Week 1 - May 22 Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

Just getting the opening of the thread started, as there's a lot I want to post before we get into tomorrow!

Firstly, here's the all-important disclaimer:

I'm not a medic. I'm not a scientist, nutritionist or dietician. Everything that I write here is based on the reading I've done over the last 15 or so years. You sign up and take part in Bootcamp at your own risk - although I fervently hope there are no risks!

Please note, if you're taking any long-term medication, especially for hypertension or diabetes or high cholesterol, you should consult your GP; low carbing (for most people) will bring high blood pressure and cholesterol levels down, and will help regulate your blood sugar levels - so the dosage of your medication may need to be reviewed, if not reduced
............................................................................................................

A note about weighing

Each Monday I'll re-post the spreadsheet for you to add your weight. Weight is the most conventional way that we monitor progress, but it isn't the only way, and actually isn't always the most accurate way. It's not unknown for people to see no change on the scales, yet to know that they've lost weight as their clothes are fitting better.

You don't have to weigh (and nor do you need to be on the spreadsheet), but it is always helpful to know how you're progressing, as this helps to keep you focused. There are two other important ways to do this:

1 - take your measurements. Hips, waist and bust, as well as upper thigh and upper arms.

2 - find an article of clothing that currently just a little too tight - a pair of jeans, or a blouse - and try them on each week. This is the most tangible way to see how things are working for you.

You can do these as well as weighing of course!

............................................................................................................

Also, before we really get going, a plea for good thread etiquette!

The threads will move very quickly (especially in the first couple of weeks). But please, please, please read everything that's been posted. Use the bookmark facility so that you don't lose your place. Don't just jump on the thread to post your own stuff without bothering to read what others have posted

It is very wearing when we have to keep answering the same questions, because posters haven't bothered to read what's gone before!

@BIWI & @prettybird thanks for the suggestions! Yeah I had the turkey mince in the freezer from last week when I was attempting Noom before quickly realising what a miserable existence it was and couldn't face any more rice cakes, laughing cows or muller lights 😂
Yep I hear ya on the mince issue, I'm thinking if I cook it in a fair bit of butter/oil and maybe even add some cream to the bolognaise sauce and plenty of shaved Parmesan should bring the fat content up ok?
Didn't have any regular paracetamol in house last night - fail! Not the sort of thing you think of making sure you have to hand with diet prep but you live and learn!
I don't hear Keto mentioned much on this thread, is there a difference between this WOE and Keto? Are people weeing on sticks to check ketones or do you see any value in doing this?

Not much mention of keto because this isn't a keto WOE!

We don't count carbs (or calories) but just aim to keep them generally low, whereas keto is usually less than 20g carbs a day, which is very low.

Don't bother with the ketostix - if you're drinking all the water that you should, you'll only get a pale pink reading. (That said, I know some people like to do this, for reassurance! Personally I wouldn't waste your money - if you're losing weight, then you know it's working)

Can I join a bit late?

Two scrambled eggs with air fried broccoli and cauliflower this morning. I'll have salad and cheese for lunch then salmon and vegetables for dinner with full fat Greek yoghurt afterwards.

I'm late to the party and only started yesterday!

Tuesday:

B: Half an avocado and a boiled egg
L: Tuna mayo w/ peppers, celery, cucumber to scoop
D: Homemade burgers w/ cheese in lettuce wraps

Today:

B: Half an avocado and a boiled egg
L: Tinned sardines mashed with pepper and cream cheese, peppers, celery, cucumber to scoop
D: Some sort of chicken kebabs and cauliflower rice - haven't decided on the kebab flavouring yet.

Must remember to drink my water - I drink a lot of black coffee no sugar but think I need to up my water intake.

You're both very welcome @BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation and @LemonKitten!

But I need to point out that it sounds like your menus aren't really high fat - airfrying is a low fat way to cook!

Remember, low carb is high fat.

@TheOnlyMrsW Could you add a dollop of Philladelphia?

@Frenchpoodle I have lain on my back after dessert in a hotel and thought my abdomen was like I was 3months pregnant. So fair dues to you on saying no! Seeing as my 'No' button doesn't work, it's as well I'm at home.

It's okay, I'm factoring that in 👍🏻

@bella1426 I find turkey needs strong flavours and works well with Mexcian and Middle Eastern sort of seasoning. I recently made a chilli with some (horribly low fat) turkey mince and that was good thought I bulked it with sweetcorn and beans. I think you could go without and up the spice and lots of grated cheese and sour cream!

ottolenghi.co.uk/recipes/turkey-courgette-burgers-with-spring-onion-cumin-a#

This is really great and naturally carb free. Ive made lots of versions, I don't think it suffers if you don't have sumac or both herbs. I have made it as a meatloaf as well for ultimate ease.

Rambling post alert. Fell free to skip.

I started on Friday (after a load of bread on Thursday) so I'm on day 6 here. I'm feeling really good but I've had mixed success with BC.
My first 'real' attempt was after a party in my house. The place was full of leftover salads. I lost a pesky 10 lbs that were hanging on despite me giving SW €10 every week (Not their fault but an expensive habit)
Other BCs I've become derailed by life - just stuff. Anyway I feel very 'in the zone' this time. It's sunny here, and if my bare arms are coming out, there are batwings that need to be addressed! Also I am looking at holiday plans for July & August, so this timing is perfect.
I like fat, I like cheese, I like dairy eggs meat. I like almost ALL food. I hate the lethargic feeling after sugar. As I get older, it's like a hangover.

