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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 BootCamp 2022: Week 1

491 replies

prettybird · 17/10/2022 01:02

While @BIWI takes a well-earned break from running BootCamp after many, many years of supporting people in this Way of Eating I have, for my sins, volunteered to run the Pre-Christmans BootCamp Shock. I'll admit to only doing so for selfish reasons: I needed the BootCamp in the run up to Christmas and the accountability of running it would in turn help me to be more accountable Grin

My Big Stick might not be as big as @BIWI's but I will do my best to channel her Wink. And with the support of all the other experienced BootCampers and @FinallyHere's help with the Spreadsheet, I am sure we will see a lot of success in the run up to Christmas.Smile

Here is the link to the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness You don't need to log your weight if you don't need to but within the various tabs of the Spreadsheet are The Rules ( very important), Vegetarian Rules links to resources that outline how and why this Way of Eating works, menu plans, veg carb counters and many other resources.

I'd strongly recommend that even if you don't weigh yourself (and even if you do), you should measure yourself at the start, especially your waist. That way, if your weight loss stalls, you may still see progress in other ways. BootCamp is very effective at reducing visceral fat, which will manifest itself in a smaller waist measurement.

Anyway, on to the important stuff: here are The Rules

1. Eat three proper meals a day.
You must eat breakfast. It doesn’t have to be a lot, and it doesn’t have to be absolutely first thing, but you must have something. For the rest of the day, if you’re eating enough food and especially enough fat, you shouldn’t be hungry between meals. But if you are hungry, eat something. (Hard boiled eggs make a great snack). After the first two weeks of Bootcamp we will relax this, but these two weeks are critical in terms of helping you switch easily to a low carb way of eating - and if you start to feel hungry, it makes things much harder! Eating this way will ensure that your blood sugar levels are kept stable, which will mean that you are much less likely to experience hunger. A typical high carbohydrate diet can mean that snacking is a routine part of your day. Once your blood sugar levels are stable, by eating low carb, you should find that you no longer want to snack. But the rule of thumb here is ‘if you are hungry, eat!’. (Just make sure you are only choosing low carb snacks, of course!)"

2. Avoid processed foods.
Focus on pure, natural protein as the basis for your meals - meat/fish/eggs. Things like sausages, ham, bacon, pre-prepared burgers etc should be avoided as much as possible. You can have them, but just not at every meal, every day.

3. Eat lots of fat.
Eating fat will not make you fat. Honestly! But it will keep your appetite satisfied, and it sustains your body’s energy requirements perfectly. Fat does not provoke an insulin spike, unlike carbs which do (a lot) and protein (a little). Fry in butter, add butter to vegetables, eat salad with a home-made vinaigrette dressing (not made with balsamic vinegar though, as this is too sweet), add mayonnaise where you can (just check the carb count on your mayo first). Eat fattier cuts of meat – e.g. pork belly, roast chicken with the skin on and/or eat the fat off your lamb chops. Absolutely no low fat/light/’Lite’ foods of any kind!

4. Make sure you are eating vegetables and salads with your food.
"This is where your carbs should come from, and this is non-negotiable. But choose only those vegetables that are on the allowed list. Make sure that you focus on eating those vegetables that are under 5g carb per 100g, and this will ensure that your carb counts are kept low. You don’t have to weigh/count carbs – this is one of the great joys of this WOE (way of eating), but if you’re new to low carbing it can be helpful to weigh your portions of veg in the early days, just so that you know how many carbs are in the sort of portions that you like to eat.

The vegetable carb counter is helpfully colour-coded into green (eat freely), amber (go easy) and red (best avoided as much as possible), which will help you to make your choices."

5. Be careful about dairy (apart from butter, which is unlimited).
Dairy can impede weight loss for some people. If you are drinking tea/coffee with milk or cream, try to restrict yourself to max 2 cups per day. There are a lot of carbs in milk, so if you are having several cups of tea/coffee per day, you will quickly rack up your daily carb count (e.g. 1 medium latte contains more than 12g carbs!) You may eat cheese but again, don't overdo it. Full fat yoghurt is the best way to include dairy in your diet - but beware, it does contain carbs. You should choose one that’s 10% fat – most of the supermarkets have a Greek yoghurt in their premium ranges with this amount of fat.

