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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.

Pre-Christmas 22 Boot Camp: Preparation thread

134 replies

prettybird · 10/10/2022 16:12

This Bootcamp will start on 17 October and will last for 8 weeks, just in time for Christmas and to be able to get into those Christmas outfits.

As promised, here is a preparation thread, shamelessly and completely cribbed from the opening post that @BIWI did for the last Boot Camp which started on 25 July.

The first two weeks will be strict, but after that you can move on (if you wish) to Bootcamp Light, which is a little more relaxed.

These are the things that we don't eat, throughout the whole of Bootcamp:

bread (of any kind)
pasta/rice (of any kind)
potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweetcorn, beetroot
sugar/honey/syrup
flour (and anything thickened with flour)
cake
biscuits/crackers/pastries
crisps (of any kind)
fruit juice
full sugar fizzy drinks/squash
balsamic vinegar (all other vinegars are fine)
grains/pulses/legumes (which includes peas)
sweets

What can I eat then?!^

Things you will be able to eat are things you generally can't eat on any other diet! Shock SmileLow carb means high fat, so you will be able to enjoy things like:

butter
cream
cheese
mayonnaise

No light/lite or low fat anything! Shock

all meat/fish/seafood (although keep processed options to a minimum)
eggs
oily dressings (especially using extra virgin olive oil/avocado oil)
lard/coconut oil (as well as butter) for frying food
LOTS of vegetables and salad
(after the first two weeks) some fruit, mainly berries
(after the first two weeks) some nuts/seeds
(after the first two weeks) some chocolate - high %age cocoa though

There are just ten rules, and as long as you follow these you should lose weight. In brief, the rules for the first two weeks are:

Eat three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Avoid processed foods as much as possible - ideally none
Eat lots of fat
Make sure your carbs are coming mainly from vegetables and salad
Be careful how much dairy you're consuming - especially milk (butter is unlimited)
You must drink at least 2 litres of water a day (this depends on your weight - some people will need to drink more - details on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness)
No alcohol
No fruit
No nuts/seeds
No sugar/artificial sweeteners

The rules, in full, are on a tab on The Spreadsheet of Fabulousness, and I'll post a link to the new spreadsheet next Monday (memo to self: coordinate with @FinallyHere to get it sorted wink) . In the meantime, here's a link to the spreadsheet from the last Bootcamp Spreadsheet July Boot Camp Spreadsheet

Make sure you're familiar with the rules before we start. Also, check out the resources on the spreadsheet - there's loads of information about low carbing as well as lots of different recipes and shopping lists.

Planning and preparation is key to success on this WOE (way of eating)

Which means you need to think about all the meals you need to prepare for the week - which includes what you're going to have for lunch if you're out of the home at work, and thinking about any likely social occasions.

So - make sure your cupboards/fridges/freezers are emptied (as far as practically possible) of anything really carby that you know is likely to tempt you.

Make a meal plan for the week (or the next two weeks if you can be that organised!) and then make sure you buy everything you need in your next shop.

Cooking a couple of meals ahead is a really good idea - so you know you have something Bootcamp-friendly easily to hand.

For the first week or so, while you're adjusting to a low carb WOE, especially if you're new to it, it's a good idea to have some low carb snacks to hand. As you adapt to it, you'll find that you really aren't hungry between meals, but in the beginning you may need something. Great low carb snacks include:

chunks of cheese
olives
cucumber/celery
hard-boiled eggs
cooked (low carb) sausages

If you're planning on using anything pre-prepared/packaged in your cooking, make sure you've checked the carb count on the back of the packet. It's amazing how something that seems like it should be low in carbs is anything but - because the manufacturers have added sugar, or potato starch, etc.

Make sure that you have read, re-read and read again Bootcamp rules. Ideally save them on to your phone, or print them out and stick them on the fridge.

Especially make sure that you've worked out - from Rule 6 - how much water you are going to need to drink each day. The more you weigh, the more water you're going to need to drink.

It can also be a really good idea to keep a food diary - it can be very easy to start with a huge burst of enthusiasm, and then gradually let things start to slip, and then ending up eating stuff you shouldn't, and wonder why the weight isn't shifting. Just reading back through entries from the early weeks can be really helpful here.

