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.

Done! Sorry you’re not feeling well. Please brief your DP as much as you can about what you can/can’t eat though.

Morning all! Weighing in at 3.5lb more than when I started my first bootcamp 18 months ago, cross that it's all gone back on but ready to start again and hopefully keep it off this time! Starting the day with 2 huge cups of herbal tea (my liquid intake in winter is likely to be this rather than water as I'm in the frozen north in the world's coldest end terrace!)
Will have a late brunch mid-morning - omelette with peppers, mushrooms, chorizo and spinach. Then dinner is chicken, ham and leek pie (filling already made), broccoli and peas for DH & DD. I'll take the pastry top off my portion, I like a cauliflower mash pie top but DD isn't a fan and I can't be bothered making 2 sorts 😂. She's back to uni on Wednesday so don't mind making allowances for a couple of days.
-12 when DH left for work this morning so not planning on venturing very far, need to get moving more but will shelve that for today!

-12
I hate the cold.

@BIWI did I see somewhere that we can put 100 instead of our starting weight? I'd like to do that.

Started with FF yoghurt and a coffee with almond milk. I am really struggling to drink the big glass of water on my desk in this cold weather. Will revert to herbal teas

Me too, don't mind if it's dry and chilly but it's horrible when it's that cold

Morning all, it's really great to get going on this. My fridge is handily stacked with blocks of butter, as I spent the weekend making buttercream for an anniversary cake, and overcalculated what I would need. (I also never want to see or eat cake again, which is a good state of mind to be in!)
I'm planning air-fried chicken wings and a selection of sauteed green veggies for dinner - vegetables are my weak point so I'm planning to be very diligent this time around on including them properly. They don't really go with the wings, but I'll make do.

I've also seen a recipe using microwaved brie to make cheesy crackers (like the exploded babybel recipe I've seen mentioned on these threads before) so I'm keen to use the Christmas leftovers to have a go at that.

Good luck everyone, keep drinking the water!

Morning everyone and thanks again BIWI for getting us all organised, I'm off to the shops in a moment to get stocked with all the necessities and looking forward to the next few weeks.

-12!! We've got a tiny sprinkle of snow but it's nowhere near that cold, hope you've got decent heating.

We have a light covering of powdery snow and it is all crisp and sunny, -1C, just lovely. Forgot to weigh this morning and am at work now so will do it tomorrow.

I've had two hard boiled eggs for breakfast but will have to try something different tomorrow, I didn't enjoy them and still feel hungry. Lunch is green salad with cooked chicken and mayo (using up a jar, I will start making it again one this is gone, no one else eats it and don't want to waste it) plus greek yogurt with pumpkin spice mix. Dinner is chilli (no beans) plus roasted green veg, grated cheese. Herbal and rooibos tea plus glasses of hot water.

Thanks for the reminder to drink water, I’ve just refilled my bottle.

I have ham & eggs for lunch, with a sprinkle of dried chillies for flavour. I like olives and have added some to my shopping list.

Thanks for the green @BIWI .
Yes my DP will be given instructions, probably won't listen though...

Re mayo:

Thinking about my lunch, I’ll also be making my own mayonnaise - which is very easy to do if you have a stick blender*. This also has the advantage of keeping the carbs very low.

This is the recipe I use:

https://www.seriouseats.com/two-minute-mayonnaise

The ingredients (if you don’t want to read the article) are:
1 large egg
1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice (from 1/2 a lemon)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 cup (240 ml) vegetable or canola oil I use avocado oil
Kosher salt which just means sea salt or coarse salt
This will make plenty of mayo and will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Two-Minute Mayonnaise Recipe
Using an immersion blender, you end up with a cup full of creamy, perfectly emulsified, real-deal, better-than-anything-you-can-buy mayonnaise.
https://www.seriouseats.com/two-minute-mayonnaise

*It’s important that you follow the instructions for how to blend this, otherwise it won’t emulsify

I’ve got at least 1 stone to lose although having weighed in today it isn’t as bad as I thought it would be .I’ve started with 2 soft boiled eggs , which is my usual breakfast anyway and have plenty of salad / veg in the fridge . Will go shopping tomorrow for things to go with the salad and veg .

