January ’26 Low Carb Bootcamp - getting us started!

[BIWI]

Welcome to the first Low Carb Bootcamp of 2026 - and Happy New Year to us all

Each week, every Monday, I’ll start a new chat thread, with a link to the spreadsheet. But I wanted to start this one a little bit earlier, so that I could post some prep stuff - either as a reminder, if you’ve Bootcamped before, or as key information if you haven’t.

If you haven’t Bootcamped before, and things aren’t very clear, then the FAQ thread should be helpful:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/low_carb_bootcamp/4049535-Low-Carb-Bootcamp-FAQs?reply=118903269

But please ask any questions on the threads - or PM me if you’d prefer.

The very lovely @FinallyHere is working on the spreadsheet in preparation for Monday. You don’t have to be on it, so either message me/her to ask to be removed, or simply ignore your row!

To make sure everyone who has signed up has seen this thread, I’m going to tag you all - in batches of 10 because sometimes it doesn’t work if you try to do everyone at the same time.

I feel like I’ve eaten quite a lot but on plan I think.

Just 2 soft boiled eggs for a snatched breakfast after a run. Lunch was leftovers salad- usual salad bits with a bit of ham, a few bits of cheese, mayo. Yogurt. Dinner was pork with mashed swede, cabbage, carrot and some slightly carby gravy/sauce. Plenty of drinks still.

I’m away for a celebration weekend (weather permitting) so that will be more of a challenge!

When you say <be careful with dairy> BIWI how much cheese/ffgy is ok per day?

I have booked a walking holiday in May so I've gained extra motivation: I want to fit into my favourite walking trousers, because as it stands I'd need to buy a larger size (or maybe even two ).

@Theghostofchristmasarse whilst not evangelical about it I try to avoid artificial sweeteners as I think they're known to be bad for gut flora, especially aspartame. Unfortunately they're in just about everything now, even non-diet drinks. Fevertree light tonic waters are a sugar-alcohol sweetener which is a reasonable compromise.

Another day not quite as planned ( socially , not food )
Bacon and mushrooms for breakfast , as I planned a big breakfast , then a late lunch of pork and aubergine , before crochet club at 5-30 , then a cheese snack for dinner at 8
Club was cancelled due to weather, at least I didn’t have to rush home for Traitors , and had leftover Christmas cheese for lunch and the pork with celariac chips for dinner

@RightTurnClyde where are you going on your walking holiday ? We went to Snowdonia and had a lovely time walking around there last June

@Theghostofchristmasarse yes, artificial sweeteners are really off the table - however, in certain circumstances it’s impossible really! Unless you’re happy to drink soda/sparkling water all evening, it’s rather difficult. There are loads of flavoured waters around, but obviously depends what your pub is stocking. You could always ask for slices of lemon/lime to add to your water, which will make it a bit more interesting!

@DryWhiteagainW we don’t specify particular amounts - because everyone seems to be different. If you’re losing weight while eating them, then it’s fine - but dairy is the first thing to look at if weight loss isn’t happening, or is slowing down.

@SprinklesofRain - you could always try taking yours out and frying them with more oil? Steamed hot, dry veg doesn’t sound very exciting

I oiled mine and stuck them back in and they crisped up quite well, it was tasty in the end. I mainly had broccoli and mushrooms, let the others have the peppers as I find them a bit sweet. That is one good thing about the WOE for me, when it comes to veg I have a preference for green rather than root which tend to be too sweet. I also like cauliflower.

@BIWI and @RightTurnClyde thanks, I'll have to really study labels. What about stevia? I read a low carb blog yesterday that seemed to think it was ok.
Basically I get horrific morning belly most times I drink, sometimes even when I don't. I switched from cider to g and t, which sometimes does it, and occasionally red wine. Which I love...but again, can make me have to run to the loo about 5 times in an hour. I like the CBD drinks, but they have fruit juice in them..get cramps if I have beer/bread etc and found when I cut out bread and fruit last time I did BC that my stomach was better.

Just don't know what else to try, I'll do this for the duration and keep a diary to see if I can see any links. I did the fodmap diet last year and gluten set it off, plus onions and garlic. But it came back gradually and Christmas was horrific, only thing I could see that might be doing it is sugar.

I like walking in the UK too @SemmaLina and normally don't go far, but this time I'm heading to southern Europe and have been promised both excellent walking and post walking wine and dining.

I think it stops me getting my water in because I make it to cover some of my fluids but am so disgusted by it I never drink it in full but then don’t drink the water either.

anyone else bored of their meals 😂😅

my husband bought some asian street food, I wasn’t even tempted so I am doing well 😁

Another good day here , eggs for breakfast , smoked salmon for lunch and chilli and salad for dinner . I’ve had plenty of water , probably about 3 l and my issue now is that I’m constipated which always happens if I stop eating my gut bar every day .

Yes, I'm a bit bored but really that's good because normally I am FAR too keen on them. I haven't tried WLI but imagine this is what is meant by reducing the food noise.

Also re coffee, I never did take sugar but I have tried black coffee properly for the first time in my life this week (normally a dedicated flat white level of milk used) and been flabbergasted to find I really like it. That is a NSV for me.

