Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Low-carb diets

Share advice and experiences of following a low-carb diet.Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Week 3 - Summer Low Carb Bootcamp - When the Going Gets Unexpectedly Tough

546 replies

BIWI · 12/05/2013 22:49

I'm starting this thread a little earlier than usual, as I have to be at work at dawn's crack tomorrow Grin

Come and confess all on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

So from tomorrow, you can move on to Bootcamp Light, if you want. (Rules on the tabs on the spreadsheet). That means that you can introduce fruits (berries only) and nuts (in small quantities), as well as alcohol (albeit in moderation!)

You don't have to, if you don't want to. You could continue to do Bootcamp if it's suiting you - or do Bootcamp during the week and Bootcamp Light at the weekend. Whatever suits you.

Whatever you decide here is something really important that you need to know about weeks 3 and 4 (and possibly 5):

It is very common for weight loss to stop at this point in the diet. You may even find that you gain a pound or two. DON'T PANIC! It is entirely normal. Your body is switching from carb-burning to fat-burning, and is re-adjusting to your new WOE. You have jettisoned a lot of water weight, and have emptied your glycogen stores. You will also have lost some fat. Now, your body is working on just burning fat.

PLEASE DON'T PANIC AND START TO TRY AND CHANGE ANYTHING. THIS IS ENTIRELY NORMAL AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY LOW CARBERS BEFORE YOU. STICK WITH THE KNITTING, AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED BY SEEING THE SCALES MOVE AGAIN IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO

Good luck for next week. As ever, post any questions on the questions thread, and keep us all updated as to what you're doing/eating.

OP posts:
JustasmallGless · 17/05/2013 18:02

Buda I toss my broccoli stems in oil, sprinkle chilli flakes and roast for 20-25 mins depending on over. You have to watch carefully though as they go from perfect to burnt in about ten seconds
Or maybe that's just me?

BIWI · 17/05/2013 18:05

I love roasted broccoli - but yes, it burns very quickly!

OP posts:
BIWI · 17/05/2013 18:06

Roasted cauliflower is also very lovely - sprinkled with sea salt, black pepper and ground cumin (and lots of olive oil). Also takes about 20 mins.

OP posts:
teaandthorazine · 17/05/2013 18:26

Roasted broccoli is a big favourite in our house too; in fact we're having it tonight, along with chicken legs roasted in ghee with rosemary, garlic and thyme, and some sautéed courgettes.

Today's haul will therefore be:
One large Americano with cream
Salad of feta, asparagus and courgette (again!)
A Nakd gingerbread bar (it's just nuts and fruit, honest BIWI Grin)
The aforementioned chicken and veg

And since it's Friday, probably a g&t with lots of ice and lemon...

Yama · 17/05/2013 18:32

Evening all. I'm having a class of Prosecco tonight as the Missives were signed on our new house today. I'm one of these ultra cautious people who won't stop worrying until things are definite.

Anyway, this is how I feel - Smile Smile Smile Smile Smile.

BIWI · 17/05/2013 18:43
Grin
OP posts:
NewStartNewStory · 17/05/2013 18:50

Could someone explain to me the logic behind low fat cream? Confused All I wanted was some soured cream 5 shops later and running out of time I ended up going with the low fat stuff but really? Cream is supposed to contain fat otherwise it isn't cream. and before BIWI starts shouting it is 17. mai and a big celebration kinda day around here. Thankfully being abroad we don't get the national holiday and I have avoided the carby food mostly even though I made it all this year

Congratulations Yama!

ZimboMum · 17/05/2013 19:04

Congrats Yama. I've moved recently too and was convinced that it was all going to fall apart until we had exchanged!

Thanks for all the egg suggestions. Picky mare as not keen on hard boiled eggs or cold eggs a la mini fritattas but figure I'll try put such delicious things in them that I won't notice the eggs!

B: one slice bacon and two eggs
L: black farmer sausages with salad and Mayo
D will be: butter chicken from Ipd and cauli rice. With wine. And strawberries with clotted cream.

