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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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1stMrsF · 12/10/2020 14:52

Thank you for the new Bootcamp. I lost a bit more than 2 stone on Bootcamp in 2019, and maintained at 2 stone off for most of the year, putting on a half stone at Christmas. Whilst trying to take that off at the beginning of 2020, lockdown happened and I put on another half stone instead (farm shop delivery treats resonates with me too). I tried again with the last bootcamp but I wasn't really ready to get my head around it and when I returned to school in Jun (Covid restricted) school dinners were just awful beige carbs which didn't help. Hoping to lose a stone to get back to that stable weight before Christmas, and then longer term to lose another stone in 2021. I already eat roughly 16:8 since my first bootcamp when I read about IF.

Menu today:
B - creamy coffee
L - Spinach, pea and mint soup (not strictly allowed veg, but using up food in the fridge and less than 5g/100g carbs), smoked mackerel salad
D - pork chops with roasted cabbage

My top tip for vegetables is roasting in coconut oil - I eat much more broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage etc. since I discovered how nice they taste cooked like this.

I am currently very cross with Ocado who have stopped selling any creme fraiche that isn't low fat! Any other Ocado customers here, please can you also tweet or email them to complain?

ZiggZagg · 12/10/2020 14:55

Hello everyone, I'm COVID negative so can go the shops! Yay! Although haven't eaten this morning as I'm still quite ill, I'm making roasted sausage and veg with cauliflower cheese for tea. DH is joining me to encourage me and lose 7kg himself.

@Linnet I have one of these from Amazon, takes about an hour to heat up but really good for hot foods, soups, stews and curries Grin

2020 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp.  The first week!
BoogleBear · 12/10/2020 15:00

@Benvolio I lost nearly a stones worth of fibroids so is a bit annoying to have gained that back in podge! I have one ovary left and I am unsure whether my gain is a result of my op but suspect it is.

20bloodypounds · 12/10/2020 15:00

So photos...

Summer 2019 in said evening dress, and smuggly wearing shorts (even out in public, and even though I'm knocking on the door of 60).

Then 20 addional pointless lockdown pounds. Neither dress nor shorts will do up. Not yet!

Hmm, so I can't post all 4 photos, I'll post the dress today and the shorts tomorrow.

20bloodypounds · 12/10/2020 15:01

Shorts

BurningGubbins · 12/10/2020 15:05

Hello All. I think I might join (non-spreadsheet) too...

I did the May bootcamp in lurker fashion and just carried on. As of this morning I have lost 40lbs and seen an 11 on the scales for the first time in about 8 years. I have had 1 cheat meal since May as once I saw the results it really didn’t seem worth it.

I’ve decided to join this time around though because last week was tough. I found myself picking up bars of (dark!) chocolate at the train station (used to be my downfall - commuting snacks) and feeling bored with my meals. I didn’t cheat but could do with the inspiration.

I am enjoying the intermittent fasting, although did have some egg mayo and veg this morning as I had a job interview (I waffled, don’t think it’s going to pan out).

NigellaAwesome · 12/10/2020 15:06

Hello all. Nice to see familiar names and welcome to Newbies. Thanks so much to BIWI & Athelstane for the thread and spreadsheet.

I did brilliantly on last boot camp until I went on hols to France at the start of August and just couldn’t get back into it. Lots of external stresses -don’t we all— I’ve gained a bit, but still lower than I was when I started last boot camp.

I love all of the shorts n trouser pictures!

B. 2 coffees
Walk at lunch
L: poached chicken, homemade coleslaw, 1/2 avocado
D: shepherds pie W celeriac topping

Margaritawithlime · 12/10/2020 15:20

@ilovecherries I suspect I will be the same.
I wish I’d pulled myself together after only putting on 12 lbs but I know how bloody annoying it is to be further away than you were after such a brilliant effort.
I keep focusing on how amazing I’ll feel in a few weeks - I know this stuff works! Just need to get out of my head and bloody well do it

Jdhshekr · 12/10/2020 15:37

Arghhhh, yet again I have a pounding headache that feels like my brain is thudding around in my skull because of drinking lore water. According to the chart I should have between2.5-3 litres per day (but probably a bit more because I exercise most days). I’m less than 2 litres in and the pain in my head with every step in unbearable. Last time it was suggested that it was because I wasn’t having enough salt so I’ve made sure that I’ve had plenty today plus potassium too but no difference. Has anyone else had this? Does it eventually go away? It’s not keto flu as I’ve been on keto for a couple of months already, I’m just trying to drink the correct amount of water from today as I wasn’t drinking enough.

Jdhshekr · 12/10/2020 15:38

*more water

BIWI · 12/10/2020 15:52

Get hold of an electrolyte supplement @Jdhshekr. And slow down on the water.

Yes you need to drink the water - and 2.5 litres really isn't that much, especially if you're doing intensive exercise, but if it's giving you headaches then perhaps you need to build up to it.

The other thing you could do is to increase your carbs a little bit - what are you eating? You say you're doing keto, so that would suggest that you're eating very low carb, which isn't Bootcamp.

