Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Low-carb bootcamp

Join discussions about low-carb bootcamp plans, meals and progress. Consider speaking to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Week 3 - October Low Carb Bootcamp - the fork in the road

344 replies

BIWitch · 27/10/2019 21:43

Welcome!

Here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for you to confess all.

So we enter the infamous week 3. Along with week 4, these are the two weeks where you are very likely to see weight loss slow or stop altogether.

Don't panic!

This is entirely normal.

But, from now on, you can also decide if you want to continue with the strict approach of Bootcamp, or if you want to take a slightly more relaxed approach - Bootcamp Light. This means that you can incorporate some nuts/seeds, and some fruits - mainly berries. Alcohol can be introduced - moderately, and only those which are low carb.

Some people choose to stay on Bootcamp, others choose to do a hybrid, so Bootcamp during the week, and Bootcamp Light at the weekend.

The choice is yours - just keep a close eye on the scales/your measurements - or however you're choosing to monitor your progress.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Nonononon · 02/11/2019 17:36

Food today.
L: cream coffee, half a red pepper, one shallot, half a courgette all fried in butter, two eggs cracked on top then baked in the oven with a some parmesan.
D: cod lion baked in foil with butter, leeks in a garlic cream sauce with roast asparagus.

(Sorry my list sounds wanky but thats what I had and didn't know how else to put it Blush)

LittleSwede · 02/11/2019 17:54

Food today:

B- bacon, blue cheese and tomato omelette. With creamy coffee
L - pumpkin and bacon soup, some cheese and olives.
D - low carb pizza (egg and cheese base) with blue cheese.

And lots of water. Might have a vodka with slim line tonic after the fireworks later...

TamingToddler · 02/11/2019 18:09

Feeling very unmotivated about dinner tonight. DP is out and I've just put my sicky toddler to bed and just want to crash but need to eat something. I just don't want to cook anything Grin

ClearEyesFullHearts · 02/11/2019 18:55

TamingToddler, some kind of cheese & ham roll up? A bouillon? Any leftovers that can be thwacked on a plate and nuked?

I know all of the above aren’t a proper meal, but if your body is telling you to sleep, listen to it.

Oh, and WATER!

TamingToddler · 02/11/2019 19:27

@ClearEyesFullHearts ended up having cauli cheese and sausages. Not enough veg or fat really but it was quick and easy. I'm now in bed with a bottle of water.

Doilooklikeatourist · 02/11/2019 21:28

Managed to stay off the wine again tonight ,
Which is unusual 😀

venusandmars · 02/11/2019 22:05

@ketomeato I physically shake when I eat too much sugar, a bit like having an overdose of caffeine.
For me, a low carb diet (including the avoidance of alcohol) stabilises my mood and reduces my anxiety.

Brunch - creamy scrambled eggs, smoked salmon
D - mushroom soup with extra mushrooms; creamy tarragon chicken, shallots, broccoli, green beans, sprouts, crispy chicken skin; strawberries and cream

The mushrooms, FLGV, strawberries seem like an explosive mix. We are all sitting here with gurgling tummies.... Oh dear

KondoKonvert · 03/11/2019 08:33

Had some good food yesterday!

BF: Greek yoghurt with raspberries

Lunch: tapas lunch of chorizo in red wine; asparagus with manchego, garlic butter prawns and chicken marinated in yoghurt. Cava!

Dinner: keema curry with mushrooms and cauliflower rice

BIWI · 03/11/2019 08:50

@Nonononon what's wanky about that?! Although I must confess I've never come across a cod lion. Presumably it's low carb? Wink

BIWI · 03/11/2019 08:54

We had a real comfort-food dinner last night - pulled pork with carrot and swede mash, with Savoy cabbage that I'd briefly fried in butter, then braised with a bit of white wine.

The pulled pork is from a recipe in the Fast 800 recipe book, and it's really lovely, as well as being low in carbs. Here's the recipe (not breaching copywriter, as it's already been published in the Daily Mail

PERFECT PULLED PORK: 192 CALORIES

This reheats beautifully, so can be enjoyed the next day. Serve in wraps made from Little Gem leaves topped with diced cornichons.

Serves 6 Per serving: 192 cals l Protein 28g l Fat 5g l Fibre 0.5g l Carbs 3g

1kg pork shoulder joint, rind on

For the marinade:

45g tomato purée (around 3tbsp)
30g chipotle paste (around 2tbsp)
Juice of 3 large oranges
Juice of 2 limes
1tsp flaked sea salt
1tsp ground cumin
1tsp ground allspice
1tsp coarsely ground black pepper

Place all the marinade ingredients in a large non-metallic bowl and whisk until combined.

Remove any string from the pork and put the joint in the marinade. Turn several times to coat.

Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 170°C/fan 150°C/gas 3. Put the pork and its marinade in a casserole, cover and bake for about 3 hours, or until the pork falls apart when prodded with a fork.

Check after a couple of hours, adding water if needed to keep the pork moist.

Transfer to a warmed platter and shred with two forks, discarding the rind and fat. Spoon the cooking juices over.

