Oct '19 - Week 1 Low Carb Bootcamp - Here we go!

[BIWI]

Morning all! Very sorry for the late start. I set my alarm. Woke up. Wondered why I'd set my alarm and went straight back to sleep

Anyhoo.

Here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

For those of us who are new, the spreadsheet is not only where you record your weight (if you want to - it's not obligatory), it's also where you'll find lots of other useful information. Look at the tabs at the bottom for the rules, a veg counter (that will work out your carb count for you if you're using it for a recipe), and lots of other resources to help you learn more about low carbing.

I'll be back to post more stuff later this morning, but for now just wanted to get the link out there.

If you're using your phone to access the thread, you will need to download the Google docs app.

@venusandmars Ba-doom Tish!!!

Thanks, and thanks also to @SittingontheSidelines. Will be adding leeks in at some point this week, maybe a nice buttery leek and mushroom frittata.

Right, 4.9 litres of water, and 4 green teas today bring me nicely over 5 litres for today. I don't think I can fit anymore in (not envy)

I sort of want to grab BIWI's stick and thwack it around, not to actually aim at anyone in particular but to wave it menacingly and shout VEGETABLES (and water)

I know we're in week one and people are getting to grips with this way of eating, but as a way of life, long term, to keep healthy and strong and to avoid constipation we have to eat veg. Veg is where we get our carbs, veg is where we get our fibre, veg is where we get loads and loads of nutrients.

I know it can be tempting to eat eggs, chicken, steak, butter, cheese.. but please add in avocado, asparagus, spinach, broccoli... 'Salad' is actually pretty light on some fibres and nutrients, it's not enough if the only veg you have is salad.

Remember the whole '5 a day' thing... we are not eating fruits so we have to be eating a lovely variety of veg. Doesn't matter if it's 5, or 4 or 3, but incorporating veg is part of making this work in the short term and the long term.

Do people eat a whole avocado in one go, or just half? I normally have a whole one...

I think I love you @venusandmars!

I'm trying to hard to tread a gentle line between 'stick' and 'carrot' because I know so many people hate the stick approach!

But you are absolutely right.

And I should definitely get The Big Stick out again.

YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WARNED!

@BIWI and the 'carrot' approach has too many carbs

Maybe we should have a column on the spreadsheet outlining if we want a 🥕 or stick. I'm a stick girl!

Lovely, crunchy sticks for me too, please.

I probably deserve at least one for missing too many meals, but my veg balanced out after all. I can get very short of time and inclination, so my go-to for getting the veg in is using the microwave (I know, I know...)

You can do just about anything if it's chopped, put in a bowl with loads of butter, salt and pepper, and microwaved for 4 minutes. My standby is broccoli, mushrooms and garlic. Or leeks and mushrooms. Sprouts and mushrooms. etc.

Haven't weighed yet, but the jeans are definitely much looser around the thighs and bottom of my bottom (iyswim), and I can feel pelvic bones again.

MrsGareth, I eat a whole avocado, absolutely! Was amazed when someone at work offered me the other half of theirs because they only ate half for lunch .

I only eat half an avocado! Unless it's really small. But that's normally breakfast so with eggs, or maybe in a salad at lunch with some cheese. I'm actually avoiding them mostly for now, same as not buying asparagus out of season: it seems madness to fly vegetables across the world from eg Peru. Only a small step, and I confess to not being quite so strict about not buying wine from Chile or Argentina, though I am attempting to buy more European bottles.

I have to say, I'm starting to wonder about some of the carb counts on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness. I know the 2.3g for celeriac is what it says on Tesco's website, but the US Department of Agriculture's data gives it as 9.2g and swede (or rutabaga in American) as 8.6g. fdc.nal.usda.gov/

Maybe they just grow sweeter root veg over there than we do?

I’ve not been hungry today and it’s a revelation. It’s a bloody relief if I’m honest. I’ve been shopping today for a sports bra, that’s really a first for me. I generally like hiking or walking so I’ve not needed one but I’d be keen to do a bit more exercise now. The mirrors in the fitting room weren’t very flattering. It’s hard to look sometimes. I felt a bit down, but I gave myself a shake and tried a positive attitude instead. I know it’s better not to beat ourselves up.

I’m in Australia so my day is in the evening now.

@BIWI and the 'carrot' approach has too many carbs@venusandmars you are a genius

@VeryLittleOwl I'm not an expert but isn't there this thing with American carb counts where they give you the total carbs, then you have to deduct the amount of fibre to get what they call net carbs, whereas in England the carb content is given with fibre already deducted?

