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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.

Summer 2023 Boot Camp, Week 1: Here we go!

487 replies

prettybird · 18/06/2023 22:54

19 June is just about upon us and here we are at Week 1 of a 8 week Boot Camp. Are you ready? Smile I'm posting this on the Sunday so that those of you who are early risers can get stuck right in Grin

I'll start a new thread every week.

It will take me a few posts as I blatantly copy across from @BIWI ‘s excellent introductory posts and I’m doing this on the app which makes it more award.

First off the major caveat: I am not a doctor, nor a dietican. This Way of Eating works for me and has done for many others. I’ve followed BIWI on these Boot Camps for many years and there is a lot of support but if you have any medical issues or concerns, you need to make your own choices. You need to be particularly careful if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (in which case follow Boot Camp Light), diabetic or if you are taking any medication, as you may need to liaise with your doctor regarding dosage. I'll post a follow up post with more details.

The Spreadsheet of Fabulousness is here @FinallyHere is Spreadsheet Monitor and most weeks will post the link in one of the following posts after my OP as I usually post via the App and links can be a bit hit or miss. I'll do a link but it might not work for everyone Confused also, if you experience any problems with the Spreadsheet, tag @FinallyHere and she will work her magic on it! Grin

And so to the rules. These are the rules for the first two weeks. After that, we do relax things a little:

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!)

Experienced Boot Campers may follow intermittent fasting (IF) (16:8 or similar) and therefore not have breakfast or another meal but if you’re new to this Way of Eating, wait until you’ve got used to it before starting on IF.

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, which you'll find on the spreadsheet.

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 originally came from www.low-carbdiet.co.uk/ but although the site is now defunct, there are other sources which advise similar quantities of water.

It does of course go without saying not to drink the entire amount in one go: you should spread it out over the day.

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.

The water is really important - any time I’ve noticed myself stalling, I’ve noticed that my water consumption had dipped. I like to think of it as helping to pee the fat away Wink

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. On the spreadsheet, you'll find a nut carb counter, which illustrates just how much they vary in terms of their carb counts.

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 us off and running. I'll follow up with a few Housekeeping posts but I think that's plenty to get started with. Grin

OP posts:
Thread gallery
28
HappiDaze · 20/06/2023 12:51

The crisps were called Proper lentil chips made of lentil flour which I've been buying for the DC recently and also eating myself. They'll be pleased I will no longer be eating them.

They're high in carbs but do come in smaller 25g packs.

I'm guessing we should still avoid these at all costs or might they be ok further down the line

HappiDaze · 20/06/2023 12:52

I've eaten the classic scrambled eggs and bacon rasher for lunch. Breakfast was just a coffee

ListenLinda · 20/06/2023 12:58

I’ve taken all my measurements this morning, to keep motivated when the scales stall from week 3! It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, which was a nice little surprise.

breakfast was just a few spoonfuls of FFGY.
lunch was a chicken salad with a boiled egg too, drizzled wirh olive oil and a few cubes of cheese on top, was delish 😋

Okaygoahead · 20/06/2023 13:12

Baked some bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for lunch, drizzled with olive oil, garlic and oregano and served with tsatsiki made with 10% yogurt. Asparagus and Greek salad too. Lemon squeezed everywhere. DH raved and said “wow! You aren’t deprived at all!”

CherryogDog · 20/06/2023 13:20

@FinallyHere I'm still having trouble with the spreadsheet, if I enlarge the screen I can see June's, and my name, but if I click on it it opens January's and only up to C names.
I'm on my phone, Web based not the app.

FinallyHere · 20/06/2023 13:28

Hi, I wondered whether you might be on your phone. Are you working on a browser or using the Google sheets app?

Either way, I'm afraid that I just wouldn't on s phone. It's so.much.easier on a laptop with s proper keyboard.

You are welcome to use me to input any info (pm if you prefer) or if you want to see the information I could try putting together s pdf or something got you.

Sorry can't be of much help here, happy to go anything I can.

prettybird · 20/06/2023 13:39

@venusandmars - hope the wisdom tooth extraction is not too painful.

@OldandTired66 - I also find the pork puffs quite dry, but that means that you naturally stop eating them unlike crisps Blush They're also a useful way to get fat intake up. Grin

@ItsAsIfWeWereThere - dipping them in something creamy is a good idea. I often make tzatziki so might try that the next time I have some.

I can't quite read the menu - but think, as you say, if you concentrate on the ramen and the wok-fried greens, you should be ok. Remember that edamame beans are high in carbs, so avoid them.

@Random789 - you're right to be careful about not too much cream, but you might be one of the lucky ones for whom dairy is not too much of a problem Wink.

