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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.

Bootcamp Week 5 - Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Staying Alive - chat here!

419 replies

BIWItheBold · 13/05/2012 10:26

Welcome to week 5 - how time flies when you're having fun!

Those of us who have been here since the beginning may be finding the going tough now. You may have found that your weight loss has stopped, or you may even have put weight on

But hopefully you will also be enjoying the food now, and settling into this as a new way of eating. You may also have discovered the other benefits of low carbing - not being hungry, having better skin, sleeping better, fewer problems with conditions such as IBS or even asthma, fewer hot flushes (for those of us of a certain age Grin) etc.

A month in, whilst you should be more used to eating like this, you will also have discovered that it's not always possible to follow a strict low carb plan because Real Life has an irritating habit of getting in the way.

But that's an important lesson for us all to learn. There are two key things here:

First, it demonstrates very clearly that you have to plan what food you buy and how you're going to eat. For example, I do quite a bit of travelling for work - going to meetings by train all over the country and sometimes abroad. If I don't plan my meals, then I will end up eating something like a sandwich because that's all that is available. I went to a meeting on Friday where the client very kindly suggested that she order lunch for us. I knew that if I didn't say I was low carbing, then we would sit down to a plate of sandwiches. It feels awkward to have to ask for special food. But - if you had a medical condition that meant you couldn't eat wheat, there would be no issue with such a request, would there?

Dieting is often seen as a trivial issue, and we think it's silly to have to ask for special/different food. But think of the impact/implications of being overweight. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc etc. None of these is trivial.

So in these situations, plan ahead and ask for something that suits you.

If you're travelling - eat properly before you set off. Get to know what shops are available at any station you're travelling through - there are an increasing number of M&S Food shops at railway stations and service stations, where you can always buy cooked meats/fish, small portions of cheese and salads (there are one or two without pasta/rice/noodles/potatoes!)

Second, despite your best efforts, sometimes life seems determined to sabotage things. Even if you ask people to cater for you, few people really understand what a low carb diet is. This has happened to me twice since Friday! My client very kindly ordered me a salad for my lunch. I was provided with a bowl of lettuce - with no dressing. Presumably whoever made it was thinking "this person is on a diet, therefore it must have to be fat-free". On top of the lettuce was sweetcorn (one of the carbiest veg there is), a dollop of coleslaw - presumably with sugar in it, like most is - a huge mound of grated carrot, some sliced cooked chicken, cucumber and tomato.

At least I could eat the chicken! But it was very dry and so to make it palatable, easy to eat, I ended up eating more of the coleslaw than I intended. I also was in the embarrassing situation of having to leave a lot of the lunch that I had specially ordered.

And last night, at dinner with friends, I had again plucked up courage to tell them of my low carbing. Despite being reassured that the meal would be low carb-friendly, it was anything but. And it was (mostly) served plated up, so to not eat it was to have been very rude. And it was delicious, and I was hungry ... Smile

But this is life. We have to get through these kind of occasions and accept that they may throw us off course briefly, but that this is a longer term process we are involved in. To use a horrible cliche, we are all on a journey here.

So if it happens to you - just accept it. Don't obsess about it. Avoid the scales for a while, and make sure you are super good for the following days. Don't use it as an excuse to jump off the wagon, for that way, surely, fatness lies!

Come and tell me how you're all getting along. How has life changed for you since we set off on this journey?!

OP posts:
Shimbo · 17/05/2012 20:32

Also can I ask is there any other alternatives for breakfast apart from eggs, which I am a bit sick of on day 3, or yoghurt?

smokinaces · 17/05/2012 20:37

Bacon and mushrooms?

Or change your eggs around. scramble them with tomatoes in them. Omlette with courgette and shallots.

Or cheese and meats ala Europe if you're ok with dairy.

BIWItheBold · 17/05/2012 21:48

Welcome, Shimbo!

That awful taste in your mouth is a good sign, as it means you're in ketosis - so your body has switched to fat burning mode. Drink plenty of water and that will deal with it.

But almonds and dark chocolate are NOT ALLOWED on Bootcamp! Seriously - you really need to leave these out for the first two weeks.

Re breakfast - there are loads of things you can eat. And don't think of breakfast as a 'special' meal that needs 'special' food - you can eat anything you like! Leftovers from dinner the night before are good. Or think continental - slices of meat/fish - something like smoked salmon is lovely. You can have yoghurt, but make sure it's full fat, and keep an eye on quantities as it's easy to overdo the carbs here.

Once you've finished the two weeks of Bootcamp, you can start eating some fruit, so you could have berries for breakfast.

OP posts:
Shimbo · 17/05/2012 21:53

Thanks BIWI, I will stop the almonds and dark choc! Do you know how long the horrible mouth taste will last for?

Creamtea1 · 17/05/2012 21:55

Just checking in post dinner. Pork belly and cabbage/leeks. And a coffee after. Should really go to the gym tomorrow!

BIWItheBold · 17/05/2012 21:59
Grin

(It's my job to shout at you, by the way)

I don't know how long it will last, to be honest - but as Bootcamp is the 2 weeks of lowest carbs, it should resolve itself after that, when you increase your carbs a bit.

Make sure you really do drink plenty of water, as that is one of the big thins that will help you.

Have you seen the weigh-in thread to put your weight in? Or are you going to wait until Monday, which is the next official weigh-in day?

OP posts:
heartstart · 17/05/2012 22:11

Please will someone critique my intake today

B 2 boiled eggs tea and water
L mattesons sausage and tomatoes 4 Cherry
D Thai green curry leeks and courgette
Raspberries and total ff yoghurt

3.5l water

Creamtea1 · 17/05/2012 22:47

Heartstart - looks ok, but maybe need to add more salad and less tomatoes at lunch. Plus chicken or other meat may be better than the sausage (probably processed). Also easy on the yog if you're doing bootcamp.
And don't forget your water! :)

BIWItheBold · 17/05/2012 22:50

Are you doing Bootcamp or Bootcamp Light? Raspberries are OK for the latter but not the former.