I may not be @BIWI, who is having a well-deserved break, and my Big Stick might not be as big as hers, but if you give this a go, you'll find loads of support and advice from both me and my fellow experiences Boot Campers. I certainly know I need it, after the shock of last week and the shock of stepping on the scales this morning Blush It really does work but you need to commit. Once you're into the way of things, you no longer feel deprived or hungry - which is the whole point of this Way of Eating.

OP posts:
prettybird · 10/10/2022 16:13

If you've not signed up yet, here is the link to the sign-up thread.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/low_carb_bootcamp/4648765-sign-up-17-october-pre-christmas-boot-camp?reply=120581244

OP posts:
BIWI · 10/10/2022 16:19

Thanks for this @prettybird!

prettybird · 10/10/2022 16:24

The other thing I would strongly advise is taking measurements: there may almost definitely be times when your weight loss plateaus, but you may well fund your continuing to lose inches/cm and/or changing shape. Grin

Like all diets, after the initial and motivating "whoosh" (although not everyone experiences it Confused), weight loss will settle down to an average of 1-2lb/week - which is a healthy rate of loss. Smile

OP posts:
pinknsparkly · 10/10/2022 16:28

Thanks @prettybird - we'll be spending the entire first day of bootcamp driving the length of England, having been in hotels all weekend. I have, however, paid for us to have unlimited cooked breakfast included so I shall be loading up on that and black coffee!

Chocasaurus · 10/10/2022 16:40

Thanks @prettybird. I have actually started today as I was spiralling.
B - Greek yoghurt and cinnamon with a coffee (dash of milk, no sweetner)
L - mozzarella and ham salad with lots of veggies and mayo
D - prawn stir fry (without noodles for me)
S - roasted chicken and a couple of cubes of cheese
Onto my third litre of water.

Looking forward to getting in the zone for official week 1 🙌

FinallyHere · 10/10/2022 18:42

Thank you for the prep thread, @prettybird and to @BIWI for the whole concept.

I'll get into setting up a new spreadsheet and add anyone from the sign-up thread, ready to be linked to in the first opening thread of this bootcamp.

Hurrah, onwards and downwards.

FinallyHere · 10/10/2022 18:46

Back from my fully bootcamp compliant holiday, I've had a happy weekend clearing out my largest clothes. Funny how moving to a smaller size is joyful, while needing a larger size is anything but a happy experience.

Sadly, there are lots of photos of the whole week and especially those from the last night evening dinner which let's say caught be at a very unflattering angle.

It's all about KOKO.

DearieMeWhatsUp · 10/10/2022 18:55

I'm not taking any breaks, so hoping to continue to make (slow) progress downwards... just under 2 weeks to go before a party I'm going to, so hoping to get from 11st 13 to 11st 10 by then!!

2ButteredOvarysPlease · 10/10/2022 19:06

I'm just continuing also but didn't sign up for the last boot camp. I was a lurker , who found you all very inspiring.

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 10/10/2022 19:42

Yes I'd love to join, I've already started but it's going very slowly this time, much more than before.

ListenLinda · 10/10/2022 19:53

Thanks @prettybird i’m still going on, i’m almost at week two.
I weigh twice a week usually, I peeked at the scales over the weekend and they hadn’t moved.
I blame the lack of water, i’ve been very slack with it since DS dropped my nice pretty one on the floor and shattered it.
Will make an effort to do better!

WitchWand · 10/10/2022 21:39

Thanks so much for this @prettybird. I'm very glad that Boot Camp is starting again. And it's lovely of you to step up to lead us. I hope @BIWI has a well earned rest!
I started heading back to low-carbing last week and managed ok until the weekend when I went to a party. This week will probably be similar -week days on the ball. And then I'll be away for the weekend. So, really starting back in earnest next Monday is going to be great timing for me.
Looking forward to reading everyone else. Smile

ditavonteesed · 11/10/2022 07:04

Thanks @prettybird it's weird seeing your name in @BIWI s colour.
I've been doing a sort of half hearted version all along, not in and not out. Which seems to be how I do maintenance. Still weighing daily.

I really want to get another half stone off this bootcamp which would take me back to the lowest I got to last year.

