General Low Carb Bootcamp Chat

[BIWI]

Although I generally keep a chat thread going at the end of each Bootcamp, I think it would be better to have an ongoing chat thread that isn't linked to a specific Bootcamp.

So here it is. A sparkly new thread, for all things low carb and Bootcamp chat. As well as anything else you'd like to chat about!

Feel free to chat about anything you like here.

Thanks all.
She thinks my body has a reaction to it.
I was having protein shakes before, she didn't like those either
It's tricky as I have 4 kids and it's a ball ache finding LC alternatives to the pasta and rice we eat a lot of.
But needs must

@Runninghorse double cream is great as hot chocolate (use cocoa powder and a tiny bit of natvia if you like it slightly sweeter). It's incredibly filling (a little goes a long way) and it makes a good quick desert if you fancy something chocolatey.

@BestIsWest almond juice is low carb but unfortunately it doesn't have the fat of full fat milk or cream. A small splash of full fat milk goes a long way in tea I find.

Oooo today is being difficult.
I am drinking all the water, I've eaten lovely low carb food but my brain is telling me I want to eat purely out of habit.
I've spent so long on the loo today I might have to take my laptop with me next time.
I know it will get better, but I could eat my own arm covered in wotsits at this very moment.

I AM NOT HUNGRY.

@batmanladybird - many of us are now adept at providing loved ones (other halves, children) with the "usual" carbs and just giving ourselves extra FLGV

I've even learnt to make low carb lasagne (recipe is in the recipe thread: uses a combination of cheeses rather than a béchamel sauce) with lasagne sheets on 2/3 of the dish and courgette slices (cut on the diagonal) on "my" third

I've also learnt (from someone on here) that thinly sliced strips of white cabbage, fried (in garlicky butter/olive oil ) is a really tasty substitute to spaghetti/pasta in a carbonara (I used to use very tiny strips of courgette but cabbage is better).

Not been on top of my water today, but will do better tomorrow.

I made the most delicious green soup today.

Fried shallots, garlic, chilli in butter. Then bunged in half a bag of shredded cabbage and more butter.
Popped in my blender along with a tin of coconut milk, knob of ginger and veg stock and some blanched broccoli. Seasoned with a squeeze of fresh lime and handful of coriander. Blended all together and voila - a wonderfully tasty soup. Felt a real treat.

Was probably a little heavy handed on the chili...

Definitely one to make again.

Hello everyone. I should be on day 3 but I've failed on two of those days. Christmas Cake is my downfall. I've done bootcamp before and found I slept better than I ever have before (lifelong insomniac), so that's the reason I'm trying again
But I also suffer from eating disorders so it's extra tough. I made celeriac mash shepherd's pie last night and it was delicious. Looking forwardto leftovers tonight!

I've managed to stay off sugar for five days now, which given I have raging PMT is something of a miracle. Still being slightly more carby than I should be, but I'm tapering down gently towards the start of the next bootcamp!

If you're considering cutting dairy then be aware that not all dairy is equal. For example steamed milk in a flat white > cold milk in an Americano. I'm mildly dairy intolerant and I eat unlimited butter and hard cheeses but only rarely have cream or yogurt. I almost never have milk. It isn't just an intolerance though, dairy also screws up my insulin levels and makes me feel hungrier and crave carbs. Not everyone reacts that way to dairy so experimentation is the only way to be sure. But still, several "creamy coffees" a day is usually a bad idea and will stall weight loss. It's the combination of too frequent calories and the impact of dairy protein on insulin levels. It's best to have dairy no more than twice a day and preferably with a meal rather than as a meal replacement or snack.

B: none as intermittent fasting as usual (breakfast makes me hungry)
L: scrambled eggs with streaky bacon pieces mixed in, large piece of cheese, loads of water and herbal teas, one mug of decaf green tea
D: Bolognese with mushrooms fried in butter and grated cheddar.

I've been eating this way for years so I usually skip the first two weeks of Bootcamp and stick with Bootcamp Light all year round. I don't eat nuts or chocolates and only occasionally have fruit so alcohol is the one thing I have that isn't allowed on Bootcamp. The kids were bad today so there was a bit more wine than would be usual for a school night. Still, all four of them have been isolating with Covid since last week without being able to leave the house so it's no surprise that their tempers are starting to fray. Roll on Monday when they can finally go back to school!

@hapusrwydd that soup sound sounds fab, may need to give that a go.

I had a gorgeous fennel and chicory gratin at the weekend with a roast chicken. Sautéed some shallots in butter. Added a couple of anchovies with some crushed garlic and olive oil then 2 thinly sliced fennel bulbs and four heads of chicory (leaves whole), cooked for about 3 minutes until starting to go a bit soft. Added 250mls double cream, pepper and 50 grams parmesan, then pour into a dish. Sprinkle more parmesan on the top, put in the oven until the top is golden (about 25 minutes). It's based on a Diana Henry recipe, with a few tweaks to make LC friendly (and also to include what I had in the fridge!)

