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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.

May '24 Low Carb Bootcamp - the prep thread

78 replies

BIWI · 05/05/2024 16:22

Just a week to go before we start, so it's time to think about how you're going to approach this Bootcamp. Before I get into the detail, here's some background info/reminders about what Bootcamp entails:

The whole thing lasts for 8 weeks, but the first two are the strictest.

During all of Bootcamp, these are the foods you won't be eating:

  • pasta and noodles (brown or white)
  • rice (brown or white)
  • bread (of any kind - including wraps, bagels, crumpets etc)
  • potatoes, sweet potatoes and sweetcorn
  • pastry, pastries, biscuits and crackers
  • crisps and other savoury snacks, including popcorn
  • flour (anything baked or thickened with flour)
  • fruit (of any kind)
  • full sugar squash/cordial
  • fruit juice
  • sugar, honey, syrup (again, of any kind)
  • sweets
  • balsamic vinegar (any other vinegar is fine)
  • flavoured yoghurt
  • legumes/pulses (e.g. lentils, chickpeas, hummous etc)
  • grains
  • no 'lite' or light foods at all

After the first two weeks you can move on to Bootcamp Light, which means you can add in:

  • some fruit (mainly berries)
  • nuts/seeds
  • some alcohol (dry wines and clear spirits)
  • some chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa)

... but all of the above occasionally and in moderation.

You may be wondering what you can eat!

A low carb diet is based around high fat, medium protein and low carb. So we will be eating:

  • any meat, poultry, fish and eggs (keeping processed meat/fish to a minimum)
  • most vegetables (there's a list on our spreadsheet showing which are the best ones to choose)
  • salads
  • butter
  • full fat yoghurt (not flavoured)
  • cream and cheese
  • olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, lard

If you have a look at this topic you'll see some lovely low carb recipes, which hopefully will inspire you!

I'll be tagging everyone who has signed up so far, to make sure that you see this.

Low-Carb Diets & Keto Recipes Discussion Forum UK | Mumsnet | Mumsnet

Following a low-carb or keto diet? Find low-carb meal inspiration and share ideas on our recipes forum.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/low-carb-recipes

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7
StuntNun · 08/05/2024 09:07

Almond flour is okay after the first two weeks which are no nuts. Coconut flour is very carby.

alwaysonadiet1 · 08/05/2024 10:44

What can I use instead of cornflour to thicken stir fry sauce and Chinese soups?

Just2MoreSeasons · 08/05/2024 12:51

Thought I'd add my week 1 boot camp meal plan in case anyone is looking for ideas. Apologies for the scrappy writing- I hadn't intended it to be public when I wrote it!
Any page numbers are from the Fast 800 Keto recipe book (some maybe adapted).

May '24 Low Carb Bootcamp - the prep thread
NigellaAwesome · 08/05/2024 21:05

Hello all - I'm really excited to be starting (again Blush).

I was just thinking the other day that I needed to get back into low carb, as it is the ONLY thing that works for me. I caught sight of myself on the ring doorbell the other day, and I am really hobbling around and the excess weight isn't helping at all. I seem to be carrying an extraordinary amount of weight on my back and shoulders.

I have already sort of started - easing myself in. I made Nigella's greek salad tonight (although she uses fennel instead of cucumber which I didn't have) and I have to say it was amazing. A bit of a faff, but I have enough for tomorrow evening too. I had it with air fryer mini chicken breasts and homemade coleslaw.

I bought Keto Diet by Dr Josh Axe a couple of years ago and it has been sitting by my bed unread, so I have made a start on that too.

I'm off to start making some plans for meals.

Glorianna · 10/05/2024 15:58

StuntNun · 07/05/2024 12:51

That's a good point about the strawberries. Yes, they're low-ish carb and okay when we move on to Bootcamp Light after the first two weeks, but the carbs do add up if you eat a fair amount.

Yes, and the problem is strawberries taste best when freshly bought, the fridge makes them less tasty, so I end up eating more than I should when they're fresh!

StuntNun · 10/05/2024 21:55

I bought some today @Glorianna but, luckily for me, DS4 discovered them and ate most of them before I got any. I have three left for tomorrow! Hmm

JustAPony · 11/05/2024 08:31

Just doing my meal plan just now. Any suggestions for an evening mega to eat in the car on the go? The kids have so many activities that we usually end up having crisps and sandwiches in the car while running between them all. Any alternatives? I don’t have time to heat anything up-usually go straight from work!
Thanks!

UnOeufIsEnough · 11/05/2024 08:34

@JustAPony we have a night like this and I bought a bento box-style tub. I have cucumber sticks, halved boiled eggs, cheese cubes, olives, celery and salami. It comes with a wee lidded tub so I put mayo or Caesar dressing in it for dipping.

JustAPony · 11/05/2024 08:41

UnOeufIsEnough · 11/05/2024 08:34

@JustAPony we have a night like this and I bought a bento box-style tub. I have cucumber sticks, halved boiled eggs, cheese cubes, olives, celery and salami. It comes with a wee lidded tub so I put mayo or Caesar dressing in it for dipping.

Genius, I’ll do exactly that and grab it from the fridge in passing. Thank you!

BIWI · 11/05/2024 12:06

@JustAPony you can also buy very good low carb bread and wraps from this company

They aren't cheap, but they're very useful to have in the freezer for just such an occasion.

