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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

At last - here it is! BIWI's 2 week Low Carb Bootcamp - starts tomorrow - sign in here

999 replies

BIWI · 15/04/2012 22:36

Lots of you have said you want to do this - now it's time to put your money where your mouth is, so to speak.

Oh, alright, it's free. Grin

The plan is that we have two very strict weeks of low carbing. Which is why, doh, it's called a bootcamp.

There are 'rules of engagement' for the fortnight - but they're different if you're carnivore or a vegetarian. I shall post the rules for us carnivores, and flipflopflap will post the rules for those of you that are vegetarians.

Sign in with your starting weight - in pounds, stones and pounds, kilos or - if you don't want to reveal your weight, with 100 as an index - and what you're wanting to achieve in the two weeks. I know that not everyone is doing this for the purpose of weight loss, so you don't have to do this if you don't want to - but tell us what you want this fortnight to help you achieve.

The Carnivore Rules

1.Eat three, proper meals a day.
You must eat breakfast. It doesn?t have to be a lot, but you must have something. For the rest of the day, if you?re eating enough food and you are in ketosis then you shouldn?t be hungry. But if you are hungry, eat something. (Hard boiled eggs make a great snack)

2.Avoid processed food
Focus on pure, natural protein as the basis for your meals ? meat/fish/eggs. Things like sausages, ham, bacon, pre-prepared burgers etc should be avoided as much as possible. You can have them, but just not every day. Avoid foods marketed as low carb, e.g. Atkins Daybreak bars.

3.Eat lots of fat.

Eating fat helps you to burn fat. Honestly! Fry in butter, add butter to vegetables, eat salad with a home-made vinaigrette dressing (not made with balsamic vinegar though, as this is too sweet), add mayonnaise where you can (just check the carb count on your mayo first). Eat fattier cuts of meat ? e.g. pork belly, roast chicken with the skin on and/or eat the fat off your lamb chops. Absolutely no low fat/light foods of any kind!

4.Make sure you are eating vegetables and salads with your food ?
This is where your carbs should come from, and this is non-negotiable. But choose only those vegetables that are on the allowed list. You don?t have to weigh/count carbs ? this is one of the great joys of this WOE (way of eating), but if you?re new to low carbing it can be helpful to weigh your portions of veg in the early days, just so that you know how many carbs are in the sort of portions that you like to eat

*5.Be careful about dairy (apart from butter, which is unlimited). It can impede weight loss for some people. If you are still drinking tea/coffee with milk or cream, try to restrict yourself to max 2 cups per day. You may eat cheese, but don't overdo it. Full fat yoghurt is the best way to include dairy in your diet - but beware, it does contain carbs. Total Full Fat is the best.

6.You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day.
The more weight you have to lose, the more water you should drink

7.No alcohol
If you really can't do this - at least try and restrict it to the weekend. Vodka with soda is the best thing to drink. Or Champagne, red wine or dry white wine.

8.No fruit
Really. Seriously. Honestly. None at all. Zilch. Nada.

9.No nuts/seeds
Whilst these are really good to snack on later - it can be too easy to start snacking on these - and before you know it, all your carbs have gone on nuts. Seriously - in bootcamp - don't do it to yourself.

10.No sugar or artificial sweeteners

OP posts:
WizzyBizzy · 17/04/2012 21:02

Forgive me BIWI but I have sinned again. Have just realised my yogurt which I thought was ok, has 8.6g carbs/100g - that's too much isn't it? Argh.

On the plus side, not a drop of alcohol or chocolate has passed my lips since The weekend, which for me is an achievement!

GlitterKitty · 17/04/2012 21:03

If you are craving crispy things I can recommend M&S crispy bacon packs. Absolutely looooovely with avocado in a salad or just scoffed out of the pack

Best meal today was dinner: Rocket & spinach salad with avocado, mozarella, basil, olives, cucumber, couple bits tomato & loads of oily dressing.

In fact I have used loads of fresh basil during lowcarbing- goes with lots of stuff.