I’m day 3, enjoying the food even when all my colleagues are still working their way through the Xmas chocolates 😤 dipped my urine today and I’m in ketosis so that’s kept me motivated! Also doing dry January and intermittent fasting. Had Greek salad for lunch and butter chicken with green vegi pretend rice.

Also on the cooking appliance chat I’d recommend the ninja foodie for a slow cooker/pressure cooker combo!

Any thoughts on potassium rich foods? Need to keep my intake up but a lot of it seems to be higher carb foods.

(Sorry should specify need to keep potassium levels up for medical reasons)

@cheeseisthebest

Hi everyone. Definitely getting back on the low carb wagon and back to bootcamp.

Any advice about what I can do for my low iron and b12 levels. I take tablets/spray already but recently blood tests showed very low levels and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. Struggling to get to sleep each night too which isn't normally a problem for me.

If you’re taking supplements (and eating B12 rich foods) you could have an absorption problem. I would ask for a print out of your results (or look on NHS app if in England) as it may be you are only just in the ‘safe’ range. I had a similar problem where I felt rubbish (amongst many many other symptoms) for years, GP kept saying bloods were fine and it was just because I had a young family. Last year B12 was flagged as too low and I now receive injections as I don’t absorb through gut…..but when I looked back at previous blood results my levels were always at the bottom end of the lab range.

When taking B12 supplements you should also co-factor with magnesium, a b complex, folic acid and iron. And also make sure you are getting enough potassium in your diet.

I’ll PM you the name of a FB group I’m on that is brilliant for info regarding all this

Thanks to whoever suggested cabbage in place of pasta.
I’ve just eaten half a shoogled savoy with a bacon, tomato and chilli sauce with grated pecorino stirred through. Honestly I preferred it to pasta (not a huge pasta fan anyway).
Would cabbage leaves work in place of pasta in lasagne?

@AThroneOfLies no idea on your personal medical circumstances but I add an electrolyte powder to every other drink of water through the day. I buy bulk electrolyte powder from Amazon cheaply.

[quote Runninghorse]@ShagMeRiggins -it is not soya, nut or oat milk, it is lactose free milk. Carbohydrates = 2.6g/100 ml[/quote]
Ah, apologies. I completely misread that, probably based on my experience with our lactose intolerant son. Fecking #knowitall I’m not.

[quote StuntNun]@AThroneOfLies no idea on your personal medical circumstances but I add an electrolyte powder to every other drink of water through the day. I buy bulk electrolyte powder from Amazon cheaply.[/quote]
Can I ask how this helps??

@AThroneOfLies

Any thoughts on potassium rich foods? Need to keep my intake up but a lot of it seems to be higher carb foods.

Avocados, spinach, Swiss chard. All Bootcamp approved, I believe.

Also beetroot (after two weeks, and limited) and watermelon (after two weeks, but VERY limited).

@Prinnny

I’m day 3, enjoying the food even when all my colleagues are still working their way through the Xmas chocolates 😤 dipped my urine today and I’m in ketosis so that’s kept me motivated! Also doing dry January and intermittent fasting. Had Greek salad for lunch and butter chicken with green vegi pretend rice.

Also on the cooking appliance chat I’d recommend the ninja foodie for a slow cooker/pressure cooker combo!

Ooh, Ninja, did you say? Will definitely research, and thank you.

@batmanladybird

People starting to do low carb for the first time, often suffer from what's called 'carb flu' - which is about an imbalance of electrolytes, specifically magnesium, potassium and - most of all - sodium.

Thanks for that info on dairy @StuntNun. I'm a big coffee and cream drinker and hadn't really thought about it impacting on my weight loss. I'll spend the next 10 days reducing my intake so that it's at a manageable level for bootcamp proper.

Thank you @StuntNun & @ShagMeRiggins

B black coffee and Parma ham
L sausages and cucumber.m
D chicken and courgettte stir fry.

Not enough water.

@ShagMeRiggins so sorry for the late reply, lots of pain and a trip to A&E!

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/whole-body-vibration/faq-20057958

I've read some sciencey stuff on vibration plates that do point out lots of positives. Mainly, the benefit for me would be doing something, anything rather than lying on the sofa, writhing in pain!

I have done 2 sessions and they seem to be helping with my pain, so fingers crossed!

Today I had a subway tuna salad at 3pm after getting out of A&E, for dinner I had spicy chicken breast with melted cheese and lots of green salad.

Have definitely drank all the water today and starting to feel that bootcamp energy returning, here's hoping, onwards and downwards

Day 3 of bootcamp light for me today and touch wood the headache has lifted. I wasn't great yesterday food-wise as I was trying to eat myself better to get rid of the headache. Anyway I took on board everyone's suggestions and it all seemed to help.

So today I plan to drink plenty of water and not deviate from the low carb path. Not sure about breakfast yet but have pigs in blankets for lunch (leftover from xmas and been in freezer) and I'll do some sauteed spinach alongside them. Trying to cut back on the caffeine too.