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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.

May '19 Low Carb Bootcamp - week 1

919 replies

BIWI · 13/05/2019 07:27

So here we are!

Lots of us signed up this time, so inevitably the thread will move very quickly. Please, though, take the time to read the whole thread!. Although this is a place where you can post your daily menus, or your thoughts and questions, please don't just do this, but read what other people have posted too.

A bit thank you to the very lovely @AthelstaneTheUnready who has set up the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness. Star

The Spreadsheet

If your name isn't on there, don't panic! Just add yourself to the bottom of the list. Don't worry about trying to alphabetise it - that will be sorted out for you. (And if you're on the spreadsheet but don't want to be, don't worry - if you don't post on it your name will be taken off)

Here's a brief recap of the rules:

  1. Eat three proper meals a day
  2. Avoid processed foods
  3. Eat plenty of fat
  4. Make sure you are eating plenty of vegetables and salad
  5. Be careful about dairy (apart from butter which is unlimited)
  6. You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water a day
  7. No alcohol
  8. No fruit
  9. No nuts/seeds
10.No sugar or artificial sweeteners

The full rules are here . They're supposed to be stickied at the top of the Low Carb Bootcamp topic (along with the recipe threads), but for some reason they're stickied at the top of page 2!

Remember that after the first two weeks we can relax some of this, and move on to Bootcamp Light, which means that you can add some fruit (berries mainly), alcohol (in moderation) and nuts and seeds (again, in moderation), but the point of the strict initial phase is to help push your body into burning fat for fuel rather than carbohydrate.

And remember - if you cheat, you will only be delaying this process from happening!

Good luck to everyone. Any questions or problems, just shout! Smile

OP posts:
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m0therofdragons · 18/05/2019 10:26

@SittingontheSidelines I do think she was joking as she's a lovely friend but it did sting a little. I've never started conversations about my weight loss with anyone as I try not to be a diet bore (surrounded by sw obsessives at work and I will not become them!). Anyway, I did do well avoiding carbs yesterday despite being surrounded and it wasn't even hard. I nearly didn't have the burger but realised I needed to eat!

SittingontheSidelines · 18/05/2019 10:33
Star
RocketPockets · 18/05/2019 10:41

Morning everyone,
We're at my in laws for the weekend and have told them all about low carb woe so should be all good this weekend!
Yesterday I had sausage & egg for breakfast, beef curry & broccoli & cauliflower at lunch & a chicken salad for dinner. I also had some Peperami & cheese & some pork scratchings (hope these are both allowed Blush)
The pork scratchings felt like such a treat!!
I'm not able to weigh myself until Tuesday I think as we're away until Monday eve and I don't want to weigh myself at night. Then on Tuesday we go on a 4 day break so not going to be 100% on plan but going to stick to it as much as I can. I think it will be mainly alcohol that I have rather than eating loads of carbs!

MrsBertBibby · 18/05/2019 10:58

I found sticking to the low net carb alcohol meant I still lost weight low carbing last time round. Fizz, dry white wine, vodka or gin. Just watch the mixers!

Ninkaninus · 18/05/2019 11:08

A good tip for those off-plan circumstances where you might be tempted to do something you don’t really want to do:

Even outside of bootcamp I have switched from restaurant puddings to just having a liquor coffee to round off a meal. I find it’s much more pleasant because you avoid that horrible overstuffed feeling, but you still get a treat while everyone else is tucking into puddings. It’s relaxing and you can sip it slowly to get plenty of enjoyment out of it. My preferred option is an Italian (coffee and amaretto), it’s delicious and has just the right hint of sweetness for me.

NOT saying anybody should be going off-plan on bootcamp (don’t want the stick to make an appearance) but if you’re tempted to fall into a huge pile of pudding, a coffee is certainly the lesser of two evils!

m0therofdragons · 18/05/2019 11:09

Frustratingly I've gone up 1lb despite being good but I've not gone up for a few weeks so realistically I know I'll drop again either tomorrow or Monday if I keep going. I am a bit disappointed as I drank more water than ever yesterday so I had hoped I'd drop down a stone today, but it's not to be. I've had a very lazy morning so time to get moving.

devoncreamtea · 18/05/2019 11:42

Just managed to catch up on thread! Comforting to hear that headaches/cravings/willpower struggles are all in the mix for others too. Willpower is such a tough one - I am finding not drinking/thinking about wine embarrassingly hard!
Blush
Had a v. Hectic week beginning with a massive tree branch smashing my car’s rear window, followed by my daughter going to hospital (she has additional needs) leading to loads of extra meetings/appointments to get things in place at school for her. And DH away till Monday. Phew! I feel quite pleased with myself for avoiding the wine! (So far...!!!)
Have a headache today. Felt extra thirsty yesterday although have been drinking enough water, but perhaps all the running about this week has zapped me a bit.
I have been wondering about fat loss (when it hopefully starts) and wondered if anyone had any experience of where on your body you might first notice? I am hoping to lose some boob Blush as They have not really shrunk since having kids and I think they make me look much bigger than I am. Any hope??!!

Wishing all a great weekend and keep up the brilliant work Smile

MrsBertBibby · 18/05/2019 12:05

I mostly noticed it going off my belly to start, as long-lost jeans and trousers became fastenable, and then muffin free, but it was everywhere, including boobs, as I have a work jacket that wouldn't even meet to start with. By the end it could actually do up and look OK. Tighter than I would choose, but presentable.