@CherryogDog - welcome Flowers and I hope you manage to stay the course this time. The threads will slow down and we're a friendly bunch. Re the spreadsheet, have you tried the most recent link that @FinallyHere has posted (a few posts after yours)? The links in the prep thread will have been to the January spreadsheet as the June one was only created on Sunday night. Hopefully, once you're fully into this WoE, you'll stop being driven by artificial hunger pangs and can derive sufficient energy during your shifts from your fat stores.

Your walking trousers can be a good indicator of your progress on this Boot Camp.

I'm going to be telling a horror story/dilemma re clothes that don't fit in my next post! Shock

@YappyCamper - I must look up that golden egg curry recipe, especially as ds' veggie girlfriend is moving in with us on Saturday while he looks for a flat to buy so it may be for some time Hmm

@HappiDaze - congratulations on resisting the crisps Flowers and no, the lentil crisps will never be ok Shock Remember, you are not a human trash can. That should help maintain your resistance Grin This is indeed a lovely positive place - as well as good food ideas, a tasty WOE, we have a lovely supportive community of fellow BCers. Flowers

@Andi2020 - you're reminded me that I'm behind on my water intake today so need to go and have a pint of water. Smile

@Skiphopbump - I hope you're officially on Boot Camp Light for whatever reason as your meal, delicious as it sounds, includes strawberries which aren't allowed in the first two weeks. Shock

@ListenLinda - measurements are always a good idea and good on you for thinking forward. Glad they weren't as bad as you feared. Flowers

@Okaygoahead Isn't this WOE wonderful! FlowersSmile

OP posts:
Flishflashfresh · 20/06/2023 13:45

Skipping to the end to hopefully join in! HRT has made me add an unwanted stone! Also makes it insanely hard to lose.

I have form for messing google sheets up, so if someone could add me I'd be super grateful, if not I'll just join in the chat!

Scrambled eggs for breakfast, halloumi lettuce for lunch planing salmon green veg for dinner, sugar free (as in completely unsweetened with a sprinkling of salt!) hot cocoa.

lots of water!

prettybird · 20/06/2023 13:50

My horror but positive Wink story is that I might possibly get a well paid Project/communication role for 8 weeks starting 3 July. I've not worked in a paid role for c13 years so it's dead scary Shock (and I did push back at the recruitment consultant, saying I wasn't sure I had the right experience for the role - especially the technological aspect off - but he said it was primarily communication and that I'd be ideal). Checked with a friend who I used to work with and also said I'd be suited and to go for it.

So I've agreed he can put me forward for it - and he says I'm his "strongest candidate" Shock

The horror story is that I've tried on a couple of summer "work-ish" clothes (even allowing for the fact that the dress code is more casual nowadays) and I can't fit in to any of them Sad

Dh has been very reassuring and said that if I were to get the role, I can afford to go and get a couple of inexpensive work outfits Smile but I want to stamp my feet and say I'm not wasting money on clothes that are quickly going to be too big for me Hmm

OP posts:
prettybird · 20/06/2023 13:53

@Flishflashfresh - welcome Flowers I'm sure @FinallyHere will add you to the spreadsheet. What is your starting weight?

I never though of adding salt to cocoa - that's a great idea.

Try and read back through the thread now that you've joined it. I'm sure you'll find it beneficial.

OP posts:
CherryogDog · 20/06/2023 13:56

@FinallyHere I'll fire up my laptop later to see if I can get my head round it, thanks!
I think I'm on the browser, not the Google apps thing you mentioned.
@prettybird yes I tried the link straight after my post, if I just zoom in I can see June's, but if I try to open it it goes straight to January.
I didn't make it clear, I've retired now and naturally eat 16:8, it's nearly 2pm and I'm still not hungry!
The only times I feel I must eat something in case I get hungry is when I've had a big breakfast late afternoon and it's getting towards bedtime and I worry about waking up hungry in the middle of the night.
Thanks for the welcome and I will try to keep up!

EvenmoreDisorganised · 20/06/2023 14:07

Having trouble keeping up but just wanted to say thatnks to @Lucienandjean for the answer about macchiato coffee, I will try that next time I'm out. @prettybird the thing about asking for cream, do they usually have it in places like Costa or is it only really in restaurants or teashops that serve puddings that you are likely to find it?

