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!

Also @MrsCoyote go and check out the recipe threads - they're not quite as easy to find now, as they've lost their stickies - but there are 5 of them in the low carb topic. Lots of dishes there that will inspire you

Difficulties accessing the thread?

I've just had a message from a friend saying that she can't access the thread via the app. Has anyone else experienced this?

This BC is a godsend for me. I bought delicious sourdough bread, HM from the health food shop last week. I was ready for a nap after a few slices toasted! So was DH. I am so ready for a carb holiday.
I've LCed before. I love missing the carb hi/lo cycle.

This time I have a little notebook. I started Friday. I'm keeping a food diary, noting recipes, noting how I feel. In past BCs life has interfered (AKA holidays!) but we have 2 months of school now, then holidays in July, so I'm delighted to be here now.

To BIWI & Baystard, thanks so much for doing this. I'm sure Stuntnun & Shag will be by. Youse are all wonderful!

Best of luck for anyone starting. For first timers, it's really weird. Butter on veg! FF mayonnaise! Give it a go. It honestly works. It is hard. Carbs are like a drug, that I miss. But LC is (for me) steady energy, clear skin & weight loss.

I'm off to have a coffee with cream. Amazingly delicious.

Morning all! I'm raring to go and starting the day with TRE until lunchtime (long time low carber) then I have a few yummy options for lunches and teas.

I am off on holiday at the start of July so I am really determined, good luck everyone!

I'm accessing this thread via the iOS app without problem.

I did however have to find it by coming to the Low-carb Boot Camp topic as I missed the post about it yesterday on the "old" threads.

I don't think there is a link @BIWI on the prep thread. I looked for it, but I'm on a tablet.

Good point - I'll go and post one. Thanks.

I'm feeling very motivated this morning with my huge water bottle on my desk!

This is my first bootcamp where I'm having to watch my dairy intake. Any recommendations on low carb plant-based cream so I don't miss out on creamy coffee?! It's hands down the best part of low carbing

I have a similar issue... I have teenager(s) (depending on whether one home from Uni). The one at home is Carb Central and hates veg apart from sweetcorn and carrots...

I also cook for my Dad but he will eat whatever I give him (wartime upbringing!).

I have mostly been coping by replacing potatoes/pasta/chips with more veg/salad for me.

For instance, when I cook fajitas, I wrap mine in lettuce rather than a wrap . I had my spag bol on veg rather than spaghetti. Etc.

How much butter do people mean when you say 'plenty of butter'? I think I may have overdone breakfast. I used 150g mushrooms, fried in butter (82g), a couple of eggs cracked into it, and an avocado. Very satisfying but in myfitness pal it comes to 1000 calories!

Thank you @BIWI and @Baystard for the new thread and SOF. I've been off plan for April and boy do I feel it. So bloated! My weight has gone back up at least 5lb, but the weight on the SOF today is my 'morning naked' weight rather than my 'clothed at work' weight, which I was using last time so it looks better than it is! Going back to 'morning naked' weight as I want to weigh daily again, I find it more motivating.

I don't have much in, food wise, so today will be spent planning and looking for recipes. We're on a strict grocery budget at the moment, so I can't just splurge on things and will have to go easy on the meats.

@Lougle Ignore myfitnesspal - it will have conniptions

Learn to follow the cues from your own body. Eat when you're hungry : that's why, when you're ketogenically adapted, intermittent fasting (or longer ) becomes easy. You'll be using the fat for energy - not for laying down stores, as your body will develop confidence that it will have sufficient fuel.

It's also why it's so important to drink lots of water. I like to visualise it as peeing the fat away 

Just marking place with a cup of tea with almond milk. I’m pretty much ok on the food front now but water is my downfall.

I'd have said 20-30g is plenty of butter, but we're not supposed to be worrying about calories so I may be wrong. Mushrooms are like a butter sponge, they just suck up so much!

Ok, so I went a bit overboard on the butter. I am drinking plenty. In anticipation of bootcamp I bought a lovely 750ml glass water bottle (very sensitive to smell and plastic smells funky very quickly) and some high 5 tabs. I've been drinking 3 bottles (2250ml) in addition to my cups of tea for the last 3 days.

We don't count calories on Bootcamp @Lougle. That's not to say that calories don't matter - it's important that you don't see that as carte blanche to pile your plate high - but it's more important, as prettybird says, to eat till you're satisfied.

As you get nearer to your target weight you may have to start paying attention to calories/calorie counts, but for now just focus on keeping the carbs low, the fat high and getting all the water in!

I'm on the App now @BIWI no trouble (so far) accessing the thread.

@Lougle It does seem like magic to eat that much and still be 'on plan', doesn't it?

It's part of the process of bootcamp, as you get off the high carb roller coaster, things will settle down and you will understand your true appetite better.

Meanwhile enjoy the process, this is a great way of eating.

Back for another attempt - I joined one of the bootcamps last year, was doing well and then had to go and stay with my parents to care for my dad for several months and it all went square shaped - literally a mountain of toast - I am now over a stone heavier than where I was. Back home and this time I need it to work.

I was off low carb in April too and gained 5lbs ☹️

I started again last week and I've lost 2lbs.

Just 6lbs to my target weight & I want to drop a few extra so I've got a buffer for the inevitable bounce back up when I go back to normal eating. Should be possible in an 8 week boot camp.

Getting older sucks. I can put on 3lbs just on a blowout weekend but then it takes 3weeks to lose it again.

So happy to be joining this bootcamp! Low carbing is the only WOE that reduces the sugar cravings for me. My dad died in December last year and I used sugar to get me through it all hence now needing to lose a stone and a half

Checking in for day 1. Thanks to @BIWI and @Baystard for organising and managing.

like others have said, I really need to do it this time having messed around and not focussed on previous efforts.

going away at the end of May, to Berlin so that will be a good test of my will power!

as well as sticking to this woe, I’m going to try and break some bad habits. Rewarding myself with a snack at the end of the working day for instance, I’m going to go for some fresh air instead.

Good luck everyone!

Hey everyone, excited to start! I've done LC in the past but never an MN bootcamp. Recently I have dabbled in Noom but don't find that style of 'dieting' doesn't really agree with me, I get a bit obsessive about it and don't feel satisfied enough - the fat and protein of LC seem to work better for me plus I am better staying off sugar completely as I feel so much better without it. Going on holiday in July and would love to shift a stone but even half a stone off would have me at a more comfortable weight

My foodplan today
Breakfast - Lettuce wraps with chicken and mashed avocado
Lunch - Going out with the family to Milanos (Irelands version of Pizza Express) and they have a nice keto friendly Tuna Nicoise salad on the menu, will be hard to watch everyone have desserts but thinking a coffee with cream will help!
Dinner - Oven roasted salmon with roast cauliflower and brocolli

I have some questions - I know sweetners are out in the first 2 weeks so I'm assuming that means protein powders are off the menu? Where does 85% dark chocolate feature in this - can you have it on the bootcamp or in the first 2 weeks at all?

Good luck everyone on day one, we can do this!

Checking in for day 1, thank you to everyone who looked at our restaurant menu with suggestions..........will report back later! Weighing in at 12st7lb and at 5'5" it's the heaviest I've ever been including when pregnant with DD 😮. Have had two egg muffins for breakfast, 2 cups of herbal tea and about to start on the water. @MrsCoyote this is my first time on a bootcamp and DH is onboard so on the days when it's just us he'll eat with me (and get his carb fix with his work lunches!). When DD is with us - 50% of the time - it's more difficult as she's a fussy eater and plays football 5 times a week so needs the energy and also we're going into exam season. For those meals I've planned to just take the carbs out of my plate ie. sausage & mash for DH & DD and sausages with veg for me, burgers with no bun for me etc.
Thank you @BIWI and @Baystard for sorting this out

@bella1426

I have some questions - I know sweetners are out in the first 2 weeks so I'm assuming that means protein powders are off the menu? Where does 85% dark chocolate feature in this - can you have it on the bootcamp or in the first 2 weeks at all?

Generally we don't recommend protein powders - you should aim to eat as much fresh/unprocessed/natural food as possible.

You can have (some) dark chocolate, but not in the first two weeks. See if you can up it to 90% cocoa, as that's even lower in carbs!

@Lougle did you really use 80+g. It seems 4g is a teaspoon, so you would have needed 20tsp of butter. But certainly fat will stave off hunger for ages
I had mushrooms as well, sprayed with olive oil & baked, 3 baked eggs (in veg oil) and creamy coffee. I'm not keen on avocado, slimey buggers.
I bake things because I have a stove.
I often add butter to veg on my plate. Makes spinach lovely, and lots of flavour for smallish amounts - probably equivalent of a restaurant pat of butter. I never weigh.