Keto & Low Carb Bakery - SRSLYLowCarb %

Low carb bread and low carb rolls. Now you can enjoy the foods you miss and crave as part of your low carb meals.

https://srslylowcarb.com/collections/loaves-rolls

OP posts:
BIWI · 11/05/2024 12:07

... and they're doing 20% off your first order

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UnOeufIsEnough · 11/05/2024 15:13

Hi @BIWI Just a quick q...are the low carb rolls ok for the first two weeks in bootcamp?

Thank you! Smile

BIWI · 11/05/2024 15:23

Well technically they really shouldn't be. These are the ingredients:

Water, Wheat Gluten, Egg, Brown Flaxseed, Oat Fibre,
Rapeseed Oil, Wheat Flour (with Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamine)
Yeast, Inverted Sugar Syrup, Salt, Thickener:
Xanthan Gum, Sweetener: Erythritol, Flour Treatment Agent:
Ascorbic Acid, Preservative: Calcium Propionate

... so we can see that this is pretty processed as well as containing ingredients that aren't otherwise allowed on Bootcamp.

However, as bread is something that so many people find hard to 'lose' or give up, if it helps to keep on course, I'd allow them.

It would be, of course, better to find a meal that doesn't look for substitutes for high carb foods, because otherwise the danger is that all that will happen when we come to the end of Bootcamp, is that people will go back to ordinary bread.

TBH I think the price of it will put people off from having it every day.

Thanks for asking the question - it's a very good one.

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UnOeufIsEnough · 11/05/2024 15:47

Brilliant - thanks so much!

I'll file them under "emergency cravings rations"! Grin

BIWI · 11/05/2024 17:54

@Fanchester
@Lumpalicious(v)
@CheeseElectric
@NestNearlyEmpty
@Peaceandquietandacuppa
@DrBlackbird
@CrystalTits
@Wallywobbles
@PatootieLou
@JustAPony
@crucible2024(no spreadsheet)
@RememberToSmile1980(no s/sheet)
@Scout1981
@Beatrixslobber
@Bex5490
@Crampulet(v)
@Grohl19
@leopardski
@Menotum
@NigellaAwesome
@Bootcamp272
@Aimingforthesky
@Glassbottom
@Flumptastic
@Cowcat

Just making sure that later sign-ups have seen the prep thread!

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PatootieLou · 11/05/2024 20:28

Quick question… Lupin flour… in or out? I’ve been using a spoon on grated courgette mixed with a bit of grated cheese and an egg and frying them up like pancakes, not sure if it’s Bootcamp friendly or not though

BIWI · 11/05/2024 22:44

I'd have to say 'out' - as it's made from beans. But more importantly, it's pretty high in carbs, at 14g carbs per 100g. Almond flour (or ground almonds) is 6.9g per 100g, for comparison.

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PatootieLou · 11/05/2024 23:19

Perfect, thank you!

BIWI · 12/05/2024 07:13

@potas(v)
@Nyancat
@valsh

Tagging you to ensure you've seen this prep thread

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BIWI · 12/05/2024 07:22

@Just2MoreSeasons really good idea to plan ahead as you've been doing - and I agree that some of the Fast800 recipes are very good. But am I reading it right that one of your meals is beans? Sadly beans aren't allowed on Bootcamp.

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Just2MoreSeasons · 12/05/2024 08:17

Thanks @BIWI I still can't find out how to access the spreadsheet for what veg you can have so hadn't realised I couldn't have beans- I will remove!!

BIWI · 12/05/2024 08:20

My fault @Just2MoreSeasons - I should have been more specific when I posted about the things we don't eat. When I said legumes/pulses, that also includes beans. (Sorry about that!)

In the meantime here's a link to a previous spreadsheet which has the veg carb counts. (I'm revising/checking this list later today, but just so you can see in advance)

January 2024 'Dry' Bootcamp

Jan & Feb 24 ,Original Start Date,Original Weight (lbs),Starting Weight (lbs) 1st Jan 24,Total Loss since original start,% loss since original start,8th Jan Week 2,Weekly Loss,Total Loss this Bootcamp,% loss this Bootcamp,Total Loss since original st...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MgQyl3RkGeDygLf3MsXiPo7-Ei_ISUlJObPELZ44-Vg/edit#gid=205869645

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WouldYouLikeMeToSpellThatForYou · 12/05/2024 08:37

Oh! @BIWI
I'd like to join but I'm going on an AI holiday next week!!!! I could probably do mid carb but that's not the point 😭

I could start afterwards in earnest? Get 6 weeks done at least and then join the next one again. I have 2 stones to lose to get out of 'obese' into 'just overweight'
CW: 12s7 at 5ft4 although taking BMI with a pinch of salt as I'm quite solid of muscle and structure (not fine bones and have been my 'healthy' weight of 9s7 and was very skeletal, didn't look right)

BIWI · 12/05/2024 09:57

You're welcome to join after your holiday @WouldYouLikeMeToSpellThatForYou - definitely agree that AI isn't the time to start worrying about the carbs Grin

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BIWI · 12/05/2024 10:04

Actually @Just2MoreSeasons - I've just checked that recipe out, and you'll be pleased to know that it's fine! Green beans are actually pretty low in carbs - I was thinking you were talking about dried beans/canned beans (like cannellini or kidney beans), which are definitely not allowed!

And that whole recipe is only 7.6g carbs per serving, even with the pine nuts, so you're all good!

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