Just planning next weeks meals and doing my shopping list for tomorrow morning. Recipe thread, here I come!

Thanks all, it is so nice to have such support and amazing wealth of knowledge and experience available.

BIWI · 17/05/2013 19:08

Low fat cream is an abomination, NewStart. HTH.
Grin

OP posts:
Yama · 17/05/2013 19:27

Cheers guys!

I'm off to make a lamb bhuna for tomorrow. We have a guest staying. One of dh's South African cousins. Young lad in his early 20's. Poor boy will have to endure Eurovision with a pair of old fuddy-duddies. I did suggest dh should take him out but dh thinks we'll have a great time staying in. Poor cousin.

NewStartNewStory · 17/05/2013 19:27

problem is which numpty decided that shops should stock this abomination rather then the full fat version Hmm :(

NewStartNewStory · 17/05/2013 19:29

The only answer i see to that Yama is alcohol. vast quantities and a euro vision associated drinking game

MrsHerculePoirot · 17/05/2013 19:38

Sorry I'm a bit late to the party today!

Tee, I am a type II diabetic and, like you, until my daughter was born was able to control my diabetes through tablets and diet (eg everything in moderation, following standard nutritional advice given etc...). As soon as I got pregnant I had to go onto insulin to control it and it seems to have caused permanent damage to my pancreas as since having her my diabetes has been much, much harder to control. Eating what I ate before having her simply didn't work for me, and like you my hba1c kept creeping up.

I fell pregnant again about 18 months ago, and had to go straight back on the insulin. I had a mc, but my diabetic team have kept me on insulin so that I can continue to ttc and keep my levels tightly controlled. Obviously being able to test all the time (for free!) has allowed me to really get to grips with what foods have what affect on my and my blood sugars. If I follow the official advice (eg porridge for breakfast) then if I don't take insulin my blood sugars go sky high, if I take the insulin required to keep them just below the 8 level two hours later, then 3 hour later I have a hypo or have to eat something else to prevent this from happening. A similar thing was occuring every meal, the only way I could manage it without having to eat extra to prevent the hypos and keep my blood sugar levels within target was to cut out the carbs.

I talked to my diabetic team about this and they were a little unsure, although only because they were worried that I wouldn't have enough energy to get from one meal the next and then would snack and then eat more/put on more weight etc... I have agreed to have my bloods done/be reviewed as regularly as they wanted. I have kept food diaries and shown them and actually what has become apparent to me is that I eat much better following a low carb regime. I no longer require any insulin at all during the day time and only require my background insulin at night and at a much lower dose than I had before. Over the last 12 months, every single one of my blood results has improved and my hab1c is now well within target, my cholesterol has come down and I have also lost weight. I never feel tired, I never get the three hour slump after a meal and I am eating foods that I enjoy. I read Dr Bernsteins 'The Diabetes Diet' which I also found helpful from a diabetic point of view.

I am surprised to hear that you get migraines when low carbing - this goes against everything that I have read and must be very unusual. Refined carbs are a well known trigger, and many people have found cutting out carbs has helped. I know that some people if they don't eat enough vegetables or variety of vegetables can then lack some nutrients which can cause migraines so taking vitamin/supplements (B12 and another one I can't remember) is recommended.

I think there is a common misconception between 'no-carb' and 'low-carb'. I do eat carbs, they all just come from natural sources - vegetables (excl potatoes). I know from extensively testing my blood sugars that actually eating a plateful of carrots is much better tolerated by my body than eating even a small portion of rice or slice of bread, despite there being perhaps a similar amount of carbs when compared.

