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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.

2021 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp

710 replies

BIWI · 17/10/2021 21:46

Welcome to the last Bootcamp of 2021!

This Bootcamp will last for 8 weeks, which will take us up to Monday 13 December.

It's slightly different from other Bootcamps - firstly because it only lasts for 8 weeks (rather than 10), but also because there are going to be different stages.

So ...

Weeks 1 and 2 will be, as ever, strict Bootcamp.

Weeks 3-6 will be strict Bootcamp during the week, but relaxing into Bootcamp Light at weekends

In weeks 7-8 you will have a choice - either back to strict Bootcamp or full-on Bootcamp Light for the last fortnight

OP posts:
Thread gallery
28
prettybird · 19/10/2021 16:26

@Savedbythebaconsandwich

Why not kick off my first post with a potential obvious and stupid question - I take it we're not allowed fruit juices even from concentrate? If no, are these allowed in later weeks?

Perhaps a less silly one and apologies if I've missed it in all the information. Are we allowed gravy, homemade or bisto? (Other brands are available)

Nope. You're not allowed fruit juices, even in later weeks.

That was a big thing for me: weaning myself off my morning glass of bottled freshly squeezed OJ. Shock

Think about it though: fruit juice is just pure fructose, aka sugar, minus the fibre Hmm

And without the fibre, you get an almighty insulin spike after a glass of fruit juice, which is exactly what we're trying to avoid Sad

BIWI · 19/10/2021 16:31

@Savedbythebaconsandwich

Why not kick off my first post with a potential obvious and stupid question - I take it we're not allowed fruit juices even from concentrate? If no, are these allowed in later weeks?

Perhaps a less silly one and apologies if I've missed it in all the information. Are we allowed gravy, homemade or bisto? (Other brands are available)

No absolutely you are not allowed fruit juice, whether concentrated or not! In fact, even after Bootcamp is over, if you're serious about low carbing, fruit juice is a no-no anyway.

Gravy is OK if it's not thickened - Bisto gravy granules aren't ideal, even though they're only 2g carbs per 50ml serving, because they're highly, highly processed. This is a list of the ingredients:

Potato Starch, Maltodextrin, Palm Fat, Salt, Wheat Flour (with added Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Colour (Ammonia Caramel), Sugar, Flavourings, Flavour Enhancers (Monosodium Glutamate, Disodium 5'-Ribonucleotides), Emulsifier (Soya Lecithin), Black Pepper Extract, Rosemary Extract, Onion Oil

And please note - this is the list of ingredients in what's supposed to be their beef gravy. Where is the beef?! (Very cleverly they don't actually say beef gravy anywhere on the packaging, but they use the red colour for it because everyone will associate that colour with beef).

When I'm roasting a joint or a chicken, I make a trivet out of onion, sometimes also a carrot, and then add lots of water (occasionally a splash of wine) to the roasting tray, and that makes a lovely 'jus'. If you like it a bit thicker, you can blend it up with the onion/carrot - although it's fewer carbs if you leave those out.

OP posts:
BIWI · 19/10/2021 16:32

@HappyLion2021 I hope you're not making your cheese sauce with flour?!

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ditavonteesed · 19/10/2021 16:51

It's lovely t see so many new people. I'm another daily weigher keeps me in check. I found the happy scale app really helpful as it averages it for you. What I found though was I was only recording if it went down so I didn't get a proper picture, the renpho scales help me see what is actually happening and I can see the results of my food and water intake when I look back.
I am tempted by the renpho tape measure, my friend has it so I have some measurements on the app from borrowing it. It's very clever and I like how it works out your waist to hip ratio.

@ShagMeRiggins one of my big nsv was when I realised I could lie int the bath and all of me be under water and I could put my arms by my side. Absolutely love the feeling.
I didn't manage any water at work last night so when I got up for a wee at lunch time I managed to glug a litre before I went back to sleep.

ayooplass · 19/10/2021 16:51

Ooh I think I’ve messed up on the 2nd day- cauliflower cheese. But cheese sauce made with flour.. how do people do cheese sauce? Crème fraiche and cheese?

FungalLurkins · 19/10/2021 17:05

@ayooplass I'm not personally super into cheese sauces so I've never actually but this to the test but I think I can predict that you will be told by the better and wiser that just warmed double cream with mature cheddar grated and melted into it works a (low carb) treat Smile

(Other options are available I'm sure)

prettybird · 19/10/2021 17:10

@ayooplass - boil some double cream and then add as much cheese as you can into the cream and then add some more Grin, before spooning it over the al dente cauliflower. Add some more Wink cheese on top and then grill until suitably browned.

Enjoy Smile

Dh and I shared a whole cauliflower done this way a couple of weeks ago, for supper.

The left over cheesy cream was lovely the following morning Smile

ditavonteesed · 19/10/2021 17:13

Whenever I try and make cheese sauce it looks great then on the plate it separates into cheese sauce and watery stuff which puts me right off. I started just grating cheese over stuff as I couldn't get it to work.

BIWI · 19/10/2021 17:13

@ayooplass

Ooh I think I’ve messed up on the 2nd day- cauliflower cheese. But cheese sauce made with flour.. how do people do cheese sauce? Crème fraiche and cheese?
@ayooplass

300ml double cream
at least half a pack of mature cheddar, grated (probably the whole pack, being realistic!)
black pepper for seasoning
juice of half a lemon

Bring the cream up to the boil in a small saucepan, then add the grated cheese (reserve some to sprinkle on top of the dish later)

Season with black pepper and stir till the cheese has melted, then stir in the lemon juice. (Trust me - I know this sounds weird, but it really works!)