Anyway, feeling dreadful, headache and so tired. going to bed soon.

Creamtea1 · 17/04/2012 21:11

Watching the hairy bikers in Italy - pasta pie!!!
Probably not the best idea to watch all about Italian cooking at the mo...
Had a combo of the iPd/delicious magazine moussaka for dinner and it was amaze, will defo be doing again.
Still not overly hungry, yay
Envisage being the same weight tomorrow which I am fine with - am a daily weigher.
Also wondering whether to start drinking coffee - loads of people telling me they swear by it for aid with morning movements Hmm

Twit · 17/04/2012 21:11

Have felt like shit today, although worse this morning Sad

I have eaten
2 egg scrambled egg
celery with soft cheese
chicken broth and salad
smoked salmon
mushrooms, salmon, soft cheese mixed in and salad wilted on top.
I don't feel hungry, in fact I don't feel like I can face the food anymore - the thought makes me feel sick.
I've drunk loads though.

I'm trying to do this on a tight budget. I'm not sure it can be done though looking at what you are all eating. I am not enjoying it - although that might be because I feel ill. ALso BabyTwit isn't settling tonight - hopefully a coincidence. GetOrf I might start picking your brains on how to do your version avoiding ketosis if it proves to be a terrible night - although I might give it another night to see.

Lovecat · 17/04/2012 21:13

Well, when I said seafood salad for tea to DH he did this: ShockConfusedHmmAngrySadSad

So I'm having it for lunch tomorrow and made pork stirfried with mushrooms and creme fraiche with mustard, with buttered broccoli and green beans instead. Am stuffed :)

The meatball soup has been made for tomorrow's dinner and DD tonight, she pronounced it disgusting but DH loved her leftovers :) and I have whizzed up some smoked mackerel into pate for DH to snack on. He is a bugger - I have referred him to BIWI's snacking memo, but he basically stuck his fingers in his ears and went 'lalalalala' - he is so used to raiding the fridge once I'm in bed that he feels he needs snacks - I think it's a habit he'll take a while to break himself of.

Am onto 5th litre of water of the day - the thirst is astonishing, does this mean I'm in ketosis?

Schnarkle · 17/04/2012 21:14

Slosh slosh slosh

B: Boiled egg with asparagus spears
L: fried egg mushroom cauldron tofu mash up, ugly but tasty
D: Oopsie burger buns with flattened chicken breast

Still drinking tea and coffee with milk, but have cut way back on milk amounts. Last time I drank black tea and coffee it REALLY stained my teeth badly. Not a good look.

BettyBathroom · 17/04/2012 21:17

Didn't do too bad today.

B - 2 boiled eggs with a few drops of Jalopeno sauce
L - Greek salad
D - Roasted veggie thing, layered with Dolcelatte and parmesan, served with wild rocket.

Snacks - handful of brazils and a few bites of low carb almond and coconut cake - just to try it out. Wink

Felt very satisfied after each meal.

Got a funny taste in my mouth, I'm thirsty despite drinking loads but was pretty hungry this evening....so don't know if I'm in ketosis.

encyclogirl · 17/04/2012 21:20

Sloshing around in water here, this will be quick cos I need to pee again in a mo'

Dinner was divine! Dh made roast chicken with homemade coleslaw (he added a dash of wasabi, so good!), also had a greek salad and loads of green leaves. That was 4 hours ago and I am still full up. Really satisfying food.

Got some Brocollie and cheddar cheese soup on the go now for tomorrow lunchtime.

I might even have it for brekkie if I feel brave enough.

off to pee now.

encyclogirl · 17/04/2012 21:24

Brocolli even.

PorkyandBess · 17/04/2012 21:24

I have got a yucky mouth! Even after brushing my teeth.

I am still waiting for my dinner which is being cooked by dh. (Salmon fishcakes made with salmon fillets, dill, horseradish & tiny bit of lemon juice). I haven't eaten since 2pm, which I know is bad.

I have also done a really hard spinning class today.

