The Low Carb Bootcamp Continues!

[BIWI]

The other thread was almost full, so here's a bright, shiny new one.

And here's the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

And just in case you haven't discovered it yet, here is the recipe thread. Some truly lovely recipes on here that are worth a try.

lily i don't have children so feel free to ignore this, but MrsHP has posted this list in the past of the suggested order in which you should be consuming carb-containing foods (larger quantities from the top of the list, minimal from the bottom of the list). it's supposed to be the order in which you might start to reintroduce greater quantities of carbs when you reach maintenance level:

1. more salad and other vegetables on the acceptable foods list
2. fresh cheeses (as well as more aged cheese)
3. seeds and nuts
4. berries
5. wine and other spirits low in carbs
6. legumes
7. fruits other than berries and melons
8. starchy vegetables
9. whole grains

(obviously ignoring point 5 for the children!) maybe you could concentrate on the bottom of the list where the biggest culprits are and reduce these more, so starting with wheat products particularly (and sugar maybe), but keeping root veg, pulses/legumes and fruit in their diet?

Full cooked chickens are half price from Tesco. I've bought one to take to work.

Beenie

"I think it helps that I am essentially vegetarian and only eat fish once or twice a week. For those that have stalled, perhaps increase the veg and reduce the meat??"

Why would you want to reduce the meat? There's nothing wrong with eating plenty of meat (or fish). And if you increase the veg, the risk that you take is that you are increasing your carbs too much!

Oh I meant salads and leafy veg. That seems to be two of my meals! Nothing wrong with meat, just wondered if shifting the balance towards more greens might kick start more weightloss? I thought protein also resulted in an insulin spike and wonder if having too much protein could stall you? Just a theory! I'm not so sure about the dairy making me stall as I have unlimited quantities and am fine with that..... Happy to be told I'm talking crap!

Protein does provoke an insulin release, but not much. But obviously if you increase your veg/salad intake, you are increasing your carbs!

Best thing, if you have established that it's not dairy, is to look at your fat intake and see if you can up that.

lily DD is 3.5 and I think quite naturally low carb I think, although this is difficult with 'kids' food. We try to eat dinner with her as much as possible so her evening meal for the most part is very low carb - meat, fish, vegetables. She has yogurts if she wants dessert, but only if she is still hungry not as a matter of course, or berries.

Breakfast is usually the biggest carb bit of the day - porridge made with full fat milk, two boiled eggs and one slice of toast, or toast with peanut butter and jam, or bacon and eggs!

Lunch is hardest as at the childminders she just has whatever she is given, but if at home, I have salad with meat or cheese so she tends to have meats, cucumber, tomato, maybe a carrot and picky bits, if she asks for bread or sandwich that is fine with me as well. Snacks consist of cheese cut into cubes, seeds (sesame and sunflower), or nuts (pine nuts or other ones chopped up), or pepper, cucumber, carrot sticks. Sometimes fruit or oat bars etc...

She does of course have pasta sometimes and pizza or rice and couscous or jam sandwiches and crisps, but I think at this age I am fairly happy with the range of what she eats and she is brilliant at knowing when she is full and when to stop eating things. I have tried to never not let her est things, or make food an issue. i have never used it as a reward or made anything a 'treat'. For example if she has chocolate then she will often have a few bits, then ask to save the rest for another day when she is full. I think I am very lucky with her tbh, and have no doubt that in a few years she'll be the fussiest eater on the planet!!!!!

Sorry that has turned into a bit of a essay, but my main advice would be to eat with them as much as possible!

mrsherculepoirot sounds like you're doing an amazing job with your daughter. When I was a child nice food was very much a controlled reward and I remember being utterly obsessed with where my next meal was coming from, and if a meal had something I liked I'd eat as much of it as I possibly could because I didn't know when I would be having it again. Looking back I clearly had a sugar problem, not helped by my diet which revolved around white rice, dhal, veg such as cabbage, and a small piece of non-fatty protein, sometimes something as random as fish fingers. We didn't grow up enjoying food or experimenting with it - it just always seemed a battleground. I have a son and I'm determined not to repeat the cycle with him - I want him to grow up eating foods that satisfy him so that he doesn't do what I did (hunt through the house looking for where my mum had hidden the chocolate).

Mrs HP you are doing really well with your DD's diet. I am light-years away from your enlightenment... eg in supermarket with the kids yesterday, me asking them what they wanted for tea for the rest of the week: "chocolate and ice-cream!" "No...."

I made small steps tonight, dinner for the kids (I was eating with them too but with eggs not sausages) was sausages (95% meat), cauliflower cheese, tomatoes. With some melon for afters.

colette thank you - I do take 2 psyllium husks every day. It's not constipation as such, just feeling I haven't properly 'gone' (sorry to anyone eating)

Thank you for answering.

Samantha, maybe you are just ahem...producing less waste because you're not eating bulky carbs?

Can anyone recommend a good curry paste, Indian or Thai, that is low carb? I am near most supermarkets except Aldi or Morrison's.

