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.

Good day yesterday, dinner was spicy beef tacos, I had broccoli instead and managed to catch up the herbal tea water. But slept appallingly, it was cold then sore boobs (as if it's totm but not due) and backache. Woke at 3 then drifted off just before the alarm 🤬 and actually felt hungover but not a drop has passed these lips!
Not brilliant so far today - 7hour round trip to take DD back, I never want to drink much for fear of needing to stop at every single services. McDonald's breakfast this morning, sausage mcmuffin without the muffin but at least some pepper and cucumber before setting off again. Home now and planning to play catch-up on liquid again. Beef casserole for tea with broccoli and cauliflower and will cook extra veg for tomorrow's office day, two challenging days in a row then back to the safety of my house with far fewer temptations!!!
Also have the joy of packing up all the cd's we're getting rid of and doing a freezer audit to keep me out of mischief. Forgot to measure on Monday so must do that tomorrow

This morning I had an Americano with pouring cream, but used my little battery milk frother to whip it up a bit foamy. It was a perfect latte substitute.

Thanks @mumsandaunties- good tip, milky coffees are my nemesis. I was justifying them because I'm exercising lots ( for me) but as a long-time low carber I've let too many carbs creep in. I really need to break bad habits.

Waiting on the big Tesco online delivery tonight, hopefully they haven't made any daft substitutions.

@SprinklesofRain this morning DH had just toasted white Warburtons UPF bread when I came down but fortunately I was rushing out to work and was able to escape. It did smell absolutely wonderful though and on another day I could have devoured at least 4 slices. Well done for resisting!

Pleased to have bothered with a home dumbbell workout as I missed my usual Body Pump class this morning as I was working.
I’m somewhere between a SAHM and semi-retired after redundancy last year, but I do some ad hoc work. I have much more time for exercise now which is great, but also more time to eat, to bake etc instead of having well controlled packed breakfast and lunches working away from any food temptations, so this bootcamp is helping put back some rules.
We’ve eaten largely HFLC for years but way too many carbs have crept in recently.

Sea bass tonight, pan fried with a pile of buttery steamed veg- tenderstem broccoli, green beans and carrot. Really nice.

A staple dinner here - sausages (good quality, low carb ones!) with roasted veg - onion, peppers, cauliflower, garlic, cherry tomatoes and halloumi, with pesto stirred through, and lots of olive oil.

I would normally use shallots instead of onions, but they were out of stock when I went shopping.

Made it to the supermarket and did a big restock , loas of lovely veg ( and some bags of cauli , beans, spinach to top up the freezer , just in case )
Had pork mince bolognese type, with aubergines and courgettes and a Parmesan topping with a huge helping of buttery kale , lovely
Enough for lunch tomorrow as I have a hobby club 5-30 to 7-30 Thursday evening ( storm permitting )

@BIWI
I’ve had a read through of the FAQs and The Rules , but protein ? DH says I need to eat more protein . I’m using MFP as a sort of diary
I had 59 g , he reckons I need 80
thanks

Based on what, though?!

Bootcamp is high fat/medium protein/low carb. Proportions. That said, we don’t count or weigh - so we don’t give specific figures for any of the macros.

The whole idea of Bootcamp @SemmaLina is to make it easy to do, hence not counting or weighing. If you follow the rules, you should find that you’re getting the right proportions of macros.

Be my guest if you want to weigh and count - but it’s too much faff IMVHO!

Thanks @BIWI that what I thought too !
He was pre diabetic following a check up in the summer and has become a bit of a healthy eating know all ( which is exhausting! )

Every plan has its own ‘rules’ - it’s entirely his/your prerogative to follow whichever one you want; but ‘mix and match’ probably isn’t the best approach!

@Rayna37 I've also done HFLC for a long time, but I find the challenge is that when carbs creep in the fats don't creep out so a small potato creeps in but it is smothered in butter. Or some pulses and beans, but alongside a confit duck leg. So, like you I'm back to basics, for a bit of a re-set.

I’ll stick with this

There is a current obsession with high protein. If you do want some more protein, have a boiled egg, or a chicken thigh, or some sardines. I was horrified recently trying to find ffgy in the supermarket. Everything was zero fat, or added protein. If I want to eat pea protein I'll eat some peas, don't stick it in my yogurt! Most of us in the Western World eating a generally good diet will not be deficient in protein.

My crustless quiche was lovely. I had some cooked broccoli, cauliflower and kale left over from previous meals. Added some fried shallot and the last of the smoked salmon chopped up. Covered with a mix of cream cheese, eggs and clotted cream all beaten together. Some sliced tomatoes on top. Served with lovely salad. And there is a portion left for lunch tomorrow.

I can't remember who mentioned (thanks to whomever it was) it but have bought a bag of the Tesco frozen Mediterranean vegetables with basil oil. Not quite sure what to make with them now though.

Hope this isn’t an annoying question, but is there a limit to how many eggs we can have in a day?

delicious crust less quiche tonight too, with mushrooms, courgette, cherry tomatoes, ham, grated cheese on top. Served with green beans and tender stem brocolli. Yumm

And I’m loving cooking with butter, so good

Just had the most delicious veggies alongside my chicken wings. Fried savoy cabbage, chestnut mushrooms and courgette in butter and oil with a generous sprinkling of garlic granules. Then stirred in double cream and cream cheese. So tasty I even considered licking the plate!

I’ve had another good day , 2 soft boiled eggs for breakfast , a cheese and ham omelette at lunch and sausages ( Tesco finest pork which are 3.7 g of carb per 2 sausages) with roast veg for dinner . I always drink loads so that side of it isn’t an issue for me .

Creamy coffee for breakfast, scrambled egg and Parma ham for lunch, then for dinner a plate of crudités with a chunk of goats cheese and some St Agur Blue Crème for dipping (I bloody love that stuff!). I keep leaving the water intake too late and regretting it during the night - must address that over the next few days.
Thanks all for sharing your delicious meals!

@DryWhiteagainW no limit on how many eggs you can have - beyond the fact that you might get bored of them!

Thank you BIWI

Hello ladies,

just came to report that the migraines have gone 😁😁😁. Hunger pangs have gone and the need to snack has gone too…

I am really missing a nice hot drink though, I can’t drink tea or coffee without sugar so thats out.