ShirtyKnot · 17/04/2012 21:24

Twit. Don't give up yet.

If you're on a budget then can you try getting some roasting joints? I bought a leg of lamb, roasted it on Sunday, fed the whole family and had leftovers for lunch yesterday(2 of us) and a delicious curry with it tonight (with plain mashed cauli) which will also feed me for lunch tomorrow. So that one joint of meat (half price in Sainsburys ATM so I paid a tenner) has fed me, and tHe family for DAYS!

Im going to get a gammon joint tomorrow - slices of that with chips for the family, gammon and egg and celeriac mash for me, and then ham salad, ham and eggs for breakfast and hopefully enough for a ham omelette too.

It really, really is about planning I think - I'm not prepared to spend lots of money on meat and let it go to waste so planning it out seems like the best idea.

I think you're not eating enough nice fat and protein which might be why you feel rough - you mustn't starve!

C'mon twit - you can do this.

OhThisIsJustGrape · 17/04/2012 21:25

Tw1t, I managed 5 days on it before I had to give up. I felt so ill, I could barely stand in the mornings and felt dizzy and nauseous with it. The thought of any of the allowed food made me want to vomit. I followed the rules, I drank gallons of water, I added butter/cream to as much as I could (and ended up with violent stomach pains) I can only assume it just didn't suit me. Or maybe had I ridden it out I'd have been fine in a couple more days but I couldn't get 4 kids off to school in the mornings when I was unable to stand!

I decided to be grateful for the kickstart that LC had given me and I've gone back to my old weight watchers ways I'm afraid. Luckily not gained anything back and still losing. I'm keeping my carbs far lower than I ever have been before on ww as I'm more aware now of how many are in certain things but a slice of bread and a banana a day are making me feel so much better!

Looking at your meals today though, you don't seem to have had much fat?

encyclogirl · 17/04/2012 21:27

betty it does sound like ketosis. I was really thirsty and not hungry at all, almost like I had no interest in eating ever again when I first went into ketosis.

That was 10 days ago and I still haven't felt that 'starving, hungry, must eat now, now, now' feeling that I lived with for so long.

NotMostPeople · 17/04/2012 21:42

Breakfast: yoghurt, Greek style with honey (I'm sure this isn't right but I was in a hurry and hadn't got any plain at that point)

I'm not a great breakfast eater so I normally have something small like a yoghurt and then when I get back from walking the dog I'll have toast or porridge whatever. So my plan today was to have bacon and eggs when I got in, but I wasn't hungry and ended up not wanting to eat until lunchtime.

Lunch: chicken salad, with rocket, tomatoes, pepper and a tiny bit of onion.

Supper: veg stir fry with grated cheese on top, was delish and I couldn't eat it all.

Have had a couple of slices of salami or turkey ham when I've felt peckish.

However I haven't given up coffee, I only have a tiny splash of milk but I have a spoonful of sweetener - I'm going to get decaf tomorrow and can cope with that but I need the sweetener.

Ooh and I went for a swim.

Mouth still feels dry.

coocoocachoo · 17/04/2012 21:44

Yes FiddleDeFat it was in the afternoon - felt starving! Eggs for breakfast tomorrow then and need to pack more for lunch. Wasn't prepared enough I think!

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 17/04/2012 22:32

Sorry, sorry - I have my Chinese evening class on a Tuesday - haven't abandoned you all Grin

I'm glad to hear that so many are enjoying yummy food. Eating this way is so much more satisfying than calorie counting!

Those of you who have eaten/drunk the 'wrong' things - don't panic. It does take a while to get into the swing of it, largely because you're doing things that seem so counter-intuitive.

If you still feel the need to snack, then obviously you should. You mustn't go hungry - that way only temptation lies. But make sure you have planned for such occasions, and have stuff easily to hand.

Over the next couple of weeks you'll find out if you can tolerate caffeine or milk or cream. I can only advise you based on my own experiences.