I've been struggling a bit recently. Running out of ideas for breakfast. I'm fed up of eggs, don't really want anything warm for breakfast, so have been having yoghurt with a few berries, but I'm not enjoying the yoghurt so much either. I'd love some muesli or similar. I know that's carbs, but can't think of anything else cold I could have. I'm fed up of chicken too I'm considering branching into Paleo a bit, rather than low carb, where I could have some home made muesli maybe?

Just wondered what others have for breakfast.

I skip breakfast, work out and have brunch or early lunch which broadens it a bit. Quite often end up having avocado/cold meat/ egg mayo/ Manchego cheese/chorizo wrapped in lettuce combo with olive oil to dip. Maybe a few raw nuts and berries.

My main breakfast staple is a 1 egg omelette with 2 cherry tomatoes and cheese.

I also enjoy:

scrambled egg, possibly with smoked salmon

smoked salmon rolled up with cream cheese

smoked salmon and rocket with hollandaise sauce

ham rolled up with cream cheese

microwaved spinach with egg, butter, and sometimes cheese, sometimes not. (This is very good, and very quick - the key is to cover it in the microwave and reduce the power to about 650w)

Slice of crustless quiche (see link on my post from a few days ago)

Bacon, eggs, mushrooms

BLT - Chopped up bacon, in a lettuce leaf with chopped tomato and mayo

Yoghurt and berries - could add some flax seed for interest.

Slices of cheese and salami

Just popping in

Beryl how do you do the spinach and egg in the microwave? What do you put in? Thanks

For those that can't resist peanuts, Blue Diamond oven roasted almonds with sea salt are similar to dry roasted peanuts.

RedRabbit I just go into the supermarket and label check. I found my local Tesco's own brand green Thai curry was the lowest carb. And remember you only use a small amount of Thai curry paste so you can take that into account. A jar of stir in sauce, e.g. Chinese sauces, might well be loaded with carbs.

My kids are small and skinny so I'm happy for them to keep eating carbs. I'm hoping all the butter and fatty meats combined with carby foods might help their weight gain. Although yesterday DS2 announced that he was on a high ketchup diet!

Loopy, I occasiona;lly make these ... www.food.com/recipe/one-minute-flax-muffin-low-carb-295649 they are a good idea for a quick breakfast. I dont use stevia though, as I use the flax mix from Aldi that has goji berries in it.

Black - surely goji berries in flax will up the carb count? And it would mean it's not Bootcamp-friendly!

Thanks, Black, can I use "cold milled flax seed", I have some I bought a while ago?

I'll try it out tonight.

I have been trying to stay on the wagon but have kinda tried to swap over to bootcamp lite by adding a few berries. This completely derails me, and i end up in a spiral downwards into serious carb creep. Is there a reason for this?

Sorry to hear that, NewStart - don't really know why, but two thoughts:

• could just be the sugar 'influx' - try cutting out the fruit and add some nuts/seeds instead and see if this has the same impact

• could be a psychological thing - you are allowing yourself to relax a little, so giving yourself 'permission' to eat carbs?

Loopy put a massive handful of fresh spinach in a bowl (it reduces when cooked). Crack an egg or 2 over the top. Add a knob of butter, and some sliced or grated cheese if you are using it.

Put in the microwave for about 2 minutes, at 650W using a microwave cover. (This is important, because too high a wattage, and eggs go rubbery, if you don't use a cover, eggs explode). You may need to adjust your timings slightly.

Morning to everybody :)

MrsHerculePoirot I am feeding my DD very similar but it is hard with her as she is quite fussy but my DS would go low carb no problem. As long as he gets his meat he is happy :)

I thought maybe we should start a new tread about kids low carb food ideas..

loopyloou I had continental selection and cucumber for breakfast today - Prosciutto, salami Milano and chorizo.. it was really yummy :)

Beryl thanks for eggs and spinach in microwave.. I will absolutely try this at work :)

Mouse hello :) Have a good holiday!!

Yesterday
B left over chicken and Greek yogurt with few walnuts - I felt hungry in the morning
L Pub lunch - burger (with no bun) topped with bacon and cheese, mayo, tiny bit of coleslaw and salad instead of chips + glass of water (How good am I!! haha)
D swede and courgette bake with soured cream
I couldn?t resist my cherry tomatoes yesterday.. They are growing in my garden and are just super-duper delicious so I had a good handful..

And I weighted myself this morning.. -200g!! I know it is not a lot but it is better than nothing :)

it is much easier to be on bootcamp light.. I feel so much less preasure and I am enjoying myself now..

Hi all. I'm back again. I'm getting a bit desperate now . This WOE really suits me, I feel happier, no bloating and with more energy etc. The thing is it isn't particularly sustainable financially for me, and i either go without or end up eating a banana or something (no wheat etc, cant eat that anywy).
I've said this before I know, but I read what everyone else is eating and I know there is no way I can a) afford the ingredients, b) actually find the ingredients and c) cook the meals - I am spectacularly crap at cooking, and don't enjoy it at all.
What I am wondering is, could you all help me come up with a meal plan and / or shopping list to help me? If you think it would be more appropriate I could start a new thread?

Twit - give me a list of the kind of foods you like and the kind of foods you can afford, and I'll see what I can do.

(Won't be until tomorrow probably, as I'm out all afternoon)