6. You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day.
The more weight you have to lose, the more water you should drink.

This is from www.low-carbdiet.co.uk/:

Water is essential to weight loss for those who follow a low carb way of eating. The minimum consumed in a day should be:
Your Weight.........Litres
140lbs............2.5
160lbs............3.0
180lbs............3.0
200lbs............3.5
220lbs............3.5
240lbs............4.0
260lbs............4.5
280lbs............4.5
300lbs............5.0
320lbs............5.5
340lbs............5.5
360lbs............6.0
380lbs............6.5
400lbs............6.5
"High levels of ketones in the blood stream can lead to a reduction in ketone production, therefore being well hydrated could aid in keeping the levels low and ketone production ongoing. Consuming enough water can have many other positive side effects, e.g. it aids your kidneys with the processing of protein, reduces the retention of water, helps with preventing constipation, and reduces the levels of ketones released by your breath, which in turn will reduce breath odour.

However, drinking a lot of water can mean that you also need to keep an eye on your electrolyte balance. You need to make sure that you are consuming sufficient sodium and potassium. On a low carb way of eating, we should eat more salt, so make sure that you are cooking with salt and adding salt to food, if you like it.

Good, low carb, sources of potassium are spinach (raw), avocado, mushrooms, courgettes and asparagus, as well as salmon and yoghurt."

7. No alcohol.
Alcohol is the easiest source of fuel for the body to burn, so it will always use this first before it starts to burn any fat - which is why you need to restrict it, especially in the first two weeks of Bootcamp, when we are encouraging the body to stop using carbs for its source of fuel and turn to fat-burning instead. If you really can't do this - at least try and restrict it to the weekend. Vodka with soda is the best thing to drink. Or Champagne, red wine or dry white wine.

8. No fruit.
Really. Seriously. Honestly. None at all. Zilch. Nada. After the first two weeks of Bootcamp you will be able to introduce certain fruits, in moderation, but at this stage fruit is simply too carby. We are also trying to break the addiction to sweet things, so cutting fruit out is part of this process. If you are getting all your carbs from vegetables and salad, you will be getting all the nutrients and fibre that you need.

9. No nuts/seeds.
Although they are a good source of nutrition and contain lots of fat – which is great for us – they also contain carbohydrate and, because they’re so moreish, you can quickly end up eating a lot of carbs. When we move to Bootcamp Light, after the first two weeks, you can re-introduce these, but be careful and go easy.

10. No sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Sugar is an obvious ‘no no’, but artificial sweeteners are also an issue. One of the aims of this way of eating is to eat pure and natural foods, so including sweeteners is not recommended. Some people find that artificial sweeteners can impede their weight loss, and there is some suggestion that your body can respond to sweeteners as if they were sugar, by releasing more insulin - and therefore laying down fat. Given that the aim of Bootcamp is to help us lose our sweet tooth and addiction to sweet things, then it is a good idea to avoid sweeteners altogether in this first two weeks.

That's enough for now. I'll post more in the morning: in particular the disclaimer that I am not a medical professional and that if you have any concerns, you should check with a medical professional.

OP posts:
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FinallyHere · 21/10/2022 09:33

It's the end of the week for me and I find myself thinking about the scales.

Hope everyone sees a good result on the Monday weigh-in. I get just how wonderfully motivating that can be.

There are lots of daily weighers on this thread too, who can cope with the expected fluctuations around the norm that show up with frequent weighing, even when the overall trend is down.

This post is about a different approach. The scales are always a bit of a struggle for me. Maybe ingrained from my high carb low fat very unsuccessful weight loss days, for me a loss feels as if it deserves a celebratory treat and a stall or even a gain however small plunges me into the despair of 'why do I bother'.

These days, I low carb for the immediate gains, or 'how will I feel when I have eaten this'. Will I feel heavy and lethargic and need to sleep it off? How will I sleep, peacefully or disturbed by a bloated stomach ? Will my skin be dry and lips chapped. Will I feel I'm not looking after myself and not competent as an adult?