The wardrobe-diving is such a joy as things progress.

MrsBertBibby · 18/05/2019 12:06

Sorry your daughter's been poorly. So much stress.

TheWayOfTheWorld · 18/05/2019 12:10

My appetite is definitely dropping, couldn't manage all of my yoghurt and cream for breakfast.

Made a special trip to Aldi to find the halloumi fries, they are gorgeous as a treat Smile

IStillMissBlockbuster · 18/05/2019 12:48

How do you make natural or greek yoghurt more palatable? It's too sour on its own for me. I'd love to have an alternative to eggs in the morning though.

TheWaiting · 18/05/2019 12:50

Morning everyone. Such a great start for most people on the thread. I’m sorry I’m only managing to skim read but the thread is moving so fast I simply can’t keep up. Good start for me too as I’ve lost 6lbs since Monday! I’m stunned! I guess most of it will be water but it’s so motivating. Equally as stunning is that I’m not constantly hungry.

One horrid side effect is that I seem to have raging thrush (I’m prone but this bout is really quite bad) However, I mentioned it to a GP friend last night and she said it’s because the thrush was rampant inside me feeding off the copious sugar and now I’ve cut off it’s supply, it’s staging a dying protest. Shock She advises a caneston tablet today and another next Sat and to stay off the sugar and it will be gone-something that’s plagued me for years will hopefully be gone. So the yucky side effect will become a major bonus. Incidentally, said GP friend is a huge advocate of the LC diet. She follows it herself and regularly suggests it to patients. So it really is a WOE backed up by science and scientists.

TheWaiting · 18/05/2019 12:53

@IStillMissBlockbuster, I find most a little sour but the Fage total 5% is far less so and in fact quite creamy and filling. Strangely I find the 2% and 0% more sour and less yummy creamy.
Also, I think after the first 2wks we can have a little fruit with it.

TheWaiting · 18/05/2019 12:59

@devoncreamtea, I am also hoping to lose off my boobs as pretty tops just make me look huge. I’ve always been reasonably busty as pre kids I was a trim size 10 but with 34D boobs so I’m never going to look skinny but now I just look fat on top even when I lose weight. Here’s hoping we can both flatten out a bit! Grin

sayanything · 18/05/2019 13:00

Hi everyone, just checking in. And confessing: I succumbed to the lure of cashew nuts last night, only a handful, but still... I’m knackered from work, still getting over jet lag (or whatever crossing over 6 time zones twice in three days is called) and failing to eat properly. Missed breakfast again cause I overslept, then lunch was a horrid prawn and vegetable concoction while my DSs dug into their grilled sandwiches. But I’ll go food shopping later and stock up so I’m better equipped for the rest of the week. Well done all for sticking to this in such adverse circumstances (food stalls, restaurants, office leaving dos). You give me hope!

TheWaiting · 18/05/2019 13:00

...sorry, meant to add, I’m sorry your daughter has been poorly. I hope she’s on the mend now. You showed remarkable willpower to stay off the wine under those circumstances. 👍

Almahart · 18/05/2019 13:07

Sorry your dd hasn’t been well devon

I find my tummy always changes first but I am an apple

TheWaiting · 18/05/2019 13:11

Can anyone advise on the best exercise to tone bingo wings? I’ve been doing more regular exercise and getting a bit more definition on the top of my forearms but the underside is very flabby.

MrsBertBibby · 18/05/2019 13:19

If nuts are an Achilles heel, peanuts, almonds, macadamia and pistachios are the lowest carb. Cashews are a disaster area.

prettybird · 18/05/2019 13:21

Try sitting on the edge of a chair with your feet flat on the ground; shuffle your bum forward off the chair and then drop and raise (back to chair height) your bum. You'll soon feel it in your triceps GrinShock

Summery1 · 18/05/2019 13:23

Chatting with a gp friend this morning. She was saying the first few lbs come off the fat stores around the liver, this is our immediate reserve. There are 2-3 lbs of fatty glycogen stored there. This loss benefits the liver but if we quit now and put back on weight, the body would immediately park it there- it's rainy day fund. I certainly feel my abdomen has shrunk - less muffin top. If we continue we will continue to lose abdominal fat. Happy days! I had assumed it was water loss.
I slept rubbish again last night, but bizarrely, I feel full of energy.

I did a shop this morning. Looking at every jar of tomato sauce for the lowest carb one. So not like me!

Happy Saturday all.

Ninkaninus · 18/05/2019 13:24

Yes I’m afraid cashews are pretty much the worst thing you can choose,

It’s really not worth eating nuts at this stage.

I always have pork scratchings to hand for the times that I really need crunch. You can also make cheese crisps (I’m sure there’s a recipe on the recipe thread), or have cheddar or cream cheese and celery.

prettybird · 18/05/2019 13:28

Re my triceps exercise: should also have said hold the front edge of the chair with hand either side of your your bum.

sayanything · 18/05/2019 13:33

Thanks Ninkaninus and MrsBertBirdy, I’ll banish the nut stash to the highest cupboard to avoid temptation.

prettybird · 18/05/2019 13:49

Amongst my "go to" foods for crunch are raw mange touts. It also helps up my veg count Grin