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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:
MNP · 16/04/2012 14:56

B:corned beef and mayo
L:chicken wings with beansprouts and mayo.

BIWI · 16/04/2012 14:57

IPD Moussaka (will also post on the recipe thread)

500g lamb mince
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons tomato puree
100ml water
1 large aubergine
olive or groundnut oil
3 eggs
300ml double cream
200g Feta cheese

  • Pre-heat the oven to 180/GM4
  • Fry the lamb mince until starting to brown, breaking up lumps as it fries
  • Add the onion and garlic and continue frying until the onion has softened
  • Stir in the oregano, cinnamon, tomato puree and water. Bring to a simmer and then cover and cook for 20 mins over a low heat
  • Slice the aubergine, brush with oil and grill, fry or griddle until softened but not mushy - it should be golden coloured
  • Stir the meat and if it still looks a bit too liquid, simmer with the lid off for 5 minutes or so
  • Beat together the eggs and cream and stir in the crumbled Feta
  • Layer the aubergine over the meat and pour the Feta custard over the top
  • Bake in the oven for approximately 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown

In the book it says that this serves 2 - but I would make this quantity for 4. I'm sure it's a typo!

OP posts:
ShirtyKnot · 16/04/2012 15:11

Creamtea - Just wait. Don't eat or take anymore laxatives. Shock

teaandthorazine · 16/04/2012 15:14

Gaaah - lunch was nearly a disaster. Everything on menu was either battered, crumbed or served with chips Hmm I narrowed it down to confit duck with spinach and butternut mash... and it arrived with a massive pile of potatoes and NO butternut! Plus the sauce was really sweet, grrrr. They did give me some extra spinach...yay spinach.

And then everyone else had pudding and I just sat salivating (am so not in ketosis atm).

Ah well, onwards and upwards. I've had over a litre of water and am just about to have 3rd cup of peppermint tea.

Lovecat · 16/04/2012 15:14

I've been working and unable to MN, so coming in late...

reallyslowburner - current weight 12st 4lbs
KeepOrfThemCarbs - current weight 10st 8lbs
Thisisformatilda - current weight 13st 8lbs
Schnarkle - current weight 157lbs
GreenEyesandHam - current weight 9st 12lbs
Fourthousandholes - current weight 100
LoopingLizards - current weight 130 lbs
Custardoguiltybyassociation- current weight 9st 7lb
Bettybathroom - current weight 61.7kg
Onthecouch - current weight 182 lbs
MNP - current weight 15st 12lbs
Pistey - current weight 10st 7
cardoon - current weight 10st 12
Renaldo - 78.5 kgs - eventual goal 65 Kgs but 75 in two weeks would be fab
JaxTeller - 14st 13lbs, eventual goal 12 stone.
WillieWaggledagger - current weight 11st 4lb
Moonmother 10st 8 lbs goal 8st 7lbs
NotMostPeople - 12st 0lbs - 11st 7lbs first goal
noddyholder - 9st 9lbs - wants to be 9
MariaCallous - 9st 10 and want to get to 9st.
MariaCallous' DH is 14st 8 and wants to be 14
SharonGless - 13st 4lbs
BIWI - 10st 6lbs - would like to be in the 9s as soon as possible, please!
Wohmum - 10 st 14, aiming to get to 10 eventually. Would live to lose 6lb these 2 weeks
FiddleDeFat - 15st 2lbs
lemniscate - 12st 5lbs, would like to get into the 11s
TherapeuticVino - 12s 1lb, aiming for 10st 7lbs
ilovemyteddy - started at 224.4lb currently 192.6lb target 147lb (not in two weeks though )
ANTagony - 16st 3lb, I'd like to get to 14st by the summer hols (11st ultimately)
ANTagony DH - 17st 6lb, he'd like to get to around 14st as an end game.
Radio Silence - 10st 7 lbs and aiming for 9st 12lbs
Catsmamma- waist 36
MrsNouveauRichards - 10st 2lbs, need to be nearer 9st 7lbs
Teandthorazine - 11st and aiming for 10 st 10 in two weeks. Ultimate goal is 10st.
kandinskysgirl-12.3 wants to be 11.something ASAP (ultimate goal nearer 10stone though)
FaresPlease - 11st on the dot, hoping for 6lbs this fortnight, 2 stone eventually
SeriousWispaHabit - 14st 8 - goal under 14
ShirleyKnot - 12st 2 --and a half
LackaDAILYcarb - 81.5kg. Ultimate Goal is 60kg, eventually!
TheShapeJaper - 9.12 wants to be 9st but 9.7 by end of BC
PorkyandBess 10st 12.5lb
Slotrightin 12st 9lb
Daisychicken 9st 2lb
Knotty 10st 7lb - need to break the 10st barrier
Smokinaces - aims to lose 7lb in a fortnight
Flipflopflap- 10st 13lb Hoping for 6lb during bootcamp, 10st eventually.
elliephant 10st 7lbs - every bit helps
livelongandprosper - 9st 9lbs, goal is 9st 2lbs and reduced carb addiction
mammya - waist 107cm
GettinTrimmer - 12st 9lb aiming to lose 7lb in 2 weeks
creamtea1 - 10 st 7, aiming for 10 st 3 by end of bootcamp. 10 st exactly by end May, 9 stone ultimate goal
Twit - 10 st 10 ultimate 9 st but really just want to get into my trews
Ledkr-current weight 13 stones would love half a stone during bootcamp. Goal is to be back in my lovely pre baby size 14's.
FauxFox - 11st11 want to be 10st.
mummyduff - 10st1lb.
Eviltwin - 9st12lb
Hepsibaaah 140lbs, aiming for to drop 6 lbs in 2 weeks
Blueberryboybait - 14st 9lbs hoping for a 3st loss eventually but half a stone initially would be great.
EatenAllTheEasterEggs - 12st 10 - goal 10st or under
Lovecat - 12st 2 - eventual goal 10st but just to lose half a stone would be wonderful.

