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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.

Pre-boot camp questions please x

13 replies

Mlig · 05/01/2014 09:51

I'm planning on starting boot camp, I'm on the list but I have a few questions and thought it's be easier to ask here, sorry I'm a bit clueless..

  1. Is peanut butter allowed?
  1. What is the difference between the Terri Ann 123 diet and this one? And the Atkins diet?
  1. I know it's a way of life rather than just a quick fix, but for inspiration how much do people lose and how fast? (I have 6st to lose..)
  1. How easy is it to maintain when you've got to where you want to be?
  1. Is it ok to exercise whilst doing it? (I do nothing at the moment but have plans to start..)
  1. If I slipped up one day would it badly affect everything or would it be fine if I got straight back on it?

Tia and sorry for all the stupid questions x

OP posts:
Joules68 · 05/01/2014 15:23

No peanut butter!

Yes exercise is fine

Slipping up ( eating carbs to excess) does affect things. It will push you out of ketosis

I lost 5 stone last year doing this along with exercise, but I only followed loosely sept-dec

Put non back on, I find it easy to maintain

Tigglette · 05/01/2014 21:29

I lost two stone last year during january Bootcamp last year and kept all of it off, I dropped out of the summer Bootcamp because work got in the way but haven't gone back to my old way of eating - lower carb but not low enough to loose weight if that makes sense. I'm hoping to loose another stone or so this time around which should be doable.

BIWI · 06/01/2014 00:08
  1. Is peanut butter allowed?

It depends entirely on the carb count - and they vary wildly. Check the label. Sainsbury's Basics is, I think, the lowest one I have come across. But you should be aiming to get most of your carbs from veg and salad, so peanut butter should only be an occasional thing

  1. What is the difference between the Terri Ann 123 diet and this one? And the Atkins diet?

I have no idea what the Terri Ann 123 diet is, I'm afraid! Re Atkins, there are four phases of his diet, and it is actually pretty complicated if you follow it to the letter. Bootcamp is similar only in the sense that the first two weeks are the strictest, and lowest in carbs, designed to break you of your addiction to carbs/sweet things

  1. I know it's a way of life rather than just a quick fix, but for inspiration how much do people lose and how fast? (I have 6st to lose..)

Everybody is different, so it's impossible to predict. However, it's generally true that if you have more to lose then you will lose it more quickly. I've run about 6 Bootcamps now, and it's not unheard of for someone to lose up to a stone in the first 2 weeks. Obviously, how much you then go on to lose will depend on how well you abide by the rules!

  1. How easy is it to maintain when you've got to where you want to be?

Hopefully by the time you reach your goal weight you will have come to an understanding about how many carbs you can tolerate on a daily basis. I have to say that if you were going to follow Atkins properly, this is an excellent way of working out your maintenance levels. The key thing is to realise that you can't simply return to what you were eating before, as this is what made you fat! But if you gradually increase your carbs, once you've reached your target, you will soon start to understand what you can/can't tolerate

  1. Is it ok to exercise whilst doing it? (I do nothing at the moment but have plans to start..)

It is absolutely fine to exercise, although I wouldn't start an exercise programme until you're through the first week, as it can take a while to get used to low carbing, and you can feel a bit odd/weak/tired for the first 3-4 days

  1. If I slipped up one day would it badly affect everything or would it be fine if I got straight back on it?

The first two weeks are critical. You really should aim to follow Bootcamp to the letter, to make sure that you switch your body from carb-burning to fat-burning. If you slip up during this period you are only delaying this process. After the first two weeks, you have a bit more latitude, but it's still not a really great idea

Hope that helps!

Mlig · 06/01/2014 13:38

Thank you!
That's really helpful x sorry I keep asking so many questions but I just need to know as much as I can before I can stick to anything! I know this needs to be a full lifestyle change, and I've known for years that my body doesn't tollerate carbs too well either but I've never done anything about it so I'm really motivated to do this :-)

BIWI, Can I ask, and I know this is nosy, but do you have any books or anything? And this must take up a lot f your time, so thank you xxx how much did you lose this woe? X

OP posts:
BIWI · 06/01/2014 20:51

Mlig - you can ask as many questions as you like!

I have loads of different books, but the one I recommend the most is Dr John Briffa's "Escape the Diet Trap". If you're interested, the other one that's worth reading is "The Diet Delusion" by Gary Taubes - although it's a very long book and not quite so accessible.

I lost 2 stones doing this, in 2012. I have maintained the loss since then (although I have put weight on over Christmas, hence joining in with Bootcamp!)

I eat low carb - Christmas aside - for the majority of the time. It's just become a habit, and I can honestly say that I don't miss bread/pasta/rice. That said, if I'm in a situation where I have no choice, or where I want to eat some, then I do.

Slatecross · 06/01/2014 21:07

Can you have wine? I read that very dry white wine or champagne was passable and so was spirits, in moderation of course!

BIWI · 06/01/2014 22:02

Not during the first two weeks of Bootcamp - but then after that, yes, in moderation. The best thing to drink is a spirit (which is carb-free) - but try and drink it with soda/sparkling water if you can rather than a diet drink/mixer.

Bear in mind that the body will use alcohol as its first source of energy - it is the easiest source of fuel - so even if you're drinking spirits, with no carbs, whilst your body is burning the alcohol it's still not burning any fat.

Slatecross · 06/01/2014 22:17

Thanks!

FrantasticO · 13/01/2014 18:16

Could someone link again to the spreadsheet please, have the rules now need a comprehensive list rather than what I think should be on it [grin-]

FrantasticO · 13/01/2014 18:17

Phht can't even Grin properly today.

FrantasticO · 13/01/2014 18:54

Found it.

trashcanjunkie · 13/01/2014 22:29

I feel extremely clueless as to finding the boot camp threads.... obvs apart from the sign up sheet. BIWI should I be somewhere posting something? Blush

BIWI · 13/01/2014 22:30

Chat thread is here

Go and weigh-in at www.mumsnet.com/bootcamp

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