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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 2 - Autumn Low Carb Bootcamp

520 replies

BIWI · 15/09/2013 23:55

Well! It's the first day of reckoning:

Here is the Spreadsheet of Wonderfulness

I am waving my big stick around already, because it's obvious from the most recent threads that there has been a fair amount of cheating going on.

And we have only just finished week one!

A couple of things:

IT'S NOT CALLED BOOTCAMP FOR NOTHING

This period is designed to shift you quickly into becoming ketogenically adapted, i.e. to shift your body into burning fat rather than burning carbs.

This can only happen if you consistently reduce the carbs that you are consuming

If you cheat - even if it is just the odd thing here and there - then this won't happen, and it will take you much longer to start burning (and therefore losing) fat.

These two weeks were never going to be easy. And although I wrote about them, and how you needed to plan for them, it's clear that this hasn't always been appreciated.

I do, really, understand that it is hard. Especially if low carbing is new for you. But it's designed with a purpose, and you will really see the benefit of it if you stick with it.

JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE BOOTCAMP BEFORE DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S ANY DIFFERENT FOR YOU

Please be mindful of people who are new to Bootcamp. You may know what you can/can't do in terms of carb consumption. But there has been quite a bit of posting about cheating. Even if you are doing this mindfully, please remember that you aren't supposed to be doing this in the first two weeks of Bootcamp, and it makes it really hard for those who are new to low carbing, and who might be struggling.

A bit of sensitivity is called for here.

And finally, when you get on the scales this morning/tomorrow morning, please remember that this is about you and nobody else. It isn't a competition. Some people lose weight much quicker than others.

If you have a lot of weight to lose, chances are that you will lose it quicker than if you are closer to your target. Some people will lose a shedload in week one, but then nothing in week two - whereas others will lose more modestly, but consistently, week after week. The only thing that matters is what is happening to you.

If you haven't lost much, please don't be disappointed. Make sure that you are genuinely following the rules - are you drinking enough water? Are you eating high fat? That one glass or wine, or that small piece of cake - they all add up.

And even if you have genuinely followed the rules - if you haven't seen the scales move by much - have you measured?

We are all different, and rates of loss will be different too. Just think about the food that you have been eating, and consider how this WOE compares with low calorie or low fat diets.

Changing to a low carb way of eating as compared to a low fat or low calorie diet is not an easy transition, and it is to be expected that there will be snags along the way. Hopefully the Bootcamp threads will give you the help and guidance that you need - and I hope that when you get on the scales next, your hard work will be rewarded!

Onwards and downwards
xxx

OP posts:
WillieWaggledagger · 18/09/2013 12:51

brilliant bigkidsdidit!

just before my period my appetite really ramps up too - i eat like i have a tapeworm

captainmummy · 18/09/2013 13:08

Eww Willie! I was just about to think about lunch...

bigkidsdidit · 18/09/2013 13:15

Thanks willie! Would you be able to add me to the spreadsheet, I'm on an iPad. I lost 1lb last week Thanks

NewStartNewStory · 18/09/2013 13:20

I find that Willie I also get cycle linked insomnia which also makes me eat more. Day three with proper focus and it is easier to stay firm. Just eaten a proper lunch at lunch time. And had a good solid breakfast. Tea is planned but I need to tweak it as it is light on the veg and fairly heavy on protein but seeing as breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon and mushrooms and lunch was mince, mushrooms and leeks with "gravy" and cheese I think I need to add some more veg to the day. Not sure how as it is left over mince for tea as it really needs eating up and it has been too long made up to consider sticking in the freezer really. Any ideas?

CiderwithBuda · 18/09/2013 13:48

Hi all.

Bronx - can't believe BIWI hasn't commented but hot chocolate!!!! On Bootcamp! Nooooo! It's full of sugar. I think the milk was the least of the problem!

Well I had an odd day yesterday. Woke up headachy and everything tasted off. Especially water. Didn't drink nearly enough as really struggled with it for some reason. Food wise I was ok.

