Jan ’20 – Week 1 Low Carb Bootcamp – Here we go!

[StuntNun]

Welcome to the January 2020 Low Carb Bootcamp. I know some of you have already started eating low carb so please share your good experiences to give the rest of us some inspiration as we begin our weight loss journey.

Make sure you’ve read the ten Low Carb Bootcamp rules. There are some shopping list and meal plan suggestions on the preparation thread.

If you need recipe inspirations then there we have hundreds on the meat recipes thread, the poultry recipes thread, and the vegetarian recipes thread. Note that vegetarians may include small quantities of legumes, nuts and Quorn right from the start to make sure they’re getting enough protein. There is also thread of low carb products people have found in the shops.

We weigh in every Monday so add your starting weight to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness. If you’re on a mobile or tablet and can’t get the spreadsheet to work then please post your entry on this thread and someone will add it for you. Some people choose to record their starting weight as 100 if they don’t want to share their actual weight. I also urge you to make a note of your waist measurement as sometimes we can lose inches without losing pounds on this way of eating. Some people like to have a goal pair of jeans or a dress that they can try on throughout Bootcamp so see how the fit improves over time. Others like to take ‘before’ photos that they can use for comparison later on.

If you have any questions or concerns then please do ask. Bootcamp has been running for nearly ten years so we have lots of expertise to share with you.

Congratulations @Tentontessie

I'm working from home today away from all the carby temptations and I can go for a lunchtime swim.

B - 2 boiled eggs with butter.
L - chicken salad
D - probably shepherds no-pie with veg.

Going to the pub tonight but am happy on sparkling water with a slice of lime.

Hey all. I'm still on the wagon except for some fishcakes I had yesterday. I bought them for my son and he wouldn't eat them! I couldnt waste them but now I think about it, i could have probably put them in the freezer... Oh well. I am down 4lbs so far although I still had my jimjams on so is probably a bit more. Too cold to weigh in the niff!

Struggling a bit with energy levels and couldn't do the usual long walk with the dog but I know it doesn't last. Just got to persevere.

@teapot thanks 😊 it’s a bit of a shock!

I can’t believe that they won’t give you metformin?! It’s a treatment for the symptoms of PCOS not fertility and should help with weight loss.
I did see a great specialist in PCOS, Stephen Franks when I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t loosing weight and he was the one to first put me on low carb and metformin so he obviously thought the two were related??

Congratulations @Tentontessie!

@Tentontessie it’s a postcode lottery. In my area, the pill is the treatment for PCOS symptoms but if you’re TTC, they’ll offer metformin if you’ve not fallen pregnant in 2 years. If you can’t have the pill because of your weight, you have to get to a BMI under 40 before they will offer you the pill and if you’re over that, they shrug and apologise but there’s nothing they can do until you lose some weight.

My BMI has been between 45 and 47 for about 10 years, in 2 weeks since the start of boot camp it’s gone from 46 to 44

I’m down to around 11st now and would like to shift that last stone and have been LCHF for the last two weeks. I did however POAS this morning and am pregnant again! All very pleased. Can anyone advise if I should continue or have higher carbs? I remember in my last pregnancy with terrible sickness the doctor was concerned about constant ketones from dehydration, and I’m definitely in ketosis now!

Tentontessie what amazing news you must be delighted. My last pregnancy was low carb and I stuck to Bootcamp Light throughout. I had nausea in the first trimester so I didn't worry too much about needing the occasional carby food to deal with the nausea what is it about dry toast being the easiest thing to keep down? but got back to 100% low carb in the second trimester. I recommend taking a breastfeeding supplement (I took Pregnacare Plus which includes a fish oil supplement). I had a brilliant low carb pregnancy and felt amazing throughout. The day before DS4 was born I was out hiking with my toddler in the sling on my back! The worst part was being in hospital after he was born because I had a section. The food was absolutely atrocious and I ended up eating crisps a couple of times because there was so little real food available. It still wasn't as bad as when I had just had DS2 and they brought me a bowl of soup for lunch. I hadn't eaten for 24 hours, I'd just had a baby, he's breastfeeding every 40 minutes and they give me soup?! I was like, where's the rest of my lunch?

@Tentontessie what lovely news- congratulations.

When I had dd2 I packed a huge fancy selection of cheese into my hospital bag & lived on that and grapes post birth. The food the hospital gave me after dd1 was born was horrific & I wasn't going to put myself through that again.

Ooh congratulation TenTonTessie

Lots of great stuff on here, what a lovely group you are.

I'm conscious that the first weekend can be tough: you've been good all week, you're missing your usual takeaway/wine/whatever, your new routine is disrupted. So please indulge me with some non food thoughts. Granted many of us will be time poor, cash poor, or both, but hopefully something here for everyone. Things you can work on while waiting for the fat to melt away, that shouldn't be put off until you're "thin enough" or "worthy enough", and that might help you in that direction anyway!

Often people who've neglected their health/gained more weight than they'd like may also be neglecting other areas of their selves, so think about: am I due a smear test or a dental check up? Do I need a haircut? What state are my nails in? No need for fancy gel polish but a file and coat of clear varnish and some handcream can work wonders.

Get outside! Go for a walk, preferably somewhere scenic, or go to your local parkrun if you have one; it's free and those who take 55 minutes are as welcome as those who take 15. If it's wet and miserable, head to YouTube and try yoga with Adriene - there's loads of stuff there for beginners to more accomplished yogis.

WEAR YOUR GOOD CLOTHES! Even when you're just at home. They're going to be too big for you soon so don't keep anything for best. Now's a great time to clear out your wardrobes, and get rid of anything you feel rubbish in. If you've got clothes you're hoping to fit back into, sort them out. You may not want to buy much at all on the way to your goal weight but use the time to get used to a more capsule wardrobe, then only buy things you love and that fit the life you actually lead.

