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Low-carb bootcamp

Join discussions about low-carb bootcamp plans, meals and progress. Consider speaking to a medical professional before starting any diet.

July '22 Low Carb Bootcamp

402 replies

BIWI · 24/07/2022 23:01

Welcome everybody!

Here, thinks to @FinallyHere, is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

This Bootcamp will last for eight weeks, with (as ever) the first two weeks being the most strict.

I'll post again tomorrow, but just wanted to get things underway for now Smile

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11
pinknsparkly · 26/07/2022 19:32

Today has been quite a snacky day for me.

B greek yogurt
L high meat content sausages with large salad and mayonnaise
S my toddlers left overs... or the low carb bits anyway! Avocado, cucumber, cheese and a bit more sausage
S coffee with double cream
D (if I'm not too tired to think by the time I get home at 9pm) meatballs in creamy sauce with whichever veggies need eating soonest!

My husband brought home some reduced tuna in sunflower oil from the shops but also snuck 2 lollies from a four pack of white magnum ice cream lollies into the freezer. Possibly my absolute favourite ice cream! Fortunately (for me, not so fortunate for his waist line) he's a complete sugar monster and I suspect the last two will also go in the next day!

Mercedesbenz2022 · 26/07/2022 19:54

News ! I did my first Pilates class inyears
I need to up my flexibility and help sort out this stomach so I’m
hoping that this , along with low carbing will help .
been reading Turkish eggs recipes after a pp mentioned them
they sound lovely so on my list for this week

Chocasaurus · 26/07/2022 20:06

Thanks everyone, have also ordered some high5 zero - still got a banging headache. Hoping tomorrow is a bit easier...

Managed to resist the mini rolls and baklava I was sat next to all day - would usually have had several. Also managed the day without a diet coke - my usual office treat, so feeling pretty pleased.

Tomorrow's meal plan is
B - scrambled egg with butter and avocado
L - tuna and feta salad
D - fajitas (with salad rather than tortilla wraps)

Hugecupcake68 · 26/07/2022 20:39

Lots of great tips here, thankyou. Day 2 hasn’t been too bad, water intake has been good but still room for improvement.

WhoAteTheChips · 26/07/2022 20:48

Well done everyone, some lovely sounding food. I think I’ve done ok again today, although of course decades ofRosemary Sodding Connelly et al have frightened the bejesus out of me re all the fat.

Anyway:
B - FF Greek yog
L: feta with a huge green salad (spinach, lettuce, celery, green peppers, herbs and olives, dressed with EVOO)
S: about 4pm I started to feel really unwell, banging headache and a bit lightheaded so I had two slices of ham (not ideal, I know) plus a mug of bullion with a splash of cream.
D: pork chop and a load of roasted veggies, all off the green list. Roasted in olive oil, herbs and garlic.
Water - yup

Feeling totally crap though, and I’m seem to be exuding a weird smell from my pores 🤮. Shower and bed for me.

prettybird · 26/07/2022 21:29

For supper, I had lamb kebabs (leg steaks cut into pieces and marinated in olive oil and ras-al-hanout) with home made tzatziki and fine French beans in butter and finely chopped garlic. Yummy Grin

Bananajam · 26/07/2022 21:44

Hi everyone, I am here to maintain and manage having lost 1.5 stones since the last boot camp going from almost a size 16 to a comfortable size 12. I'm delighted and im sticking to the WOE as it works, I don't feel hungry, don't need to snack and I've completely lost my dependence on sugar and monthly cycle and crazy mood swings too!
I use the carb manager app to log what I eat daily to keep me on track and monitor to make sure I'm getting enough protein as well as fats. I use the free version. DH paid for the year but it doesn't offer enough imo to make it worthwhile.

Good luck everyone! I have 5 weeks until we go on holiday and I'm determined to look and feel my best!

bella1426 · 26/07/2022 21:51

I also was feeling a bit tired, headachey and extra hungry and snacky today so on top of my 3 meals I had a few picks at cheese, yogurt and ham in between, lashing the electrolytes into me though...this too shall pass..

B - coffee with cream, hard boiled eggs with butter
Lunch - smoked pepper mackrel mixed with sour cream and used as a dip with celery and peppers
D - salmon and avocado mashed with some sour cream and eaten in lettuce wraps

Very little actual cooking going on today, very busy day with work but I did take my dog on a 5k run at lunch and did a park fit HIIT class this evening which absolutely WRECKED me...so unfit at the moment!!

Mumtothreeandadog · 26/07/2022 21:56

Am I too late to join?

BIWI · 26/07/2022 22:00

Of course not @Mumtothreeandadog! You're very welcome Smile

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Lougle · 26/07/2022 22:04

Never too late @Mumtothreeandadog !

B - Greek yoghurt and clotted cream
L - salad with halloumi and vinaigrette
D - shredded pork and roasted leeks.