BIWI · 03/11/2019 08:55

Interestingly, the recipe I've c+p says the juice of 3 oranges, but in the book is says 2, which is what I used.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 03/11/2019 09:15

Morning. Much on my mind about this WOE this morning, so I shall splurge it here if you don't mind. Maybe someone else has experienced the same.

Firstly, stopping eating bread / grains has totally removed my digestive issues. DH has been ribbing me about my terrible flatulence for 22 years now, and it's just vanished! This is a major win for me and a very good reason to continue on this WOE. I did a test yesterday, and seeds also set me off - but will it actually be a healthy diet if I cut them out too?

However, I'm getting in a tangle with what I am eating. I'm concerned by the volume of meat I'm eating, but doing the veggie version is unlikely to be successful because I can't eat eggs or avocado. I'm trying to follow @BIWitch's advice to cut dairy, but also taking out cream, milk, cheese, yoghurt and cream cheese is leaving me feeling a bit short of options. I love pate, but I'm not convinced it's not processed crap, (ditto cured meats like salami) and I'm not in a position to make my own (need to cross reference with practicality).

There's clearly been a shift in my thinking, because this last few days I've been surrounded by cake and I've not wanted any. I've not even thought "oh, it's cake but I can't have that" but more "oh, cake. I don't want that". I've had dark chocolate in the cupboard for 10 days and not touched it. And I'm enjoying planning Christmas food that won't involve making myself ill and eating my own bodyweight in stodge for 6 weeks.

The other thing is alcohol. I had a wobble on Friday night (Shit Going On elsewhere in my life) and fell into a bottle of wine and some liquers. First note, the alcohol goes to my head far quicker on this WOE. Secondly, it emphatically doesn't help my mood, my anxiety or anything else. At least I didn't do drunk eating, but it was still a very strange evening. I clearly need to go teetotal again (did it for two years sometime ago - felt good, but the difficultly of negotiating family situations where everyone expected me to drink and had trouble allowing me to control what I put in my mouth put paid to it in the end), but I need something else to fill the It's Friday Night And I'm Relaxing space. That was getting to be Rooibos Earl Grey with DH, but I can only drink that with milk (see note above about dairy!).

So, rambling back towards my point. Does anyone have any thoughts to share? So far this morning I've had a coffee with cream and 900ml water. About to make a decaff, also with cream. That'll be it for the day on cream.

BIWI · 03/11/2019 09:18

Just off to the gym @IWillWearTheGreenWillow, but will reply when I'm back

Rayna37 · 03/11/2019 09:36

I had a lovely day with friends and my very early Christmas dinner yesterday. Had some wine with my largely low carb dinner but then had small portion of my friend's home made tiramisu, a few crackers with my cheese and a mini mince pie. Relatively OK with all this, it was mindfully chosen, but more disappointed I also had some of the home made rocky road which I really didn't need. Had scrambled eggs for breakfast and just the one big meal.

My scales have been all over this week which is unusual for me (and them) so trying to step back a bit and look at these 10 weeks in the whole and not sweat it.

Lots of lovely leftovers and nice veg to get me through the next couple of days then away for DH's Birthday later in the week which will be another challenge.

Off for a run when DH gets back from his.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 03/11/2019 10:00

Thanks @BIWI

venusandmars · 03/11/2019 11:35

GreenWillow I find that Thai, Chinese, Indian food are all quite good for low-carb veggie options. Thai vegetable larb (with green beans, spring onion, raw garlic and sautéed garlic, sautéed shallot, lemongrass, coriander, chilli, a little bit of carrot. Topped with a small amount of crushed dry-roast peanuts. Served on lettuce, with lots of cucumber, and a few cherry tomatoes. Or Thai green curry.
Vegetable stirfry with a few fried nuts and Chinese five-spice, or this bokchoi stir fry with crispy tofu
Or Jamie Oliver mushroom curry - with a few modifications like using coconut cream rather than light coconut milk, served with cauliflower rice.
Soups are always good, and since we have a lactose intolerant family member is sometimes add oatly cream for richness. It's 6g of carb / 100g but a swirl on the top of spinach soup makes all the difference.

Mushroom stroganoff with cauli-rice

Make your own pate from frozen chicken livers? Fry in butter with chopped shallot, add a dash of brandy/sherry seasoning and a drop of oatly cream. Blitz. I then sieve it because I can't be bothered taking the membranes out of the livers before I start.

Rose Elliot's lowcarb granola (might have too many seeds for you) with coyo coconut yogurt and a few berries

Is that a helpful start?

I've been trying to eat more veggie on this bootcamp (climate change and all that, and I ain't giving up my grass-fed butter, yet).

Agree 100% about the flatulence, so much that I surprised myself recently with an unexpected fart Shock

BIWI · 03/11/2019 11:36

@IWillWearTheGreenWillow - here goes!

Firstly, stopping eating bread / grains has totally removed my digestive issues. DH has been ribbing me about my terrible flatulence for 22 years now, and it's just vanished! This is a major win for me and a very good reason to continue on this WOE. I did a test yesterday, and seeds also set me off - but will it actually be a healthy diet if I cut them out too?