I had eggs for breakfast and made some LC mushroom soup (mushrooms, chicken stock, tarragon, dash of double cream) for lunch. Am on 3rd pint of water, need to drink more but could not afford to keep rushing to the loo whilst teleconferencing at home!!! :o Will have LC meatloaf with garlicky courgettes and green beans tonight.

I've got a decorator in (NOT a metaphor!) and he went to the chippy for his lunch... and left a big pile of his chips, the barsteward!! But I am being v. good. It's killing me, but I'm being v. good, they are all in the bin...

That moussaka sounds wonderful, BIWI :)

SharonGless · 16/04/2012 15:16

Is there a recipe thread?

teaandthorazine · 16/04/2012 15:17

A big garlic clove is about 1g of carbs. But I use it anyway Smile

mummyduff · 16/04/2012 15:20

On 3rd pint of water - spending alot of time in the loo Smile
I'm restarting at the gym tomorrow after a week off, should I eat before I go? As I leave the house around 8.30am to do school run before gym.

Creamtea1 · 16/04/2012 15:24

Thanks Biwi! Suitably saved as a note in iPhone, shall be having that tonight/tomorrow.

Ok shirty I will wait it out...must have some kind of cast iron stomach!

BIWI · 16/04/2012 15:27

Garlic is fine - it's quite high in carbs per 100g, but I doubt very much you'd want to use that much Grin

Recipe thread

OP posts:
ShirtyKnot · 16/04/2012 15:27

Cream - I didn't mean don't eat! I just meant don't eat anymore majorly laxative foods BTW! I'm sure it will......happen for you soon. Wink

BIWI · 16/04/2012 15:28

The moussaka is lovely - but I try to avoid it now, tbh, because the cream (and possibly the cheese) impedes weight loss for me.

OP posts:
FourThousandHoles · 16/04/2012 15:34

Hello mid afternoon energy slump
zzzzzzzzzzz

Oh well, all the trips up and down the stairs to have a wee AGAIN will keep me awake Grin

ToryLovell · 16/04/2012 15:36

Marking my place and will c and p weight onto list when not trying to type on a crappy phone keyboard

KnottyLocks · 16/04/2012 15:36

I'm struggling with all the water. I can hear it swooshing around, it's like my stomach is on a hot wash cycle. And it is soooooooo boring! On the plus side, this must be doing wonders for my skin.

Munched so far: scrambled eggs, broc and cheese soup. And I feel full, in fact much as a wildebeest would had it drunk its own body weight in water.

BIWI · 16/04/2012 15:39

AIBU to feel guilty that by setting up this Bootcamp I am contributing to the national drought? Grin

OP posts:
Creamtea1 · 16/04/2012 15:41

(feels like yrs ago when everyone tells you 'baby will be here soon')
Except is a delivery of a different kind!! Lol feel like my man discussing 'movements' !

Roseformeplease · 16/04/2012 15:42

On iPad so can't cut and paste. Please could someone add me. 12stone11 and want to lose a stone but would settle for 2lbs a week. Thanks

Creamtea1 · 16/04/2012 15:42

Meant nan not man!!!

flipflopflap · 16/04/2012 15:47

BettyBathroom It looks far more difficult than it is, honestly once you get into the swing of it you'll realise how easy it is. If you eat Tofu you are totally safe with it, it's very low carb and an amazing source of protein.

It was really difficult to write in the veggie rules exactly how limited you have to be with cheese, nuts and soya because these all affect weight loss in different ways, for example, I know that I don't need to limit cheese too much as I still have a good weight loss when I eat tons of it, yet other people find it may stall them if they eat too much.

