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Low-carb bootcamp

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

2020 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp. The first week!

906 replies

BIWI · 11/10/2020 22:17

Welcome all.

Well what a strange year this has been! If you're anything like me, food, meals and eating have been all over the place. And that's before we think about the booze.

I found lockdown an odd mix of feeling like I was on holiday but it was also the end of the world. So what was the point of worrying about my diet?

I am lucky, relatively, in that we don't have small children to worry about educating. We also have a nice house and garden, and as me and DH have recently retired, don't have to worry about work. So we were very much advantaged over many people.

But still, the diet/drinking was all to pot. And with the inevitable result.

So we're now in the run up to Christmas - traditionally a time when diets go out of the window, and we start to indulge ourselves. Who knows what's going to happen this year though?!

So with that in mind, it's a good time to try and be focused and aim to have a bit of discipline! This Bootcamp, as with most others, will last for 10 weeks, which will take us right up to Christmas week.

(I truly hope that we'll all be able to spend Christmas with our loved ones, but who knows?)

With grateful thanks to @AthelstaneTheUnready, here is the Spreadsheet of Exceptional Fabulousness .

You should find that you're on the spreadsheet. A couple of things:

  • if you don't want to record your weight every week, that's absolutely fine. Just don't do it!
  • if you're not on it, just add your name to the bottom - don't try and re-alphabatize it - we'll sort it out later

The spreadsheet isn't just a place to record your weight though - have a good look at it, and the tabs - there's loads of information on there, including a veg carb counter and lots of stuff about low carbing in general. You'll also find Bootcamp rules there.

OP posts:
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TeddyIsaHe · 17/10/2020 17:38

‘Or just a knife and some attitude’

I love this Grin

IvorHughJarrs · 17/10/2020 17:39

If anyone is interested, I have given up on curry pastes as they just never seemed as good as the local Indian but someone recommended Tastesmiths. You order online and they deliver you packs with all the spices, ginger, garlic, chillies, etc in to make authentic recipes along with instructions including how to make it mild, medium or hot. You can use them fresh or freeze them and, as you are cooking from scratch, you know exactly what is in it and can make it chicken, meat vegetarian, etc as you want.
They are a bit more fiddly than a paste (not much though) but are honestly as good as a takeaway

ZiggZagg · 17/10/2020 17:45

I second @IvorHughJarrs I have some in the freezer and they are lovely! I might make one tomorrow Wink

All still sick here but I have managed to put some roast beef in the slow cooker earlier, roasted some veg and made a cream cheese mushroom sauce! It will be the first thing that I've eaten today so will have supper tonight rather than fasting from 8. Just thinking some celery, cucumber (with salt) and Brie Smile

StuntNun · 17/10/2020 18:14

Oh god, DH has bought posh wine for tonight AND cheesecake. Why must he tempt me this way? It almost makes me wonder whether he's trying to sabotage me as he has form for doing this. But I think it's just because he's a physically active, insulin-sensitive man and these things just aren't an issue for him. He thinks he's treating us.

poorbuthappy · 17/10/2020 18:18

@StuntNun
Kill him. I'll say you were with me all night.

prettybird · 17/10/2020 18:30

LTB Grin

Or perhaps just LTW&C Wink

20bloodypounds · 17/10/2020 18:33

Inspiring post sheepysheep

I lost 3 stones on lchf, felt great, massively reduced my blood pressure, didn't need to take bp meds any more. All great, really know that this way of eating works for me long term. Then bloody lockdown. Dh wfh and brought with him a snack cupboard filled with crisps, biscuits, crap.

I was bored and anxious and unsettled and soothed myself by delving into the snack cupboard, frequently. Then we consoled ourselves with copious wine in the evenings. I feel kind of stupid for doing it. It was 3 lbs, then 7lbs, then 10 and still I couldn't stop.

It is great to be back on the path.

B - boiled egg
L - last of the left over moussaka with veg
D - salmon on mushroom stir fry

And water.

Anotherducker · 17/10/2020 18:38

@StuntNun and cheesecake?? That’s a low blow. Make him eat it in the garden.

