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.

V interesting about the IBS. IBS is now thought to be down to inability to deal with certain carbs. Huge evidence that the FODMAP diet works for 90% of IBS sufferers and that basically cuts out certain specified carbs but allows others. (as an elimination/reintroduction thing)

I was following the fodmap diet to tackle IBS - It made a huge difference to the IBS but I was still eating a lot of carbs (like spelt bread, bananas, crisps, sugar, squash all "allowed"). I was attempting to keep things low-fat and count calories while doing it which was hard.

I moved straight from that to this bootcamp and felt healthier overall as I'm still cutting out the carbs that the FODMAP diet doesn't allow for, but very easily, without noticing. There is the odd thing like broccoli or cabbage that bootcamp allows but FODMAP doesn't but overall if you're following low-carb, you're following FODMAP. Just in a far healthier, easier, less deprived way.

And no IBS since starting bootcamp.

That's good to hear, decaff.

Any tips for an Indian? Have just ordered chicken korma and mushroom bhaji and will skip the poppadoms and rice. Is this ok - no hidden carbs? Don't want to derail now only a couple of lbs to go! Thanks.

Korma might not be the best choice as often it's very sweet. But too late now if you've already ordered!

Ok won't have much. Anything that might be better next time?

Had some tikka instead

snowcat i go for 'dry' meat, so lamb shashlik usually. tandoori would be good too, and tikka isn't too bad an option. mushroom bhaji is a good side, as is sag paneer, cauliflower bhaji (as long as they aren't the floury fried type bhaji, obviously!), bhindi bhaji etc

i find indian is pretty good for low carbing as takeaways go, but it can be a bit heavy on the onions so i do still end up a bit bloated. but still, it's good to have a WOE that can incorporate a nice takeaway!

Thanks Willie - dh's tikka was dry so hopefully ok on scales in morning. Even held off the wine!

Have had a quick scan through and can't see that it has been asked but just wondering what the consensus is on supplements? Pig to twig has a long list that they consider to be essential, but am specifically wondering whether the supplement to combat constipation may be useful?

I have been searching on and off today for the links to the health benefits of this WOE but no luck. Does anyone have any links to the research, or remember which thread they were on?

whooo-hoooo... cracked the 10 stone barrier this morning!!!! I've not been 9st 13 for about 7 years

Well done thenightsky! Amazing!

Thanks Twinkle.

I started bootcamp on 7th January at 11 stone 11 pounds. This way of eating is mine for life now. I've got great skin, tons of energy, PMT is a thing of the past and I even sleep better. What's not to like?

Decaf I'm about to go to bed so sorry for brevity, but have a look at the 'low carb resources' tab on the spreadsheet, I think thee might be some info there

Well done thenightsky! I seem to hop back and forth over the 10st barrier it's v frustrating (and purely my own fault!!)

decaff - two books I can recommend you read are Dr John Briffa's "Escape the Diet Trap", and Gary Taubes "The Diet Delusion". The latter is a weighty tome, and takes some time to read, but it's really worth it as it gives you all the evidence you will need.

Briefly, though, the dangers of a high carb diet are not just weight gain and obesity but also hypertension, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimers.

There are all manner of conditions that people report have been helped by following a low carb diet, including:

PCOS
IBS
Asthma/Eczema
Thrush

... to name just the ones I can remember off the top of my head!

here's more

And a blog post from Dr Briffa

What are you specifically concerned about, though, decaff? Is it a general 'enquiry' or do you have a certain issue you want to know more about?

Brilliant, thenightsky! It's fantastic when you see those numbers change, isn't it?!

Thanks for the links. You're very patient answering questions that I'm sure you've answered before somewhere!

Heart problems are what I am specifically concerned about - I've seen from posts on here that eating fat does not give you clogged arteries but can't get my head around why (old beliefs very engrained).

decaff The cholesterol issue bothered me too at the beginning. After reading loads of sensible links (thanks to BIWI) I've got over that fear.

Before I started this, I was due a full blood test. This showed my cholesterol as 4.2. I had cause to go back to my GP for another blood test last week and I'm curious to see what my cholesterol will be after 4 and half months on this way of eating. I shall, of course, report back here with the results.

For some additional peace of mind (a sample of one obviously, but still) I had to have a kidney function test for a check-up a few weeks ago (I have them three-monthly) and the results came back normal - that's after 18 months of low carbing

I have regular blood tests (every 6 months) and all my results have improved since being on this woe.

sorry just a quickie - now i have celeriac - is celeriac mash just that? chop like potato, boil 20 mins & mash with butter? never cooked it before
tia