Week 1 - Autumn Low Carb Bootcamp

[BIWI]

So here we are! Over 160 of us signed up!

Here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness for you to enter your first weight

If you aren't on the list for any reason, just go to the bottom of the list and add your name - the lovely Willie will sort out the alphabetisation later.

From experience of previous Bootcamps, the chat thread can move very quickly! So, if you have a specific or particular question, please post it on the questions thread I will do my best to check it as often as I can, as will other seasoned Bootcampers.

If you have a really burning issue, please feel free to PM me and I will do my very best to help you as soon as possible.

And if you're looking for inspiration for things to cook, here's the recipe thread

Here is a brief reminder of the rules:

We do not eat any of the following during Bootcamp:

bread
rice
pasta/noodles
potatoes
flour
pastry
sugar
chocolate/sweets
biscuits/cookies
crisps

And here are the ten rules of Bootcamp:

1. You must eat breakfast.
2. Avoid processed food
3. Eat lots of fat
4. Make sure you are eating vegetables and salads with your food
5. Be careful about dairy (apart from butter, which is unlimited)
6. You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day
7. No alcohol
8. No fruit
9. No nuts/seeds

10. No sugar or artificial sweeteners

More detail/explanation of these rules is on the spreadsheet ? look at the tabs at the bottom.

One final word from me ? the disclaimer! I am not a doctor, a scientist, a dietician nor a nutritionist. The advice that is given here is based on my own experience of low carbing, as well as the reading I have been doing over the last few years.

If you have a medical condition, or you are taking long term medication, please take advice from your GP/consultant before starting to low carb.

Good luck everyone!

Great post a couple of pages back Stuntnun on why weight fluctuates on this diet – really helps clarify what's going on when the scales taunt us with their little gains now and then when we've been so bloody GOOD ffs. Thanks to all posting their inspirational losses – obviously need to think about this long term and stick with it for months not weeks. I did well initially on the last bootcamp but then stalled on bootcamp light and then, over the summer, started gradually eating more and more carbs (not mega but enough for the weight to creep up), so now wishing I'd continued as some of you did, like Ruprekt and others. Agree with IBO that it's best to just do this in the background of everyday lift and not be obsessed about food but I've always one of those on a diet/not on a diet types and it would be great to finally break that pattern ...
Hope you're feeling less wired/stressed Crabby and that all is okay at docs – let us know what's said re chol levels!!!
Feeing ok today re carb flu so unless it hits again later/tomorrow, it hasn't been as rough this time around...
Keep the faith and all that!

everyday lift even, though like the idea of an everyday lift...

Bloody hell, I mean life!

KTC coconut oil is tasteless because it has been processed (but thats OK because coconut oil is very robust and doesn't react to heat/ processing in the same way as veg/ olive oils)
If you buy virgin coconut oil it has a flavour of coconut - which is very pleasant in some dishes but not others. I buy both, I use virgin for Bulletproof Coffee because it is all all about getting the maximum amount of nutrients possible (I also use grassfed butter and good organic coffee) and for the flavour, I also use in for currys and other spicy food where the coconut flavour will compliment the dish. I use KTC for frying anything that needs cooking at a higher temperature than butter will allow.

I do the same Bullet - I use virgin for putting in tea and for coconut flavour, and the KTC one for oil-pulling and frying (as it's a lot cheaper)

please stop posting about putting oil and butter in coffee. the very thought of it makes me want to heave......

Splitting headache today and nasty taste in mouth. Is this good or bad?
Had one litre of water already and chugging away steadily.
also this is the first day I've really craved sugar....

Thank you Cider and goo.

The doctor was lovely! I told her about the test result and that I'm on a low carb diet (expecting a lecture), but she just asked how much weight I've lost and when I told her a stone and a half she said
"Brilliant!"

She weighed and measured me and calculated my BMI as 24, after which she congratulated me again and told me to keep on with what I'm doing. Regarding the cholesterol, it turns out I had a cholesterol test in 2011 and the total cholesterol was 6.9 mmol/L with HDL of 2.7, so actually I don't think things have changed much anyway. She did a risk calculation based on various other things too, and my CHD risk is 1.something %! She said even if my fasting cholesterol test (next Fri) is as high as the supermarket result, she wouldn't be concerned about that and certainly wouldn't consider putting me on statins as my other risk factors are fine (apart from drinking too much wine! ). She was very reassuring and sensible and emphasised that blood cholesterol is only one factor in CHD risk anyway and that my blood pressure (which has been creeping up) is ok too. My drinking is more of an issue than my diet which I know I need to cut down and keep down.

It's given me a bit a jolt, anyway, and that's a good impetus to cut the wine (haven't had any since Sunday, yay!) and get a bit fitter. I'm going to try on swimming costumes when I take DD for her lesson today, as I know it would do me a lot of good to swim.

Anyway thanks all for your support. I could have hugged that doctor, she was so nice!

Ma I'm like that with any mention of oil pulling - it makes me go all funny and lurchy in my tummy!

Glad to hear you got some sensible answer from your doc crabby. I hate to think how many people they have scared into buying those products though

I think I may have slipped back into ketosis without the hideous carb flu this time (have been low carbing for over a year mostly bootcamp very light so it definitely gets easier) feeling lighter and less bloated, not 3 inches less though, very well done Starry
Have lost 4lb
B:Bacon and scrambled egg
L:Bolognese on fried cabbage
S: Homemade burger, salad, coleslaw
Well done to everyone, don't let the Carb Flu get you down, sloosh down a bucket load of water and it'll pass soon and you'll feel fab.

agree crabby - oil pulling should really get a nicer name!
Well done on the BMI that's fab, and all your own work.
Demented - some people do report a 'metallic' taste in your mouth; the answer is more water, I'm afraid! Headache is probably withdrawal symptoms from sugar withdrawal. Keep going, it does pass and it's a sign that sugar is losing its hold over you

Sounds like you've got a great doc Crabby

Crabby - you're going to have to change your name . Well done !

Good news Crabby.

Lovely lunch of cauliflower soup and then a couple of sausages.

Can anyone explain why my stomach feels huge today? Not bloated. Just huge. My running pants fit perfectly last week and felt much tighter today and kept rolling down. Have showered and changed into jeans and same thing. And I'm 4 lbs lighter!

biwi you say I have eased into boot camp and not gone cold turkey. The only thing I have had that I shouldn't is diet coke and I have eased into full fat from half fat as it took a few days to get used to the full fat taste.
Ive only been having flax the last few days so I don't think that is stalling me but I will miss it out for a few days and see what happens.

I am feeling thoroughly fed up today. I did something horrible to my ribs on Saturday, and despite being good with what I am eating, I am feeling horribly bloated and look like I am several months pregnant.
I know it is the painkillers - but do you think that when I eventually stop taking them I will miraculously loose all the bloat and excess weight?

Went to lidl today. Got a couple of big tubs of ff greek yoghurt and some ff cream cheese. So much cheaper. Also got loads of sparkling water. Have got a caffeine withdrawal headache!

I was in a situation this morning where I nearly fainted, and was advised to have a digestive biscuit and cup of tea with sugar. Which I did.

Much better now, and apart from that necessary blip, totally on the wagon. I hope the biscuit and sugary tea don't undo my good work! They did their job at the time and I was soon ok, but I wasn't craving them and they have not set off an uncontrollable urge for more.

I just wish there was something I could do to undo any damage this did! I guess the best thing is to just carry on drinking loads of water to hopefully flush it out.

stuntnun thanks for your post about fluctuating weight as far as scales are concerned. I find that information really helpful.

Another good day here in Oz, only had a few thoughts of dipping my finger into the kids tub of Nutella
Decided that I wanted to be thinner more than a dollop of chocolate.
Just finished munching a chicken leg for supper before bed.
I am having trouble finding the right type of yogurt, what am I supposed to be looking for, 6g or less per 100g?

Giggly that's a really great mind set to have.

You have tasted it before and you will taste it again. Do you really need it now?

No because you want to be slimmer and enjoy loads of health benefits

Yes for yoghurt - do you have total brand in oz?

Giggly - there is a big Greek population in Oz, so presumably any Full Fat Greek Style yoghurt should be ok.

Crabby that's fab news and what an enlightened GP

Buda could it be TOTM?

Purple - a number of people have reported flax stalls them but you have to work out what your body can tolerate.
The whole point of bootcamp is to eat clean to break your body of its addiction to sugar and processed crap.
Half fat and low fat products have sweetener In
Them so that you eat them.

It will work - just keep the faith and follow the rules

what the heck is oil pulling?

JustasmallGless - nope. Haven't had a period for over two years.

My very scientific explanation is that I have lost carb bloat all over so my fat stomach is more noticeable! Can't think of any other reason. Although I have been hungrier today so maybe it's someone to do with not eating enough yesterday.

Dementedma - it's swishing oil around your mouth for 20 mins. Supposed to be very good for you. I keep meaning to try it.

Nigella - hope you are ok?

DementedMa - oil pulling is using coconut oil like a mouth wash, but building up for 20 minutes. It is supposed to get rid of bacteria in your mouth, as well as pulling toxins for your body. It is also supposed to make your teeth very white and shiny. We are not allowed to talk about it on here though because it makes some feel nauseous .

In terms of bulletproof coffee, I say don't knock it till you've tried it. Important to whizz it all together in a blender though. Stirring it just won't work.

BIWI have you tried it yet? If I recall on the last BC you were building up the courage.

Well I'm easing into BC - food has been good. Had a couple of gin & sodas though.