So long as I keep to bootcamp, over time my excess weight does very slowly melt away. It disappears from different parts of me at different times, from my hips much faster than from my top half.

It does slowly but definitely go.

I fit into clothes that were straining at the seams, at least I fit into intermediate sizes of my jeans. I have bought the same pair in different sizes. Being able to fit into a smaller size is so different to fitting into a larger size. I also keep track of my hip and waist measurement.

Just another approach that works for me.

Sunsnowsun · 21/10/2022 09:35

Morning all, I hope the funeral is not too hard for you @prettybird .

I got on the scales this morning and am 2lbs down, whilst feeling like I have been eating really well, always a bonus of this way of eating.

There has been a request for Friday night curry by DH, so I’m going to make a pot of chicken curry with some chicken thighs and he can have some M&S ones from the freezer as well. DH is a thin and hungry triathlete, who needs far more food than me 😀. So he will have his with rice and Nan bread and I will probably have mine with celeriac mash (leftover from last night).

I know that the secret to a successful bootcamp for me is planning and thinking in advance about what you will eat when, it’s always when I don’t do this that I stumble.

So if anyone has a good bootcamp soup recipe or chicken curry recipe please can you either point me to it or post it please?

prettybird · 21/10/2022 09:53

Thanks for your thoughts @Sunsnowsun Flowers

I think there's a recipe for butter chicken curry in the Chicken recipe thread. I'm sure you'll find something there.

@FinallyHere - brilliant post about looking at the other benefits of this WoE Flowers

OP posts:
Lucienandjean · 21/10/2022 10:53

@Sunsnowsun I really like this recipe for butter chicken, though I prefer it made with chicken thighs.

www.ketofitnessclub.com/blogs/chicken/butter-chicken-curry

Baystard · 21/10/2022 11:12

@debka you'll also save a fortune if you're sticking to LC at Yo Sushi great NSV! I hate that I often end up eating my weight in rice and paying a fortune for the privilege! I quite like miso soup which I think/hope is LC as I can sip away without actually eating much, it replaces the social act of eating with the others.

Backstreets · 21/10/2022 11:26

"High carb low fat very unsuccessful weight loss" really sums it up for me and a lot of women like me. It felt absurd going hungry and eating less than your thinner peers and still never losing or just for a treat gaining a bit instead because of starvation mode. I read The Case for Keto and even though a lot of the science flies over my head, his indignation at the medical community in steering people away from this WoE is righteous and well argumented.

DurhamDurham · 21/10/2022 12:59

mushy peas with mint sauce on a hot pork pie is a Northern meal of queens

Omg @BIWI that is indeed a thing of pure deliciousness Grin

DurhamDurham · 21/10/2022 13:00

For those asking I managed to find some Buttermint teabags in Waitrose, it's quite a small branch too so I was surprised but pleased to find them there.

debka · 21/10/2022 14:38

@Baystard I wish I had saved money- cost £55 in the end! My kids are sushi fiends it turns out!

I had salmon sashimi and some seaweed, carrot and edamame salad which was really good. Was very glad of the sausage and eggs I had before I left though!

I was trying IF before going back to boot camp and I've kind of carried it on, having coffee first thing then eating about 11. My think is I can sometimes find myself eating too little and before I know it I'm quietly weeping into my eggs. I have to really prioritise getting good quality fat, protein and veg in me. I weight train regularly too so the protein is really important.

Are there any other lifters or runners in the group?

ChimneyPot · 21/10/2022 14:45

Getting lots of inspiration from everyone’s posts.

I managed a long flight yesterday without falling off the wagon too badly. We were delayed on the plane before take off for over an hour so from my breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon in the airport before US Immigration to landing on the other side it was 12 hours.
I turned down all the alcohol and drank loads of water, which turned out not do ideal as turbulence meant we were meant to stay in our seats with seatbelts on for almost the entire flight.
Most of the food options were quite carby but I left them all out except for a bit of beetroot.
Bit of a disaster when I couldn’t find the pepperami and babybels I had with me to replace the afternoon tea so I had a protein bar from the bottom of my handbag instead of the sandwiches and cake on offer.