B egg mayo
L - couldn't face salad so just had some slices of corned beef, some coleslaw and cheese
D - couldn't be bothered cooking what I'd planned and really wanted comfort food so had some bolognaise with grated cheese.
Resisted the wine at PTA meeting and just had fizzy water. Did have a couple of glasses of water when I got home too.

Today is busy and I'm flying to Dublin early in the morning so using up stuff in the fridge.

B Greek yoghurt. My first this bootcamp as I am worried they stall me
S small amount egg mayo
L - finished off the bolognaise on a bed of rocket with grated cheese.

prettybird love the sound of those eggs!

BIWI will sponsor you as soon as I get a few minutes. Well done you.

Purple2012 · 18/09/2013 15:05

Just been to the health shop and bought a load of herbal tea so looking forward to trying them. Im hopingtthat they are all ok to have. Had a look at the coconut slices thinking that they would be nice to put in my yoghurt. I put them straight back down when I saw there was 44g of carbs per 100g!

BIWI · 18/09/2013 15:09

Welcome, devilinside! But where is your veg?! You don't need to cut the carbs as drastically as it appears you are doing.

Buda - whoops, you're right - I didn't spot that!

OP posts:
captainmummy · 18/09/2013 15:31

Purple - herbal teas should be ok - I drink rooibos, with coconut oil at breakfast, without rest of the time. I also have some liquorice tea which i drink if i'm craving something sweet - it is strangely sweet but has no carbs.

Lavenderhoney · 18/09/2013 15:48

BIWI- here's what I had today- after what you wrote I made myself have some chunks of cheddar, but I really wasnt bothered and its very unusual for me to snack!!
I've been lc since jan, and don't tend to eat unless I'm hungry, I found this a slow process of stoping carbs.

Today

2 coffees with dash of cream
Brunch as I don't feel hungry at all in the morning, and I go to the gym straight after drop off and can't exercise properly if I have eaten.
Brunch was left over courgettes and leeks fried in butter with a handful of grated cheese on top and microwaved.
Dinner - roast belly of pork, asparagus and sweet corn.

I will have drunk 3 litres of water by bedtime. I don't feel hungry at all, and don't feel inclined to snack ever.. It comes up as 25g which is the most for one day this bootcamp.
If I'm not at the gym, I might have a BAB with the dc, but then just salad with sardines for lunch as I am so full.

What do you think? I always cook a roast for the dc with veg and its dripping with butter, fat and some olive oil. Yum!

That's it!

Purple2012 · 18/09/2013 15:51

Thanks captainmummy I have been drinking rooibos with coconut oil. I got apple and ginger, cinnamon cardamom and ginger and three ginger tea. It will be nice to have something other than water.

BIWI · 18/09/2013 16:00

No need to snack if you're not hungry - it was more the lack of carbs that I was concerned about, Lavender! Which means lack of veg/salad.

OP posts:
loopyloou · 18/09/2013 16:06

For some reason I'm craving sweet stuff today. It's the first time it's bothered me. Luckily I haven't anything in the house! Wish I could think of something that would satisfy my cravings that is low carb. I'm trying to cut down on dairy a bit, as it sometimes makes me nauseous and if I'm not careful it stops me losing weight. But I know from past experience this is quite frustrating, as it limits what I can eat.

B: egg mayo and sausage
L: cold left over roast chicken, bacon
D: will be chilli without kidney beans served with mashed swede
S: spinach and cucumber salad with HM dressing

loopyloou · 18/09/2013 16:08

Lavender, what is BAB? (Sorry if I'm being dim)

Purple2012 · 18/09/2013 16:26

Sometimes cravings are more habit. Yesterday it was raining and horrible. Perfect pizza day. I kind of missed being able to have it but I didn't really want it. It was just something we would do now and then.

BIWI · 18/09/2013 16:31

BAB = Big Ass Breakfast!

