BIWI's Two Week Low Carb Boot Camp - starts Monday 16 April

[PaquesJeLeVauxBien]

I've been back low carbing seriously since February and have lost a stone (almost). I have another 1.5 stones to lose.

It's been going well for me, but I have slowed down in the last month and I'm keen to get things back on track and up the speed of my weight loss. To that end, I have devised a strict two week bootcamp.

It will start on Monday 16 April to give anyone who wants to join in time to sort themselves out, get planning and generally get themselves ready to join in.

Who's up for it?

My DH has just expressed concern about me doing this as I have a few health issues, the main ones being depression and lupus/connective tissue disorders, and I'm under investigation for possible thyroid issues and Myasthenia Gravis. He is worried about it affecting my mood especially, given I am grumpy enough as it is. He had a point, but is he perhaps thinking of the Atkins of old, with no carbs allowed?

I need to do some more research really, and perhaps talk to my rheumy clinic to see what they think, but imo my weight is a factor in my depression, so any loss has got to have a positive effect in the long run.

Makes sense to get the OK from my PHP though.

I am in!
I'm with you all the way.

The new gym by my office opens on the 27th and that gives me a 7-10 head start before the exercise regime kicks in (in theory!)

Atkins was never no carbs! Induction - the strictest phase - allows you 20g of carbs per day, which you are supposed to have from veg/salad leaves. That's actually quite a lot of veg/salad, if you choose your veg/salad wisely.

LackaDaisyCal - I'm not a medic, clearly, so I can't advise you on your specific conditions. However, everything I have read about low carbing talks about better energy levels and therefore this can only help, it would seem to me, to counter any depression? But I would suggest that you take medical advice.

sinisterduck - cheese is not forbidden, just watch your quantities. It's very easy to overdo it. Likewise with the nuts.

ToryLovell - I don't count eggs as dairy

eggkr - I won't throw you off but this is supposed to be a bootcamp! Fruit is much higher in carbs and, with yoghurt, will add quite a hefty amount of carbs to your daily diet. Vegetables and salad leaves are much better as they don't have the same sugar as fruit, and it's the sugar that we're trying to really cut down/out from the daily diet.

eggkr - the risk you take by 'watering it down' is that your weight loss will be much slower than you would like.

Bootcamp is bootcamp. It is only 2 weeks. IMO, you have to try to do it properly & you can't be planning cheats before you even start!!!!!

If you don't want to low carb bootcamp style & there could be lots of good reasons for that, then head over to the exceedingly good low carb thread, where you'll get lots of support too & you can approach low carb at your own pace.

This is why I like the idea of bootcamp, as it is just a set amount of time, rather than just going on a diet.

I feel I can happily give up two weeks if there is a chance that I will end up feeling healthier, thinner and with more energy. If it doesn't work, then it is only 2wks. What have I got to lose.

I know it is going to be seriously hard though, but I suppose that is why it is called bootcamp! :o

I tried to low carb in February, spent the entire two weeks doing deals with myself and trying to find a way to justify porridge or more fruit. End result, I gained 5lbs.

This time I completely surrendered myself to the process and guess what? 7.8lbs off in a week, plus a teensy peek at the scales this morning and I'm already half a pound down this week!

Within two days I had conquered my need for carbs. I have two soft boiled eggs in the morning with a bit of butter in each. 4 mins to make, 4 minutes to eat.

This WOE really does work, but you have to stick to the rules, otherwise it's extremely unforgiving and it will punish you.

Totally worth it though, I haven't felt hungry since last Wednesday :)

I'm in
have had succeess before with low carb so know what to do

but i really really want gin while i'm doing it

just a wee gin and slimline
one wee one gwangwan gwan

I think I might be in (avoids committing just yet). I have been trying a more moderate version of low carbing (John Briffa type) for a couple of weeks now and definitely feel better in terms of highs/lows/hunger pangs. But have only lost a pound or two - lost more in the first week but then went on holiday and had a few small cheats (my mum had baked a cake in honour of our visit...). And I know I've been having too much cheese/dark choc/nuts. Nuts in particular - too delicious. So easy to swap a biscuit habit for a nut habit. So maybe a bootcamp where none of those are allowed might do the trick. Am I brave enough, though??

Ok then. I'll do sodding boot bloody camp

As far as I know, no carbs in fags ....

Good woman egg

Even your name is low carb!

In praise.

Trouble is since i had baby,food has become a bit of an obsession cos i can no longer go out all the time so food has become me and dh's social life and i dont do gym anymore cos too tired/no time etc. Im going to shred whilst on boot camp too as it will fill time so i dont eat.

Im a bit of a social smoker but will defo get some in for emergencies.
When i was at my skinniest it was on a diet of wine,fags and the occasional line of columbian marching powder who says skinny equals healthy eh?

When I was around 21-22 I was constantly on the piss. I weighed about 7.5stone. I'd say my liver didn't look that fab mind you!

Marking my place, have been toying with the idea of doing low carb but want to get it right so bootcamp is definitely the place to start, tempted to jump straight in and start today but will resist, planning has always been my downfall and if I wait till Monday to start then I have plenty of time to plan and stock up on necessary food.

I really need this! Keep stopping and starting and having do for ds 18th on may 5th and want to wear something nice. Unfortunately setting the date as the 16th makes me think I am being told I can eat what I like until then

noddy I know what you mean,i had bought lots of baking ingredients to do easter hols baking with dd,i have done it all toady so it can be used up.
Bakewell slice or chocolate brownie anyone? They have eggs in.

I have made lentil and bacon soup for tea will now be joining dp and ds in guzzling french bread and butter with it and saying Paques said I could

I never did!

you did you said start teh 16th thats carte blanche for me

Same here actually, have been trying to clear the house of junk food and actually feel rather poorly this evening

Shopping list hints gratefully received. I'm guessing meat like chicken, mince and steak, no fruit, butter, spices, salad. What about snack stuff, is there anything you can just grab like cheese cubes?

I have loads of eggs in so thats easy.

I'll see if celeriac is available locally, though I've never seen it, to try the mash on cottage pie.

What about drinks? Is it ideally just water or is squash okay?

Squash is not brilliant - either full of sugar or artificial sweeteners. Best trying to drink just water

I have a recipe I would like to run by you BIWI, if that is ok? It is Tesco's Spanish paprika pork, will have to link to recipe on my laptop later.

I haven't been eating lots of easter eggs

Right a start on my shopping list;

Eggs, butter, chicken in many forms, fish, celery, leeks (vom but I'll try), lettuce, ham (naice or cook my own?), cottage cheese, pea shoot salad.

Plus drink lots of water, and take it with me when I go on school run etc.
I am already taking pregnacare multivits so should be ok.

I will make some chicken soup if I can be arsed
I will not have my morning cup of tea.
I am not going to do any specific exercises except my normal belly ones until I have completed the bootcamp