I'm not sure why you think not eating seeds or grains would be unhealthy - especially if, by not eating them, you have cured your digestive ills! Too many of us assume that bread etc is good for us when the reality is often quite the opposite. I'm so glad that you're benefiting from this way of eating (and by the sounds of it, your husband is too!). A lot of people who start low carbing with the aim of losing weight, find that there are other - perhaps more significant - benefits. For me, it was the realisation that I was no longer suffering from IBS.

However, I'm getting in a tangle with what I am eating. I'm concerned by the volume of meat I'm eating, but doing the veggie version is unlikely to be successful because I can't eat eggs or avocado.

What is your concern about the meat that you're eating? There's nothing wrong with eating meat, from a health perspective. If your concerns are environmental, that's obviously a different matter! Do you eat fish?

There are also lots of vegetarian options you could be eating - go and check out the vegetarian recipe thread that's stickied at the top of the Bootcamp Topic. (Sometimes it loses its sticky, or is stickied at the top of page 2, so you may have to hunt a bit for it)

I'm trying to follow @BIWitch's advice to cut dairy, but also taking out cream, milk, cheese, yoghurt and cream cheese is leaving me feeling a bit short of options

Perhaps cutting down rather than out would be a better strategy? I'd certainly be looking to cut the milk and cream out if I were you - but keeping cheese and yoghurt does give you a bit more flexibility, and certainly cheese can make vegetarian eating easier as well.

I love pate, but I'm not convinced it's not processed crap, (ditto cured meats like salami) and I'm not in a position to make my own (need to cross reference with practicality)

If you're buying a good quality pate there's no reason to believe it's crap! Just check the ingredients - and along with good cured meats, there's nothing wrong with these from time to time.

I'm very glad to hear that you're able to swerve cake, and also that you're recognising that alcohol definitely has more of an effect when you're low carbing!

Overall, the thing I'd say to you is to try and relax a bit more - you're already experiencing positive benefits, which is huge. Just see how things go and then it's all about tweaking the diet to make it work for you.

The other piece of advice I'd give you is to make sure you read the resources on the spreadsheet - reading more about the science behind low carbing is not only enlightening but also very reassuring.

I hope I've understood your post and answered fully, but if not just shout!!!

Nonononon · 03/11/2019 14:04

loin !! Grin

Today.
L: bag of mixed pea shoots (love these) half an avocado, bacon, fried egg, asparagus, little parmesan shavings. Cream coffee.
D: will be chicken leg, amd maybe the wings (I went out and bought a extra nice free range one, really looking forward to it as they taste amazing) with sprouts and kale.. I'll make a sauce from the roast chicken stock.. or stir all the veg through the chicken juices after it's cooked.. can't decide yet.

MrsGarethSouthgate · 03/11/2019 17:35

Oooh, look what I've baked this afternoon!
Just had a slice with some mixed plum tomatoes for my dinner - very nice it was too.

There was too much filling for the pie dish, so turned the excess into a frittata for a couple of breakfasts this week.

www.ditchthecarbs.com/lchf-spinach-and-feta-pie/

Week 3 - October Low Carb Bootcamp - the fork in the road
Nonononon · 03/11/2019 17:48

Oooh that looks delicious MrsGareth!

My dinner was a bit of a flop.. I really fancied some gravy so decided to make some with the chicken stock and xanthan gum.. bleurgh Envy I ate my way through it as I'd doused everything else with the gravy but it was like chicken flavoured wallpaper paste.. I wish I'd just made a jus but never mind, you live you learn!

Confession.. I also added half a chicken stock cubes to the 'gravy' they're really high in carbs but I calculated it to be 2g of carbs for the amount I used and of course I didn't eat all the gravy so don't feel too bad about it.. well I do as the whole thing was pretty rank but you know what I mean!

prettybird · 03/11/2019 18:00

Oooh - that looks lovely MrsGarethSouthgate Grin

VeryLittleOwl · 03/11/2019 18:45

B: Cheese crusted omelette with pesto and pastrami filling
L: Carvery - vegetable soup, roast pork, roast turkey, shedload of veggies (not one single roast potato, which I'm proud of, though a couple of roast parsnips sneaked on, I'm not a total saint).
S: Probably nothing - overdid it on the veggies at lunch, still stuffed! I do have some cold meats and Babybels in the fridge if I think I need something, but right now it's not looking likely.

Doilooklikeatourist · 03/11/2019 18:59

Had some time on my own today , as DH and DD went to see the in-laws
Started painting a bedside chest ( which took longer than I thought ) and I forgot to eat lunch forgot a meal !!!!! never happened before

Had a big bowl of Greek yoghurt , with a few berries for breakfast
Made a lovely roast pork ( used a tsp flour in the gravy , but it was for 3 of us )
Had cabbage , leeks , green beans and carrots on the side , and I feel good

That pie looks good MrsGarethSouthgate

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 03/11/2019 19:14

Thanks, @BIWI and @venusandmars, there's some really useful ideas in there. I'll do some proper research.

B pate and cucumber, coffee with cream (sorry)
L bag of pork scratchings!
D roast chicken with crispy skin, buttery sprouts and broccoli.

MrsGarethSouthgate · 03/11/2019 19:48
Grin