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
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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!

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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!

@bella1426 totally agree. DH said he had never experienced it and had no idea what I meant, as it's hard to explain the sensation! I had it a lot in pregnancy and probably once every few weeks since. It's an infuriating feeling!

@glamourousindierockandroll I was coming on to suggest magnesium to help reduce restless leg symptoms but I see that @bella1426 already has.

In addition to taking the tablets (and one of the forms you can get is better than the other - can't remember which but I'm sure @StuntNun will advise )

Having baths with Epsom salts is apparently also a good way to absorb magnesium. It's also a good excuse reason to take some "me" time

I'm noting these recipes. Thanks for sharing. I also visited the recipe threads - I'm not going to falter from lack of inspiration.

Pork belly was nice. I just rubbed with some spice mix and roasted most of today, for an hour in my hot oven and about 5 hours in the slow one. I have leftovers in the fridge, but the skin was too tough to eat. Any suggestions - Im thinking of removing the skin and just roasting it some more, but I'm wondering at times and temps.

B. eggs and blue cheese and broccoli. Creamy coffee.
L. Greek yogurt
D. Pork Belly with FLGV
S. Green beans in butter,

Big exercise day for me today. Boxfit in the morning, then a 28K cycle later. Then I walked the dog. I love this energy.
Water, water, water!

Don't remove the skin! That's the best bit

Make sure you roast the joint at a really high heat to start with as this will start the crackling off - for about 20-25 minutes. Then turn the temperature down and cook long and slow. If the skin isn't properly crackled at the end of cooking then turn the oven up to high again for another 15-20 minutes or so

A good day for me. Feel great, got my water in and stuck to the diet, despite being back in work and having the mother of all arguments with my husband over holiday plans. Would normally send me running to the wine rack but I resisted 😇

B: Egg, avocado, sugar-snap peas and sour cream
D: salad with tuna and cheese
T: cabbage, Green beans fried in butter, tofu scrambled and sauerkraut. Mayo to top up fats.
3.5l of water plus two cups of tea.

Some great ideas in these comments, I'm vegetarian so will need to adapt them a bit hit think I can see ways to do it.

I mean, I stuck to the WoE, not diet, of course 😉
Also I went for a run. Have been recovering from covid for about 5 weeks and finally felt up for it. Was really please to have the energy and it didn't feel too bad.

Could I dip my toe in? I did Atkins 20 years ago and lost loads. Felt like it really suited me at the time. Have tried on and off over the years along with other diets but have decided that low carb works the best for me.

I'm on day 2 and have 2 stone to lose.

Yesterday:
Coffee with milk (Arla lacto free at 2.6g carbs per 100). I really don't want to give this up.
2 good quality sausages, 1 smoked bacon medallion, 2 poached eggs.
Steak with burrata, some tomato slices, 2 little gem lettuce cups and some homemade pesto made with no nuts.
4 mini chorizo/cheese rolito things.

Today:
Coffee/splash milk and 2 rolitos
Brunch will be same as yesterday
Dinner will be little gem lettuce cups with prawn cocktail (low carb), tomato and avocado.

Will up the veg soon and work on the water too.

We're all having such interesting meals! I think once you get your head around the carbs thing, it's pretty easy.

I'm trying to be low carb since last September, but the sugar addiction was too strong. :(
As many dieters was sticking to the diet through the day and bam the evening comes.
Anyway hopefully this time will work, or shall I rephrase is IT WILL WORK THIS TIME :)

Yesterday had a bit of crisis (carbs were fighting lol) headache, low energy (which was a bugger as at work) but then I remebered electrolites. It's a game changer. After it, the headache disapear in no time and I had more energy than ever.
And for the evening cravings I find that if I brush my teeth or rinse my mouth with mouth wash the cravings stops.

Todays breakfast:

3fried eggs
2 mini cucumbers
small tomatoe
2 gouda cheese slices
home made cup roll (3table spoons of milled flaxseeds, dash of salt, 1/2 tea spoon of baking powder, 30g of melted butter, 1 egg. whisk all together and put in the microwave for about 2min).

Coffee with soya milk and dash of cayene pepper to boost metabolism.

I'm having a vegetable and cheese omelette for breakfast. Salad with soft cheese for lunch and sea bass fillet and vegetables for dinner, followed by greek yoghurt.

Welcome to the newbies!
... but sorry to rain on your parade @teraculum29 - seeds aren't allowed in the first two weeks of Bootcamp.

I had loads more energy yesterday, but was a bit sleepless last night. Get wanting to get up and clean 😄

Hmm. Don't think I've ever listed THAT as a benefit of low carbing

Just had scrambled eggs with butter and cream - delicious as was the greek yoghurt with cream yesterday. I hadn't had either that way before. My diet up to now was so carb heavy with low fat yogurts, low fat spreads etc. the difference in taste using cream is incredible!

ohwww, thought just the nuts are not allowed.

sth strange as quoted Biwi not the BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation.

No worries!

First two weeks - no nuts/seeds, no fruit, no alcohol, no chocolate.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation lol I'm pretty restless at night at the moment too although last night was better than previous nights. I'm finding I'm not sleeping as well but don't seem to be as wrecked as I would normally be

After a week or so of sts the scales have nudged down 1/2 lb which I’m delighted with hopefully I’m due a whoosh !!
( I started a few weeks ago )

lunch
mozzarella salad , basil oil , olives , and Greek yog and cream

Well done on your loss @Mercedesbenz2022. What should we expect in the first couple of weeks @Mercedesbenz2022? I weighed myself this morning

I hate this new platform!!

I weighed myself today and I'm 1½lbs down on Saturday. It doesn't feel like very much but how long does it take for our bodies to get used to the new WoE?

Finally caught up after a slow start - Bank Hol visitors and day out followed by a full day of meetings on Tuesday had me on the back foot. Loads of great recipe ideas already! My weigh-ins are often the lowest of the week on a Thursday and today was good: 3lbs off from Monday already, if it sticks! Need to keep this momentum up before I hit the beach shortly.

I've been eating a late breakfast (usually two boiled eggs, at my desk around 10am), salads or leftovers plus some yogurt for lunch and all sorts for dinner. This is me permanently: boot camping just means I'm not ALSO having all the "extras" which are not so LCHF and mean I keep creeping half a stone OK ten lbs or more over target!

I've been starting to do lots of cycling training for a challenge later in the year so that should help, though I need to learn to navigate the menus on Cafe stops!

Need to plan something for veggie guests tomorrow night. I love the Green Roasting Tin book so hopefully will find something in there, or possibly a curry if I have time.

Doing well on my water today - a tea and coffee, 2 or 3 chamomiles I think and 1 litre plain so far, so only need another 500ml which I should easily hit, especially with some peppermint or buttermint this evening. Working out of a new temporary office which is a bit grotty and lacks a water machine so it's tepid tap unfortunately.

I've got duck breasts planned for later, not quite sure on the veg - savoy cabbage and celeriac some way maybe or possibly ratatouille, depending on what I decide to keep back for tomorrow.

I went into it lightly ( not boot camp ) and lost 5 the first week .. then STS for a week or so

and when boot camp started I have been following boot camp and tightened up on the extra bits I was having
I know it’s only a little shift today but it’s in the right direction !

but then I have 4 stone to lose so dependant on your starting weight etc you will be different

also my bloods showed pre diabetic, which galvanised me into doing something

Depending on how high carb your diet was before will determine how quickly you can transition, and how much weight you have to lose.

How tall are you?

If you're pretty close to your target weight then you won't lose quickly/a huge amount. But in the first couple of weeks you should see a satisfactory loss.

Tonight will be roasted belly pork with (hopefully!) lots of lovely crackling. I'll roast it on a trivet made from shallots, which will give a lovely 'jus'.

Along with that will be swede mash (I seem to have two in the fridge for some reason) and braised cabbage with butter and lemon.