Today I have had:

B - scrambled eggs (scrambled in butter) with smoked salmon
L - left over pork/veg stuffing from my Oriental Stuffed Cabbage Parcels (recipe on recipe thread) with shiratake noodles
snack - 1 egg with mayo before my class
D - 2 fried eggs on a bed of cabbage sauteed with bacon, in butter.

Currently approaching 3 litres of water. (And I had 3 cups of coffee with milk).

Onthecouch · 17/04/2012 22:58

I think I have done well so far but was 1lb heavier this morning :(

Have been eating loads of eggs and fish in various forms. DH has marinated chicken to make Indian tandoori chicken and Chinese style chicken for tomorrow. Yum!

Are Soya granules/chunks allowed? I use them for vegetarian moussaka recipe as I don't eat red meat.

So want to make Oopsie rolls! Still craving desserts, so clearly not in ketosis. Do you use ketostix at all?

Thanks BIWI for being the sergeant :) I would've never started without this bootcamp.

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 17/04/2012 23:09

Sorry, Onthecouch, I don't know anything about soya products. Presumably there will be a carb count on the packet?

I don't use ketostix, and wouldn't bother with them if I were you. If you're drinking enough water, then they won't change colour by that much. You're wasting your money IMVHO!

Don't worry about this morning's weight - it's only one day.

But - how much veg/salad have you eaten today? And how much fat? And what about the water?!

slowlyburningcalories · 17/04/2012 23:38

Ok, so I have managed day 2, although I upped my water intake over the weekend in preparation. Tomorrow is my first low carb workday, have eggs and bacon and mushrooms for B, mackerel and salad for L, reheated very tasty shepherds pie for D. I am funding two things amazing, firstly I am thirsty and wanting water, and secondly I am not hungry all the time!!!

Oh and I have energy, and can think clearly!

Tortington · 17/04/2012 23:52

lost 1 lb this am

i am seriously

seriously working for it though

LackaDAILYcarb · 18/04/2012 00:08

I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but today has been the first day in months (since my last steroid injection wore off) that I haven't had very painful joints in my hands and feet. I haven't needed my hideously strong anti inflammatories at all.

Also very thirsty and finding myself almost craving water. My work uniform, which is quite stiff cotton felt much much looser when I put it on tonight too.

Tw1t, try not to lose heart. I'm no expert, but perhaps try and eat more fats. Are you bfing? If so, it might make sense to add in more carby veg like carrots rather than having a pizza, but it sounds like
you need to eat more.

This is an expensive way to eat, unless there is a lot of forward planning. I'd second the roasts, and chicken legs are a much cheaper option than thighs or breast. Also, Aldi do a bag of six frozen salmon fillets for £5. They are also good for ham joints and sliced meats and cheeses. And of course their veg super6 which are usually only 39p.

Best get to bed, I have a presentation to put together tomorrow

WizzyBizzy · 18/04/2012 05:42

Grin at name change BIWI

LoopingLizards · 18/04/2012 05:53

Logging for yesterday...
B 4 Egg whites & ham. Love yolks but they don't love me Sad end up giving me a whopping migraine so no thank you very much!
Lunch tuna salad, cheese
Dinner Roast chicken & broccoli
Had only 2 cups black coffee instead of my usual bucket, not too bad.

I could probably be eating more but I'm usually a bit of a grazer and I'm finding it hard to find ideas for snacks.
Also the absolute assault om my system with all this water means I'm fairly full all the time

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 18/04/2012 06:28

Morning all!

Up bright and early to go to the gym. Cold has finally started to recede, so hopefully all will be well and I won't die on my trainer.

Scales showing 10.5 and 3/4 lbs for me this morning, so a small loss but going in the right direction.

BIWIWhoMustBeObeyed · 18/04/2012 06:30

LackaDaisy - I'm really pleased to hear that you are pain-free as well! It is one of the many benefits of this WOE. My IBS is so much better when I eat like this I am almost embarrassed to say I suffer from it now. (In fact, it's one of the things that keeps me on the straight and narrow - if I overdo the carbs, I'm much more likely to have an attack)