I thought I’d been doing really well, but have been eating onions, as I hadn’t realised they were to be avoided. (Struggled to view the spreadsheet on my phone, so aside from adding my weight, I only looked at it properly on my laptop this evening.) I also cooked a pork and veg stir fry last night, and didn’t have the noodles, but did put sweet chilli sauce in it, which is full of sugar. So I’m a bit frustrated with myself about that, but I suppose I’ve still eaten fewer carbs than I usually would have. Will do better tomorrow.

Breakfast today was FFGY and a HB egg. Lunch was chicken and salad leaves with the homemade mayo. Rooibos instead of tea and coffee through the day at work.

Doing well I think. Best meals so far turkey meat balls in tomato sauce with corgetti and grated cheese on top. Yum and filling. Also homemade chicken curry with cauliflower rice and spinach today hit the spot. I love the ffgy with cream for breakfast and add a little cinnamon for flavour. I look forward to a few berries and nuts on this once the first two weeks is up. More energy today so I think I’ve made the transition which is ace and less hungry between meals. Gallons of mint tea keeping me hydrated.

Love reading others recipe ideas. Getting ideas for next week.

@TeamToeBeans I know onions are in the red zone - so if you can substitute them with shallots. But if you can’t don’t worry - they’re such a key ingredient

Morning, I’ve only just started yesterday, as was away. I have done bootcamp before with great results, but weight has slowly gone back on.

Had a good start yesterday and have planned my meals for today, will be concentrating on drinking enough water.

thanks BIWI and others for running this, it is just what I need

Today is going to be a test. School is closed so I'm working at home surrounded by carby temptation in all its forms. I'm trying to counter it with:
B - yoghurt & cream
2ndB - cheeses, cold meats & gherkins/salad
L - smoked trout & spring onion omelette
D - chicken curry with veg on the side, as cauliflower rice is an abomination and I can't be persuaded otherwise 🤢

A bit too much processed meat/fish but better than BIWI's stick 😁

I'd sell a kidney for toast right now, mind!

Morning all, nearly at the end of the first week, I'm definitely ready to see the end of it if I'm honest! Not sure if it's carb flu (had it the first time I did bootcamp but felt different) but slept dreadfully again - felt very full still from lunch, and still have heartburn from 1am this morning, Rennie's haven't gone anywhere near it. Also could be new peri-hell totm symptoms (went back through my diary and am actually due 😞) but whatever it is any suggestions to get rid would be gratefully appreciated, I normally suffer if I have too much to drink or have too much bread which definitely isn't the case. No appetite at the moment but keeping on with the herbal tea - we are practically tropical at 2 degrees!

I'm not bored as such with meals - I do like having more vegetables and tbh I'm not a massive fan of pasta/rice/potatoes so don't really miss them, but I do miss having something with crunch. If I can find the pork crunch when I go to the shops later I'm stocking up!

Planning on BIWI's sausage traybake for dinner this evening and probably an early night so won't miss Friday night wine! DH's band have a gig tomorrow so that will be another challenge - I've volunteered to drive so that makes things easier, and I don't actually like most fizzy drinks so was planning on soda with a splash of blackcurrant. We don't have a sniff of snow so unfortunately it will go ahead (gigs in January suck!)

How on earth are people bored with their meals by DAY 4?!

Seriously. If you need inspiration, go and look at the low carb recipes - there’s a whole topic full of them.

And do some proper meal planning. There really is no excuse for boredom at this stage.

I did your sausage & veg roasting tin dinner last night @BIWI, it was good. I enjoyed it. The kids ate it, but didn’t love it, which was as expected, but they know that if they don’t make a reasonable effort, there’s no snacks later.

I’m sleeping well, which I normally do tbh, but last time I did dry January my sleep was interrupted, so I’m glad that hasn’t happened this time.

I’m trying this tomorrow, as DH has got some boring ( in my opinion ) rugby match and dinner
https://www.dietdoctor.com/recipes/low-carb-salmon-laksa

Pot roast chicken with cauli cheese and various other veg tonight

That sounds lovely!

I’ve got some salmon in the freezer I was planning on using next week, so might try that.

I love the idea of using shredded cabbage, and it’s something I do a lot. I’ve done it with Bolognese sauce or chilli (minus beans!) before. I’ve also done it as a side dish, pan-frying it in oil and butter till it chars, and then adding the juice of a lemon. Sometimes some chilli flakes.

The other ingredient that would work well, and keep the carbs low, is shirataki noodles. These are a Japanese noodle that’s made from the konjac yam. (Not a yam as we would know it).

You can buy them in Asian supermarkets, but also there’s a brand available in many supermarkets, Bare Naked Noodles. They also do a rice version:

https://www.barenakedfoods.co.uk/products/noodles/

Lots of alternatives on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/shirataki-noodles/s?k=shirataki+noodles

It's not the main meals I get bored with it's breakfasts and lunches, breakfasts because i can't face "evening meal" type foods at that time of day so it's basically eggs or FFGY, it will be better on BC lite with a few berries and seeds for the yogurt. Packed lunches (I don't WFH) because I tend to default to salad+protein+mayo. I have got a good salad recipe book though so going to get that out at the weekend.

@SemmaLina the salmon does sound lovely, adding it to my meal-plan for the week as I've got everything apart from cabbage 😊

Im loving the meals. Basically I eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch most days but I don’t care. Going to batch cook soup for work this weekend using the frozen veg I bought. Random breakfast today of 2 boiled eggs and a slice of goats cheese 🤣