Oneborneverydecade · 17/10/2020 18:55

I was 1/4lb away from my next milestone this morning, knowing I had a birthday meal at an American diner tonight Shock I asked for my cheese and bacon burger w/o sauce or bun and no fries. I even avoided the most dressed part of the salad. Drank water and no dessert. I honestly don't know who this person is?! Everything crossed for tomorrow

Get well soon @fizzfridays

@ivorhughjarrs I'm off to Google, thank you

Jdhshekr · 17/10/2020 18:56

Bloody hell, I was doing really well until I had what I thought was a sugar free jelly with cream just now (note: I have been low carbing for a couple of months and am not following bootcamp to the letter due to past ED issues - no artificial sweeteners are allowed but I’ve been having jelly and cream all the way through and losing weight so I haven’t stopped. You lot aren’t allowed though 😉).

Anyway, I got half way through it and thought “hmm, this tastes a bit too nice.” Checked the label and it was one of my DC’s full sugar ones with 12 carbs per pot🙄 Think I ate about two thirds of it. Not impressed with self!

On a brighter note, I weighed myself this morning and I’ve lost 3lbs since my last weigh in about a week and a half ago. I’m just a few lbs off a healthy BMI now. That’s nearly a stone and a half off in 2.5 months 🎉

Rayna37 · 17/10/2020 18:57

Getting back into my yoga after a busy couple of weeks and really enjoyed it this morning. As lockdown began I started Adriene's first 30 day programme and I've now done three more and am on to a fifth- Dedicate. I doubled up this morning and it was a great practice.

Fasting until a lunch of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. I have BIWIs recommended beef rendang in the slow cooker and it smells amazing.

Rayna37 · 17/10/2020 19:14

Jdhshekr I had one of those "this tastes a bit too good" moments with some "alcohol free" beer when I was pregnant Blush

StuntNun · 17/10/2020 19:22

Rayna I've been doing Adriene's Lower Back and Hamstrings video as my hamstrings are woefully tight but I've never tried any of her other ones. Can you recommend one to start with for somebody that's fairly clueless about yoga.

Lyrata · 17/10/2020 19:29

@20bloodypounds I had a similar experience although I wasn’t brave enough to weigh myself during. Also living mostly in pyjamas made it impossible to tell quite how bad it was! At least we’re doing this now so we can surprise people with our svelteness at Christmas.

Breakfast - coffee with cream
Lunch - yogurt
Snack - spoon of pesto
Dinner - roasted aubergine, onion and mushrooms with feta cheese

RitaEllen · 17/10/2020 19:56

I made the cheeseburger pie today. Was a huge hit with the whole family. My autistic son who is quite underweight ate a big piece with broccoli and really enjoyed it so will definitely be making that again!

Also had bacon and eggs as it’s the weekend and some veggie sticks and black pepper Boursin.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 17/10/2020 20:03

So today's food was low carb toast and butter for breakfast, two cauldron sausages for lunch. Bit wary about these because they are 5.5 carbs per 2 sausages, but have been stuck in the house for a couple of days waiting for DS Covid result , so didn't have much that didn't need proper cooking.
Dinner was steak, with buttery mashed swede and green veg cooked in butter and peppercorn sauce.
Will now try to get lots more water in before bed. Hope everyone had a good day. I'm feeling proud of myself for skipping the alcohol aisle in the supermarket.

FizzyPink · 17/10/2020 20:27

These curry ideas sound great, thanks everyone!
Tonight’s dinner was a real challenge, we went out for an Italian and DP ordered the most gorgeous looking plate of homemade bread with oil and vinegar followed by bolognese.
I was very good and stuck to my olives, steak and salad but gosh it was a challenge.
I did reward myself with some of these pork puffs when I got home and they were delicious Grin

2020 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp.  The first week!
Superspecs · 17/10/2020 20:39

Loving all the curry ideas, thanks!

Can I ask about portions and snacking? I like both Blushwhich is probably why I'm here!

Are you all taking care to have small portions and no snacks or does it not matter? How do you help yourself not load your plate and reach for a cheese slice between meals?

Thanks!

Jdhshekr · 17/10/2020 20:47

Rayna37 pesky proper beer tasting all nice and stuff ☹️

Does anyone know how low carb high fat diets affect exercise? The instructor at my gym could not be more horrified that I am eating this way and was trying to tell me that it’s really bad for stamina during cardio and for building muscle. I don’t 100% believe her but I am noticing that I’m not performing as well in the gym and when running as I do when I eat carbs. That said, I’ve had Covid and have suffered from fatigue ever since so it may just be that.