Fluids: 3 cups of tea. 2.7 litres water.

teraculum29 · 26/07/2022 22:29

Hi @BIWI please add me to Bootcamp, but as I will be on holiday till 16th Aug, I will join properly then.

Today's meals
scrambled egg (3) with big handful of cheddar cheese.
That served with polish gherkins, tomato and lettuce.

Lunch:
courgetete waffles
(1 courgatte salted and grated (left for about 10min and squeezed until most of the juice is gone), handfull of cheddar and 1 egg. Mixed all in and cooked in waffle maker.

Dinner
cauliflower and fried chicken breast

Plenty of different herbal teas. plus 2 coffees with soya milk.

Lucienandjean · 26/07/2022 22:40

First full day back on BC for me. My carbs weekend at a wedding seems to have added a pound on the scales, but I'm pretty sure that'll come off quickly now I'm back in the WOE.

B: fasting
L: prawns, mayo, lettuce, radishes, cherry tomatoes, piece of Brie.
D: low carb chilli, avocado, sour cream, grated cheese, chopped peppers and lettuce.

Getting plenty of water in. That's the main thing I let go between BCs.

venusandmars · 26/07/2022 22:48

@CarpetMollusc could you add a hard-boiled egg to your smoothie instead of the protein powder? It doesn't sound 'nice' but I sometimes add one to soup to thicken it, and it doesn't tast of egg. Alternatively just have a boiled egg on the side. Other protein sources include cheese (which you are already having quite a lot of) and meat (which I don't know whether you eat). You could add cream cheese to your smoothie. Or have some additional meat during your day (if you are worried about your total protein)

venusandmars · 26/07/2022 22:50

I had some of these today halkidiki olives double stuffed with red pepper and garlic Two were sufficient when I was cooking dinner and felt a bit 'munchy'.

bluefortheready · 27/07/2022 05:55

Hi all - Has been going well - I started middle of last boot camp and had lost 7 pounds by Friday but was stalling as nuts and peanut butter became heavily involved.

Am a seasoned intermittent eater so skipping breakfast unless feel hungry and having lovely salads with lots of Mayo and cheese for lunch then

  • chorizo and prawn salad
  • homemade beef burgers and salad
Had to use the chorizo as in fridge so won't be doing any more processed soon. Water wasn't great yesterday have run out of gas in sodastream and find plain water much harder to drink consistently. Feeling lovely and light - more importantly not at all hungry

I will say I felt rubbish in first week, ok in second and since then I love love this way of eating - I don't even think about food as much now, I'm not craving - when I'm hungry I'm properly hungry and eat.but doesn't really happen between meals.

I was always a grazer but just don't think about it now

I'm eating way more vegetables and the meat and fish really helping with my hair and skin.

I don't get pre period binge eating either and one of the main things is I was having massive crashes after eating carbs - my eyes would start closing and I could barely want to move myself - this has gone - I have much more energy at night now to do things it's a revelation.

Thank you BIWI - i have for the past 20 years been in a constant calorie counting / binge eating cycle - after 40 even the calorie counting just didn't work any more - I tried Keto previously (along with all other diets) and it just made me feel disgusted at the food - this way feels so much more "right" with all the salads and vegetables.

Mumtothreeandadog · 27/07/2022 07:08

Thank you BIWI I am away camping next week. I may be off line with limited food choices! But saw a photo of myself yesterday and feeling determined!

Thanks for the boot camp, just what I needed

Rshard · 27/07/2022 07:55

Spot on with all those additional benefits @bluefortheready . I always sleep better on this woe too. Very recently family bereavement and I know this bootcamp is stopping me from diving head first into the usual comfort foods.

Forpoxsake · 27/07/2022 08:11

@Bananajam wow that’s an amazing achievement, well done!

when I do bootcamp the NSV for me is always that my skin clears up!

CarpetMollusc · 27/07/2022 08:38

@venusandmars good tips, thank you! I am not sure i could quite face a boiled egg in a smoothie, but can definitely have one as a chaser! I don't really feel the protein powder is essential, I'm eating loads at the moment, think it was more habit, after doing a lot of weight training (and usually eating very little dairy) I always added it. I don't eat meat or fish, and to be honest am struggling to get this much dairy in at the moment, but I'll get a bit more organised as time goes on as I do love tofu etc.

Forpoxsake · 27/07/2022 08:45

B. 2 Green tea (I have one cup then reuse the teabag - need to get a teapot!) 2 boiled eggs mashed with butter
L - Greek yoghurt and some kind of salad
D - fajitas without the wraps and roasted veggies

5thWisdom · 27/07/2022 09:15

Had the best night's sleep last night for a long time. A proper deep sleep.

Woken up feeling very positive, more energised and already feeling less bloated around tummy and my face less puffy! Woop!

