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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:
Purple2012 · 20/09/2013 19:49

Thank you. I will do that.

BIWI · 20/09/2013 19:52

Evening all! Sorry to hear some of you are a bit dispirited. But, as others have pointed out, weight loss isn't linear. It's not uncommon to stay the same for a while and then suddenly drop by 3lbs.

And you're nearly at the end of the strictest part of Bootcamp!

From next week - if you want to - you can add in nuts, berries and (in moderation) alcohol!

Smile
OP posts:
starrystarryknut · 20/09/2013 19:56

Here it is Smile

Starry’s Low Carb Granola

460g mixture of nuts – choose lowest carb varieties: macadamia, pecan, brazil are best; almond and hazelnut are OK.
80g dessicated coconut
80g sesame seeds
5 tbsp erythritol (Sukrin)
2 tsp salt
1/3 cup cold-pressed canola oil
1/3 cup water

Chop nuts into small pieces (preferably by hand as the food processor can pulverise them a bit). Combine all the ingredients. Spread on a large baking sheet and cook at 180 C for 1 h 15 min, stirring every 15 mins, making sure that the edges get pushed to the middle. Sprinkle a few times with erythritol and cinnamon when stirring. Be careful: it can catch and burn quite quickly, so make sure you watch it.

I like a spoonful stirred into my yoghurt. It's a little bit sweet (not very), so it makes it like a pudding. BIWI posted links showing that erythritol is OK both carb and health wise for adults, so I'm comfortable with that ingredient.

whodunnit · 20/09/2013 20:17

A sneaky peek at the scales this morning revealed no change since monday BUT I realised tonight as I was out walking that I feel brilliant. My joints are really loose and I happily swing my arms and do a little
trot. When I am stood up, I am not looking for a wall to lean on like I usually do. There is no stiffness anywhere I can't remember feeling this lively and supple for a long time. I reckon I feel ten years younger. It must be all this butter lubricating me ol' joints....

for the record, had:
B lefover salad and ham n egg pie
L pepperoni, couple of slices of ham
T cabbage, celery, broccoli soup with double cream stirred in

only one small coffee today. And managed to fit into a pair of trousers I'd given up on last summer.....

ToomuchIsBackOnBootcamp · 20/09/2013 21:12

Hi all, hope everyone is doing ok this Friday, I am resisting the wine also!

B 3 eggs scrambled with a splish of cream
L spring greens fried in butter with baby corn, feta and chilli flakes ( bit odd but was using up end bits)
D low carb "cottage pie" - mince sauce with swede and cheese topping, and wilted spinach

JustasmallGless · 20/09/2013 21:28

Just remember those who are struggling to measure measure measure. And remember all the health benefits too.

Also if you have started to exercise at the same time as starting to low carb you may not lose weight on the scales as your body may retain water and other stuff to repair your muscles.

This is what happened with me and although I am not running at the moment I know when I get back on it I will put 2-3lbs on. This doesn't mean I am suddenly fat just that my body deals with it slightly differently than someone else.
If you haven't measured yourself up to now, I really would recommend it as it can be a better indicator.

Ruprekt · 20/09/2013 22:35

Have succumbed to wine after a stint in A&E with ds2!!

A zip tore across his eye and scratched the cornea. He screamed bloody murder for 2 hours.

He is 8.

No screens or reading or homework for 3 days!!! Smile

He was gutted.....Grin

prettybird · 20/09/2013 22:40

Ouch. I scratched a cornea a few years ago (no idea how). A day down South on business in increasing agony before going to A&E when I got back. It was the day that the Icelandic banks crashed and the following day I had to fly to Manchester to be interviewed for my own job I didn't get it and ended up being made redundant Sad

That's one of the reasons why I put on 3 stone Blush

ImATotJeSuisUneTot · 20/09/2013 22:51

Forgive me Biwi, for I have sinned.

Today, I used last nights extreme lack of sleep as a reason, but actually, it isn't one. There's no excuse.

The only consolation is in the way my body has reacted, violently, to eating crap - it's made me realise once and for all that I want to live this WOE for the rest of my life.

The 'good' food makes me feel like absolute shit, within the space of a few hours - it's just not worth it.

CrabbyBigBottom · 20/09/2013 23:24

Cider enjoy Dublin!
Betty I had a day like that recently - didn't have time to pack a lunch and ended up in a shitty tesco metro. I bought some president brie and cherry tomatoes - can't go wrong with cheese and tomatoes, imo! Grin

Grin at 'Carby twat today, fat(ter) carby twat tomorrow'! I might have that tattooed on my hand or something! Grin

Shock Rup poor little bugger! I hear a scratched cornea is excruciating. Sad Pretty that sounded painful on many levels!

Shock at Purple's green poos. That doesn't sound right to me! Grin

New hope you enjoyed your pamper bath.

LilyAmaryllis · 20/09/2013 23:25

Aaaggahhaaaaagghhh Ruprekt and prettybird

loopyloou · 20/09/2013 23:37

Sorry to hear that Ruprekt Hmm

NewStartNewStory · 21/09/2013 01:47

Crabby I did indeed and then went out. Ended up being much later then planned.

NewStartNewStory · 21/09/2013 01:58

Poor ds2 Ruprekt

Roobot · 21/09/2013 07:34

BIWI, can we carry on with the stricter rules for longer? I am finding it really good so far, and thought an extra couple of weeks doing it this way might be a good idea.
i even managed to survive enforced work lunches and dinners this week! Thnak god for cheese board dessert options!

IBlameThePenguins · 21/09/2013 08:56

Morning! I started properly on Monday after spectacularly leaping off the wagon half way through last week. Each morning I have popped on the scales...I lost a couple of lb on the first couple of days , and a lb a day since. This morning they are showing I've lost 9lb!!! since Monday. Is that really possible?... Is it healthy? I am thrilled, and keep checking to make sure my scales aren't playing tricks!

bigkidsdidit · 21/09/2013 09:00

I'm going to do another strict boot camp week. Firstly because DH only started this week, but also because I had a few slip ups in week one and I want two perfect weeks to get maximum benefit :)

daisychicken · 21/09/2013 09:17

Recipe sounds great Starry I'm tempted as would be nice with yoghurt! Sukrin is £6.95 plus £2.45 postage on amazon - is that what you paid? I'm assuming 500g goes along way?

BIWI · 21/09/2013 09:20

Roobot - you can carry on like this if it suits you. Just make sure that you are getting the majority of your carbs from veg and salad.

IBlameThePenguins - it is indeed possible! And it is not something that's unhealthy. You will have lost some water weight, emptied your glycogen stores (which is what won't happen on a low fat/low calorie diet and can account for as much as 7lbs) and a little bit of fat. You won't/can't expect to lose the same amount from here on though - and prepare yourself to see no loss next week after such a big loss this week. But from here on, you will be burning fat. Expect to see a weekly loss of around 1-2lbs per week.

bigkids - sounds like a plan!

OP posts:
prettybird · 21/09/2013 09:30

....to make matters worse and is why I remember the date my largest customer was Icelandic and we were in the middle of fulfilling a £12 million contract with them (payment upfront on delivery Shock).

I then had to spend the next month convincing my own company (including taking a day out of a holiday weekend to Iceland to meet with Icelandic government officials) that they would pay up and we shouldn't cancel the order (given that we'd already started the investment required) and then the next 5 months nursing the order through the system. I couldn't even leave early as most of my colleagues who were made redundant did as I was deemed essential in the handover.

The Icelanders did pay Smile and I never got all the commission I was due Angry

IBlameThePenguins · 21/09/2013 09:42

Thanks BIWI! It's nice to have a little kick start! I will be very happy to take it slow and steady from here on in... Also nice to have some encouragement to stay strong at DD's Birthday party tomorrow!!

Roobot · 21/09/2013 10:00

Grand. Think I may add another week or two just to totally get into the groove before i add anythibg sweet (major sweet tooth!)

Maryz · 21/09/2013 10:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

holmessweetholmes · 21/09/2013 10:36

Back down to my very pleasing 8lb off, after a blip. Managed to run 5k with less trouble today - I guess my body must have adapted a bit more. When I walked into the kitchen in my all black running gear this morning, dh said to the dc 'Look - mummy just sneaked in looking like a skinny little ninja'. Rofl at the ludicrous exaggeration, but Smile nevertheless. I do feel so much lighter.

Bronx · 21/09/2013 12:00

Just wondering - am I allowed to post my weekly weigh in on Saturday instead of the Monday?
Saturday's my usual weigh day, I'm too busy running around like a headless chicken on weekdays :o