NOW CLOSED: Ever taken the Low-Carb boot camp on MN? Ever lurked or thought about it? Share your thoughts here...

[AnnMumsnet]

Since BIWI started the low-carb Bootcamp, interest amongst Mumsnetters has been consistently high. Over 400 of you have taken part so far ? and that's not counting all those who are lurking at the back and haven't quite dared yet to put their name on the weight loss spreadsheet!

We'd like to make Bootcamp even better from here on in, and would really value the opinions of all of you who have tried or completed it - if you have please complete a short survey here. Actually even the opinions and impressions of Bootcamp amongst those of you who haven't yet been lured in are welcome .

There's a £50 voucher to be won by anyone who completes the survey and adds their details at the end.

If you've just seen something about the camp but not yet taken part please share any thoughts you have about it on this thread.

Thanks
MNHQ

Cathy I was the same. I wasn't overweight but wanted to lose that layer of fat around my middle.

When I started the diet I thought I'd lose 5lbs at the most. I really couldn't believe how well the diet worked and I just kept going. My. Tummy is now as flat as a pancake, I'm 47 and blooming proud of it!

I won't do the survey because I don't follow the bootcamp plan to the letter, more low carbing with my own tweaks and I'm not on the famous spreadsheet I will probably need to stick to it more rigidly once I've got less to lose so will join the next bootcamp.

I just wanted to say how fab I have found this WOE though...I've lost almost 1.5 stone in 2 months and most of the time I can easily stay away from sugar (although still seem to have a monthly chocolate binge thanks to af!) I had a bug problem with binge/emotional eating and low carbing has helped hugely in my struggle to control my eating.

I also wanted to add that low carbing is a massively daunting prospect when your diet consists entirely of bread, pasta, poratoes and cake! I put off doing it for years even though I knew I badly needed to.

A success stories thread would be a fabulous bootcamp thread. I find reading about people's losses on the weigh in threads hugely motivating.

You can still do the survey, Ivana(no)cake. It's for lurkers as well as those who've thought about it..

I've found it a really healthy way of eating - I've cooked more vegetables in the past months than I've eaten in yrs.
I've lost 16lb in 8wks and have never been hungry once. Fabulous way of eating to lose and maintain weight.

i agree kiwi - my diet is now much more varied and i make more of an effort with preparing lovely vegetable side dishes and finding out the best way to cook a particular cut of meat or piece of fish

I agree Kiwi and Willie - we definitely eat more vegetables now than ever before and I am more willing to try new recipes, or make things up that I never used to do. I think it has had a positive effect on DD (3.5) as she eats more variety with us as well.

I have type II diabetes and all my blood results have improved massivey by eating this way. This includes improvements in my cholesterol since eating a tonne more butter and fats!

Just a little bumpette

Just bumping in case anyone hasn't done it yet!

Lets hope so!

I've occasionally lurked and not really managed to get far.. Are there diet sheets / rules any where to print out to get out going? I'm now on week 4 of a c25k, after being inspired by a mn thread and have discovered the shred thanks to mn. These work so I should try this.. Can someone point me in the right direction for a complete beginner at low carbine.. ?

Worley - if you go to the latest chat thread, there's a link to the spreadsheet on the OP - and if you look at the tabs on the bottom you will find the rules. Just ten rules, and its designed to makes it really easy to follow. No weighing or counting!

Thank you.. I'll go look :)

Survey done. I think there's loads of potential with the Bootcamp concept. If an app or microsite can both harness the power of the virtual support community and give easily-navigable access to the rules and resources then it would be a valuable thing indeed.

(and can the app have a reminder every hour to drink my water? Thangyouverymuch )

I've filled it in - haven't bootcamped in a while though

Love that idea Ewan!

I've done the survey. I haven't distinguished really between the official 10 week bootcamps and the ongoing support / campfire threads in between. Both have been a brilliant support. I started low carbing Aug last year and have mainly carried on with it. Lost over 2 stone + look and feel much better. Weight loss slowed atm as i'm near my goal weight & not being totally strict.

Have done the survey and just want to say a big thank you here to BIWI for organising the bootcamps. It's been brilliant, I've lost over a stone and I doubt I would have stuck with it if it weren't for the support of the bootcamp thread.

I'm more of a lurker, taking recipe inspiration and advice from the thread. About to embark on a new phase of LCing and saw this crop up. I am determined to be more strict with myself this time as I KNOW carbs are my big problem. I know this works. Its just so hard when you love bread and cakes!

I started in April last year under a different name, I went from a BMI of 27 to 23, lost about 28 lbs and from a size 18/16 to a 12/10.

I have the most amazingly happy marriage and the most patient husband, but my PMT was becoming a big problem and he'd said that it was causing him a lot of upset as I was being so vile for a couple of days every month. During those days I'd be either incredibly depressed (easier for the family to deal with, but horrible for me) or angry and cross with DH and the DC's.

I went to the GP and he referred me to a specialist. By co incidence I started Bootcamp about a week before my period, it was just as it always had been, but the next one amazingly caught me unawares. This hadn't happened in a couple of years because I always knew it was coming due to the pmt. the whole time I was on Bootcamp the pmt was gone.

My downfall was going on holiday, I went bonkers and ate everything! by September I was off the low carb way, I tried from time to time to go back, but I didn't make it stick. By March the PMT was back as was about 14lbs.

A few weeks ago DH decided that he wanted to lose some weight so we low carb together now, which makes the whole thing a lot easier. I've lost about 8lbs, lost the pmt again and gained a non snoring DH.

We both feel that this is the way forward for us and that we should simply see it as the way we eat, not a diet.

My only difficulties are that I tend to lack inspiration when it comes to cooking and we do eat a look of the same dishes. I know there's a recipe thread, but I find wading through it hard. I'd love a book, I'll put an order in now.

If I have any problems with low carbing it's loss of appetite, yesterday I just wasn't hungry, had a busy day and didn't realise until I sat down to eat with the dc's at 7.30pm that was my first meal of the day. Clearly I know that's not good, but I just wasn't getting any hunger signals.

Anyway, I'm rambling, but I love BIwI for all she's done to improve my health and my family life.

Parey that is a lovely post! Come and join us on the bootcamp threads, or just pop by if you want some recipe inspiration ever - everyone is always very welcome!!

Sunday night bump!

Just done the survey. Two points I could make, one personal the other maybe more general. Alcohol is my biggest downfall - I can see that very clearly. It slows my weight loss right down to a painful crawl. I guess it's my choice and possibly I am willing to make that trade - less than 1lb a week so I can enjoy a glass of wine or several on a Friday & Saturday night. I have started recorded my Friday morning weigh in, not my Monday because that is the lowest point of my week.
Still, no complaints from me - 13 kg (about 2 stone) lighter than this time last year and a BMI of 24 - thank you so much BIWI.