Morning all. Just had a quick weigh in and happy to report a tidy loss of 4lbs. I hope this is water weight as opposed to actual weight! The scales have been the same since friday so here's hoping for another good week this week.

Well I lost 1.5lbs! Quite happy with that. I wasn't expecting a big loss as I started low carbing a few days before BC started (as I said) so no big WOOOSH of water weight for me. I'm feeling really well. I haven't felt so fresh and rested in along time (sleeping better than ever!) So there's no going back to carbs for me after this. I have never felt deprived, don't struggle with the water intake as I've always been a big water drinker and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the food!
Appetite has reduced massively and feel no need to snack. I don't even fancy breakfast just now but I'll get some before I go out as I know were only in week 2 now, after this week I think I'll do a brunch then dinner as meals. I doubt I'll need more than that, and as I have more energy I'm going to start exercising again, from today!
I look like I've lost much more than 1.5lbs, stupid me didn't take measuments last week so I'll do that today! I did take a picture though.. oh and my skin looks so much better now and I swear I look younger! (That'll be the sleep mostly)
So 1.5lbs off, if I lose that every week then thats over a stone in total for the 10 weeks and I'll be really chuffed with that.
So a happy BC'er here
I'll lay off the cheese this week too and see if I get a better loss next week.
Just having a black coffee now, will update food diary later.

Thank you for the food compliment @BIWI

And I have read the updates so I will get more veg when I go shopping later and just to stay, if I ever need the big stick give it to me full throttle, sod the carrots (for life..)

@whensmynexthol1day I felt like that last bootcamp. I genuinely couldn't face any more meat/eggs/fat. The thought of it made me feel really unwell and I just skipped meals which in turn made me feel even more rubbish. I remember cooking lots of nice veg, chunks of suede, celeriac, broccoli and cauli, baking in butter, adding homemade chicken stock and a swish of cream and making a sortof vegetable soup. You really do have to eat so much veg to not feel like crap.
It's easy to think yep I can eat meat veg eggs but the veg is probably the most important bit.

Is @BIWI having a Monday lie in?

I've lost 10lbs! But nothing since Saturday (will have been the wine 😳) I'm very pleased with that!

Hello this is my day one, I have had carb creep since the summer and now want to address it now again due to all my lovely clothes getting tight.

Excited to see everyone's losses

@Cauliflowerpower WOW well done you that's amazing!!

Hi everyone, I didn't lose this week but it is week three and I lost over half a stone in the first two weeks AND I am pre-menstrual which always means I cling on to weight even though I've been drinking loads of water.

KOKO+ I'm starting the gym this week so it will feel good to stop putting that off. Im just terrified of being hungry all the time because this is what always happens when I do 3x cardios a week.

Hope you've all had a good week weight wise.

Also, could anyone explain to me what 'whoosh' means on these threads?

Thank you

@absopugginglutely Very much in layman's terms, but as I understand it it's to do with the the glycogen in your cells being replaced with water as the fat is used up, so weight doesn't change even though fat is disappearing. Then all of a sudden you loose that water in one go and whoosh a weight lost. (Everyone feel free to fill in the details, point out my errors).

Yes @Cauliflowerpower!

Now I'm retired (ish) I don't have to set my alarm. Which is lovely. But I have slept later today than I would normally do, so sorry

Off to start the new thread - you can post again about your fabulous loss!!!

But finally here's the week 2 chat thread

Morning Campers! PMT here so a not - unexpected gain (and 2 days of weeping left right and centre!) taking me up to 81.8kg (180lbs). I hit lower this week as I'm a daily weigher, and feel pretty damn good so wanted to be honest - especially for any other gainers - about how much weight can fluctuate hormonally.

Food for today-
B - celery sticks and brie chunks
L - leftover curry combo - creamy tofu and aubergine brinjal bhaji. Yums!
D - either lamb mince, mushrooms, leek, shallot topped with mashed celeriac, or beef mince, mushrooms, leek and a bit of tomato in a bolognaisey sauce. Either way, served with kale and spinach.

@SittingontheSidelines Thanks so much, that makes sense to me!

So I've been reading a lot of good things about bone broth.
I've just been and bought some beef marrow bones, the recipe says to add carrots to the stock (along with onion, garlic and celery) but carrots are a red food. I won't be eating them, but all the sugars will come out into the broth so should I leave them out?