Anyway my omlette and creamy coffee is eaten. The pork belly is in the oven. Children will be in from school shortly (I work Monday & Tuesday).
I'm sticking close to group. My omlette was not photo worthy, as I had to tip it upside down onto the plate.
I used broccoli and blue cheese (Cashel Blue) & 3 eggs. Did I mention I love cheese?
I'll check in again later.

Turkey is horribly dry, but I think is very high in iron (well I've been told it's banned on low iron diets, whereas chicken is not). So it is very good nutrition - it just needs a little help for flavour.

@APerfectlyGoodName I am the same with sugar as I age! After the Easter chocolate binge I felt like I'd been on the absolute tear all weekend despite not having touched a drop! Anything more than a small amount (and I can't do small amounts) results in headaches, crap sleep, nausea...it's the devil!
Currently have the turkey mince simmering away in some passata, garlic and Sacla red chilli pesto (low carb, high fat and yummy) letting the flavours all infuse and will add a pour of cream later and serve with loads of Parmesan, Courgetti and mushrooms 🤤

What are people's thoughts on swede (rutabaga) and celeriac in place of potatoes?

Absolutely perfect! If you head over to the recipe threads you'll see they're used in lots of recipes.

There are loads of different recipes for celeriac in particular.

Has anyone tried "Skinny" noodles from
The skinny food co? I was just googling for low carb ideas and this came up.

Sorry I meant to put the photo in

Yes, they are also sold under the brand name Bare Naked Noodles (and also Bare Naked Rice) that most of the big supermarkets sell. They're a Japanese product made from konjac flour - known in Japan as shirataki noodles.

They're a really useful food to have in your cupboard - and that's a good price for them from that company.

They work really well in stir-fries and Asian-type soups. I sometimes use them as a spaghetti substitute - it's not quite the same, but it's OK.

When you open the pack, they are stored in liquid and it smells quite fishy - rinse the noodles and then dry fry them for about 3 minutes before you use them, and you don't get any fishy taste.

If you have a Chinese or Japanese or Korean supermarket near you, you might be able to buy them there. They also sometimes sell flat noodles made from the same ingredients that are more like tagliatelle.

I love Konjac noodles and Konjac rice - as @BIWI says, fry them for a bit and don't be put off by the smell when you open them!

I like the noodles in a thick creamy sauce - I don't think they work quite as well in a thai noodle soup or something thinner, but they're passable.

The rice HAS to be egg fried for me as otherwise it's just not 'ricey' enough!

I'm a massive celeriac and swede lover so glad to hear we're embracing them in BC! Off to look at the recipe threads now!

Thanks @BIWI and @LemonKitten ! Great advice there I'll try them out and the rice version too .

I've only had the rice version once and thought it was OK - I prefer to use cauliflower to make egg-fried 'rice' though.

@LemonKitten one of my favourite veg accompaniments is also one of the simplest - swede, cut into chunks and boiled in salted water till soft, then whizzed up with lots of butter. Salt and black pepper - sometimes chilli flakes. Goes really well with (low carb) sausages.

Hi everyone,
I'm on my way to Paris for work with some low carb rolls in my hand luggage. I say Paris, but it's a pretty depressing industrial estate on the out skirts. I'm determined to stick to the BC though.

I ate a fairly big portion of asparagus at lunchtime and I've kept on top of my water so I'm going to the loo A LOT. Very glad I'm working from home as every time I wee, I get a whiff of asparagus

@Frenchpoodle I totally agree with you on the 'unequivocal NO'. One of the things that (for me) makes this woe so do-able is the absoluteness of nor having cake, biscuit, pudding, bread. There's no umm-ing and err-ing when offered something, no 'just this once' or 'go on, I'll have a small slice' and no complicated working out, how those minor misdemeanours (which have usually triggered major fall) have impacted on whatever complicated regime I was trying to follow.

Bootcamp is glorious in its simplicity.

Food today has been:
B - avocado (sadly not a particularly good one)
S - macciatto (and no custard filled pastry)
L - sardine and mayonnaise on well buttered Schneiderbrot
D (will be) boiled eggs mashed in mayo, cheese (a big hunk of parmesan and some gorgonzola) with a big salad.

dh is having sausage and potato filled ravioli - I'm definitely not envious.

Not as many veg as I'd usually have, will up that tomorrow, hopefully.

I'm in the office in London and seriously flagging this afternoon. I am going out for a special birthday dinner at a tapas restaurant tonight, I think I can do a good LC meal there but think I'll need something in between. Any tips for supermarkets snacks on the go? I have kept on plan today but not really enjoyed my Pret meals- so expensive and a bit flat. I need to be more organised next week. That said, I have managed to resist chocolate biscuits and cake!

B pret smoked salmon and egg salad protein box
L Italian chicken salad box
D Tapas so chorizo and manchego all round. I will look the other way for the potatoey things.