2023 Low Carb Bootcamp - THE PREP THREAD

[BIWI]

Happy New Year everyone! So far, we have 119 people signed up, so I think it's going to be a busy one.

As ever, I'm starting the prep thread a week in advance, to give you all the information you'll need to get started. If low carbing/Bootcamp is new to you, it's really important that you read all this. Even if you've done it before, it's a good idea to re-read!

I'm going to tag everyone, to ensure that people get good notice to come over to this thread. Previous experience tells me that trying to tag everyone in one go just won't work, so I'm doing it in groups of 20.

Here we go:

@Janieread
@Skiphopbump
@Henowner
@ZiggZagg
@TidyDancer
@Comfortablylesslumpy
@Cleanthatup
@Passtheturkey
@Lucienandjean
@Smorgs
@FinallyHere
@EmergentThoughts
@pinknsparkly
@baystard
@SpottyBumPony
@Eanair23
@Potas
@ThistlyPerf
@ListenLinda

Hello
I would like to join please @BIWI

I have let things slide completely out of control, having had five shocking years of rubbish
This is the prep thread I know the basics did India and Neris pig2twig in the day too
When do we start?

I've been dithering about joining despite having a stone to lose and my highest ever weight (excluding baby weight, which I successfully lost 5 years ago by bootcamping!) but I think the fact I'm wary of committing and full of excuses shows how far from the path I've traveled! Also trying to spend less time on my phone though which it won't help.

However, it's got to be done! Currently working from home which I always thought would help low carbing (more hot food!) but actually means I have access to near unlimited food rather than just my healthy packed breakfast and lunch!

DH and I are both low carb as a basic principle but have become far too flexible with far too regular exceptions: bread products in particular need firmly eliminating!

Thanks @BIWI and @StuntNun for setting the next BC up!

I lost a ton on it in early 2021 and it worked really well. Life, stress and post covid health issues intervened, meaning I fell back into old ways of eating. I’m firmly in peri now and just cannot eat carbs or lose weight like I used to, so here I am again!

Am starting a BC light version this week to ease into it from next week. It’s breakfasts I most need to practice with, as I find it hard to get enthusiastic about anything that isn’t toast

@coffeeginandkindness we start on Monday.

Just make sure you've read Bootcamp rules, as it's different from Pig2Twig!

And welcome

Thanks for starting this again. I lurked last year but feel I want to commit properly this year. And the vibe is good on these threads

Yes! Please come out from lurking

Hi all.

I've done this before with great results and generally like to stick to LC as I feel best on this woe. However, due to battling alcoholism (which I'm now recovering from, yey!) These past few years it's been hard to stay on track as I've been using carbs as a replacement for alcohol binges. I dont need to do that anymore so want to do this to kick start/remind me of the benefits of this woe (when it's done properly/consistently..).

I'm doing BC lite this week to get me used to things and to use up all the stored carbs I have in my system from Christmas 😁

I have about 1.5 stone to lose.

Excited for the next coming months 😊

Count me in please.

Thanks @BIWI for running this. I have started early. Food choices have been great today but forgot the water until an hour ago. Fixing that now. I going to measure rather than weigh for the first month. I bought a new dress that looks like the buttons may pop off. I refused to take the next size up. I will try it on every week.

Thanks for running this. Think it might be the kick up the bum I need. I am technically a healthy weight but at the upper end of healthy BMI. I have been lulled into a false sense of security by breastfeeding for about 5 years solidly (2 babies) and now I've stopped the weight is creeping up and up. I have 10-12 lb to lose and I think I have to accept that carbs can no longer be consumed freely. I needed to have a fresh start for the year so have already started cutting carbs out but will be sure to follow the rules fully from next Monday.

I am a little worried as have our delayed work Christmas meal on the Friday of the 1st week so not sure how I'll manage that.

Thank you Biwi. I need to get back on track.

I've done really well with this WOE in the past but allowed myself to get derailed with too much sugar & carbs the last few months. Want to get back to feeling strong & healthy.

Trying to plan. I am vegetarian. What is the view about Quorn sausages? I usually avoid fake meat/processed veggie stuff but I think my options on this way of eating are eggs various ways, tofu, full fat Greek yoghurt - Quorn sausages would really help for a bit of variety.

What does BC lite stand for please?

@DryWhiteagainW it means Bootcamp Light. Which is what we move to after the first two, strict weeks. (If you want to - you can stay on Bootcamp for the whole 8 weeks if you wish)

@lbnblbnb Quorn sausages are really carby - 11g per 100g - so they're not allowed on Bootcamp. But more importantly, they're horribly processed, which is another reason to avoid them. Quorn is made, essentially, from a fungus grown from soil.

