2021 Pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

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

Morning all, feeling energised by all the enthusiasm on the thread! I too have wandered way off piste recently but am back and focused now. Only slightly hampered this morning by having to get the whole family out for a covid test and now having kids home from school for the day

Fast broken with a small square of cheeseburger pie and I will have some lunch with them later. Just having a creamy coffee now, 1.5l of water down already but lots to go as my target is 4. Have done lots of prep and batch cooking at the weekend as the last 2 weeks of October are basically my busiest of the year at work so I need to be prepared as food is always the first thing to go when time is short.

Good luck everyone, keep posting your meals as it's great for ideas. My plan for today is another small square of CB pie with lots of buttery leeks and mushrooms, then a chicken stir fry later.

Forgot to say, the spreadsheet should be sorted now.

Thank you Ouchmyfeet

Yeah, about the water...

There’s a reason I pipe up randomly with WATER WATER WATER!!! It’s because BIWI and prettybird et al are absolutely makes a difference.

If I do Bootcamp and don’t meet my water requirements I have significantly slower weight loss. Still weight loss, but not as fast.

Some might be thinking the water is substituting for food—you’re full of water but don’t eat, or don’t eat as much. That isn’t the case. Everything about this way of eating is designed for excellent nutrition.

So for those who are new to this you’ll see a lot of posts about WATER, FLGV (fuck load of green veg), and healthy fats. Of course the protein is important but that seems to come automatically in most people’s diets (other than vegetarians and vegans, who do need to think more carefully about sources of protein when some of the staples aren’t allowed here).

@TrueGrit54, I find plain water really dull, especially in cold weather. I’m drinking lots of decaf tea with a splash of soya or full fat milk, herbal teas and water flavoured with lemon, cucumber and mint. Also having one coffee with a bit of double cream once a day. My mug holds 400ml so I worked out that 6 hot drinks, plus flavoured water should get me there (do you agree @BIWI?)

Re: the wine - you need to find a substitute treat/habit for your evening routine, maybe some nice olives or similar snack?

I gave up alcohol a few years ago as I couldn’t handle it the older I got, plus I was finding it very difficult to control the amount I drank, I know personally that swapping wine for water can be pretty miserable (well it was for me) I swapped for 0% lager instead, which isn’t much help in this case as it has around 5g of carbs per 100ml. Hopefully some of the more experienced boot campers might have some good suggestions though.

Ooh! One more thing that I don’t think has been mentioned enough—measure yourselves today. As many measurements as possible, even neck and wrists.

If I had a dollar for every time someone typed “I wish I’d measured myself at the beginning” I’d be, well, I’m sure I’d be able to buy a vintage bottle of champagne.

It’s another one of those places to go when you feel you’re stalling or things aren’t moving fast enough. Seeing the difference in inches feels really, really good.

BIWI and prettybird thanks 2.5 litres it is, I am 5ft 5” and yup I have looked at the water requirements. I’ll report back tonight on how going from zero water to 2.5 litres worked out.

Thank you for the helpful reminders about the rules, @BIWI. I have been low carbing for a few months now but in the past couple of weeks, PMT made me fall off the wagon for a week or so and I ate carbs. They made my stomach feel as tight as a drum and made me very sluggish. I went back on low carb last week, went through the keto-flu on Thursday and Friday and am now through the other side, which will make boot camp so much easier.
Some nice meal plans being posted. I love steaming broccoli, mixing in a bit of butter and Parmesan cheese, salt pepper crushed garlic and sticking it in the microwave. I also did a huge slow cooker bolognese with loads of low carb veg.

One annoying thing is that lots of the supermarkets seem to go predominantly for lean beef mince when I want high fat! I buy organic and the best I could find in Sainsbury’s was 12% but the Tesco 15% one is nicer.

Good morning! I'm new to this so very nervous but excited too! Hope you don't mind lots of questions!

I'm 5'8 early fifties probably peri/menopausal but still have a coil fitted for ridiculous tsunami periods so not sure.

