Low Carb Bootcamp Léger! Notre quatre semaine est ici!

[BIWI]

It's Monday! So soon!

Morning all.

Ici, c'est le début de notre quatre semaine du Bootcamp. C'est léger est pas ordinaire.

... which means we can relax things slightly.

Some fruit is allowed in moderation - mainly berries. Nuts and seeds in moderation, and alcohol very much in moderation.

Here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness if you need to, check the rules for Bootcamp Light on the tabs there.

If you're happy on 'ordinary' Bootcamp, then by all means continue. If you were finding intermittent fasting was helping you, then you could also consider trying to extend the length of time you've been fasting - so if you were managing 12:12, try working up to 16:8. If you were managing 16:8, see how much long you can extend that for. Just don't let it go so long that you get too hungry and are tempted to cheat.

Alternatively, you could do a hybrid, so strict Bootcamp during the week and Bootcamp Light at the weekend.

We only have two weeks left of this Bootcamp, so let's get/keep focused, and see what we can do!

@Freetodowhatiwant

After the slow down of week 3 and 4 do you often see a bit more movement in the scales department?

Generally speaking, yes - although beware that for some people week 5 can be just as pesky!

Usually what happens is that the rate of loss slows down - which makes sense, as by now, you've got rid of excess water and glycogen, and you're now just burning fat.

However, it is important to keep an eye on what you're eating, as I've posted, to make sure that you don't switch your body out of fat-burning. Unfortunately this is the problem of introducing alcohol.. All the time you're drinking, that's the fuel that your body will use - so you're temporarily suspending burning fat.

Do you think those of us who don’t eat meat find it harder?

I don't think so, as long as you're including plenty of fat in your diet. It's definitely harder for vegetarians though, as by definition their carb intake will be higher.

ifeefat, I love a good photos post. Upload away!!!

Work is just flat out, oddly enough, and I am one Zoomed out chick, but keeping up with everyone, just not posting as much as I’d like. It’s been fascinating.

KOKO everyone, stop cheating , and drink all your WATER!

Plus happiest of birthdays to Athelstane and also I have no idea why I referred to myself as a “chick” . I don’t even speak that way in real life. Weirdo.

@FreetodowhatIwant, I was vegetarian for years; I now eat fish and a tiny bit of pork and chicken. I just don't like red meat. DP is doing this with me (yay!), and he loves red meat. I made us a salad with mackerel, broccoli, aubergine and feta last night, and he didn't rate it. He's going shopping to get himself a steak for dinner. He'd happily have steak with green veg and tomatoes multiple times a week. I'd hate that. So I'm having omelette with cheese tonight (omelette without cheese isn't so appetising for me) - I think the dairy can creep in more easily without as much meat.

@BIWI, what's the lowdown on Ketostix? I bought some for the first time for this WOE, to check I'm actually getting into ketosis. They were getting pretty pink by day 2, and mid-morning today, the strip was dark pink. How into ketosis are we meant to be going? I'm wondering if dark (8 mmol/L+) is too much?

Ok so this is what not drinking half a bottle of wine and eating low carb for 3.5 weeks has done to my stomach...
Still a good 2 stone to go though 😬, but happy so far.

Not sure why there are 3 pictures but you get the idea.

Happy birthday Athelstane

Great progress Ifeelfat time to change that name

Happy birthday Athelstane - enjoy your mindful celebratory glasses of wine.

Happy Birthday Athel 🥳

Feb pics Ifeel. Another vote for a name change! 😊

eggbound beware the ketostix!! and a bashing from BIWI

If you are drinking all the water you should then it often dilutes the ketones in urine, plus over time as your body adapts it produces fewer ketones. So after a strong early start you can often find the pink-ness reducing.

I think there are 2 concerns, one that if there is less pink then you might feel disheartened and more likely to give up, and the other is that it can lead to chasing deeper ketosis rather than eating a diet that is healthy and good for you over a long period.

That said when I was first doing low-carb (without the benefit of bootcamp) I did measure ketones and I found it useful to know what I could / could not tolerate. For example, if I had the fateful carb / alcohol combo that comes with crisps and wine I would be out of keto for about 3 days! That as a good lesson to learn - it is really not like a calories controlled diet where today's mistakes can be addressed tomorrow.

Tchh! dreadful spelling!

Food today:
creamy coffee
L - left over cabbage kedgeree with a fried egg
D - chilli, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, lots of salad

Happy birthday @AthelstaneTheUnready, enjoy your later

I'm not one for measuring - if I lose or gain an inch, I just assume I have the tape in the wrong place. But today I tried on the Jeans of Truth. Apparently the truth is, I'm rather fat! [Hmm] They look awful and won't even do up at the moment, but I can get them on, so that's the next goal. They are size 12 and I don't think I've worn them for at least two years, so I have somethign to aim for now. I took photos too, which I may or may not be brave enough to share one day, if I ever get to a point where they fit.

today I tried on the Jeans of Truth. Apparently the truth is, I'm rather fat!