Pour your sauce over your (cooked) cauliflower (or any other veg you like) in a shallow baking dish, and then sprinkle over the reserved cheese.

Bake until the cheese on top is nicely browned - around 20-30 minutes

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ouchmyfeet · 19/10/2021 17:26

@ditavonteesed

Whenever I try and make cheese sauce it looks great then on the plate it separates into cheese sauce and watery stuff which puts me right off. I started just grating cheese over stuff as I couldn't get it to work.
This is what happens when I try to make low carb cheese sauce. I also just settle for grating lots of cheese on hot food instead

Fab to see lots of new posters Star

MercedesBenz · 19/10/2021 17:28

Ohh all these soups sound lovely , will be cooking these
I am doing burger pie tomorrow hopefully , but can’t find the details , can anyone post them please if they have a min

Dp has kindly made fish pie with cauliflower mash and cheese and garlic , he was a bit 🤔 at no potatoes but has given it a whirl

I need to measure later too
And I have drank about 3 l of water today so feeling pleased about that

WATER

FungalLurkins · 19/10/2021 17:30

I'm really hungry on a train right now and fantasising about a massive plate of roasted za'atar coated cauliflower with crumbled feta (all golden and half melted) on top. My preferred version of cauliflower cheese and pretty much my favourite thing to eat ever. Flaked almonds or pine nuts make it even better and more decadent if one is in the nutty seedy stage of things.

MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 19/10/2021 17:35

Well, now I want some cauliflower cheese.

Today's food:

B: yoghurt with cream, & a tsp of psyllium husks
L: Fried some frozen spinach in butter, then stirred in some sour cream. Had with bolegnese & Parmesan.
D: Home-made burgers (naked) with shoogled sprouts.

Found a delicious-sounding recipe for blue-cheese coleslaw on BBC food today. Going to give it a try at the weekend, I think.

ouchmyfeet · 19/10/2021 17:37

That sounds amazing @FungalLurkins

BIWI · 19/10/2021 17:41

@MercedesBenz

Cheeseburger pie
Serves 4

Ingredients:

500g high fat minced beef
50g finely chopped onion (or use shallots for a lower carb result)
150g chopped mushrooms
100mls double cream
2 heaped tablespoons of mayo (check the carb count and use the lowest one you can find - or make your own)
150g mature cheddar, grated
3 eggs
Worcestershire sauce
salt & pepper to taste

  1. Fry mince, onion and mushrooms together until cooked. Season to taste, and add a good shake of Worcestershire sauce
  1. Place in a pie dish/lasagne-type dish and flatten with a spoon
  1. Beat the eggs along with the mayo, cream and cheese
  1. Pour this over the top of the meat mixture and bake in oven Gas mark 5/190C for 20 to 25 mins until set and golden brown

This freezes very well.

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HappyLion2021 · 19/10/2021 17:44

[quote BIWI]@HappyLion2021 I hope you're not making your cheese sauce with flour?![/quote]
Don’t worry, no flour is involved in making my version:

www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/sides/cheats-cauliflower-cheese

It’s an adaptation of it (I just use cheddar with extra Parmesan on the top plus chorizo). It’s very nice :-)

Rayna37 · 19/10/2021 17:53

I use creme fraiche for cauliflower cheese too, not quite so "heavy" as double cream. I also steam the stalky leafy bits too and whizz them into the cheesy sauce with a stick blender which adds to the bulk and texture.

BIWI · 19/10/2021 17:53

That sounds lovely!

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MercedesBenz · 19/10/2021 17:55

Thank you @BIWI

kerkyra · 19/10/2021 18:03

Hello,long time lurker here.Is it ok if I join?
I'm four and a half weeks in and every day I read old threads just to keep me on track.
I've lost 9lbs and have another half a stone to go.
I can't believe how my appetite has disappeared,its amazing.I've gone from having a whole large bag of doritos and a bar of choc in an evening to not even thinking about it. And if I get an urge,a coffee and cream hits the spot.
Good luck everyone

BIWI · 19/10/2021 18:06

Welcome @kerkyra! And well done so far. Flowers

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Dellabob123 · 19/10/2021 18:16

Welcome and well done @kerkyra. That’s amazing progress.
This woe is pretty cool. I’m on mo th four and need these threads to keep me on track.

catwithflowers · 19/10/2021 18:43

@Rayna37

I use creme fraiche for cauliflower cheese too, not quite so "heavy" as double cream. I also steam the stalky leafy bits too and whizz them into the cheesy sauce with a stick blender which adds to the bulk and texture.
That's a great idea re the bits of cauliflower we would usually waste 😀
kerkyra · 19/10/2021 18:48

Thank you! If it wasn't for the dramatic loss in week two and three,I would have found this so hard.
But now losing about half a pound/pound every week and am used to this now.
My friend brought round some chocolate tray bake as a gift and usually I'd scoff the lot but I have put in the freezer and every Saturday I have a little piece the size of an inch.
I do find I have to be mega organised for the week,so babybels in my bag for brekfast on the go,cook a massive omelette to keep in fridge on sundays,to keep me going through to Wednesday and another on Thursday.
I made cauliflower cheese two nights ago,was so rich and cheesy,perfect with my pork chop and kale with butter 🙂

kerkyra · 19/10/2021 18:54

I mean week one and two!