General Bootcamp Chat

[BIWI]

Morning all

Here's a brand new thread, for general Bootcamp chat - it could be about low carbing, or about anything else you want to chat about.

It's Christmas Eve, and I'm wearing my Christmas pyjamas, and about to head into the kitchen for the last bits of prep I'm planning on doing. We're waiting for my BIL to arrive, and then rather than cook we're going out for lunch. Tonight will be buffet/party food, as both my DC are at work and won't be here till late.

I have a few more gifts to wrap - I discovered a bag of things I'd bought very early and had hidden, which I'd then forgotten all about! But apart from that, it's pretty much all done.

Tomorrow's menu is a simple one - we don't have turkey, but we're having roast fillet of beef. I've already made some red wine gravy, and just need to do the veg - which will be asparagus, peas and onions and (a definite non-Bootcamp treat!) potatoes dauphinoise.

So that's it from me. I hope all of you have a happy and relaxing Christmas and that [santa] brings you everything you want

It’s crap, isn’t it. I’m exhausted. Good luck with your course though, sounds exciting.

How did your first day go Rshard?

So my cold has gone and I'm feeling brighter all round. Tiny glass of wine Wednesday and nothing last night.

I've been bouncing around with the same lb for a week now which is getting up my nose. 10.5 one day. 10.4 the next. Back to 10.5 the day after

Also, I'm hungry for breakfast. What's that all about? Except for the early days in my first BC I could happily skip breakfast and first eat at midday onwards. Including going for a run fasted. But recently I'm really hungry first thing.

Well you know the mantra - if you're hungry, eat!

Are you eating enough protein and fat generally? And drinking enough water?

All has been going well for me so far - DH and I started Dry January this week (conveniently ignoring the first 6 days of the month ), and it really makes a difference having him doing it as well. I've gone back to first principles myself, and I'm keeping a food diary to keep myself accountable. I know, from my early days of low carbing, that it's really helpful to do this, because it helps you pinpoint where you might be going awry - if the scales/tape measure are telling you the 'wrong' thing, you can go back to what you've been eating and drinking, and it does help to see what might be causing that.

I haven't got on the scales yet though - I'm saving that joy for Monday morning!

Still on it here. 3lb down since Monday. Result! 👍 However, the poo department appears to be on strike. No movement since Saturday 🤪. I'm eating plenty of fat, drinking more than enough water, but nothing's moving. Any ideas?

Are you getting enough fibre? Are you making sure that you're getting your carbs mainly from vegetables and salad?

Also, you may find you just need to go less than 'normal' - as long as when you do go you're not finding it difficult or painful.

Otherwise, a strong coffee or high strength vitamin C can help. As can more exercise.

Thanks BIWI. I have been having breakfast recently. I wonder if my body is feeling the shift back to normal post Xmas more than I expected. Some days I manage the right amount of water. Some days I don't.

Yesterday I had
3 streaky bacon slices and a slice of cheddar
Out for lunch and had scallops and samphire, followed by burger, no bun and salad with mayo
Popped into Ikea as I was close by for a change so had meatballs with mustard

So far today I've had bacon and mozzarella balls with a tea spoon of pesto then finished off the kids Greek yoghurt with a few berries. That'll see me through until this evening which is likely to be a pork chop and some kind of buttered cabbage.

@BIWI Yes. Lots of veg and salad. Not so much exercise though. Off out for a walk along the beach. Just hope I don't get the urge while I'm there.

I survived the walk. But no joy yet.

Have you tried flaxseeds ? Have with lots of water and work gradually up to a tablespoon ...

Oh. I bought psillium husk on another bootcamp. Will try that again. Thanks.

Hi BIWI can I ask some advice.

I have low carbed on and off in the past and i have always felt well doing it.

I’d like to do bootcamp but I’m also training for a marathon. I’m running 30miles a week. Reading up some people highly recommend low carb for distance running, others say you have to have the carbs?

I’m doing dry Jan and probably won’t drink until after marathon so that’s not a problem.

That's a tricky one @efc1878!

Have you been low carbing since you started your training? And when is the marathon?

According to Drs Phinny and Volek, who wrote 'The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance' you should be perfectly capable of running a marathon when you're fat adapted (i.e. not using carbs for fuel), and they argue that your performance could even be better. Certainly you won't 'hit the wall' if you're fat-adapted - that's a description of what happens when you've burnt through all your glycogen stores. When you're fat-adapted your body will be using fat and not reliant on the glycogen. And even endurance athletes have enough body fat to sustain them.

So I'd say it all depends on where you are now in your eating and training. If you can, get hold of a copy of the book as it will explain it far better than I can!

BIWI thank you for the book recommendation- I will get hold of a copy. I have done half marathons low carb before so I have experience- it’s just taking the leap! Marathon is 3months off so abit of time to experiment during training!

I popped on yesterday to wonder about exercise too. My 5k times have been pants since New Year. It made me wonder how long it takes to be no longer fat adapted? I had 9 days of high carb eating over Xmas. Is that enough for me to have to start over on day 10? Was I back at day 1? Although definitely no sodding whoosh for me. I've had to work for every partial lb over the last 12 days

Bought the book anyway. It comes tomorrow

I've avoided all the effort around low carb breads and cakes etc. Essentially taking time out to recreate all of the things that we're avoiding. BIWI do you have an opinion on such things?! I have just ordered some husk stuff to make flat breads and they looked half decent. But now in my new world new frame of mind they equal cheating even if the maths add up

BC tomorrow is going to be v busy. I'm gong to join but wanted to add these slightly more odd conversations here so that new folks don't get derailed

@BrassicaBabe

I've posted this on the preparation thread, I think - my view is that it's not a great idea to try and find substitutes for high carb things. All you're doing is focusing on the fact that you're not eating the thing that you want to!

For the same reason, I'm not buying/drinking low/no alcohol alternatives to booze. If I'm sitting with a lovely glass of sparkling tonic, ice, lime and something like Seedlip, it's just staring me in the face all the time that there isn't real gin in there.

Ah @BIWI you are good. I'm going for the "I give it up tomorrow, binge tonight" glass or two of wine!

I think I'm of the same mindset when it comes to carb replacements. Life is generally too short for mug cake which felt like a brick in my tummy. I'm heading into 18 months as a LCHF life. Going to give the husk thing flatbread a go. I'm happy enough to miss white bread etc. But I really miss the occasional naan. You never know...

I did that last Sunday @BrassicaBabe {grin]

First week of no alcohol is completed. It's been easier than I expected, but mostly because DH is doing it as well. It's been harder today because it's the weekend, and we always go out for dinner on Sunday, and I would very much have liked a drink with my food. But I didn't.

So another two weeks to do ...