I’ve also added mayo carb counts onto the spreadsheet (look at the tabs across the bottom), and you’ll see just how wildly they can vary - hence making your own is a safe option!

I’ve added counts for Waitrose and Sainsbury’s products, but lost the will to live after a while, so if anyone wants to add counts for Tesco/Asda/Morrisons etc, be my guest

@BrieAndLetBrie

I'm planning air-fried chicken wings

Just be aware that the air fryer works on the basis of keeping fat to a minimum - whereas on a low carb diet you want it to be higher fat.

Thanks for the mayonnaise recipe, I’ve fancied having a go at making it, I think I have everything in at home.

Yes, I do the stick blender method, haven't done it for a while so hopefully haven't lost the knack I had one or two fails at first and ended up with a runny bus still usable dressing, I have found the measurements are important. I use white wine vinegar instead of lemon juice but it's nice that you can tweak it.

Should have said I have at least 2 stone to lose to be considered a healthy BMI, have a trip to Lisbon mid-May and if I could have most of that off by then it would be fab............
We're off to Goa at the end of this BC (my last day will be 27th) so I'd like to have lost 10lb by then to be well on my way

On air fryers, I would say I use mine in place of the oven/grill rather than to replace deep fat frying. Just a more efficient oven really. Plenty of oil on roasted veg, great for cooking fatty and/or skin-on meat, so not such a worry I would say. I still use the oven when cooking big tray bakes, and I like the grill for streaky bacon, but it’s fantastic for sausages, pork steaks, etc.

I’m going to try salmon in ours tonight, probably wrapped in a foil parcel with butter though happy to take any tips as I haven’t done much fish in it really!

Afternoon all
spreadsheet filled in once id managed to work out google sheets on the phone.
Technically started on Friday cos I couldn’t wait. Needed to stop eating the crap and I’m scared of the stick…..😂
Had leftover cauliflower cheese for my breakfast. About to make broccoli soup.
I do have a night out on Friday - well 3 this month but that’s only 3 meals out of the whole month. And I’m going to make good choices.

I'll join you please, sorry I didn't get organised enough to add my name to the sign up thread - the lack of copy and paste slowed me down. However, I've just added my name and starting weight to the bottom of the spreadsheet. NC for this for inspo! I have done BC before, and last time I lost a stone and went on to lose another, however that was a long time ago and I'm almost back to where I started. I've a blood sugar check up in June, so reducing to a healthy level is my main goal.
@BrieAndLetBrie I would be intrigued to hear how the brie crackers go
@Rayna37 I agree re the airfryer, it cooks fatty meat really well I find. Salmon is also really good just 'roasted' i.e. without the foil.
Just a creamy coffee for breakfast, I don't usually eat until lunchtime. I'm relying on adapting school lunches most days as I know from experience that works better for me than bringing food. Today worked well - chilli (swerved the nacho topping) with lettuce and Greek salad, topped with sour cream. I've meal planned and shopped for the week and this evening it's a fish coconut curry with ts broccoli. Good luck everyone!

Hi all - sorry also a late joiner to the thread and spreadsheet but keen to join you this year for bootcamp. Have some experience low-carbing when I had gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy but that was some years ago now! I'm also rubbish with my water intake so keen to track that better too. When does the BC run up until?

It’s 8 weeks long, so the final weigh-in will be Monday 2 March.

Tried the microwaved Brie- three minutes and they were lovely and crunchy, I think they might be good when I’m craving something carby and crispy. They did stink the kitchen out a bit though while I was making them

@BIWI please could you add 147 for me to the spreadsheet as my starting weight?
sorry