While you're clearing out your cupboards, don't forget your makeup and jewellery. Granted not everyone cares but if you do like makeup but often go without, think about why that is and try to fit it in. I bet lots of you have loads of jewellery you never wear; sort through it, wear it or charity shop it!

Consider eBay to fund the lovely new clothes you'll be needing.

Have you got a pension, do you know how much is in it, could you increase the % you put into it?

Apologies, a big birthday combined with a new decade has me brimful of resolutions, so just thinking about the stuff I am actually good at and sharing my "wisdom" here a bit. You may just want to spend the weekend experimenting with lovely LCHF recipes and watching box sets

Day "off" after a manic week, although so far I have sat here working all morning.

It is so nice being in my house with no one but the cats. We just pootled up the garden to admire all the sprouting things, and check in on the bees, sho are looking busy and thriving, hurrah!

It's lovely.

Off for a shower and then lunch. Avocado, maybe.

Congratulations stuntnun and tentontessie xxx

Congrats on the pregnancies!

Today:

B: FF greek yoghurt and blueberries (Lite)
L: chicken caesar salad and coffee w/ FF milk
D will be: salmon filets with hollandaise sauce and salad. I dont think that will be enough to fill me so I'll be having a couple of peperamis and some cheese too.

KOKO

Not me Roz I was answering Tentontessie's question.

Congratulations tentontessie!

Loving all the positivity and motivation on the thread. You’re right rayna, it’s a lovely the group. Surely the nicest in MN!?

So great to hear positive stories already - congratulations @Tentontessie what an exciting time for you.

@Rayna37 A fab checklist thanks.

I have been taking more time this year whilst on second mat leave to really think about what's important to me. I realised that my health actually should be my priority. As I'm sure some of you have experienced, having children has made me think longer term and realise that I need to be fit and active to be there for them as they grow. My DM has struggled with her weight all her life and now, as she approaches 60, is starting to develop health conditions linked to it. It motivated me to make changes now while I'm still (relatively) young.

Now DC2 is weaning onto food and therefore less reliant on me, I've started to build in some self care, including starting an evening yoga class, starting this woe and having an hour me-time on Sunday nights when DH takes the baby and I put on a face mask, listen to classical music and colour/do puzzles.

Menu for today
B I felt like I needed something light for breakfast so was happy to find prawns in the freezer and had them with avocado and sour cream
L leftover sausages and swede mash
D DH loves a fakeaway so tonight will be blue cheese Philly cheesesteak, switch onions and peppers for courgettes and mushrooms and swap bread and chips for salad and coleslaw.

venus, is that the study I put out a call for low carb wildlings for? Can't remember who answered now. I too got the impression he thought he would find the opposite - that low carbers were missing vital nutrients through not having bread, rice, pasta. I remember him being shocked that my handgrip strength was that of a 30-year old man, and stronger than his . (am f, 48 this year).

I've never seen a weedy low carber yet.

Congratulations, tessie

Bert we (the cats and I) have also just pootled around the garden to a) feed the birds (me), b) patrol the perimeters (all of us), and c) eat some leaves that were looking at us funny (the cats). The air's just gone all icy and yellowy and overcast and I'm getting overexcited at the thought of snow!

Okay, feeling less unwell with flu and more just really tired so I think I need to make myself eat.

Breakfast was creamy coffee
Lunch is salmon on a bed of spinach with asparagus and a dollop of sour cream
Dinner is Chile with buttery cabbage (in the slow cooker smelling lovely)

How much double cream is reasonable? I think I’m using too much. With cooking and a couple of cream coffee I’m easily using 200-300 ml a day. Makes me feel very full though and I also don’t mind a little sip when cooking!

Bloody hell Teapot that's amazing, and for some reason has really cheered me up!

As has @venusandmars puppy picture, that's one gorgeous dog.

I'm checking in for the first time, I've done boot camp a few times before but never really stuck to it afterwards, although I've mostly kept to no potatoes pasta or bread, which helps.
Hoping this time is the charm.
Lost 2.6 kg already since Monday, v happy with that. Avoiding wine at the weekend will be difficult though.

Most days I can't stomach breakfast, so I take a boiled egg into work and have a creamy coffee.

Looking forward to mid morning bacon and eggs tomorrow though!

Congratulations @Tentontessie!

And thanks @theClitterati for the self care reminder, think I neglect everything on that list . And I usually drink FAR too much alcohol to boot. Maybe this is my year...

Congratulations @Tentontessie that's so exciting!!!

I've struggled a bit this week.
I've managed not to eat rice, pasta, bread or potatoes but have not done bootcamp properly (a bit of fruit, nuts and dark choc)
Partly as I only found the thread on Weds.
Partly lack of willpower.
Do people think I'd be okay to 'start bootcamp on Monday' rather than wait for the next bootcamp??
I'll be a bit 'behind' but can I still ride along on your coattails please?

It was @Rayna37 with the lovely personal check list. Good call thanks. My nails have always been a disgrace & need some care & I do need a haircut.

I've injured my arm - just a sprain but it needs rest. So I've had easy foods today - eggs, sour cream dip with celery. I'll heat broccoli & spag Bol sauce for dinner.

Feeling very fat in the face today. It's shaken my faith a little. Monday's weigh will tell.

Start right away Pinboard there's no time like the present. I started a little way in to my first Bootcamp too.

@pinboard start now! I lost three stone doing this last year. No I wasn’t always perfect but if I fell off the wagon I was back on the next day as opposed to the next Monday! Stick with it. It gets easier after the first week or so.