In terms of breakfast others have already suggested things to but: scrambled eggs, boiled eggs (these can be done the night before), bacon, low carb sausages (again these can be cooked the night before and warmed in microwave to save time), breakfast muffin/frittata things are great (again can be cooked before), cooked mushrooms, cold meats and cheeses or any combo of the above. For me a typical day's meals would go:
B - bacon/eggs/mushrooms (I try to get up early to make time for this as it makes a difference to me)
L - salad with some kind of topping (prawn, avocado, meats, cheeses, egg mayo, goats cheese, whatever they have on special offer in the shop!)
D - meat/fish with a couple of veg (green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, salad, cabbage, leeks, courgette)
I also drink about 4 litres of water a day

I know you say you have spoken to lots of nutritionists about this, but they are only going to go on what they have been taught if that makes sense. Anyway, that is my personal experience and honestly think that this WoE has been the best thing I have ever done for my health and diabetes.

Sorry this is such an essay!

BIWI · 17/05/2013 19:42

Great post, MrsHP

OP posts:
decaffwithcream · 17/05/2013 20:46

Can i just add to the "making breakfast eggs quickly" debate:

If you use a stick blender you can beat the eggs in approximately 2 seconds instead of 60 Grin

Doshusallie · 17/05/2013 20:58

B - 2 boiled eggs
L - lettuce sandwiches with brie, coleslaw and pâté, 2 teaspoons of PB for pudding
Tea - turkey escalope in Parmesan crumb with garlic butter, with courgettes and buttery mushrooms and leeks
Snacks - some pepperoni, 2 x pkt pork scratchings, 4 Brazil nuts, 3 glasses of red.

MaryBeardfanclub · 17/05/2013 21:37

ladies, thanks for the lunch suggestions I'll have a look at those - the plan is British Museum exhibition at 11am, lunch somewhere, then mooch around Selfridges.

had roast duck tonight - not very satisfying or tasty Sad but awesome cauli puree with it.

decaffwithcream · 17/05/2013 21:39

B - Lidl yoghurt, spinach fried in butter with small sprinkles of pine nuts and blue cheese

L - IPD Mousakka with rocket and olive oil

D - Meat from a chicken thigh on rocket and cucumber with blue cheese and feta-stuffed olives.

S - 5 cheddar sticks. That's more dairy than I meant to eat actually. Interesting when you write it down.

MrsHerculePoirot · 17/05/2013 21:40

MaryBeard can I just say thanks for the chicken in parmesan crumbs recipe - we cooked it ages ago and all loved it, and it was lovely to have a bit of crunch on the chicken. Will deffo be doing it again...

Sorry about your duck, I love duck, rubbish that it was disappointing for you.

WillieWaggledagger · 17/05/2013 21:41

Ooh yes I forgot to say, second that mrshp on the Parmesan chicken I really enjoyed that

snoworneahva · 17/05/2013 21:43

Brilliant post mrshp - lurking from the Paleo thread Smile

WillieWaggledagger · 17/05/2013 21:44

Ha snow I lurk on the paleo thread, as I start to think about what I think would work for me for long term maintenance (still a little way to go)

maidofmuss · 18/05/2013 08:16

Good Morning all!
Yesterday was:
B scrambled eggs in butter
L asparagus ( in lots of butter), smoked salmon and cream cheese
D beef brisket (done in slow cooker all day - with some shallots, small finely chopped onion, diced turnip, small chopped carrot, two sliced leeks, thyme, marigold veg stock and glug or two of red wine), with broccoli and creamed cauli mash
S largish gin and slim plus 10 or so hazelnuts

Youngest made chunky chocolate muffins and didn't find hard to resist at all - amazing for me (wd usually swipe a chunk or two of chocolate and help lick the bowl too!)

Weight unchanged all week but clothes do feel a little looser so will keep on hope!

Have a good weekend!

bulletwithbutterflywings · 18/05/2013 08:45

Morning! Just had a proper bulletproof coffee - Wheeeeee! That stuff wakes you up!
Are you supposed to not want to eat afterwards? Or is it supposed to be in addition to breakfast?

JaxTellerIsAllMine · 18/05/2013 09:11

morning, yesterday was a bad, BAD day. Sad

Today is a new day, so lets get back on track.

bullet what coffee did you use for your bulletproof coffee? Im intrigued by this.