Summer Low Carb Bootcamp - The Questions Thread

[BIWI]

If you have any questions, just ask them here. From experience, the chat thread moves so quickly, posters' questions often get missed.

Picking up on some that have already been asked today:

Can we eat dairy in Bootcamp?

Yes you can, but be aware that for some people dairy can impede weight loss. Butter is fine - you don't have to worry about that, and yoghurt is apparently better tolerated than milk, cream or cheese.

Cheese is a great low carb food and it's lovely to not have to worry about being able to eat it on the basis of it being a fat.

Milk can become quite carby quite quickly, so if you're having several cups of tea/coffee a day, you need to keep an eye on this. If you can, it's best to have your tea/coffee black - or to substitute cream (double) for the milk.

Cream can be used in cooking (always double, as it has a higher fat content), but again be aware that it might be an issue for you.

The best way to find out if it's a problem for you is to keep a food diary, and then you will be able to see the impact of dairy on your weight loss.

There are some lovely recipes in that book - just watch out though, as a lot of them use a lot of dairy - cream and cheese. Some people find that dairy impedes weight loss.

You can stay on the initial phase of Bootcamp for as long as you want - although you will probably find it easier to relax into Bootcamp Light after a couple of weeks! Just see how it goes with you. Don't expect to see stellar weight losses every week - although low carbing will give you an initial big loss, after that it will (and should) settle down into a regular loss that is more comparable with other diets. The massive difference is that you will be eating lovely food and will not feel hungry, unlike if you were doing a low fat/low calorie diet.

Hi. I have a question. I went to a very large tescos today and after spending ages being sent around the store gave up and staff couldn't locate coconut oil anywhere. I bought rapeseed oil to cook with instead. Is this okay?

Msing, I'm doing IPD.

thesouthernwind - coconut oil would probably have been in their world foods aisle. Rapeseed oil is probably not the best you could have bought see here

If you have an Asian supermarket anywhere near you, you should be able to buy coconut oil much cheaper. In my local Sainsbury's (which is a large one) they sell coconut oil in the oils section, at a whopping £6.99, but in the Indian foods' section, it's around £2!

But don't stress about it. Once you've finished that, look out for coconut oil, or fry with butter - or even lard, if you can get some proper lard rather than the hydrogenated stuff that will be in the supermarket. (If you have a good butcher near you you may be able to buy lard).

Thanks. I will get some more butter today and olive oil.

I am in London so assumed I could get the coconut oil from the huge tesco near me but no. Lots of Asian shops though nearby do should be easy enough.

you can buy it online from Tesco so it's odd that it wasn't in the store, unless they just sent you to the wrong place! This is the one that Sainsbury's sell.

Hi. I googled and found that when in the store and showed it to them but a manager, 2 staff and customer services couldn't find it!

Im still in 2 minds whether I can do this (I have started a seperate thread as I didnt notice this one until to late) but I have a couple of questions

where can you get decent pork scratchings that dont contain msg or cost a fortune all the ones I can find either are full of crap or expensive.

is homemade mayo low carb - I use olive oil, egg and wine vinegar.

whats the difference between paleo and low carb?

TIA

whoops I knew there was a couple more...sorry
is coconut flour low carb?

would a meatza be allowed ... I cant do the cauliflower base for pizza so wondered about a meatza base

Witch - HM mayo sounds fine. I personally don't use olive oil as I think it tastes bitter in mayo, but it's up to you.
I think the difference between Paleo and low-carb is that Paleos eat seeds and fruits (ie stuff that was around in the dinosaur times! ) but I dont really know what else.
Coconut flour - dunno. What level of carbs is on the label? We try to keep below 3-5g/100g.

Meatza - sounds ok!

Bought coconut oil today!

The brand of pork scratchings with fewest additives I have found is 'posh' ones from waitrose but these might fall into your too expensive category. The alternative is to buy pork skin and make your own, which would be very cheap

Homemade mayo definitely ok as again it will be v low carb and additive-free

I believe paleo is about eating in the way our ancestors would (more or less and as far as is possible), while low carb is literally about reducing your carbs. There are lots of cross-overs, such as an emphasis on cutting out/down on grains etc, but there are differences too I think:

• some people who eat strictly paleo cut out dairy, whereas a small amount of dairy is ok on low carb

• paleo includes more root veg (not sure about potato, but sweet potato is allowed I think)

• low carbing allows aubergines and tomatoes (in smaller quantities) but paleo doesn't if done strictly

• paleo allows some fruits, but strict low carbing doesn't

• paleo allows honey and dried fruit occasionally

Basically, paleo doesn't have to be low carb but will almost certainly be lower carb than the average diet. You can be paleo and low crb if you want. Both have an emphasis on natural ingredients and unprocessed foods (well, if you're following low carb bootcamp at least). I am considering paleo when I come to maintenance stage

I get my pork scratchings from home bargains. They do have trace amounts of sugar in but it says less than 0.5 g per 100g. 79p for a multipack of 5 little packs. The brand is 'real pork scratching company'. Dont know if they are significantly worse than what is available in supermarket but south cheaper!

Am joining the Autumn Bootcamp. Can anyone tell me about the effect of low carbing on blood pressure? I have borderline high bp which used to be much higher until I started running and lost some weight. Weightloss has now stalled - hence my wanting to low carb - but I'm worried the high fat might edge my bp back up. Or at least not help me keep it at a reasonable level.

Everything I have read about low carbing says that its only effect on blood pressure is to lower it!

And fat is a good thing. Fat has been much demonised over the last 40 or so years - yet there is actually NO evidence that fat is bad for us. Honestly.

have a read of this - might help you

And this!

BIWI I just read the Wellness Mama blog about oils and now have a strange desire to make my own deodorant and toothpaste out of... you guessed it... Coconut oil. Is there anything that oil can't be used for?

Right. Thanks BIWI. I've no excuse not to get on board then! I know milk is a bit carby, but can I have one cup of tea a day with milk? I don't really drink coffee so that would be it.

Captainmummy Williewaggledagger Ginontwowheels

thank you all - can happily make mayo and meatza now which I haven't been doing on my conventional diets
Great tip about the pork scratchings will investigate both shops and look at making my own
I have looked at paleo in the past but got sidetracked when I went to hospital and got put on this restrictive diet..... I cant eat seeds and fruit anyway and my main focus is losing weight at the moment so I think I am going to low carb (fingers crossed digestive system co-operates)

thank you all again

I can second the Aristo Crackling that Tyrells have just launched - the on,h downside is the packets are 50g which is quite big, but it is lovely and no MSG I think.

Is this carb flu?

On day three. I'm dizzy, have headaches, and walking my daughter to nursery down the road has had me flat out on the sofa since my return.

Im not hungry though!

Could be, or it could be you are a little low on electrolytes - have some avocado or a cup
Of bovril and see if that helps? I am sure more knowledgeable others will be along soon!

Imatot - could be carb flu. Are you craving carbs? That's a symptom. You do need to watch your electrolytes as you are drinking a vat of water a day - you can get them from bike shops (powder form) or as MrsHp says - avocado, salmon, spinach are all high in potassium.

Witch - this WOE helps with IBS and flatulence/bloating so hopefully will be good for your digestive system!

Oh wow, you two were bang on I think - after posting, I made lunch and had steak, with avocado, mushrooms and spinach, and immediately felt better. Then I log on, and I find I'd had the best possible thing - thank you so much.