calculate your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) to work out your ideal calorie intake. For example it calculates my maintenance calories as 1,850 per day. So if I wanted to lose 1.5 stone I put my ideal weight into the calculator and gives me 1,700 calories per day. So if I aimed for 1,700 calories a day I would theoretically achieve my goal weight.

If you want to calculate your body fat percentage then the US Navy method is a good one. MyFitnessPal can calculate your carb/protein/fat intake if you enter all your food for the day into it.

ilovecherries · 07/03/2018 12:10

I didn't keep much from my slim days, given they were 30 odd years ago. But I did keep one pair of very well worn, washed to death Levi's. Without elastane. And today they fitted. They've been in one of those airless bags for all this time, so I was half expecting that the fabric would have rotted away. But a light wash to shake the folds out and they are fine. I feel like I've met an old lover who I still fancy a bit Grin. Quite breathless with excitement.

Almahart · 07/03/2018 13:10

Thanks stuntnun this is all really interesting

So firstly, I have between 5 and 8 ibs to lose to reach target weight (I think I was kidding myself that I was already there)

Secondly just to maintain my current weight I only need 1621 calories per day. That’s not much!

Finally calories per day at my target weight would be 1558

What calorie deficit do I need to lose weight?! 1621-1558 is nothing really is it?

Rshard · 07/03/2018 13:44

Great NSV ilovecherries

Bluntness100 · 07/03/2018 13:48

Alma, the more you go under it, the faster you lose it. It's really your call on how fast that is. Personally I'd go for about 500. But I prefer to lose weight fast and get there rather than prolong it. I wouldn't go less than a couple of hundred though.

Bluntness100 · 07/03/2018 13:49

Cherries, congrats on the jeans,,,it's a good feeling.,,where them with pride!

ShagMeRiggins · 07/03/2018 14:26

Alcohol crisis over. Normal service has resumed. Thanks to all for support. Mwah!

I’m shit at being here often enough to provide timely support but I think there’s a Happy Birthday, sorry to hear about marriage breakdown, fascinating discussion and much appreciation re calorie/starving and macros information, plus—as always—well done to everyone and KOKO even if you’re not losing.

Hoping everyone can take away the great advice and that it works. There’s always help here. Amazing.

ilovecherries your NSV reminded me of my Goal Clothes. They’re hanging in the laundry room (not sure why, I guess at least they’re out of the way and I do get to see them every day, lucky me Hmm).

The first one is a pair of jeans I bleached ages ago and which looked fabulous on me. I don’t care if this look isn’t “in” and I don’t care what anyone thinks—when I fit into these again I’m gonna put on the jeans, my cowboy boots, and a casual, fitted, scoop-neck top in one of my double star colours and I’m gonna rock it.

There is also a pair of shorts that were amazing on me (decent legs, though not long). Summer tan and I’m there.

Finally the sort of periwinkle dress. Bought it because the colour was right. Inexpensive. No idea how it will look but I plan to wear it with great confidence before the year is out. Possibly with navy thigh-high boots, or a strappy heel of some sort. And very long, intricate, awesome scarf.

I have goals.

Week 9 - Low Carb Bootcamp - the last fortnight is here
Week 9 - Low Carb Bootcamp - the last fortnight is here
EeeSheWasThin · 07/03/2018 15:13

Cherries lol at the old lover...I did bump into one years ago and blushed like a teenager 🙄 Didn’t help that I was unhappily married at the time!

Shag great goals! I rashly bought a pair of skinny jeans a while ago...waiting for the day I can wear them for longer than five minutes without fainting.

I need crisp things to eat. Things that crunch or snap. And you can spread butter on. I’ve just eaten three Tuc biscuits, which isn’t a disaster in itself as it’s about 8g of carbs but what I’d actually like to do is inhale the whole packet.

I don’t need talking down from the remaining Tuc biscuits (back in the cupboard) but any bright ideas about a substitute? I miss crisps. And savoury biscuits. I haven’t eaten sweet things for years, so that’s not an issue, but crackers 😩 Almond bread is just cake without sugar. Just realised the packet of kale I bought to try kale crisps is rotting in the outside fridge...

Rshard · 07/03/2018 15:32

Parmesan crisps are nice eee. I just grate a load of Parmesan and put in piles on a baking tray, using a pastry cutter for neat piles. And cook for 8 minutes I think.

Almahart · 07/03/2018 15:36

M&S do chorizo crisps

EeeSheWasThin · 07/03/2018 15:37

Thanks Rshard I’ll try those.

Got some slightly ageing kale in now, didn’t look done when I last looked so by the time I’ve posted this it’ll probably be charcoal.