Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Low-carb bootcamp

Join discussions about low-carb bootcamp plans, meals and progress. Consider speaking to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Week 3 - May '24 Low Carb Bootcamp - Light or full-on?!

184 replies

BIWI · 27/05/2024 08:43

Morning all.

This week sees the opportunity to add back into your diet fruit, nuts and seeds, chocolate and alcohol, by moving to Bootcamp Light.

HOWEVER!

All of the above in moderation.

Fruit - keep the focus on berries, and don't go mad by having lots of it, regularly. As with veg, there's a carb counter on the spreadsheet which you can use - just look at how few fruits are in the green section!

Nuts/seeds - there's a carb counter for nuts on the spreadsheet too (and when I get round to it, I'll do one for seeds. Again, go easy. While they're very good for us, they can get carby very quickly as they're so moreish.

Chocolate - aim for a minimum of 70% cocoa. You'll be surprised - if you've been avoiding sweet things for a while - at how easy it is to enjoy higher cocoa content chocolate. It's also actually good for us too. Lindt make a good 90% chocolate, but I prefer one that Sainsbury's sell, in their Taste the Difference range, which is a Ugandan one - https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-ugandan-90-dark-chocolate-taste-the-difference-100g

2 squares of this is very satisfying.

Alcohol - be very careful here. Partly because you'll find it has more of an effect on you if you're not eating carbs, and partly because once you start drinking you'll suddenly find yourself easily able to justify those crisps! But mainly because a) there can be a lot of carbs in it; b) all the time you're drinking alcohol, this is the source of fuel that your body will be using, rather than fat and c) even if you choose a spirit which has no carbs in it, chances are you'll be drinking it with an artificially sweetened mixer - and remember we're trying to avoid the artificial sweeteners.

The Benefits of Having a Healthy Relationship with Chocolate

Are you and chocolate on the outs? It may be time to make amends. Find out how having a balanced relationship with chocolate may be good for your overall health.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-benefits-of-having-a-healthy-relationship-with-chocolate#:~:text=Dark%20chocolate%20contains%20powerful%20antioxidants,damage%20caused%20by%20free%20radicals.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
BIWI · 27/05/2024 08:46

So it's up to you - you can move to Bootcamp Light if you wish. Or, if you prefer, you can stay on Bootcamp 'full-on'. If you do that, please make sure you're adhering to rule no 4, which is that most of your carbs should be coming from vegetables and salad. This means you're getting proper nutrition (and fibre!) from your diet.

As an alternative, which might help those of you who are feeling a bit restricted, you could do full-on Bootcamp during the week, and relax into Bootcamp Light at the weekend.

There is a big caveat coming here though!

You also need to know/remember that weeks 3 & 4 are notorious for seeing weight loss slow or stop. Sometimes you may even see a slight gain, even if you are following the rules to the letter. This is quite normal, so don't panic. Just make sure that you are following the rules (don't forget the water!), and KOKO.

OP posts:
OP posts:
MissBeck · 27/05/2024 09:01

Good morning all and thanks @BIWI for the new thread.

The spreadsheet said -0.9 for this week, so I've put on 1lb, but I'm past the stage of being dissapointed at gains when I know I've been eating the right things. I'll never stop wondering why, when I lose 5lbs one week then put on the next, eating the same stuff, but such is life.
It's entirely possible I'm just not eating enough, which sounds weird, but some days I only eat one 'meal' so to speak.
I don't plan meals, I just wing it due to my hectic lifestyle. Maybe that's the answer! Goodness, I'm rambling now!

A day at home, so I might have a good clothes sort out and try on stuff that is in my 'maybe one day' wardobe. 😂

NigellaAwesome · 27/05/2024 09:25

Morning all, I was fairly absent for last week's thread. Family visiting and spending a lot of time at hospital, but I have managed to stay fairly well on track. Will post later.

PunksVersusBrats · 27/05/2024 09:26

Thanks BIWI, I'm finding these threads a game-changer in terms of how I'm managing temptation, the fear of being hungry later, etc.

1lb off this week, which I'll happily take. I'm still very much adjusting to this WOE so was thinking of staying in the harder bootcamp, but going light just at the weekends sounds a great solution to fitting it around my life and family.

EasilyDefined · 27/05/2024 09:29

1.4lb off for me, was 2lb on Friday but weekends do tend to be when I snack more and drink less water. I'm going Lite this week as I want to start eating seeds and berries again.

lastchancesalmon · 27/05/2024 09:48

Morning. 1lb down which I'm very happy with as it's been up and down this week (the occasional drawback of daily weighing) enjoying the bank holiday with a hot water and lemon in bed! Have a great day, whatever you are doing.

BIWI · 27/05/2024 09:50

Aldi and Sainsbury's, that's what I'll be doing Grin

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 27/05/2024 10:01

Thank you BIWI for keeping us on track and for week three.

It's so good to be here in the company of like minded people, the rest of the world so often seems mostly to wilfully not understand this way of eating.

Thesoundofmusic23 · 27/05/2024 10:17

Thanks for the new thread @BIWI - tiny loss for me this week. Life is a bit overwhelming at the moment and I have struggled with strict bootcamp but I find checking in with this group so helpful that I’d like to stay and keep chipping away. Have a good week everyone.

SpellitwithaY · 27/05/2024 10:20

Right I've got Tesco due any minute chokka full of low carb items. What do you guys have for breakfasts? I've got greek yog and cream coming. I'm not keen on eggs but can eat them like in omelettes etc if you can't taste the egg. Work in the office 5 days a week and tend to eat there so batch cooking or something grab able is my life saver!