BIWI · 16/04/2012 15:48

reallyslowburner - current weight 12st 4lbs
KeepOrfThemCarbs - current weight 10st 8lbs
Thisisformatilda - current weight 13st 8lbs
Schnarkle - current weight 157lbs
GreenEyesandHam - current weight 9st 12lbs
Fourthousandholes - current weight 100
LoopingLizards - current weight 130 lbs
Custardoguiltybyassociation- current weight 9st 7lb
Bettybathroom - current weight 61.7kg
Onthecouch - current weight 182 lbs
MNP - current weight 15st 12lbs
Pistey - current weight 10st 7
cardoon - current weight 10st 12
Renaldo - 78.5 kgs - eventual goal 65 Kgs but 75 in two weeks would be fab
JaxTeller - 14st 13lbs, eventual goal 12 stone.
WillieWaggledagger - current weight 11st 4lb
Moonmother 10st 8 lbs goal 8st 7lbs
NotMostPeople - 12st 0lbs - 11st 7lbs first goal
noddyholder - 9st 9lbs - wants to be 9
MariaCallous - 9st 10 and want to get to 9st.
MariaCallous' DH is 14st 8 and wants to be 14
SharonGless - 13st 4lbs
BIWI - 10st 6lbs - would like to be in the 9s as soon as possible, please!
Wohmum - 10 st 14, aiming to get to 10 eventually. Would live to lose 6lb these 2 weeks
FiddleDeFat - 15st 2lbs
lemniscate - 12st 5lbs, would like to get into the 11s
TherapeuticVino - 12s 1lb, aiming for 10st 7lbs
ilovemyteddy - started at 224.4lb currently 192.6lb target 147lb (not in two weeks though )
ANTagony - 16st 3lb, I'd like to get to 14st by the summer hols (11st ultimately)
ANTagony DH - 17st 6lb, he'd like to get to around 14st as an end game.
Radio Silence - 10st 7 lbs and aiming for 9st 12lbs
Catsmamma- waist 36
MrsNouveauRichards - 10st 2lbs, need to be nearer 9st 7lbs
Teandthorazine - 11st and aiming for 10 st 10 in two weeks. Ultimate goal is 10st.
kandinskysgirl-12.3 wants to be 11.something ASAP (ultimate goal nearer 10stone though)
FaresPlease - 11st on the dot, hoping for 6lbs this fortnight, 2 stone eventually
SeriousWispaHabit - 14st 8 - goal under 14
ShirleyKnot - 12st 2 --and a half
LackaDAILYcarb - 81.5kg. Ultimate Goal is 60kg, eventually!
TheShapeJaper - 9.12 wants to be 9st but 9.7 by end of BC
PorkyandBess 10st 12.5lb
Slotrightin 12st 9lb
Daisychicken 9st 2lb
Knotty 10st 7lb - need to break the 10st barrier
Smokinaces - aims to lose 7lb in a fortnight
Flipflopflap- 10st 13lb Hoping for 6lb during bootcamp, 10st eventually.
elliephant 10st 7lbs - every bit helps
livelongandprosper - 9st 9lbs, goal is 9st 2lbs and reduced carb addiction
mammya - waist 107cm
GettinTrimmer - 12st 9lb aiming to lose 7lb in 2 weeks
creamtea1 - 10 st 7, aiming for 10 st 3 by end of bootcamp. 10 st exactly by end May, 9 stone ultimate goal
Twit - 10 st 10 ultimate 9 st but really just want to get into my trews
Ledkr-current weight 13 stones would love half a stone during bootcamp. Goal is to be back in my lovely pre baby size 14's.
FauxFox - 11st11 want to be 10st.
mummyduff - 10st1lb.
Eviltwin - 9st12lb
Hepsibaaah 140lbs, aiming for to drop 6 lbs in 2 weeks
Blueberryboybait - 14st 9lbs hoping for a 3st loss eventually but half a stone initially would be great.
EatenAllTheEasterEggs - 12st 10 - goal 10st or under
Lovecat - 12st 2 - eventual goal 10st but just to lose half a stone would be wonderful.
Roseforme - 12stone11 and want to lose a stone but would settle for 2lbs a week.

OP posts:
MrsNouveauRichards · 16/04/2012 15:50

I was doing so well, drunk over a litre of water so far, lunch filled me up, but now after a bit of exercise I am craving sugary carbs. I need jam on toast! Treating myself to a cup of tea instead (no sugar)

Is there any substitute for gravy? Bisto is like a million carbs per 100g

BIWI · 16/04/2012 15:51

OMG - there are 61 of us Grin

OP posts:
BIWI · 16/04/2012 15:54

For what meal, MrsNR? If it's a roast, just use the meat juices unthickened.

