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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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fizzfridays · 12/10/2020 11:00

Please could someone add my weight to the spreadsheet? I can't seem to do it. It's 135lb today.

I would love to lose a stone by Christmas. Ultimately I would then like another 7lb but this time I want to take things slowly and try to implement the lifestyle changes rather than the familiar and fatal crash diet, binge, regain cycle!

I've been LC for a bit so fasting until lunch (and Ocado delivery!)
B: water
L: ham hock and mozzarella omelet with salad
D: I'm going to make a beef casserole and serve with broccoli and cauliflower mash

Good luck everyone!

BIWI · 12/10/2020 11:02

Another announcement:

PLEASE READ THE WHOLE THREAD BEFORE YOU POST

It's bad forum etiquette generally, and does happen a lot on MN (and probably elsewhere!), but these chat threads are for support and advice, not just a place for you to record what you've been eating.

Please don't just jump on the thread to post your menu, or your question, without reading what's already been written by other Bootcampers.

I, and others, put a lot of effort into writing these posts, and it's depressing (and infuriating) when someone asks something that's already been discussed in the thread.

It would also be very lovely for us all to interact with each other as well, because that's where the support comes from Smile

OP posts:
LemonSea · 12/10/2020 11:02

Morning, thank you BIWI and AthelstaneTheUnready. I stumbled my way through putting my start weight in the spreadsheet, I also got an app and a google email along the way. Please God I haven’t messed up the spreadsheet.

Got out a new notebook, writing down some tips re measuring, trousers I can’t zip up and recipes. I rarely drink water so that’s going to be a challenge. Wine moved into the garage.

BIWI · 12/10/2020 11:04

@LemonSea

Morning, thank you BIWI and AthelstaneTheUnready. I stumbled my way through putting my start weight in the spreadsheet, I also got an app and a google email along the way. Please God I haven’t messed up the spreadsheet.

Got out a new notebook, writing down some tips re measuring, trousers I can’t zip up and recipes. I rarely drink water so that’s going to be a challenge. Wine moved into the garage.

A notebook is a really good idea - keeping track of your daily menus is a great way to keep yourself accountable, and it also stops 'carb creep' - which is when you get a bit blasé about what you're eating. Going back to what you were eating at the start can be very insightful, especially if you're finding that the rate of loss has slowed/stopped!
OP posts:
BIWI · 12/10/2020 11:04

For the spreadsheet, you may find that you can't access it unless you're on a laptop/desktop computer. If you're using your phone or tablet, you'll need to download the Google Sheets app.

OP posts:
ShagMeRiggins · 12/10/2020 11:15

@prettybird

Off to boil some eggs for breakfast and to make some low carb coleslaw to get the veg count up and to be available for snacks rather than my usual slices of salami or Emmenthal Halo
Ah, so nice to see The Return of the Strikethrough Queen. Grin

Good plan, prettybird, looks like we’re both looking for a motivational first week!

And nice shout about the hard-boiled eggs and coleslaw to hand. Both good snacks, and with some fat (DeLouis mayo, anyone?) will provide that sustainable energy with very little intake.

AthelstaneTheUnready · 12/10/2020 11:16

All fizzes, and bears, and others, updated on s'sheet now.

Shag I can only assume boiling celery is to remove it's last remaining quality (that of crunch) in order to punish yourself thoroughly Wink

Thing101 · 12/10/2020 11:17

@ShagMeRiggins glad to hear the 3way is not a compulsory part of this woe!! :)

Takingontheworld · 12/10/2020 11:27

Ooh I'm on the sheet this time.

@AthelstaneTheUnready

I've tried to edit but I'm a techidiot could you please add: SW: 223. CW: 187 to the sheet please.

I just did the foodshop and found 2 half tubs of ben and Jerry's in freezer. They're my nemesis. I still feel so vile hungover that I've just seriously considered sacking off today and starting tomorrow, even though this weight loss is SO important to me right now.

I've just sat at the kitchen island staring at them and drank 750ml water and even though i didn't think I had the emotional strength to 10 minutes ago...I'm about to go throw them in the black bin outside.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 12/10/2020 11:28

Thanks @StuntNun. I am on my 3rd hot drink of the day with no milk or sweeteners.
B - 2 hard-boiled eggs with hollandaise sauce and 2 slices of smoked salmon.
D - will be chicken and veg with a peppercorn creamy sauce.
Am skipping lunch because breakfast was late and I'm not likely to be hungry.

AthelstaneTheUnready · 12/10/2020 11:31

No probs, Taking - 36lbs off already, that's amazing!

And congrats on the icecream. I'm still feeling gaah from a few drinks on Friday, so I sympathise. Soup is good LC comfort/hangover food - doesn't sound as appealing, but physically does wonders.

poorbuthappy · 12/10/2020 11:33

@Takingontheworld
I'm impressed.

ShagMeRiggins · 12/10/2020 11:35

Margaritawithlime if it’s not too personal, have you identified why the five stone went back on?

Did you abandon LCHF as a way of eating or was it something else—a big life change or particularly stressful period?

Not asking for details but, because I’ve been there before, I wanted to point out to everyone what we all know: if we don’t identify the reasons for yo-yo dieting, we’re doomed to it forever, basically.

I’m not talking about the Christmas 10 or the Holiday 5 or even the COVID 19 (see what I did there? Wink)

I’m talking about losing significant weight then gaining it back and then some. A lot of us have said on this thread that we’ve done that so here we are again.

So I urge everyone to ask themselves why. Why. It’s the emotional side to losing weight and, in my opinion, the more difficult part.