MissBeck · 27/05/2024 10:33

@SpellitwithaY Chunk of cheese and 2 cigarettes! 😂😂My whole adult life I have never been able to eat until I've been awake for at least an hour. The only exception to that is Sultana Bran (Which I don't eat now Biwi so put that stick back down!) I just loved it. Could eat that every morning! I miss it. 😪So now I chuck cheese in my work bag, and eat it as soon as I sit at my desk (8.30am). I did try the greek yoghurt thing. 😱Nope! Nearly threw up!

BIWI · 27/05/2024 11:06

Breakfast can be anything you like! No need for special breakfast foods. Try a continental breakfast - ham and cheese, cold cooked (low carb, obvs) sausages. Or leftovers from the previous night's dinner. Anything!

OP posts:
Bex5490 · 27/05/2024 11:28

Morning all! 1.6lb down today which I’m ecstatic about because there was no movement on the scales right up until yesterday!

@MissBeck I must be losing my sweet tooth because I’m far more jealous of the cigarettes than any talk of cake!

I’m going on holiday 2nd June so will end boot camp a little early but all going in the right direction!

KOKO fellow low carbers!

fitflopqueen · 27/05/2024 11:34

1lb down, haven’t had as much water in last couple of days, (unexpected guests for weekend) otherwise have stayed on track. Am going away for long weekend to a foodie destination on Friday so staying with boot camp til then and hopefully keep roughly on track until next week.

SpellitwithaY · 27/05/2024 11:41

Thanks BIWI! Yes of course ham and cheese for breakfast yum. I'll definitely be doing that. When. You guys do ffgy and cream, how much of each do you do? Half and half or less? Just personal taste? I'll stop with the newb questions I promise. I've already roasted all my leftover broccoli and green beans ready for salad for lunches 😁

prettybird · 27/05/2024 11:49

I'm down to 12st 6lb so that's half a stone this Boot Camp Smile

I'm going to be staying on strict Boot Camp until at least Friday as I celebrated my wedding anniversary on the Thursday of the first week Blush but kept quiet about it to avoid the Big Stick Wink

Made lovely pork burgers last night, plus the keto version of Greek Courgette, feta and herbs fritters (uses almond flour and physillum husk as the filler) just realised I shouldn't have had the almond flour Blush as ds' girlfriend is veggie and loves them. Plus home made tzatziki, buttery sweet corn and a simple tomato and basil salad. Plus lots of water Halo

BIWI · 27/05/2024 11:51

SpellitwithaY · 27/05/2024 11:41

Thanks BIWI! Yes of course ham and cheese for breakfast yum. I'll definitely be doing that. When. You guys do ffgy and cream, how much of each do you do? Half and half or less? Just personal taste? I'll stop with the newb questions I promise. I've already roasted all my leftover broccoli and green beans ready for salad for lunches 😁

Please don't stop with the questions! We were all newbies once Smile

Personally I only add cream to my yoghurt if I can't buy the 10% fat stuff. But I'd say just add it to taste? Probably 3 times yoghurt to 1 of cream? Entirely up to you though.

OP posts:
BIWI · 27/05/2024 11:53

I think it's time for another challenge!

This week, delicious low carb recipes for mince please! Can be beef, pork, turkey, etc - any kind of lovely recipe.

I'm making cheeseburger pie on Saturday which is what prompted the thought. I have a tired repertoire of mince recipes and could do with something new.

OP posts:
BIWI · 27/05/2024 11:53

Oh, and well done @prettybird! Flowers. I saw your guilty pictures on facebook

OP posts:
prettybird · 27/05/2024 11:56

@SpellitwithaY - when I serve myself FFGY for breakfast, I have a couple of generous spoonfuls and then a good splash of double cream. I then sprinkle with cinnamon, which I love Smile

If I'm doing it as a "dessert" (as I did last night) I'll whip up the cream and then whip in a roughly equal amount of Greek yogurt. (I have a 1l tub of the Lidl Greek style yoghurt to use up as it's not nearly as nice as their authentic Greek yogurt Hmm, which is thicker and creamier. I sprinkled mine with cinnamon again Wink and added quartered old strawberries, a wee bit of black pepper and a splash of balsamic vinegar to the rest and whipped it again (to break down the strawberries a bit) for dh, ds and ds' girlfriend.

prettybird · 27/05/2024 11:57

BIWI · 27/05/2024 11:53

Oh, and well done @prettybird! Flowers. I saw your guilty pictures on facebook

Grin Oops Grin

BIWI · 27/05/2024 12:04

Oh, also forgot - something I've just discovered that works really well in FFGY is freeze-dried raspberries and strawberries.

They seem high carb - 100g of freeze-dried strawberries is 50.9g carbs, BUT that whole little bottle is only 6g (which is just 3g carbs), so a teaspoon or so of those will be hardly anything.

Freeze-dried raspberries are even lower.

Cooks' Ingredients Freeze Dried Raspberries | Waitrose & Partners

Buy Cooks' Ingredients Freeze Dried Raspberries online from Waitrose today. Picked, packed and delivered by hand in convenient 1-hour slots

https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/cooks-ingredients-freeze-dried-raspberries/520323-810689-810690

OP posts:
prettybird · 27/05/2024 12:13

You've reminded me that I bought this for a chocolate dessert I made a wee while ago. Must remember to use them Smile

https://amzn.eu/d/1zpZrC2

Week 3 - May '24 Low Carb Bootcamp - Light or full-on?!
EasilyDefined · 27/05/2024 12:17

Those dried raspberry bits are nice, the flavour is intense so you don't need many. I buy bags of frozen berries when fresh are out of season and have them with my yogurt. Also a sprinkling of flax seed, I sometimes make pots overnight then the flax absorbs liquid and tastes less gritty/dry.