Here is the recipe for gravy from The Idiot Proof Diet:

oil or fat from a roast
1 medium onion, finely sliced
500ml vegetable or chicken stock
a 2 cm slice of butternut squash, peeled and diced
meat juices from a roast (optional)

  • Heat a tablespoon of oil or fat from a roast in a small saucepan and fry the onion slowly until deep golden brown
  • Add the stock, squash, meat juices and any sticky bits scraped from the roasting tin and bring to the boil
  • Simmer until the squash is tender, then use a hand blender or food processor to blitz until smooth
OP posts:
vnmum · 16/04/2012 16:01

HI, I'm late but I'm in. Busy day so only just had time to get on the thread. Have added myself to list (am also up slightly on weight off other thread due to creamtea's problem Smile)

reallyslowburner - current weight 12st 4lbs
KeepOrfThemCarbs - current weight 10st 8lbs
Thisisformatilda - current weight 13st 8lbs
Schnarkle - current weight 157lbs
GreenEyesandHam - current weight 9st 12lbs
Fourthousandholes - current weight 100
LoopingLizards - current weight 130 lbs
Custardoguiltybyassociation- current weight 9st 7lb
Bettybathroom - current weight 61.7kg
Onthecouch - current weight 182 lbs
MNP - current weight 15st 12lbs
Pistey - current weight 10st 7
cardoon - current weight 10st 12
Renaldo - 78.5 kgs - eventual goal 65 Kgs but 75 in two weeks would be fab
JaxTeller - 14st 13lbs, eventual goal 12 stone.
WillieWaggledagger - current weight 11st 4lb
Moonmother 10st 8 lbs goal 8st 7lbs
NotMostPeople - 12st 0lbs - 11st 7lbs first goal
noddyholder - 9st 9lbs - wants to be 9
MariaCallous - 9st 10 and want to get to 9st.
MariaCallous' DH is 14st 8 and wants to be 14
SharonGless - 13st 4lbs
BIWI - 10st 6lbs - would like to be in the 9s as soon as possible, please!
Wohmum - 10 st 14, aiming to get to 10 eventually. Would live to lose 6lb these 2 weeks
FiddleDeFat - 15st 2lbs
lemniscate - 12st 5lbs, would like to get into the 11s
TherapeuticVino - 12s 1lb, aiming for 10st 7lbs
ilovemyteddy - started at 224.4lb currently 192.6lb target 147lb (not in two weeks though )
ANTagony - 16st 3lb, I'd like to get to 14st by the summer hols (11st ultimately)
ANTagony DH - 17st 6lb, he'd like to get to around 14st as an end game.
Radio Silence - 10st 7 lbs and aiming for 9st 12lbs
Catsmamma- waist 36
MrsNouveauRichards - 10st 2lbs, need to be nearer 9st 7lbs
Teandthorazine - 11st and aiming for 10 st 10 in two weeks. Ultimate goal is 10st.
kandinskysgirl-12.3 wants to be 11.something ASAP (ultimate goal nearer 10stone though)
FaresPlease - 11st on the dot, hoping for 6lbs this fortnight, 2 stone eventually
SeriousWispaHabit - 14st 8 - goal under 14
ShirleyKnot - 12st 2 --and a half
LackaDAILYcarb - 81.5kg. Ultimate Goal is 60kg, eventually!
TheShapeJaper - 9.12 wants to be 9st but 9.7 by end of BC
PorkyandBess 10st 12.5lb
Slotrightin 12st 9lb
Daisychicken 9st 2lb
Knotty 10st 7lb - need to break the 10st barrier
Smokinaces - aims to lose 7lb in a fortnight
Flipflopflap- 10st 13lb Hoping for 6lb during bootcamp, 10st eventually.
elliephant 10st 7lbs - every bit helps
livelongandprosper - 9st 9lbs, goal is 9st 2lbs and reduced carb addiction
mammya - waist 107cm
GettinTrimmer - 12st 9lb aiming to lose 7lb in 2 weeks
creamtea1 - 10 st 7, aiming for 10 st 3 by end of bootcamp. 10 st exactly by end May, 9 stone ultimate goal
Twit - 10 st 10 ultimate 9 st but really just want to get into my trews
Ledkr-current weight 13 stones would love half a stone during bootcamp. Goal is to be back in my lovely pre baby size 14's.
FauxFox - 11st11 want to be 10st.
mummyduff - 10st1lb.
Eviltwin - 9st12lb
Hepsibaaah 140lbs, aiming for to drop 6 lbs in 2 weeks
Blueberryboybait - 14st 9lbs hoping for a 3st loss eventually but half a stone initially would be great.
EatenAllTheEasterEggs - 12st 10 - goal 10st or under
Lovecat - 12st 2 - eventual goal 10st but just to lose half a stone would be wonderful.
Roseforme - 12stone11 and want to lose a stone but would settle for 2lbs a week.
Vnmum - 10st 1 1/2, want to get well into the 9's. Ultimate goal 9st

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