Try to figure out your Why, even if it takes a while. Flowers

Takingontheworld · 12/10/2020 11:40

@AthelstaneTheUnready

No probs, Taking - 36lbs off already, that's amazing!

And congrats on the icecream. I'm still feeling gaah from a few drinks on Friday, so I sympathise. Soup is good LC comfort/hangover food - doesn't sound as appealing, but physically does wonders.

Thank you! Heads fine, stomach feels like jelly. Bleurgh.

I know, i can't believe it myself. They're limited flavours too and i felt a bit of grief throwing them, but I know in my heart I am not strong enough today and I'll simply spend all day fighting it only to ruin it all tomorrow. So they either had to be eaten now and accepted, or thrown.

I've had some left over smokey chipotle mince with cheese and sour cream and now I'm getting into bed with more water.

Highly annoyed at my gain, esp since it wasn't even worth it. Had a great time for about an hour when it all hit me and the rest is a blackout mess. Just shocking.

10 weeks, if i could do a lb and a half that'd be another stone for me, which I'd be so greatful for, roughly leaving another 7-14lbs to target. Feels reachable and also impossible.

Superspecs · 12/10/2020 11:49

@greebols that is super inspiring, and I love your progress shots @verylittleowl, I'm going to do the same tonight.

@solongsugar I have been doing fast800 too, though mine has slowly turned into fast1200 and sometimes even more than that so this will be great to shake it up a bit!

Can I ask how people track their water? Is there a good app? I'm on Android and really am rubbish at drinking.

Linnet · 12/10/2020 11:50

Hi, I’m joining again. I joined in May and lost 8lbs, which I surprisingly have managed to keep off. So I’m happy but I do need to lose at least another 7lbs to be at the top end of my healthy weight. I’m on holiday this week so will manage fine as I’m at home, my problem is being at work.

Due to COVID they have taken away our fridges and microwaves so I’ve been taking sandwiches which isn’t great. I can’t take salad for lunch as I can’t keep it cold enough, I tried it and it didn’t really work, warm limp salad anyone? and there is no where to heat up soup. I’ve bought a food flask thing but the soup has to be really boiling hot when it goes in to still be hot at lunchtime.

Still I’ll try my best, replacing pasta/potatoes with veg and drinking lots of water and hopefully lose some more weight.
Good luck everyone

ShagMeRiggins · 12/10/2020 11:52

[quote Thing101]@ShagMeRiggins glad to hear the 3way is not a compulsory part of this woe!! :)[/quote]
Quite! Phew. Wink

It really is very different from chilli con carne and much more of a thin meat sauce with Mediterranean spices.

If you’d like to try it, this is the recipe I use after much experimenting.

Chocolate optional and somewhat controversial for the purists.

Rshard · 12/10/2020 11:58

Morning (just)

Thanks to BIWI and athlestane for setting up and running bootcamp.

It's great to see so many eager people reporting in on day 1, newbie and old timers!

ShagMeRiggins · 12/10/2020 11:58

Superspecs, I give you my water tracker. Ta da. But I’m old school.

Linnet have you thought about a chilled lunch box, some kind of small cool box? You could even find one of those reusable freeze blocks to go in, I bet. We use them on a bigger scale for our cooler on the car for the 11-hour drive for French holidays and they’re absolutely terrific, those little ice blocks.

2020 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp.  The first week!
ShagMeRiggins · 12/10/2020 12:01

These are similar to the type we use and are lunchbox size.

prettybird · 12/10/2020 12:03

Grin Shagmeriggins happy to be back Wink

Here are my photos of shame Blush They were genuinely loose last Christmas.

I suppose I should be glad I can still get into them and do the top button up Grin It could have been worse Wink

2020 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp.  The first week!
BuffyTheBuffetSlayer · 12/10/2020 12:06

@TeddyIsaHe Omg you're Taco's sound amazing, I want them now 🙈 Lots of other great meal ideas I will be trying so thanks for posting them.

That's mine and my DP's weight recorded. So glad I roped him in, it'll make mealtimes so much easier! Thank you so much @BIWI for running this!!

I recently had 2 babies 12 months apart so have quite a bit of baby weight to shift as well as the elephant weight I was carrying before. I've been doing lc on/ off for a few weeks now, but still managed to lose 18lb which is amazing considering ive had many cheat days involving 16inch pizzas...to myself Blush I blame the alcohol! So me and DP are giving up the devil until xmas Grin

Currently 15st 1, my goal weight is 9st, but will be delighted to reach 13st by xmas. Would be great to get an xmas dress I want to wear as opposed to anything that will fit.

Great idea about trying on an item of clothing that's currently too small, I have lots to chose from!!

I haven't been shopping yet, we had a carb blowout instead so breakfast will probably be eggs and avacado then off to the shop.

ShagMeRiggins · 12/10/2020 12:07

Your stomach is still flatter than mine, though. (I know, I know, comparison is the thief of joy but I’ve sometimes wondered if that’s true when the comparison is in your favour Grin)

Linnet · 12/10/2020 12:08

Thanks ShagMeRiggins I do have some little ice pack things but it didn’t work out great. I might try those ones you linked though as they look a bit more substantial. But now that it’s getting colder I think I’d rather take soup anyway. We have to have the doors open at work, although thankfully have been allowed to close the windows, so we get really cold. A hot lunch can be good.

Benvolio · 12/10/2020 12:11

BoogleBear i had a hysterectomy for massive fibroids 18 months ago too. I'm not sure if i'm menopausal now or how I would tell without a uterus or periods, (I kept my ovaries, which were firing regularly) but im certainly fatter.

I have so many reasons to do this - but my mental and physical health are right up there.

Good to hear everyone's positive vibes this morning.

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