OP posts:
GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 12/10/2020 16:18

[quote Oneborneverydecade]@rayna37 thank you that's really useful to know

@shagmeriggins I really need to know about the 4 way 🙏🏻

To the poster who had happily maintained - thank you for sharing - I'm curious to know whether you stay on plan 100% of the time or if we can hope to eat the occasional treat e.g. birthday cake?[/quote]
Hi, think that was me. I'm hesitant to go into too much detail, because during Bootcamp, especially during the first two weeks, it's really important to stick to the rules - but yes, now I'm maintaining I will have the occasional "treat". When I bake, I'll have a bit of whatever it is. I had a slice of cake on my birthday. I drink wine at weekends. The difference is I have these things occasionally and in small amounts.

wantmorenow · 12/10/2020 16:37

@AthelstaneTheUnready please may I be added?

Lost 10.8kg during lockdown - easier to eat healthily at home plus WFH meant I had time for exercise plus weather was gorgeous. Put 3.5kg back on. Looking to lose my menopausal middle. :-)

Midlifemission · 12/10/2020 16:39

@BIWI and others. Can anyone advise me as well please ?
After lunch I too have developed a terrible headache and felt so awful I just went and had a short nap ! Luckily I am at home all day but I feel light headed and lacking in energy still so would be good to know if I can do anything to keep myself on a bit more of a even keel !
I have only had approx 1.75 litres of water if that relevant ?
Omelette for breakfast and sausages and veg for lunch.
Thanks

Takingontheworld · 12/10/2020 16:40

Ooo ok i need to go find something i don't fit in. shouldn't be hard

I made a korma for tea with spinach but couldn't eat much, gonna keep up with the water and hope food is more tolerable tomorrow!

Rshard · 12/10/2020 16:45

Wow the thread is so busy! I’m loving the shorts/dresses/jeans photos. I have a lovely denim shirt that might be my target for this boot camp.

poorbuthappy · 12/10/2020 16:48

@wantmorenow I have a menopause middle too!!!
I think it may also be a wine middle though too Confused

sheepysheep · 12/10/2020 17:02

Yay, off we go! Thanks BIWI, stuntnun and Athel for giving us all the information and motivation to do this :-)

I have been LCHF since Jan 2016 and lost 3.5 stones (ish) by the september to get to my happy weight of 10 stones. I have remained low carb since and have kept most of it off but I do fluctuate a little. I have lapsed a bit and whilst I am still mostly LC, I have been allowing way too much carb creep and bloody nuts are my downfall... It's been a funny old year for us all. I've gained nearly a stone since lockdown started - and as I am now a little bit older it seems to have settled on my belly... so I have a skinny little arse, smallish top half and a swim ring of blubber around the middle... not good! Hopefully a decent bootcamp will help with that and reset my wayward habits. I think stress is a problem for belly fat too and we've all had plenty of stress so far this year!

I have to stay away from home during the week with work - the pub I stay in are great and I get special food but the chef is a real feeder and the portions are huge. They are away this week so I am in the pub on my own. I have a microwave so I raided M&S earlier - the curry ready meals seem to be quite good for low carbing... tonight I will be having chicken pakoras and prawn curry with some mini veg portions. I've got eggs and salmon for breakfast and salad things / prawns for lunches so I am all set for the week. I spent nearly as much as my weekly shop at home - thankfully it's all on expenses!

I am strugggling a bit with water intake as it is very cold at work (factory) so I have brought my pint mug with me and am having fruity teas. I hope this is OK and they are not too acidic?

Anyway, good luck everyone!

SomethingInTheWaySheCooks · 12/10/2020 17:03

The very first day is going ok!
B two eggs scrambled and 2 slices of grilled bacon
L salad with tuna. I mixed the tuna in some olive oil, white wine vinegar and lemon juice.
D pork chops, celeriac mash, broccoli & creamy mustard sauce.
I have never made celeriac mash before. Hope it’s edible!
I think I’m going to struggle with the fat. Also, I had two coffees at breakfast time (decaf) with skimmed milk in both, which is just what we normally have at home. I only want to lose about 4 or 5kilos, so hope this is ok 🤷🏽‍♀️ Ive been to the shop and bought cheese, cream and Greek yoghurt!

wantmorenow · 12/10/2020 17:08

poorbuthappy might be cause of mine too. Blush

Solongsugar · 12/10/2020 17:08

@Benvolio, @BoogleBear I had a hysterectomy due to massive fibroids July 2020 and stopped smoking. Im not sure if I'm in menopause but I put on 2 stone in a year. Started a low carb way if eating July, lost 2 stone to date and a lot of symptoms I had like insomnia, hunger, emotional turmoil has completely subsided. Hoping this bootcamp will accelerate weight loss and like other posters highlight, feel so much better. A year on from surgery I'm starting to come through finally.

Solongsugar · 12/10/2020 17:09

*July 2019 I'd meant !

EastofEdna · 12/10/2020 17:26

Day 1 completed for me; weighed, water and food all done. Am just going to find something to wear that doesn’t quite fit as an incentive. Not brave enough to post a picture though. Nice to read of everyone’s days.

anewdispensation · 12/10/2020 17:28

Day one so far so good... cauliflower aplenty here.... and celeriac which I love so much

prettybird · 12/10/2020 17:34

That reminds me: must buy some celeriac.

And brussels should be back in season too Smile (Long term Boot Campers will know that I am every so slightly Winkobsessed with brussels microwaved in butter Grin) ....or should that be "a champion of ...."? Wink

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