OP posts:
Negroni · 18/09/2013 17:11

Loopy, I too was stumped by the BAB! I was thinking bacon and ?? Thanks BIWI for the explanation.
.
I too am craving sweet things today and have no idea why as have been pretty strict since last Thursday and seem to be losing. So, I will just continue and hope I start feeling fondly towards my tuna mayo and broccoli dinner instead of thinking about dark chocolate...

BIWI · 18/09/2013 17:13

Don't give in! It's the siren call of the carbs. Tricky little bastards they are ...

OP posts:
loopyloou · 18/09/2013 17:37

Thanks BIWI Smile

Haven't given in to the cravings, went and walked the dog instead.

Lavenderhoney · 18/09/2013 17:45

Thanks BIWI- I'm going to add some more veg and salad. I think I'm probably eating too much meat / fish and filling up with that.

I had a couple of cravings for sweet things today, but just hid everything and drank water:) very hard as I made the dc chocolate cake.

Bed early for me- I'm getting through loads of books:)

captainmummy · 18/09/2013 18:15

Have had way too much cheese today - but dinner was bolognaise sauce with shredded cabbage and I am stuffed now.

bulletwithbutterflywings · 18/09/2013 19:11

I have had a strange day food wise - I just don't seem to feel hungry until about 5pm and then I am suddenly starving! Not helpful for meal times with DP Confused
I had a bulletproof coffee and a protein shake with soy milk for breakfast and then another protein shake after the gym.
Wasn't hungry at lunchtime so I had some yogurt and a babybel, coffee with cream around 2pm then had another babybel at 3.30.
Demolished some leftover meatballs in tomato sauce at 5.30 (didn't even heat them up!) when DS was having his dinner and now I'm full.
I really should have had some veg! Is anyone else having issues with not feeling hungry enough to eat at the right times? I just feel sick at the thought of food if I'm not properly hungry :(

Ohfuckohfuckofuck · 18/09/2013 19:36

I am, but my dd is a pita if we don't eat together so I make myself have something.

B: grated cauli, 2 rashers of bacon fried together then an egg stirred in and a tiny bit of cheese on top.

L: tuna, cucumber & mayo with half a bag of leaves and a few cherry tomatoes, with a bit of olive oil.

D: 1 1/2 pork loin chops, with steamed swede & brocilli & courgette strips fried in buttr.

No snacks. 2 cups of tea with a dash of milk. Mega sore throat so water is slow going. Will be at 3.5l by bedrime.

Battery gone in scales so my daily obsessive weigh in is out. Jane feel loose but I bet I'll be disappointed come Monday weigh.

Bronx · 18/09/2013 19:47

Cider, no sugar at all! I made it with cocoa powder + milk, so by reading the back of the cocoa powder (0.3g of carbs? 3g of carbs? Something with a 3 Wink) I thought, oh, brilliant, I can still have hot chocolate.
20g of carbs in 400ml of skimmed milk, according to MFP.
I was Shock. Thought I'd had a good day!

SteppingOnLego · 18/09/2013 19:51

Today is the first day I've experienced the not being hungry thing! Really busy at work and didn't get a break until 4pm. Only then did I realise I hadn't had lunch, just didn't miss it. Before bootcamp if this has happened I'm getting weak and shaky by 2pm and end up eating whatever biscuits etc are around but that didn't occur to me today.

So what I want to know is: is the shaky feeling just a sugar crash rather than hunger? - I always thought I needed to snack often so it didn't happen. This is something of a revelation for me.

Anyway quite a good day today
B: bulletproof coffee, scrambled egg and some asparagus
L: salad and mackerel (with lots of lemon juice and pepper) and mayo
D: liver stroganoff - adapted from this Delia recipe just substituted shallots and double cream for the onion and creme fraiche served with buttered steamed cabbage

BIWI · 18/09/2013 20:11

Wow, bullet - that's a lot of dairy there! Why protein shakes? Can you not eat a proper breakfast? And some proper food after the gym? Just have a look at the ingredients in your protein shake!

You must plan in some real meals - so you can eat enough veg/salad - your day today has not really been a good one ...

OP posts: