Low Carb Bootcamp starting 13 January 2020 - getting ready!

[StuntNun]

If you haven't signed up yet then add your name to the sign-up thread. If you have any questions then you can ask them here or on the chat thread from the last Bootcamp.

If you haven't Bootcamped before then make sure to read the ten Low Carb Bootcamp rules. To summarise them:

1. Eat three meals a day, plus snacks if you're hungry.
2. Avoid processed foods and choose real foods as far as possible.
3. Eat lots of fat. We're replacing carb calories with fat calories.
4. Eat plenty of low carb vegetables and salad.
5. Be careful about dairy apart from butter which is unlimited. Milk is high carb. Cheese, full-fat yogurt and cream are lower carb but I suggest no more than two portions per day.
6. Drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day. This can include herbal tea, bone broth, and bouillon.
7. No alcohol for at least the first two weeks.
8. No fruit for the first two weeks.
9. No nuts/seeds for the first two weeks unless you are vegetarian.

10. No sugar or artificial sweeteners.

You will not be eating starchy foods such as bread, pasta, rice, cereals (yes even porridge), or flour. You will not be eating sugary foods such as cakes, desserts, sweet drinks including fruit juice, biscuits, honey, agave syrup, or balsamic vinegar.

You will be eating real foods: meat, fish, eggs, full-fat cheese and yogurt, healthy fats, and plenty of low carb vegetables. After the first two weeks you can move to Bootcamp Light and reintroduce some low carb fruits, nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate.

In the first two weeks strict phase of BootCamp TSSDNCOP why not just have Greek yoghurt with a wee bit of cinnamon (or other "flavouring" that you like, eg vanilla powder)? Or think continental and have some cold meat and/or cheese.

Where is almond milk on this? Can I have avocado and spinach smoothie with almond milk?

Hi everyone, just checking in to help me motivate myself! Have had success with low carb previously, but meds made me crave carbs and I have piled on 2st in 2 years. Aiming to lose that in much less time!!

First steps - forcing myself to drink lots of water - I just forget and realise I need a drink when I am thirsty! I don't like/can't tolerate milk - I usually drink tea with oatly barista milk - is that completely banned on boot camp?

TSSDNCOP how about breakfast egg muffins??*

Greensfield unsweetened almond milk is fine. Sweetened almond milk is around the same carbs as cows milk.

Moley Oatly Barista is as carby as cows milk so only allowed in small quantities, i.e. a splash in one or two cups of tea per day. Would you consider switching to an unsweetened non-dairy milk? I like Almond Breeze Unsweetened in tea and it's very low carb.

Thanks StuntNun, I will give it a go, but almonds (and other fruit and nuts) give me an itchy mouth/throat (Oral Allergy Syndrome I think) but sometimes when the original properties are changed, eg by cooking, I can tolerate them. Worth a go!

Moley I'm sure you can get unsweetened oat milk too, maybe hemp milk as well.

I’m starting today.
I have a few stones to lose but can’t face standing in the scales.

Will probably have eggs for breakfast after I’ve taken the dog for a walk.

Quite looking forward to feeling more energetic once I’ve settled into this WOE but dreading carb flu!

Can I ask how this WOE effects your cholesterol levels? I've just been for a health check and my cholesterol is higher than it should - has anyone lowered there levels through low carbing?

Janx in general the lipid profile improves on a low carb diet although there can be a temporary increase in LDL cholesterol in the short term. In some people cholesterol levels rise in which case a sensible precaution would be replacing some saturated fats with monounsaturated fats (olive oil, avocado oil, nut oils) and oily fish. How high is your cholesterol at the moment? Is it a cause for concern?

So, I braved the scales this morning as I'm starting a week early (so that I'm onto Boot Camp Light by Burns Night )......

Up 8.25lb which means I'm back over 12 stone at 12st 1lb. Can't complain though as I've been waaaaay off the wagon

So, lots and lots of water for me and no more Christmas "treats".

Ds and dh both (independently) bought me nice water bottles for Christmas. I'll keep one in the car and one in the house close by me. Ds' tag said "Greta will thank you" - although as I pointed out to him, I usually just refill old Highland Spring (etc) bottles to drink in the car.

Target is now a stone and a half by mid May when we're planning on going to NZ or Oz (NZ looking more likely at the moment ).

Thanks for replying @StuntNun. My level is 7 and has gone down from 8 in the last year. Statins are sometimes mentioned as high cholesterol is hereditary in my family and my dad had heart disease. However the last test they said that because I don't smoke or drink much and I am not that overweight the risks are manageable. I would like to get it down to 6

7 is on the high side but it does depend on the proportions of LDL and HDL, and also on your triglyceride levels. I would say it's definitely worth giving low carb a go and see what your levels are next time they're tested.

I started today too. It's the first day of term for me and it seemed to be right. Started by looking longingly at the trays of pastries for Inset day. I wasn't tempted. I'd had grilled mushrooms and scrambled egg for breakfast. Lunch was pretty good I hope and same for dinner.

I don't have scales at home, so I won't be adhering to naked weigh-in at work! . I figure, as long as I wear the same every Monday or whatever day weigh in is, as long as it's going down, that's good enough!