Looks OK, but difficult to comment on the curry without knowing what the ingredients were.

But not bad really - and good on the water!

OP posts:
Windandsand · 18/05/2012 03:34

Am do thick I am scaring myself... Have only just realised the bootcamp thing at the top of the thread, where are the rules? And had no idea this is a weigh in thread. Sorry ladies have not been doing this properly and I had some Brie last night. :(

teaandthorazine · 18/05/2012 07:32

windandsand - you're allowed Brie, even on bootcamp! Just keep it to small amounts and see how you go as dairy products can slow down weight loss for some. Cheese is one of the great joys of this WOE!

Have a good look at the rules (link below) and don't panic - it's easy once you get going Smile.

BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 09:12

.... or link above, depending on which version of MN you're using!

Welcome windandsand. You'll get the hang of it quickly enough. Smile

And this is the chat thread - you are in the right place!!!

OP posts:
heartstart · 18/05/2012 09:52

Thanks curry was as per recipe thread.

Am doing bc light

Need to reduce dairy a bit

WillieWaggledagger · 18/05/2012 10:08

having people over for lunch next weekend. for pudding am planning to do this but with sweetener instead of sugar - it doesn't need much as it's quite a tart pudding anyway. i know it's not ideal for bootcamp but i do want to serve a pudding, what do you think biwi?

Theeverexpandingrodders · 18/05/2012 10:20

this morning is the first morning ive actually been hungrey just had 2 boiled eggs beaten up in a cup with tomatoes and lots of butter and my morning coffee with cream :)

BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 10:34

Willie, that looks absolutely stunning. I would think that although it's not ideal in Bootcamp, a little piece of that would be OK. Desserts are a nightmare at this stage! I'd just go for it - but make sure you've kept your carbs really low the day or so before, and keep them low the following day - as well as drinking plenty of water.

OP posts:
BettyBathroom · 18/05/2012 10:38

For pudding why don't you serve home made truffles with cream.

The jelly is too subtle for sweeteners it will taste awful. I make truffles for the dcs now, I put orange oil in them and they are lovely and they are low carb as I use 85%choc and no sugar or sweeteners. But if you find dark choc a little challenging then add a bit of sweetener.

BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 10:39

The point about sweeteners is a valid one actually - have you tried making this dessert before with the sweeteners?

OP posts:
vnmum · 18/05/2012 10:49

I have my parents coming down this weekend. My DF is type 2 diabetic so I asked my DM what he eats so I could get it in and she said the following:

Honey mini shredded wheat with milk for breakfast
sandwich for lunch with flora on it, no butter (her words as apparently needs to be polyunsaturated)
then pasta or risotto or something with potatoes for tea.
snacks are crisps
Shock

I did say that new research has shown that the advice for diabetics has been wrong and that they should do low carb but as soon as I said eat fat I got "FAT!". I feel I am fighting a losing battle as he is just following the advice from doctor.
I know he would be much healthier and lower his risk of complications if he cut the carbs. I may have to send them home with Taubes in the hope they read it

BIWItheBold · 18/05/2012 10:51

I find this the most shocking - that diabetics are advised to eat high carbohydrate diets. (My dad is a type 2 diabetic, so I'm very familiar with this!)

OP posts:
BettyBathroom · 18/05/2012 10:55

I feel you pain Vnmum my DF has Type II - it seems to me that the drugs companies are winning. They are getting richer and richer and people are getting sicker and sicker. My DF is 80 now and has got to the point where he doesn't want to change things - taking drugs is much easier Sad

teaandthorazine · 18/05/2012 10:59

Well, have just had my first spoonful of coconut oil...interesting! Very weird sensation to be eating pure fat by the spoonful (even for a fat-o-phile like me) but I quite liked it. Put a bit in my coffee, unsurprisingly it formed tiny globs of fat on top but tastes fine. Very mild coconut taste and smell. Can't wait to try cooking with it. Am totally sold on the fat thing - have used nothing but jojoba oil to clean my face with for about two years now and love it. Fat works!

And also bought magnesium and vit D - think I might be turning into a health nut Wink

WillieWaggledagger · 18/05/2012 11:03

yes, i had thought i would need to experiment with sweeteners to get the right amount, but if it will taste awful... sweeteners are so distinctive aren't they?

good idea betty, though sadly can't do truffles as chocolate triggers migraines for my mum

hmm might just do berry-heavy fruit salad and cream in that case (and surreptitiously pick out the carbier fruit when i serve myself!)

BettyBathroom · 18/05/2012 11:03

Tell us more about the coconut oil - where do we buy it? Can we cook at high temps with it or does that destroy all the good stuff - I love this way of eating....makes me feel like I'm a defiant teenager again - Gov health advice sucks! Wink

Agree with Oil as a moisturiser, it's fab - might progress onto cleansing too!

teaandthorazine · 18/05/2012 11:04

vnmum - that menu is Shock isn't it? Honey shredded wheat and crisps! Wow. I hope they do read Taubes, but it's so hard to change faith in 'expert' medical opinion, isn't it? Just out of interest, do you know if your dad's diabetes has improved over the years or worsened?

I work with lots of women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and the menu plans/dietary advice they're given is appalling. Carbs, carbs, carbs. I try to gently steer them in a more sensible direction but am worried about being seen to be in opposition to the advice they get from their dieticians, obstetricians and 'specialist' midwives. It's a very fine line.