I've lurked on these threads in the past.
Never dipped my toe in but I'm the heaviest I've ever been.
Something needs to give.

I have read the rules.
Can I join please?

I’d like to join too

Ate there any good breakfast ideas? There were no eggs in Tesco today. DH is going to try to get some farm eggs, but if he can't get any, what can I eat other than fullbfat yogurt?

Thank you for the response StunNun, I agree Low Carb has already done wonders for my health, I had a blood test as I had terrible itching all over my body and I was referred to a Dermatologist this year having had it non stop since March 2020, They diagnosed Nodula Prurigo and said there was no cure only treatment, he took a full blood test to check what else was going on and my BG and Liver enzymes were off the scale, further tests and an ultrasound later, I was diagnosed with Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease, high cholesterol, Diabetes 2 and also fatty pancreas. I asked my GP for a leaflet about my condition(s) and how to imrpove it, she replied to look on the NHS website and ignore other sites. I have to wait 8 months to see someone at the Lipid Clinic for hereditary testing as my very slim parents, super healthy and trim sister and niece all have been diagnosed with it. I am guessing I have it but have managed to reduce it considerably by losing weight.

I lost the weight very fast following a 1200 cal diet and reducing carbs to 130g a day. I was told not to go to low initially on carbs as the big drop in sugar can affect your eyesight when you are diabetic, even so my BG has come down rapidly by 30 points in 3 months.

My skin condition vanished, my IBS vanished, my weight vanished and I no longer have to take food coma naps from over doing the carbs. I have plateued at my current weight and ideally would like to lose another couple of stone, I can now fit some size 10s although mainly a 12 (my tummy has a bit of belly fat and my boobs have somehow managed to stay thyere) I want to weigh 7 stone 10 which may seem low but it is a similar weight to what my mum, sister, nieces are and we are a very similar build. Even if I get to 8 stone and can be comfortable in all size 10s I will be happy. This time is very different for my previous yo yo dieting attempts as if I regain I will become really unwell again and it could lead to blindness or amputation. I am with you all the whole way on this.

The only downside is I have gone from having 2-6 bowel movements a day pre-diet to 1 a week if I am lucky and its so painful that I am bleeding each time I go now too, the Morvicol hasnt worked so will try the husk as it sounds like a better option.

Sorry for the long post :)

Are tomatoes considered a fruit or a vegetable as I was going to have a tomato and bacon omelette for breakfast instead of porridge and wash it down with a sugar free benecol :) I love omelettes, normally have a plain one with green veg if its for lunch, I am just wondering if tomato's are off limits in the first 2 weeks

@BIWI thanks for the speedy reply about Quorn sausages, I see your point.

Thanks for this,hopefully this will be the kick up the bum that I need!
My main concern is the planning and cooking for the whole family when the others won’t be following the same plan as me. Quite a few nights of the week are very tight time wise for cooking and eating due to work and after school activities so I’m nervous about how to get around that without breaking and just having a baked potato with the others!

@JustAPony - just give the rest of the family their baked potato/pasta/rice/chips while you serve yourself up extra veg. After you've got used to this WoE, it's easy

Tonight, dh and ds had roast potatoes with their cold turkey and ham still eating out way through the leftovers while I had extra buttery Savoy cabbage

Yesterday in sainsburys I bought these really weird looking baby kale things, called kalettes. I wouldn't say they were delicious but they were edible which for kale is quite impressive, the butter I covered them in helped.

@Jenasaurus that sounds quite bad, I have previously had to stop bootcamp due to issues, went a few days and then fainted, not fun. However since I started in 2021 I seem to have been ok, lots and lots of veg, lots of water and lots of fat. If I go more than a day I take a laxative as I am never getting in that position again. There will naturally be a reduction as you don't have as much waste you aren't eating anything that the body doesn't need but you definitely shouldn't be going a week or having the problems you say.

I often do a big portobello mushroom with cheese on top (usually Boursin) or avocado or smoked salmon (or altogether if I’m starving!)

I cook the mushrooms every couple of days and warm them up

Mushrooms are good for breakfast. I quite like a smoothie. Not that easy to do low carb and tasty (I don't want to use protein powder but I know some do), but this morning I had one made with an avocado, couple of spoonfuls of kefir (will use Greek yogurt from next week), 125ml milk (unsweetened almond from next week, it was cows milk today), a tablespoon of cocoa powder and a teaspoon of vanilla.

Sometimes I throw baby spinach in if I'm feeling virtuous

Takes a bit of getting used to things not being sweet but I genuinely like not-sweet smoothies