I struggled a bit last night - I go to a yoga class at 8pm and can't eat a big meal either before or after so ended up nibbling on cheese, salami and some random raw mushrooms that were on the kitchen counter plus a bit of plain yogurt. Evenings are definitely the harder time for me, we all come and go a lot and rarely eat together or at anything resembling a fixed time during the week, DH and I are the sort of people who will get out of the house for any reason and it's easy to find reasons on these long warm evenings (gym, allotment, other sports, pub), the teen DCs come and go too. So menu planning doesn't really happen. Last night I cooked a gammon joint after work but then didn't feel like it after yoga. Anyway, I have done similar WOEs before and made it work so I can do it again.

Someone mentioned going to functions where you have no real options over the catering, I have got a couple of those coming up, plus some working lunches at work which tend to be carb-central, I will have to plan ahead a bit. I am pretty good at picking out the best options on restaurant menus now though, it makes it easier in some ways as I don't even look at the pasta/pizza/everything with chips sections now.

YappyCamper · 20/06/2023 14:12

www.nigella.com/recipes/golden-egg-curry

For those interested in the egg curry. I find Nigella okay-ish on a low carb diet. Her recipes tend to be all carb or hardly any so while I'd love to dive face first into that pudding she makes with croissants, I can find plenty in her books that works for this way of eating

prettybird · 20/06/2023 14:21

@EvenmoreDisorganised - I'm not the expert, as I have my coffee black (@ilovecherries is the one to ask Wink) but I think that most Costa etc shops will have some pouring cream if you ask. It'll probably be single rather than double cream but it's still better than milk! Wink

OP posts:
Flishflashfresh · 20/06/2023 14:26

I didn't weigh myself this morning because I was feeling very vague about starting but now I am mentally ready!

I have done bootcamps before but not properly for two years. I need accountability! And imaginative recipes for sprouts etc!

Flishflashfresh · 20/06/2023 14:26

Oh, sorry, I am 165lbs based off last Friday. I have been hovering there for ages.

Skiphopbump · 20/06/2023 14:53

@prettybird that’s sounds like an exciting opportunity- good luck!
I am on bootcamp light. I need to broadly low carb for the rest of my life if I want to keep my blood sugar out of the pre-diabetic or worse diabetic range and BCL suits me without feeling too restricted. I do however need to keep off the nuts as long as possible, they are my downfall!

prettybird · 20/06/2023 14:53

@Flishflashfresh - there are various recipe for sprouts on the Veggie recipe thread Smile. There's a master link to all the different recipe threads that I posted earlier today.

OP posts:
prettybird · 20/06/2023 14:54

I'll try and remember @Skiphopbump - so I don't get the Big Stick out Wink

OP posts:
Andi2020 · 20/06/2023 15:11

@prettybird as you are extremely busy and hard to know who is new and who is bootcamp lite maybe if they say in their comments.
Its confusing also for new people wondering why some can eat things they can't.
First 2 weeks need to be strict for new people to get a good start at weight loss and help motivate them for the full bootcamp.
So I'd suggest to everyone to help @pretty and all new people put something like BL to not confuse people.

prettybird · 20/06/2023 15:42

Thank you @Andi2020 Flowers

OP posts:
venusandmars · 20/06/2023 16:16

@EvenmoreDisorganised I'm another who loves macchiato (you sometimes have to ask for expresso macchiato). It makes me feel very sophisticated - me sipping my strong coffee from a tiny elegant cup while others have big frothy, pale concotions sprinkled with chocolate. Plus if the coffee isn't actually very nice you only have a tiny shot to drink. Although I always have any remaining froth on a spoon ruins the sophisticated image

Sometimes places like Starbucks have cream, but it's usually squirty cream and a couple of times I've suspected that it is sweetened Shock

FinallyHere · 20/06/2023 16:26

worry about waking up hungry in the middle of the night. @CherryogDog

Once of my favourite things about this way of eating, is how my blood sugar levels stabilise. I even wore a continuous blood sugar monitor for a fortnight, for independent validation of how stable it is when I eat low carb.

It's a great reason to Keep On Keeping ON (KOKO) through the initial period of adapting, so that the body starts burning fat (hurrah) and hungry in that urgent sense just evaporates. No sign of that hangry feeling, that that I now associate with the blood sugar rollercoaster. Hang on in there :-)

FinallyHere · 20/06/2023 16:32

@prettybird I feel your 'no clothes' pain and hope you find something decent.

Have you a good idea of the dress code in your team or department? Our varies a very great deal across department as well as across different roles. I can't remember the last time i wore anything but jeans to work. This Friday, I'm due to attend a memorial service straight from work and shall be wearing a frock and jacket for the first time since, ohh, dunno, maybe 2012.

Secretly hoping that someone, anyone notices my pins and then immediately feeling guilty because its such a sad occasion and no one, least of all myself, should really be thinking about clothes.