Rayna37 · 17/10/2020 20:47

OMG that beef rendang was one of the best things I've cooked in ages; massive hit massive portions consumed with cauli rice and pak choi both in sautéed in ghee.

Stuntnun if you search "Adriene yoga for beginners" there are quite a few videos of varying lengths perfect for you. Once you have a few of these under your belt, just starting one of the 30 days programmes is a good idea because they cater for all, build up and you know you'll do something a bit different every time you come it (doesn't have to be daily obvs). I never did much yoga until I did some specific pregnancy classes and found I really liked it. Otherwise I sometimes just search something like yoga for morning or yoga for bedtime and pick one closest to the length of time I'm looking for! She's my imaginary lockdown friend. there's even yoga for hangovers

StuntNun · 17/10/2020 21:03

@Superspecs don't worry about portion control until you're through adapting to eating low carb. After the first week or two you will find your appetite spontaneously reduces and you don't need to snack, or you snack less often. You need to watch out for high calorie foods like cheese and, later on, nuts because they're easy to overeat. Otherwise let your appetite be your guide. It's really important to eat when you're hungry though. I do suggest never drinking your calories as things like coffee with cream can cause issues with weight loss. Butter / bulletproof coffees also fall into this category because they're calorie rich but nutrient poor.

@Jdhshekr it's common to notice a temporary drop in performance while you adapt to eating low carb. This can last anywhere from two weeks to a couple of months. You will still be able to exercise, just maybe not peak as high as you're used to. Once the fat adaption process is complete you will have no issues with exercise. I personally find it mich easier to exercise in a faster state. The exception is high level exercise such as weight training / bodybuilding where you may benefit from a higher carb intake. Bodybuilders tend to be very methodical about their food intake and macros which we don't really need to do on Bootcamp.

Midlifemission · 17/10/2020 21:29

Evening all am just swooping in quickly as I have had a busy couple of days but need to not lose track of the thread !
DH had an interview yesterday morning and then got offered the same day - he celebrated with wine and the school mums couldn’t believe I was still abstaining from alcohol! But equally they will nave no idea how determined I am to get back to a happier / healthier weight !

happy anniversary to all those celebrating and am jealous of all the Miller and Carter chat. None of that anywhere near where I live !
Thanks @sheepysheep for your post. Your story is important as I think it reminds us of the broader benefits of this WOE and losing weight in general.
I will keep reading your post !
Also interested in your views on the 800
Calorie @StuntNun - at one time I thought that was my only hope for weight loss!

20bloodypounds · 17/10/2020 21:59

@Jdhshekr dh was watching the giro d'italia (cycling race - Italian version of Tour de France). At one point the commentators were discussing the diets of the cyclists and they were all about energy from fat and high fat diets. It was the only time I was interested in what was going on.

I remember reading that even the leanest runner can run for about 100 miles on their body fat. No amount of carb loading can do that. I think your gym instructor might need to do some more reading...

BuffyTheBuffetSlayer · 17/10/2020 22:59

Busy day with the horrors kiddies. Had bacon and eggs for breakfast but missed lunch because they spent the day sucking the life out my soul because they kept me busy.
I did find an amazing Indian Butter Chicken recipe online 6.6 carbs per portion. I'm normally not a fan of indian unless it's a Rogan Josh but this was phenomenal!! Full DP approval to make it a regular 😌 and we all know what a fussy bastard he is Wink

@sheepysheep well done!! Furthest I've ran is after the ice-cream van down the street Grin

BuffyTheBuffetSlayer · 17/10/2020 23:04

Ohhh I forgot to add!! I took inspiration from everyone having 'too tight clothes' as an incentive. So I dug out my pre horror kiddie clothes and a pair of jeans, a pair of old work trousers and 2 tops FIT 😱😱 Not only have I dropped a size around my waist (most important of course!) But the jeans are loose 😇
This has inspired DP to keep going. He has even agreed to pull out some of his old clothes lol.
Thank you BIWI, Athelstane and StuntNun!!