Did have a lovely takeaway of grilled prawns with butter sauce , broccoli gratin and Szechuan green beans when we got here and some olives, cheese and salami when trying to stay awake later.
This morning I had shakshuka and greens while DS ploughed through French toast with Nutella, cream and fruit.

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/10/2022 15:07

Bit late but this is a great mild Chicken Curry recipe. Really cook the onions, more than you think. Makes a difference.

Pre-Christmas BootCamp 2022: Week 1
MrsTerryPratchett · 21/10/2022 15:08

vijsforyou.com/recipe/vijs-familys-chicken-curry/

I realise the disgusting state of the page in my book shows how much I've cooked it!

ditavonteesed · 21/10/2022 16:06

I have to kick this virus, I'm still as bad as I was a week ago.

Back on it today.

I'm going to go to drink all the water and go to bed and then when I get up I'll be better. I've had enough now.
Had beef stroganoff and broccoli for early dinner. Still having to stick to soft food.

FinallyHere · 21/10/2022 16:08

I'm sure experienced boot campers will know that shallots are more bootcamp friendly than onions. I'm just mentioning it here incase anyone reading this is not yet aware.

It's such an easy swap.

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/10/2022 16:34

FinallyHere · 21/10/2022 16:08

I'm sure experienced boot campers will know that shallots are more bootcamp friendly than onions. I'm just mentioning it here incase anyone reading this is not yet aware.

It's such an easy swap.

Although I find it's like napalm in the eyes. WTF is in shallots. I make DH chop them.

Sunsnowsun · 21/10/2022 16:40

Thank you so much for the chicken curry recipes I will try to do them justice later on and report back.

Canthinkofaname79 · 21/10/2022 17:37

Oh my, microwaved chorizo is amazing and addictive!

Canthinkofaname79 · 21/10/2022 17:42

Not sure who said about lifting weights, I would really like to try, how do I start!

Rocklobstershell · 21/10/2022 18:00

Well done to everyone: soon have week one in the bag! My sugar cravings are subsiding thankfully and I’ve lost 5lbs so far which I’m happy with!

B coffee with cream
L pan fried salmon with salad, homemade French dressing and boiled egg and a protein shake
S - not sure yet maybe some sliced turkey, not massively hungry though.

Mercedesbenz2022 · 21/10/2022 18:17

Lamb steaks wth shoogled sprouts , Mediterranean veg , spinach , sautéed potatoes ( for dp , looking forward to it
happy Friday 😊
thanks for the heads up about Waitrose for the butter mint tea

Baystard · 21/10/2022 18:25

Chinese night in our household, I'll just have big chunky spring rolls (I just eat the filling) for dinner so i can join in but then I'll make myself a cheese board for supper and make sure I'm well fed by bedtime.

Bought chorizo today, both chunky (for dicing and frying with sprouts) and thin slices. Planning to try thinly sliced microwave crisped slices but with a bit of leftover Stilton that's been lurking in the fridge - I like Stilton but only with something crunchy, a bit strong on its own.

Lucienandjean · 21/10/2022 19:07

It's freezing here today, and I'm sure that makes me feel hungrier. But I did weigh myself today and saw a definite (small) loss so that's encouraging.

B: a bite of DH's toast and butter 😳
L: Mexicana cheese, a cold sausage, salad veg and mayo.
D: salmon baked with a knob of butter, prawns, avocado, hard boiled egg, salad, asparagus.

Trying to get all the water in 😬

debka · 21/10/2022 19:11

@Canthinkofaname79 it was me talking about lifting weights! I'm joined a gym and went to a learn to lift session, and that started me off. I do pump classes too which helps me learn new lifts, and watching YouTube tutorials. I'd like a PT but who can afford that right now. I really enjoy the challenge of lifting, and it's super good for us as we get older. I think you might be the same age as me, judging from your username- I'm 42.

NotDonna · 21/10/2022 19:27

This isn’t butter is it?
looks like it is pasteurised, salt free, containing milk and ‘something’ of soya. No point adding to my veg unless it’s proper fat.
Anyone know please?

Pre-Christmas BootCamp 2022: Week 1
Backstreets · 21/10/2022 19:35

@NotDonna it's soy lecithin, an emulsifier. It's butter