April Leaving Lockdown Low Carb Bootcamp - week 1

[BIWI]

Welcome everyone!

Here, as ever, is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness created and lovingly managed by the wonderful @AthelstaneTheUnready

Hopefully you should find that you're already on the spreadsheet - but if not, just add your name to the bottom of the list. Don't try to insert it in the right alphabetical place - Athelstane will do that for you. And don't touch the blue cells or try to enter any other data or comments!

For those that are new, each week I'll start a new chat thread, on Monday, and we'll start off with recording our weight.

However

You don't have to use your weight to measure your progress - and you don't have to be on the spreadsheet if you don't want to be. Instead, take your measurements each week (bust/upper arms/waist/hips/thighs), or find an item of clothing that's just too tight/small right now, and keep trying it on each week.

The rules of Bootcamp are on the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet - but here's a quick summary of the rules for the first two weeks:

1. Eat three meals a day
2. Avoid processed foods
3. Eat lots of fat
4. Make sure you're eating vegetables and salad with your food
5. Be careful about dairy, apart from butter which is unlimited
6. You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water a day
7. No alcohol
8. No fruit
9. No nuts/seeds

10. No sugar/artificial sweeteners

Make sure you have a really good read of the spreadsheet for the full detail of the rules. Also, check out the tabs at the bottom - there's a huge amount of information that will really help you, especially if you're new to low carbing/Bootcamp.

There's also a thread here of FAQs which should be helpful.

Some thread etiquette

The thread will move really quickly - especially at the beginning.

But please take the time to read everyone's posts, rather than just plopping on with your own comments/thoughts/questions. It's very frustrating when someone comes on to the thread to ask a question that's been posed and answered already!

Don't lurk!

I know that not everyone is confident about posting - and also that there are a lot of posters who are regular Bootcampers, and who know other Bootcampers. Please don't think this is a cliquey thread. It couldn't be further from the truth!

Everyone's views and experiences are welcome and valid, so jump in and post.

Any questions, please just post. Or PM me. There's always someone here who can help - and if I or they can't, then we can always find someone who can!

Above all, very good luck to everyone.

I very much hope that by the time we come to the end of these ten weeks, that we really are (as a country) completely ready to leave Lockdown well behind.

Wishing everyone all the luck

@Bestbees, good prediction, I am distinctly peckish. Or is it just because I'm thinking about what I'm eating more :-)

@ouchmyfeet that is impressive from bootcamp1! Good to know it can be done!

Hoorah for delurking @BSky! You're on now.

Apple Crumble!!! @Oneborneverydecade

Tut.

You do know BIWI was locked up briefly (banned from Mumsnet, the shame!), so is now prowling around, seeking who she can devour?

It's a brave person eats apple crumble on their first day, in front of a righteous BIWI.

at typo in typing in my weight Cathy Twat indeed!
@BIWI off to Dubai... it was a tricky decision as I love my job here, family, pets and whatnot plus Dubai itself... As it gets closer though, I'm just really looking forward to seeing dh, and drinking a glass of wine in the sun with him. Glares out at the ingoing Scottish snow @VeryLittleOwl do you know the poem, First Sight by Phillip Larkin? It's one of my faves and made me think of you and your chum this week... Off to see if I can copy and paste a copy.

Hello. First boot camp for me, but have had some success on the fast 800, so know this works for me. The only other time I have had success with a different method was through breastfeeding, but this isn’t an avenue I fancy again, so low carb it is.

A good start today. I headed back to the gym first thing (eek!) before
B - hard boiled egg
L - tuna, olives and spinach
D - chicken with rocket and tomato salad (not sure if tomatoes are allowed)
I also did a super long walk and had a black coffee whilst the rest of my family had cake from a cafe. I also have drunk so much water today that I had a do a natural wee whilst on our walk.

Thanks for the supportive thread and super whizzy spreadsheet. Sorry if I was in anyway responsible for the illicit adding of comments.

hellopoetry.com/poem/68923/first-sight/

I feel very lucky to have stumbled onto this thread just as a new bootcamp was starting. It was pure chance that I looked for it today, following my depressing weigh in at the gym. It looks like an amazingly supportive thread, with @BIWI and@AthelstaneTheUnready (and I'm sure some others that I don't kn ow about) being very generous with their time and knowledge.

My day of eating has been divided into BSUTBC and ASUTBC (before signing up to boot camp and after). The before was a bit messed up: copious white coffee for breakfast and nothing else; a meal replacement shake for lunch. But this evening has been better: poached salmon fillets with fried mushrooms, mixed salad leaves and cottage cheese.

My worries about the coming days are:

---How to cope without vats of milky coffee.
---Not understanding dairy. I don't have a grasp of whether/when/which dairy is ok.
---How perfectionist to be about the little things. Eg I sneaked a spoonful of factory-made bearnaise sauce into my salad to liven it up, but it probably has suger and other nasties in it. Is it best to be full-on puritan or to make little compromises that offer consolation and ease the path?

I've done ok at keeping Cathy Twat (I love how my autosuggest has already learned that phrase) at bay, but I have resorted to odd cheese snack when I've felt hungry mid-afternoon. Do you think this means I'm not eating enough (fat) at lunch? My menu from today was:

B - scrambled eggs and mushrooms cooked in butter, and a creamy coffee
L- crayfish and avocado salad with olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing
D - pork chops with buttered asparagus and a bit of grilled halloumi, then a couple of spoons of Greek yoghurt with cinnamon.

I had a big slice of cheese a couple of hours after lunchtime because I had a headache and felt grouchy. Might have been down to a combination of having both the plumber (literal) and the painters (metaphorical) in, but maybe also I need to bulk up my earlier meals and have less for dinner?

Thank you @AthelstaneTheUnready

@gillyweed personally I find it's not the fat that stalls me, it's the combination of fat AND carbs. It's unforgiving if you are eating high fat and then biscuits or bread start to creep in as well. If I eat high fat and pay attention to how I feel (i.e. am I really hungry or am I just going to eat a biscuit because my mouth is bored?) then I know that I'm full and don't need any 'treats'.

The only thing I have to watch out for is drinking double cream straight from the pot

@JimmyJabs

I've done ok at keeping Cathy Twat (I love how my autosuggest has already learned that phrase) at bay, but I have resorted to odd cheese snack when I've felt hungry mid-afternoon. Do you think this means I'm not eating enough (fat) at lunch? My menu from today was:

B - scrambled eggs and mushrooms cooked in butter, and a creamy coffee
L- crayfish and avocado salad with olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing
D - pork chops with buttered asparagus and a bit of grilled halloumi, then a couple of spoons of Greek yoghurt with cinnamon.

I had a big slice of cheese a couple of hours after lunchtime because I had a headache and felt grouchy. Might have been down to a combination of having both the plumber (literal) and the painters (metaphorical) in, but maybe also I need to bulk up my earlier meals and have less for dinner?

Your day's food sounds fantastic JimmyJabs!

With the headache, it could be a dose of carb flu. Make sure you're having salt in, on and around everything and are drinking enough water.

I'm supposed to be on 3.5 litres of water a day - I am managing it, but my poor middle-aged bladder isn't too happy. Still, I'm getting plenty of exercise from running up and down the stairs to the loo...

@Random789

I feel very lucky to have stumbled onto this thread just as a new bootcamp was starting. It was pure chance that I looked for it today, following my depressing weigh in at the gym. It looks like an amazingly supportive thread, with *@BIWI* and@AthelstaneTheUnready (and I'm sure some others that I don't kn ow about) being very generous with their time and knowledge.

My day of eating has been divided into BSUTBC and ASUTBC (before signing up to boot camp and after). The before was a bit messed up: copious white coffee for breakfast and nothing else; a meal replacement shake for lunch. But this evening has been better: poached salmon fillets with fried mushrooms, mixed salad leaves and cottage cheese.

My worries about the coming days are:

---How to cope without vats of milky coffee.
---Not understanding dairy. I don't have a grasp of whether/when/which dairy is ok.
---How perfectionist to be about the little things. Eg I sneaked a spoonful of factory-made bearnaise sauce into my salad to liven it up, but it probably has suger and other nasties in it. Is it best to be full-on puritan or to make little compromises that offer consolation and ease the path?

Klaxon alert for @stuntnun!

who posted the best explanation of types of dairy on (another) thread on (some time recently)...

Stunt, could you dig it out?

On the perfectionism - try it for the first two weeks of Bootcamp, which are the strictest anyway (rules relax slightly after that). You may find your tastes adjust, or you find alternatives you prefer, or you could ask for recommendations . It's only for two weeks.

If after that you're struggling with unlively food, reassess.

@JimmyJabs, the mid-afternoon hunger could well be not enough fat at lunchtime. Some (many) lumps of feta or buffalo mozarella would have been ideal with that avo/crayfish salad.

Glad you're back BIWI!

Thought we were going to have to smuggle you a file in a boot camp scone!

It's such a relief to be back on Bootcamp. It makes me feel in control and looked after.

It's such a relief to be back on Bootcamp. It makes me feel in control and looked after.

Me too @MilesJuppIsMyBitch

I’ve had a good first day, took my boys to McDonald’s for lunch and didn’t even punch a chip! I think I’ve eaten a lot more than some of you though!
Today has made me realise how much I randomly eat out of habit. About 20 times today I thought I’ll just have a ... (normally chocolate) when I’m not even hungry! The urge to eat is something I need to get on top of. I’m 10 pounds up from where I want to be. 6 pounds and my clothes will fit better so that’s the first aim.
I’ve realised that a lot of my clothes are sat in my wardrobe as I won’t wear them when I feel or look fat so I just wear the same frumpy comfortable clothes on repeat. Hoping that this boot camp will give me a boost so I can feel confident buying some new clothes.

Had an excellent day but the evening snack creep is upon me now. Am manfully resisting.

@Chunkymonkey123

I’ve had a good first day, took my boys to McDonald’s for lunch and didn’t even punch a chip! I think I’ve eaten a lot more than some of you though! Today has made me realise how much I randomly eat out of habit. About 20 times today I thought I’ll just have a ... (normally chocolate) when I’m not even hungry! The urge to eat is something I need to get on top of. I’m 10 pounds up from where I want to be. 6 pounds and my clothes will fit better so that’s the first aim. I’ve realised that a lot of my clothes are sat in my wardrobe as I won’t wear them when I feel or look fat so I just wear the same frumpy comfortable clothes on repeat. Hoping that this boot camp will give me a boost so I can feel confident buying some new clothes.

Love punching chips

And the mindless eating realisation. Actually, could that be a thirst thing - did you have some water each time?

I hear you on the clothes - been wearing my fat jeans and my father's jumper since about last October. I definitely slimmed down a bit this BC just gone though, so should probably at least try another jumper...

@LittleDoritt

Had an excellent day but the evening snack creep is upon me now. Am manfully resisting.

Don't manfully resist! Much too much like hard work. Go for complete distraction instead - make a herbal tea (or whatever your hot drink of choice in the evening is). Have an early night, or go and turf out a bottom drawer to go through.

Oh gosh, Apple Crumble! Havent had any for years and now it’s all i’m thinking about haha

Loving all the enthusiasm this BC, I feel we are all going to smash it!

Now i’m getting out of bed for a third time to pee and will catch up again in the morning.

Thanks Athelstane. Had a good read through the thread and realised as Venusandmars said, that I'm really not actually hungry, it's just my mouth is bored. I love that! My mouth gets bored OFTEN. Having a creamy coffee and going to read my book. Stupid mouth.

Jimmy you make me roar, with your lunch of fear and your plumber and painters

LittleOwl those photos are fab! So encouraging.

I had eggs and salmon for brunch, halloumi and celery for very late lunch, then roast chicken in chicken stock and some fennel and roast pepper for dinner.

Making lists of all the yummy sounding meals!

Knackered after having to be nice in too many meetings today. Heading upstairs to bed internal voice along the lines of "oh fuck, no clue what's for dinner tomorrow " 😩🤦‍♀️

Thank you @Timetobuckup there are many people on here who have lost as much if not more than me! But I do feel bloody amazing and very pleased with myself!
My pearls of wisdom for what that are worth are only really just follow the rules and use the thread for support. I know that’s stating the obvious but it really does work and there is so much experience on the thread people can always help.

You can lose 4 stone for sure.

I must say I had tried earlier bootcamp and dropped out but this time I had hit such an all time high I had that extra push - and I did
Find having a month off alcohol at the start helped me stop thinking’one g and t won’t hurt’ at the weekends. Also after the first few Weeks I kept the seriously low carb bread in the freezer so I could always rustle up a low carb lunch using that if needs be. It’s good not to let yourself get too hungry in case you reach for the Cathy Twat foods !

Sounds like we’ve all been having a good first day! I had:
B: Cream coffee 1.5 L water.
Lunch: Onion soup (4.7 Carbs in 100 ml but the pot was 400ml and I ate it all and then worried that that was nearly 20ml of carbs in one sitting?)
Dinner: chicken breast with cauliflower cheese FLGV &
1.5 L water.
I was pretty shocked when I weighed myself this morning and I was 12 stone 2lbs, it’s the heaviest I’ve ever been and on the last boot camp I did, I got down to 10 stone 4lb and looked fabulous.
Mind you I do understand how it’s happened, I tried intuitive eating for 6 months of a very sedentary lockdown and while it was liberating eating what I wanted, when I wanted at first, I soon became all messed up emotionally and my hormones were berserk with all the sugar so I’m glad I’ve taken back control again.