Sorry, but venus

You’re not rather fat, of course not, you just can’t yet fit into those jeans. I’d love to see comparison photos because those really help us see progress and inspire others.

ifeelfat that’s a stunning difference in less than a month. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

One thing that’s been discussed in previous boot amps is how this WOE helps tremendously with fat around the belly. You know, the stuff that is suffocating our internal, rather important organs.

Drinking all the water every day helps tremendously with that, but so does eliminating the processed/refined carbohydrates of bread/pasta/rice. I’ll leave out potatoes because they’re natural and a real food.

Before I started properly with Bootcamp in May 2017 I had many friends who were following what I thought at the time to be a fad—going gluten-free/wheat-free. (To be honest I’m not sure I understand the difference still.). They all claimed to be intolerant, and for all I know they were, but what struck me is that each and every one of them reported a weight loss and flattened stomach as a by-product of giving up gluten/wheat. (Hmm...is it actually the same thing? I know I could google, too lazy...)

Anyway, I’ve come to believe that the foods containing gluten/wheat/whatever have more of an impact on shape than drinking clear, carb-free spirits does. The alcohol has an effect on weight loss and slows it down, as has been discussed in depth, but for stomach flattening it’s fine as long as one follows the rest of the WOE and drinks all the water. It’s when we slip into the odd slice of bread or a few crackers or that bit of cake that we (I) seem to return to my “hey I’m newly pregnant!” look.

Those are my observations and I’m not advocating vodka/soda for anyone, by the way.

@Ifeelfat

Ok so this is what not drinking half a bottle of wine and eating low carb for 3.5 weeks has done to my stomach... Still a good 2 stone to go though 😬, but happy so far.

That's is amazing progress! Well done.

Also shows just how motivating clothes/fit of clothes can be - more so than the scales, I think.

@Eggbound

I came ready to wield my Big Stick, but see that @venusandmars has beat me too it!

Everything that she said, basically.

However, the good news is that you have learnt that you're in ketosis, which is a great start to your week.

The less good news - if they're so dark, that suggests that you do need to do do more than just aim for the correct amount of water.

Those are my observations and I’m not advocating vodka/soda for anyone, by the way.

Cue tens of MNetters groaning with disappointment

@BIWI

Those are my observations and I’m not advocating vodka/soda for anyone, by the way.

Cue tens of MNetters groaning with disappointment

Including me!!!

@ShagMeRiggins it wasn't me that admitted to being rather fat when I tried on the Jeans of Truth. However the statement applies equally if the jean are replaced with my infamous Muffin-top Shorts!

jeanS

Happy birthday athelstane!

Fab pictures ifeelfat

I was 11st 10 1/4lb this morning - only 1/2lb to go to achieve my Boot Camp objective of getting into the 11st 9 somethings (or below)

Woo hoo!

[quote venusandmars]@ShagMeRiggins it wasn't me that admitted to being rather fat when I tried on the Jeans of Truth. However the statement applies equally if the jean are replaced with my infamous Muffin-top Shorts![/quote]
Ooh, apologies to you and to Puppermint, who is the rightful guardian of the Jeans of Truth.

Good luck though venus with the Muffin Top Shorts.

My own are called The Shorts of Wistfulness...

Maybe I can do a photo and background story, for full humiliation disclosure.

I’ve watched countless boot camps but I’ve never joined in because I’m terrified of the amount of fat included. However the peri menopause has bitten me hard and I’m now collecting a spare tire which I cannot shift. So I’ve bitten the bullet today! I spent yesterday doing the meal plan and shopping list all ready for today.

I’m currently at that stage of the day where all team, client, and training Zooms are out of the way and I realise what’s next is the actual work, where I have to think.

I dread this time of day at the best of times because I experience that 4pm dip in energy leading to the “arsenic hour” of days gone by. You know the one, when children back from school and dinner needs to be made and then there are activity chauffeur duties to look forward to. Fucking hell, I don’t miss any of that.

Anyway, haven’t yet eaten today so contemplating actual food—which will probably send me into a nap—or more likely a bouillon.

And...say it with me...WATER!!!

Aw shucks guys

@NeedChoos

I’ve watched countless boot camps but I’ve never joined in because I’m terrified of the amount of fat included. However the peri menopause has bitten me hard and I’m now collecting a spare tire which I cannot shift. So I’ve bitten the bullet today! I spent yesterday doing the meal plan and shopping list all ready for today.

Welcome @NeedChoos!

There's absolutely no need to be terrified of the amount of fat - honestly! Have a read of some of the resources that are on the spreadsheet, and you will understand why it's not a problem. The only fats we should be avoiding are transfats.

Here's a piece to get you started