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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:
twistyfeet · 16/09/2013 19:43

forgot to say
B. 2 egg scrambled egg with a dollop of greek yogurt
L olives
D Made a mess of fried mushrooms, cabbage and sardines as couldnt think of anything to eat. Fried in butter.

Having stalled on maintenance lo-carb its coming off again now I've gone back to Bootcamp. 0.6 kg since I asked BIWI's advice last wed (?)

StuntNun · 16/09/2013 19:46

Beryl 'twas me that posted the turkey marinaded in buttermilk, coated with Parmesan 'breadcrumbs' and fried in butter. It was delish. DH was chided about buying turkey but in his defence it was very cheap.

I fell off the wagon bigstyle today after a disastrous day that I'm still not sure how I'm going to get through the rest of. At least I have six days before my next weighing so I'll drink lots of water and clamber back on the wagon.

Negroni · 16/09/2013 19:50

Some amazing losses here and very well done too timid for moving down the clothes sizes - great when that happens. I really want this to happen to me soon as have been same size for ages - first it was tight, then ok, now loose. Fingers crossed next week or the week after will be a week of putting falling down loose jeans to the back of a drawer and bringing out some tight ones I have only wore once in 2010, after losing weight and then getting ill, dropping my weight temporarily for an all too brief month!

BerylStreep · 16/09/2013 19:55

B: 2 poached eggs mixed in a cup with butter, salt & pepper.

L: None, had to come home at lunchtime to fix the toilet that my cleaner had inexplicably broken (pretty proud of my plumbing skills)

D: It started off as chicken soaked in buttermilk, to be coated with parmesan and fried, but it was too faffy, so I added chopped fresh parsley and threw the remainder of the chicken, buttermilk and parmesan into the pan en masse, fried it off, then added half a rather elderly jar of tomato type stuff. Added the (also elderly) mozzarella balls to melt over it, and served on a bed of homegrown rocket and basil. It turned out rather well considering.

BIWI thanks for putting the boot into bootcamp. We all need it. I have a formal to go to in precisely 12 days and haven't a clue what I am going to wear.

BerylStreep · 16/09/2013 19:56

StuntNun X post. Thanks for the inspiration Smile

NewStartNewStory · 16/09/2013 20:08

may i suggest clothes beryl?

ds prevent me from snacking as we have been sorting his stuff out. I am now too tired to be bothered to pick and am going to collapse into bed for an early night. Sleep for me is key to not giving into emotional eating. Less I sleep harder it is to resist.

B: bacon, mushrooms and fried eggs
L: tuna and cheese melt over cauliflower
T: "Mince" and cheese (mince had mushrooms and leeks added)
s: scrambled eggs

I am going to ignore the fact it was dairy heavy and go with the sticking to plan. Aiming to include more veg tomo.

JustasmallGless · 16/09/2013 20:14

Checking in to say how brilliant it is to see done bug weight losses! Well done
Those who haven't dont despair - remember everyone whooshes at different times. I would take a look though and make sure you haven't cheated somewhere or hidden carbs in some packet foods.

I am weighing in on wed and would be happy with 1lb off.
Missed breakfast as bounced from meeting to meeting even though I had my Greek yogurt with me.
L cheese and mushroom omelette
D salmon, broccoli and feta bake out of the IPD cookbook which is yum And the dc eat it too

IBlameThePenguins · 16/09/2013 20:25

Thanks crabby I am well and try back on the wagon,& even more determined to crack on this week!

ImATotJeSuisUneTot · 16/09/2013 20:44

B- Greek Yogurt
L-Thai Red Curry Kebabs & 2 pieces of vegetable frittata
D-Cheese and Chorizo stuffed chicken breast, with 2 flat mushrooms.

Also just had one Hotel Chocolat 90% dark chocolate baton.

caughtintheact · 16/09/2013 20:54

lol at 'clothes' NSNS my dad always used to say that...

I have lost 3.5 lbs this week, which is my best loss since my first week, back in July. I have made more of an effort to stick to the bootcamp rules and upped my water intake as I hadn't really bothered with it before. I guess it really does do something! (proffers wrist for slapping)

Can't really decide what my goal weight is though, would like not to have a wodge of tummy fat mostly but no idea if this is achievable now I'm not 19 and mostly existing on cigarettes...

Ruprekt · 16/09/2013 20:55

I started Bootcamp a week earlier than everyone else and have lost 7lbs!!

No weightloss this week but that is ok. The food I am eating is so delicious that I am motivated to carry on!

I am 177lbs today. (Started in Jan at 194lbs!!SmileSmileSmile)

B....ff yoghurt, celery, boursin

L....ham salad with mashed swede

D....chilli with amazing cauliflower rice
Parmesan shortbread with cold butter. Mmmmmmmmm!!

Well done losers!

Keep the faith!!

The cake, wine, carbs and choc will not make you feel better....you just sabotage your hard work......keep going! ThanksThanksThanks

pixiegumboot · 16/09/2013 21:01

Tea tonight, those lamb bite balls from the recipe thread, cream & harrissa sauce, fried courgette ribbons with leek, butter, salt. Bloody lovely.

BIWI · 16/09/2013 21:16

Thanks, Crabby - you have it exactly right!