Hi again! I’m starting today. Last time all I really aimed for was weaning myself off carbs and didn’t really care about the weight. It went really well and now I’m ready to get some weight off!

I am back in starting to day also .. I have 2 stone to lose , and this will be the third time I have lost it over the last 5 years . Will I never learn ?

I find once I am back into low carb, an eating window works best for me

I'm back on bootcamp light, roughly, and down to 125.6 this morning from my NYD high of 129lbs, so just the right side of 9st now. Increased my exercise too. The next 3 lbs won't go so easily though!

Prettybird a water bottle is a great present for a bootcamper! I'd say getting a reusable bottle you love should be a key part of the prep week - plenty on sale if you haven't got one (or two, or three).

Happy New Year! I lost over two stone on last years January bootcamp and largely kept most of it off during the rest of the year. Even after a completely abandoned Christmas, I am 20lbs lighter than last January. Looking for a similar loss this year and looking forward to the amazing support I know will be available via the threads.

Have done a crazy combination of good HFLC meals both days, but plus a mince pie today and carby snacks & wine yesterday evening! Still, just trying to get into good habits this week, especially lots of water, planning meals and making good choices in the school dining room.

To PP that asked about portable breakfasts, I like:

• sliced avocado plus hard-boiled eggs, especially with a dollop of mayo.
• sliced ham and a babybel
• smoked salmon with eggs or avocado or baby spinach

Last time I found I quickly got to the point that I needed less and less to eat for breakfast and it got later and later so that I ate in a 16:8 pattern after the first 2 weeks and drank only hot water with lemon during the morning.

Morning and hello!!

SO ready for this. I’ve joined on the advice of an actual real life NHS doctor... REALLY!

I have PCOS which for the uninitiated, is a total and complete bastard of a thing. Basically if you have irregular periods, high levels of androgens on a blood test and a scan reveals cysts all over your ovaries, they positively diagnose PCOS. I hit the jackpot with all 3 (yay me ).

PCOS in reality though is much more than that. Excessive hair growth (I can grow a beard faster than my husband), acne, mood swings/ depression, periods that can come every 2 weeks or occasionally go MIA for months... it’s a delight!

The main symptom and the absolute worst thing it does to your body though is the insulin resistance. Women with PCOS tend to be overweight and that’s because we produce more insulin than healthy women, meaning that high carb diets are our kryptonite. No one thinks to mention that though pre-diagnosis, and evening the NHS website points you to their ‘healthy eating’ diet advice page directly from the PCOS treatment page... a diet which recommends 1 third of your diet is starch... literally the worst thing you could eat as a woman with PCOS.

Until last week, I was on and off the high carb diet train for 10 years, even attending an NHS weight loss clinic after my PCOS diagnosis 5 years ago which focused on caloric reduction. In 10 weeks, I lost a MASSIVE 5lbs and was hailed a great success . I’m 20st, I can poop 5lbs

Anyway, I had enough and although I knew about low carb diets and that other countries literally prescribe them for PCOS, I wanted a doctor to tell me the Internet wasn’t lying.

I went to see a locum GP last week and she confirmed low carb was the way to go, and couldn’t believe no one had recommended it before... then she asked me the immortal question ‘are you on mumsnet?’ and pointed me in the direction of you lot so, you’re now officially endorsed by the NHS!

I read everything and a ton of past threads, and started on Monday this week... it’s now Wednesday and I’m 3lbs down

Food is great, I’m having:

B: coffee that’s 1/3rd double cream

L: slow cooker pulled laksa pork shoulder (cooked in the slow cooker with spices and LARD ) with stir fry veggies fried in coconut oil (I take this to work in a box and heat it up)

D: first night was lamb koftes, salad, cheese, olives, high fat yog and mint dressing and olive oil on the salad. Last night was slow cooker brisket with cauli, broccoli and sprouts fried in lard

I’m drinking A LOT of water, missing squash a bit.

It’s a completely bonkers diet, but after my GP discussions and 20 years of steadily getting fatter on diets, I’m throwing caution to the wind and going for it

I woke up in the night needing to pee - forgot this happens in the beginning of this WOE.

Also: Sainsbury’s did a cheese advent calendar this year and it didn’t sell that well, so they’re selling them off at half price in some stores. I got one and took them all out, they are the perfect snack size if you’re peckish!

That's brilliant Teapotdespot - and welcome

You'll love it here: stick to the Rules, drink your water and you'll soon no longer be under the control of your carbs!

....and I (re) started on Monday too and am already 4lb down - although I know that that will almost all be water after having done so well on the pre-Christmas BootCamp, where I lost just over a stone.

So I'm now 4lb up on where I'd got to by Christmas Eve

How have I done 3 years of LC and never come across Chaffles? So good!

Make sure to put yourself on to the Sign Up thread Teapotdespot

Im on Day 3.. it has been a lot of eggs so far , but i wanted to get a quick start .Have the carb headache today .. but swilling the water and 3 lbs down.. I have 2 stone to lose!

Tonight will be salmon and roasted cauliflower .

What are Chaffles Cherries ?