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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:
googoogoggles · 19/09/2013 16:44

I'm staying out of that one!

NewStartNewStory · 19/09/2013 16:54

Grin @ ProteinshakeGate
Ds is doing his homework on my laptop. It is enough to drive you to drink. In a whole hour he has written 4 sentences and how he is still alive is a minor miracle.

Paprikka chicken drumsticks for tea tonight - potatoes for ds and courgette bake for me. Entirely too excited about this. HmmGrin

toomuchicecream · 19/09/2013 17:02

Yay - my trousers are getting longer. Which, when you're 6 feet tall, is very exciting??I will have warm ankles this winter (but a colder tummy where my trousers aren't staying up as they used to).

captainmummy · 19/09/2013 17:08

I have lit the log=-burner today! Room nice and warm.
also been v 'picky' today (prob cos I had a day off)
Breakfast 2 eggs scrambled with butter
lunch half bag leftover salad leaves, tomato, mayo
snacks radishes with butter, cheese slices with marmite,
dinner will be roast pork with crackling and roast cauli and prob some other veg too.
6 pints water and 4 large black teas.

BIWI · 19/09/2013 17:51

pixie - sounds like carb flu, but as we're in week 2, a little unlikely. Are you in week 2?

If you are in week 2, were you strict in week 1? How did you feel last week?

Sounds like you might not be eating enough, and possibly not enough fat. List out for me what you've been eating/drinking over the last few days.

OP posts:
Lavenderhoney · 19/09/2013 17:52

I wish I had measured at the start! Is it too late? What do I measure, waist, bust, hips and thighs?

Dh made me a coffee this morning and put in more than my normal dash of cream. He was very heavy handed- it tasted really sweet and I was sure he had put sugar in until I tried his sugary coffee and it was foul:)

Still not having wine, very pleased with myself for this:)

Grin at powershakegate

BIWI · 19/09/2013 17:52

... and could also mean that you have a problem with your electrolyte balance. Are you eating plenty of salt? Salmon, spinach and avocado all good things to eat to ensure you're getting sufficient sodium, potassium and magnesium, along with the salt.

Try drinking a hot drink made with Oxo or Marmite or Bovril - that should help with the salt, and make sure you're cooking with it/using it on your food.

OP posts:
NewStartNewStory · 19/09/2013 17:53

Lavender sounds good and never to late to start to measure.

BIWI · 19/09/2013 18:54

Look what Willie found!

I should run in this I think!

Grin
OP posts:
StuntNun · 19/09/2013 19:04

I think it's important to measure Loopy, I'm still a few ounces heavier than my weight on Sunday but my belt is a notch tighter so I hope to see the 'whoosh' in the next few days as another pound comes off.

dementedma · 19/09/2013 19:32

Weird. I tried hard last week and only lost a pound. Got fed up of the headaches and feeling exhausted so pretty much gave up....since then I seem to have lost another 3lbs!
Don't know where I'm at now - what works and what doesn't. However am thinner, and that's all that matters

Pagwatch · 19/09/2013 19:35

I have realised that how much water I drink is absoloutely key to how I get on each day.
The days I haven't drunk enough have been followed by a morning of headache and lethargy.

Are there any grandmas who need egg sucking advice?

halfthesize · 19/09/2013 19:41

Grin @ female body builders and love the t shirt BIWI & Willie

pixiegumboot · 19/09/2013 19:44

yes I'm in week 2. you are right, def not eating enough. bit unplanned this week. off to drink Marmite now. actually might try beef stock uk Marmite is gross. Smile Smile

BIWI · 19/09/2013 19:49
Shock

How can you say that?!

OP posts:
Purple2012 · 19/09/2013 19:52

I've had a whole week without diet coke! I can't quite believe it.

I've decided to cut down on cheese and try to have more chicken. I have yoghurt and cinnamon each day for breakfast and usually put cheese in a salad, omelette etc but I am going to try and not have cheese for the next few days and see if I get a bigger weight loss on Monday.

BIWI · 19/09/2013 19:54

Well done, Purple - that's no mean feat!

Just make sure that if you're dropping the cheese that you are adding sufficient fat back into your diet - chicken is very lean.

OP posts:
Purple2012 · 19/09/2013 20:01

I am frying my chicken in lots of butter and having mayo with every salad and a lot of eggs so I should be ok shouldn't I?

BIWI · 19/09/2013 20:04

And oily dressings on your salad? And butter on your veg? Wink

OP posts:
Purple2012 · 19/09/2013 20:07

I have the mayo instead of dressing on my salad. Not doing great with butterbon veg but I am having all full fat stuff. Do you think I should maybe have a little bit of cheese? Maybe around 40g each day?

whodunnit · 19/09/2013 20:13

Well, I am happy to report that I will never look like these weighlifters! Phew! My obsession with choclate will not morph into an obsession with cow protein or photoshop or whatever they do to look like that, BIWI!

Just reporting in today's meals

B - cheese 2 egg omelette
L - bacon, egg sausage _ Ileft the breadbun they came in
D - salad with cucmber n celery n ham and egg pie minus the pastry. The man on the deli assured me it was made with only floor scrapings and no other non-pork ingredients had been added.
S - peppeoni stick

Had two pretend mouthfuls of my 7 yr olds choc cake - chewed n then surruptitioulsy spat it in the bin. She was delighted I enjoyed it so much. I would hate it if my girls ever did that about food. hypocrisy is my middle name.

BIWI · 19/09/2013 20:15
Grin

Needs must, whodunnit ...

OP posts:
whodunnit · 19/09/2013 20:17

BIWI - what do you reckon to Nigell'a way of not eating unless you are hungry? I haven't been hungry since I started this. And you did tell someone to cut down portion sizes and see ifthat made her lose. Should I eat regualrly whetehr I am hungry or not? Should I eat small portions?

BIWI · 19/09/2013 20:29

If you're new to low carbing, I'd always recommend that you stick to the two weeks of Bootcamp, and therefore eat three meals day. This will ensure that you get your blood sugar levels stable.

Nigella has been doing low carbing for a while, and is therefore much more likely to be ketogenically adapted than you are, so not eating and missing the odd meal is less likely to affect her.

You don't need to worry about cutting down your portions at this stage. Just focus on getting the hang of low carbing for the moment. You're doing really well so far, no need to worry about changing anything yet!

OP posts:
whodunnit · 19/09/2013 20:33

ok - cheers for that.