I know that Bootcamp is hard. And I also know that low carbing anyway can prove to be a challenge. The world, sadly, isn't really set up for us low carbers! And there are always going to be times and occasions when we will end up eating far more carbs than we should do/we feel comfortable with.

Last night, for me, is a very good case in point. I went to have dinner with an old friend, who had arranged for some other (mutual) friends to join us, as a surprise - which was lovely. But the restaurant that they had booked was a Chinese, and the food was communal/sharing - so even though my individual choices were as low carb as I could make them, I ended up having to share with them, and eat stuff I wouldn't normally have ordered. In that situation, the only thing to do is to accept it, and enjoy it.

But what my OP was about was to make everyone who is new to low carbing aware of the reason why it's so important to stick to it in the first two weeks.

And there is a big difference between being in a situation where you can't avoid carbs and a situation where you are choosing to eat carbs. Emotional eating and PMT are all difficult to deal with, but you do have to learn to do it. No-one else can do it for you, sadly.

OP posts:
toomuchicecream · 16/09/2013 21:29

caughtintheact - wodge of tummy fat

A few years ago my mum had leukaemia and lost so much weight I could see every single one of her vertebrae including her tail bone. She still had a roll of fat on her tummy. So I'm afraid you might have to just accept that one!

(My mum's fine now - made a full recovery)

LilyAmaryllis · 16/09/2013 21:32

I've been good

B - scrambled egg and fried mushrooms
L - broccoli and stilton soup
D - cod (cooked in butter), ratatouille, salad
S - greek yogurt; also some cheese

CiderwithBuda · 16/09/2013 21:49

Timidviper - going down in clothes sizes is fab! Well done.

And well done on losses everyone else.

Good day here. Had breakfast late as went for run first then got soaked on way back and got straight into shower. Had egg mayo and a cold sausage. Late lunch of big salad with chicken. Dinner was meatballs and tomato sauce on fried courgette strips. Oh- snack of roast chicken at 5. Lots of water. Not sure how many glasses though - need to start checking them off. 3 cups of tea.

Roobot · 16/09/2013 21:51

Thanks Lily :) Am pretty chuffed myself! Once I shake this cold I am dying to get to the gym! Everyone seems to be doing so well!
Made lush chilli burgers tonight. Am feeling stuffed!

bettybigballs · 16/09/2013 21:51

Parmesan shortbread sounds delicious ruprekt, is it a special recipe?

Loving reading all the losses, so inspiring.

dementedma · 16/09/2013 22:09

Disappointed to only lose a pound and finding boot camp quite difficult. Did have a couple of slip ups but can honestly say I tried really really hard so has hoped for more of a loss on the scales. Oh well, have definitely lost inches and clothes feel looses so not all bad. Is coffee with milk not allowed? Coffee with cream makes me gag and I'm not even thinking about the whole coffee with butter scenario on here

BIWI · 16/09/2013 22:11

5K run for me this morning, and session at the gym with my trainer tomorrow, so hopefully will undo the worst of yesterday!

Went out for lunch with DH today (he had the day off) and had cheeseburger, with no bun and no fries, but extra salad.

Dinner tonight was roast chicken, leeks panfried in butter, with chilli and cream, and red cabbage braised in butter with shallots and raspberry vinegar. And cheese and flaxseed crackers, made as a gift for me by the lovely Willie!

OP posts:
caughtintheact · 16/09/2013 22:23

Sad glad your mum has recovered, toomuchicecream. What a horrible thing to go through. Puts my vanity into perspective!

BIWI · 16/09/2013 22:27

demented - but at least you are down rather than having gained! It isn't easy, and it takes a bit of time to get used to it. Coffee with milk isn't great, although it obviously depends on how many you have during the day.

OP posts:
sybilfaulty · 16/09/2013 22:30

I swam for an hour this morning, which was great as I am allegedly a strong swimmer, but hadn't been for 6 weeks as over the hols I was either at work or looking after the children. Today was the first day I had all 3 at school all day. Wow. Got so much done. Am expecting not to be able to move tomorrow though.

Supper here was leftover kale and roasted celeriac, fried into a sort of hash with a friend egg and salad. It was fab. Better even than with the roast the day before. Gosh i love food.

It's my birthday tomorrow - so far no one has mentioned cake and I am fortunately at work then taking kids to piano lesson so I might be able to escape it. There are however three fairy cakes left over from today's bake session so if the kids want to sing happy birthday, I'll pop a candle in and they can eat one each. I'll eat a babybel to keep them company.

Sleep well everyone and try not to get up too often to wee!

sybilfaulty · 16/09/2013 22:32

Too much, glad your mum has recovered.

Demented, I can't bear coffee with cream either. The texture is too slippery, even for a fat fiend like me. I have one cup of coffee with milk a day and rest of the time (black or herbal) tea. It's a bummer I know. DOn't be too down about your pound. If you stick with it, you will lose the weight. I find my loss to be slow and steady (with lots of weeks of STS for apparently no reason).

Chin up lovely Flowers

whodunnit · 16/09/2013 22:53

Managed to get another 2kg (4 pounds?) off this week. There is definately a waist appearing, although its a bit saggy at present. I feel I have so much more energy and don't feel stiff. I am delighted and am not hungry at all. Started last week and lost 4kg last week.
This is good. Nearly down to my fullypregnant weight now!

Good luck to us all...