Hope everyone has a fab Day 3 x

greentrees9 · 27/07/2022 09:38

Yesterday
b - Greek yoghurt
l - fried eggs in butter with left over roasted veg from the night before
d - chicken with cauliflower cheese rice

today
b - boiled eggs with mayo
l - tuna mayo salad
d - roasted salmon with salad and some more cauliflower cheese rice

water I’m between 2.5 and 3 litres

but today have woken up and feel rough and with just no energy 😩😢

ordered that zero 5 drink - so hopefully that will perk me up tomorrow

WhoAteTheChips · 27/07/2022 10:39

I’m trying to take success where I can at the moment as physically feeling a bit crap - not hungry though! I’m convinced the upper part of the B of my belly (I know not everyone has this) looks much flatter today. Well, when I say flatter, it’s relative it’s just not bulging over my belly button from under my chest in the same way. But Im convinced I’m smelly, something (hopefully masses of lard 😂), seems to be oozing from my pores. Not sweaty, just smelly. Or perhaps it’s just bloody covid, the other gift that keeps on giving! (Don’t feel covid ill though, tbh, just knackered and a bit neurotic about this miasma I’m convinced is following me about). I interrogated DH and he didn’t help by saying ‘hm, maybe a hint of something unusual. It’s not a dirty smell, though’. Bastard. Doesn’t he know when a lie is expected 😀. And I had one weird dream after another last night. Not nightmares, just vivid, active dreams! Another plus though was I had no reflux last night for the first time in ages. So - quite a lot of pluses when I think about it. Hopefully I’ll feel better in myself soon.

BIWI · 27/07/2022 11:37

Long reply incoming!

@loopylu26 please use your BP monitor frequently, as your BP really should be (positively) impacted by low carbing - and so hopefully you can decrease rather than increase your dosage. @venusandmars story about hers is inspiring - and I very much hope that you see the same results

@rushka out of interest, why are you keeping fruit? More importantly, which fruit? It's not really Bootcamp - and also runs counter to the aim we have of reducing the hold that sweet things have over us. Can you not do without it for the first two weeks? It will help keep your carb intake lower (and please don't tell me you're eating bananas?!)

@Goatsanddogs very glad to hear that you're finding benefits other than weight loss - it's always illuminating to see how many differing conditions can be improved when people reduce their carbs! (And the overall health benefits are what keep me focused on low carbing)

@ChimneyPot you may find yourself hungry between meals in the first few days, so having low carb snacks to hand is a good idea - but just beware of a couple of things; first, if you're still hungry between meals after the first week or so, make sure you're eating enough fat and protein, and keeping your carbs low, as this will help to suppress your hunger. And second, often snacking is a habit or an emotional need. Ask yourself if you're really hungry. A good way to check this is to drink some water instead - often thirst can manifest itself as hunger

And yes, aubergine Parmigiana is generally Bootcamp-friendly - as long as it doesn't have a flour-thickened cheese sauce between the layers of aubergine - so you need to check that. I make something very similar (as I include courgettes in mine) and I layer up griddled aubergine and courgettes with tomato sauce and slices of mozzarella between them, topped off with a mixture of more mozzarella and Parmesan.

@Bunce1 well done on avoiding the Diet Coke!

@Whicker the need to wee does settle down - honestly Grin

@Mirrorsforyou that's a good strategy - but you will find that you're not weeing as often shortly, so possibly might need another approach?! Something like @bella1426 suggests might work?

@ChairOfInvisibleStudies lack of hunger is one of the great benefits of low carbing, and it makes it so much easier to stick to this WOE.

@CarpetMollusc low energy suggests not enough fat or protein - glad you've recognised that the protein powder isn't allowed! But check out the vegetarian Bootcamp rules, as you are allowed to include (some) nuts and seeds, which will help with both. Do you eat eggs? That would also help you.

@Bananajam (you really need to change that username!) what a great post - and very inspiring.

@teraculum29 hopefully @FinallyHere will scoop you up and put you on the spreadsheet. But why not join properly now?! You still have almost three weeks before your holiday, so could get a really good start. (Although your menu suggests that you have already!)

@bluefortheready thank you! One of the key things I wanted Bootcamp to be about when I set it up (10 years ago now Shock) was that it should be about eating good quality, proper food. The idea being that we should eat well, curb our appetites, lose weight and get good nutrition, without feeling deprived.

@greentrees9 don't worry - you will get through this, and energy levels will recover. But the electrolyte tabs will help you in the short term - as will making sure that you're eating plenty of fat and protein

@WhoAteTheChips sorry you're feeling a bit rough now - covid and carb flu together doesn't sound like the greatest combination! Re the smell, this should be a temporary thing (a bit like bad breath which some also suffer from). If it persists though, perhaps increase your carbs a little bit?

Right - think that's answered everyone! Apologies if I've missed anyone.

I have to say, though, that it sounds like everyone is doing really well. Some very positive posts already Flowers

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