Just weighted in at 189 lbs. Heavier than when I was full term pregnant many moons ago. Eek.

Hoping to get more energy and slimmer for a big holiday next year.

@ShagMeRiggins thank you, I was just about to ask what is FLGV? That makes sense

Aargh, can't add to the spreadsheet, not sure what I'm doing wrong. I'm on an iPhone.

Ask as many questions as you like @Shallwegoforawalk!

@Shallwegoforawalk

Aargh, can't add to the spreadsheet, not sure what I'm doing wrong. I'm on an iPhone.

Have you downloaded the Google Sheets app?

ShagMeRiggins will do. KeyLimePies thanks for advice re alcohol. I will try sliced lemons in water and I have Becks Blue (if desperate) which is 8.5 gr carbs in a little 275 ml bottle. I have also dug out the herbal teas I bought in January, unopened obviously! Right, time to get drinking water, it’s almost midday and I’ve just looked at it so far.

That's a lot of carbs though, @TrueGrit54 - have you tried Nanny State? .

A 330ml can is 3.96g carbs. It's also nice and bitter, so it does feel like you're drinking something other than a soft drink. I find that one of those during the evening witching hour is enough, and that I can move happily on to water for the rest of the evening, without feeling deprived.

Shallwegoforawalk I am crap at tech stuff but if you download the Google Sheets app (free but it will ask for email and password to sign up) the bootcamp will appear like magic full of information. It is a bit hard to get the full benefit from a mobile, if you look at it on a laptop/ipad it’s easier to see everything. I am on my iPhone and it’s doable but very squashed. I am going to see if my 8 year old laptop will work shortly. Exciting day!

Cucumber in water is also really nice. Like a different drink.

No I haven’t heard of Nanny State, that’s a big improvement on carbs, thanks BIWI. I will try and buy some today.

thanks for the tip @ShagMeRiggins - I've just measured myself and will post publicly for accountability

B - 42"
W - 41"
H - 40"
Thighs - both 22"
R arm - 11"
L arm - 10"

not sure about 1" difference in arm circumference, but I'm right handed so maybe right bicep is more muscly

I know many of us struggle with the alcohol side of things, me included.
For me, this WoE is one of the most effective ways of not drinking! It's as if I'm focussing on having to drink all the water and having to eat enough fat/greens rather than the fact I'm not having alcohol. No focus on deprivation, but rather what I've got to eat and got to drink, if that makes any sense at all.

Another nice non-alcoholic-but-adult drink is a "rock shandy". It's a dash of angostura bitters in should be tonic soda or sparkling water, with ice and a slice of lemon/lime. It's nearly like a G&T!

In fact, even pre Boot Camp, it was my drink of choice if I was driving (albeit with diet tonic water).

Nice to "see" you again @ShagMeRiggins

I agree, cucumber in water is nice. It's doesn't taste cucumber-y - just nice and fresh.

Will try cucumber too, thanks ShagMeRiggins.

Hi All

Weighed in and updated the spreadsheet earlier, and have just caught up with all the posts so far... one advantage of a lengthy train journey - I have had a chance to catch up with Mumsnet (and work emails too after a week off).

@TrueGrit54 nice to see you on here as well as the other thread.

When I signed up I was thinking bootcamp lite but I'm going to try to stick to full bootcamp at least during the week as (I hope) it'll get me back on track.

@nowlook and @ditavonteesed - I'm travelling by train and staying at a Jury's Inn this week... any suggestions more than welcome!

@Glenthebattleostrich - my plan is roughly cooked breakfast - bacon, mushrooms, grilled tomato and egg (preferably fried but scrambled if not) with black coffee or tea unless ff milk or cream is available. I need to buy lunch so will try to get salad, water etc as close to bootcamp as I can. Evenings will be more challenging- the colleagues I am with apparently survive in pizza and beer... hmm...

So far so good... 1.5 litres of water done plus hot drinks at breakfast... and only limited caffeine 😃

Hi I've weighed in but unable to add to the spreadsheet (think it maybe my phone). Anyway heavier than I want to be, so making positive changes today.