I treated myself to some new undies last week as I was having fall down issues 😂 which I have to say I much prefer to the roll up under my belly issues I used to have.

Dd2 told me I will never get a six pack as the bottom of my belly is too loose and she accepts full responsibility for that and is sorry.

Does anyone know if there is a way to calculate body fat other than scales as my renpho scales can't be accurate and I would just like to know.

Skiphopbump · 11/10/2022 09:42

Thanks for doing this @prettybird .
I started last week on Monday after getting being told I was pre-diabetic, I was just one point away from diabetic. The dr offered to refer me to a pre-diabetes programme but I’ve decided to low carb. I will have my blood tested again in 6 months so am in this for the long haul, I also have a significant amount of weight to loose. I’ve started intermittent fasting too (skipping breakfast) which is working well.

Lunch - butter chicken curry and salad
Dinner - turkey burgers and creamed spinach (from a diet doctor recipe)

FinallyHere · 11/10/2022 11:31

Hello lovely people. I've done my first 'whole new spreadsheet' and would be very grateful if any lovely bootcamp-er would be prepared to test run it for me and let me know how you get on, before it is launched for the October 2022 bootcamp.

Try adding any text for a name (col A) any number for original weight (col C) and any number for starting weight (col E)

Close down the spreadsheet, open it up again and if yours are still there, all will be good.

Many thanks.

I'll report this post to have it removed once we know the sp is working as expected. That took three goes last time, let's hope it's only two this time 😁

[Link removed by MNHQ at poster's request]

prettybird · 11/10/2022 11:53

I'm on a Zoom call at the moment but I'll have a quick look once it finishes.

OP posts:
prettybird · 11/10/2022 11:54

Oh - and I've sent you a PM @FinallyHere Smile

OP posts:
Skiphopbump · 11/10/2022 12:02

@FinallyHere the spreadsheet is working for me

FinallyHere · 11/10/2022 12:04

Thank you lovely people. Here it is, Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for October 2022

Keep On Keeping On 😁

FinallyHere · 11/10/2022 13:49

Thank you @Skiphopbump

I've zero'd out your test data, ready to load the final list of names (in alphabetical order, natch 😀)

FinallyHere · 11/10/2022 13:50

@prettybird

I'll load names from everyone in the signup thread on Sunday evening.

The link will work fine meanwhile.

ChimneyPot · 11/10/2022 15:01

@prettybird
Thanks for taking this on.
I started strict BC yesterday and realised how lax I had become. I was still low carbing but there was too much nuts, dark chocolate, wine and low carb bread.

I have a US trip at the end of next week so will be very strict for 10 days then do as best I can with airplane food etc for the following week. Depending on how I get on when travelling I might go back to strict BC rather than BC light.

agnesmartin · 11/10/2022 17:09

Thanks so much for this Bootcamp, prettybird

I am very much in need of this! I did bootcamp successfully a couple of years ago and kept most of the weight off, however now I am in peri menopause, and every time I try to go back to low carb I really struggle. It's as though my body needs more carbs - it could also very well be that I'm not eating enough veg ... So looking forward to having another go with you all.

We can do this!

pinknsparkly · 11/10/2022 17:25

agnesmartin · 11/10/2022 17:09

Thanks so much for this Bootcamp, prettybird

I am very much in need of this! I did bootcamp successfully a couple of years ago and kept most of the weight off, however now I am in peri menopause, and every time I try to go back to low carb I really struggle. It's as though my body needs more carbs - it could also very well be that I'm not eating enough veg ... So looking forward to having another go with you all.

We can do this!

What is it that you struggle with exactly? I'm probably not much use, but there will be plenty of very knowledgeable posters who may be able to help you with solutions if you can identify exactly what the issue is? Is it hunger? Willpower? Cravings?

My starting point would be to look at your water intake. When I slip at that, it makes EVERYTHING so much harder! I know BIWI often recommends increasing your fat intake if that's too low.

agnesmartin · 11/10/2022 17:42

Thanks @pinknsparkly I get really hungry - I'm not physically hungry but it's as though my satiety hormones aren't switching on and I feel like I could eat All. The. Time. And Forever.

It's kind of like hangover hunger.

I can handle it during the day, but at night it stops me sleeping/wakes me up.

Wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar?