Week 2 - pre-Christmas Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Morning campers!

This is my favourite week of a new Bootcamp. Because for all those new to low carbing, and especially those who were so fearful about the amount of fat they're supposed to be eating, this can be a real revelation.

It's often a real leap of faith to commit to a way of eating which is against everything we've been told, for the last 30 or 40 years, is bad for us. And yet, all the recent science confirms that lowering our carbohydrate intake can only be good for us - and that embracing fat is also good too!

Here's a link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

I look forward, very much, to seeing results of the first week. Somehow, from what people have already posted, I think it's going to be good!

Thanks for advice on the 0% Gordons gin suggested upthread - it saved me during a big social drinks occasion at the weekend. (Explaining non-drinking would have required explanation I didn't want to give and much comment on this way of life... and on my weight etc.)

I tried it on its own and found it a bit sweet for my taste (checked the bottle and online in case sweeteners were in there after all - but it seems free). However, it is a real treat with fizzy water added. The sharpness is perfect and it feels gin-tonic like.

I used a proper big gin glass - lime slice and ice. (The whole atmosphere matters!) A good sub for me.

(Meant the gin advice upthread on our last thread - sorry!)

@Andi2020

She came home yesterday to have a shower before work and I had to have a cream bun when she left for work

Why?! Did she tie you down and force it down your throat?!

I know you're in maintenance @Andi2020, but using food (especially high carb and high fat foods like this) is not a useful strategy.

Does it really taste like gin @Wildheartsease? That's something that puts me off. The other thing that puts me off is the price of some of the alcohol-free spirits. Given that they don't pay tax on them, the manufacturers must be making huge profits!

@BIWI no she didn't hold me down. Its just my weakness turn to sweet carbs when feeling down .

This piece might help you

As a newbie to this woe
Can someone advise what total carbs should be in a ‘ normal ‘ week ( ie not strict boot camp )

It depends entirely what you mean by 'normal' @MercedesBenz!

There's no specific definition of what a low carb diet is, although I've seen the figure of less than 100g carbs being used.

Dr John Briffa (who wrote "Escape The Diet Trap") used to suggest that to stay low carb, you should aim for each meal to be no more than 30g carbs.

Hi all. 3 pound loss this week which is great. Just had leek and chard fried in butter with some grated cheese on top plus eggs and mayo for lunch. Burgers and salad for dinner. I have been having a few nuts because I was hungry (only Brazil nuts though which are pretty low carb) but I am determined to cut them out this week.

@MercedesBenz

As a newbie to this woe Can someone advise what total carbs should be in a ‘ normal ‘ week ( ie not strict boot camp )

Sorry, no idea because I've never counted them. As long as you follow The Rules, there is no need to. And one of the great things about this WoE is that you don't need to count anything - indeed, you are discouraged from doing so

So around 90 to 100g
By normal I mean a basic week not during a boot camp
Thanks for the info 😀

I think though, @MercedesBenz, that for most people, a 'normal' week would see them consuming far, far more than the 100g - I wouldn't be surprised if it was up at around 300g or more!

@prettybird
I am following the roolz but I also see refs to carb count , so it seems there is some level of counting too

In good news, I can report a 6.75lb loss (shame I couldn't achieve that final 1/4 pound to make it a full half stone ) and am down to 12st 2.75lb.

I've also done Level 2 of the Shred this morning and gone for a 3.13km slow run - the first since the end of August, when my Achilles' tendon flared up again and the first in my new running shoes

This time last year I was 12st 3lb, having lost 8lb in the first week and iirc I got to 11st 2.75lb by Christmas

[quote MercedesBenz]@prettybird
I am following the roolz but I also see refs to carb count , so it seems there is some level of counting too[/quote]

The references to carb counts are so that you can make sure that you're not choosing foods with higher carbs (like the variations in canned tomatoes), not so that you count them per se.

So for example, tonight I'm having sausages. I know, from having checked the label, that they are low carb ones (iirc, 3g/100g), but I don't need to calculate my calorie intake.

Ditto with the veg that we choose: the spreadsheet has a list of green, amber and red veg. We can eat plenty of the "green" veg (hence the acronym FLGV ), the amber ones in moderation/small amounts (hence the warnings about canned tomatoes) and should be very careful about the "red" ones/not have them at all.

In order to count carbs, you have to weight everything. And personally, I like my food too much to be bothered with the faff!

I think it’s carbs per day that are important, not per week. Per day, you will stay in ketosis if you are under 50g carbs. If you follow the rules of bootcamp, even if you eat loads, your total carbs are unlikely to be much over 25 or 30 g because all the food is low carb. That’s why you don’t technically have to count them but the overall effect is the same, ie you go into ketosis.

Not sure why! But wd love 7lb off

We don't count carbs, @MercedesBenz - but if you're new to low carbing it's a really good idea to occasionally weigh your veg/salad, as well as read the back of any packets you're buying, so that you get a good idea for the rough carb count.

It's impossible to tell anyone how many carbs they should be consuming to lose weight, because everyone has a different tolerance to carbs. Some of us have to keep the carbs really low, others can include higher carb veg (or foods) and not see any impact on their weight loss.

If you haven't already, have a look at the carb counter on the spreadsheet, and that will give you a feel for which veg/salad stuff you should be mainly focused on.

Thanks all for the explanations
I’m glad no counting is involved as that’s a faff , but an understanding of what will fall into low carb catagory ,
I have only been eating the low carb veg and protein , so think I’m getting the hang of it
Ohh and water
Noooo alcohol

Carbs are funny, DH can eat rice and not gain weight but he gains weight if he eats bread (doesn’t matter what sort). I gain instantly if I eat bread/pasta/rice but potatoes I can get away with in small portions. I have already decided when I reach goal I will reintroduce potatoes a couple of times a week as well as the higher carb veg like carrots and parsnips. I don’t think I will ever go back to pasta/bread/rice or at least only very occasionally. It’s just not worth it for me, if I were younger and more active maybe it would be different.

@TrueGrit54 - I am thinking the same about carby-veg. Bread is lovely but not for me I suspect.

@BIWI - the Gordans 0% was £12. Not as good on its own (too sweet)as the Seedlip-spice but juniper-enough when mixed with fizzy water ice and lime. The taste is 'gin-ish' rather than gin.

I am also experimenting with juniper tea bags in cold water.

@prettybird what a fantastic loss

Lots of good losses altogether.

1lb down for me but have been low carbing since the summer mini bootcamp so can’t really expect more. That takes me to 20lbs lost all together. I’m really hoping for another stone before Christmas but even if I’m close I will be happy.

Lunch - Yogurt
Dinner - courgetti fried in butter with prawns in a spot of homemade tomato sauce.

I’ve really gone off eggs and mushrooms which used to be my staple breakfast.

I was a bit stupid in my calculation of kg and pounds and got overexcited last night thinking I’d lost over 6kg. Ooops. On proper calculation I’ve actually lost 8lb which is still
Amazing.
I am also wearing trousers today that didn’t fit last week so the bloat is going and the muffin top!!

That recipe sounds delish BIWI! I'll have to add it to my meal plan for next week. I forgot to weigh this morning (but that's probably not a bad thing as I forgot the bootcamp started and so only started eating to the rules on Friday ), but I will do tomorrow