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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:
MmeLindor. · 16/05/2012 11:20

XP BIWI. That is good.

I reckoned that the slight risk of something being in the vinaigrette was negated by the resistance to the chips :)

MNP · 16/05/2012 12:33

Morning

I got some coconut oil and coconut flour from Holland and Barrett, ouch at cost but no Asian supermarkets nearby.

B:water, meds
L:water, salmon wrapped in panchetta and asparagus in butter
D:water, cod wrapped in pancetta with broccoli in butter

Why oh why do the add colourings to supplements, I take a B complex three times a week and it is soo yellow so is morning widely and as for #2's they look hazardous ;)

MNP · 16/05/2012 12:34

Morning

I got some coconut oil and coconut flour from Holland and Barrett, ouch at cost but no Asian supermarkets nearby.

B:water, meds
L:water, salmon wrapped in panchetta and asparagus in butter
D:water, cod wrapped in pancetta with broccoli in butter

Why oh why do they add colourings to supplements, I take a B complex three times a week and it is soo yellow, so is morning widdle and as for #2's they look positively hazardous ;)

MNP · 16/05/2012 12:34

Oops

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 12:40

It's the vitamin B that's doing that - not any added colour!

A couple of observations - pancetta is a processed, very salty meat - having it for two meals in one day is a bit much!

And why no breakfast?

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 16/05/2012 13:14

Am back to getting cramp in my calf muscles at night. I no likey, what should I be taking again?

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 13:25

Potassium, magnesium, calcium - and salt
If you're drinking a lot of water, you can also need a bit more salt.

OP posts:
QueenStromba · 16/05/2012 13:39

I take some of this electrolyte powder when I get a bit crampy or just feel like I'm lacking a bit in salt. You know the feeling when sometimes drinking water doesn't make you feel any less dehydrated? That's lack of salt. I usually take it once or twice a week with one of those fizzy vitamin C and zinc tablets.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 16/05/2012 13:44

I really am sloshing, and I do get that feeling of being thirsty too which always seems bonkers.

I just hate that feeling when you stretch out in bed and it starts to go into cramp.

I need to find some supplements or electrolyte stuff.

Lunchtime though now which is a happy thought!

teaandthorazine · 16/05/2012 13:49

B - protein shake with flax, vits, water
L - 3 eggs, scrambled with butter and cream, smoked salmon, cucumber, water
D - will be bacon cheeseburgers with coleslaw and salad for me; dp and ds will have theirs with buns! And, of course, more water.

Maybe a glass of red wine and a bit of dark choc tonight, but only if I really feel like it.

I simply cannot understand why people persist in eating low-fat, low-cal when this WOE exists!

teaandthorazine · 16/05/2012 13:51

And thanks for the suggestions re: coconut oil, will search it out. Asked in Waitrose this morning but it was a no, just about 75 different types of extra virgin olive oil!

Jacaqueen · 16/05/2012 13:57

Just had lunch of chicken and bacon salad with mayo and a little tiny bit of sundried tomato.

I had breakfast (eggs and butter) at 8am and I wasn't even that hungry when I ate at 1.30.

Dinner will be pan fried salmon with roast broccoli.

Not being hungry is one of the best things about this.

MNP · 16/05/2012 14:10

Tis only 1 slice each time instead of 2 like I normally would use.

Tummy whirling and water refluxing hence no brekkie.

Added a few strips of yellow pepper to lunch s needed eating up and a little our cream as salmon cooked a little to long.

Thegoddessblossom · 16/05/2012 14:23

Lunch: 3 egg omelette with mushrooms (obviously) and smoked salmon, and a mountain of curly Kale.

Snack: pepperami

1.5 litres water so far.

MmeLindor. · 16/05/2012 15:50

Coleslaw and mayo - is that for after the two weeks? I looked at mayo, but it quite a lot of carbs.

Olives are good for bootcamp? I love olives.

MsRinky · 16/05/2012 16:07

Mayo varies but you can easily buy stuff with hardly any carbs at all - it is after all essentially egg yolks and oil. Olives are fine.

I make my own coleslaw - no carrots. Usually use cabbage, celery, shallots. Occasionally a bit of green pepper.

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 16:13

Sainsbury's French Mayo is reasonably low in carbs. They also sell a brand (can't remember the name, sorry) which is virtually zero carbs. Hellman's is higher, and M&S ones are shockingly carby.

Or you could make your own - it's really easy!

OP posts:
vnmum · 16/05/2012 16:25

Had an issue with DS school today. We are trying to move both DC onto a lower carb woe, especially reducing processed stuff and grains. Anyway, DS normally takes in a 'trail mix' cereal bar for a snack. This has been allowed with no comments made. Fruit, fruit flakes etc are also acceptable. Today DH sent DS in with a pack of fridge raiders as a snack. I know they are processed but there is not a long list of unpronouncable ingredients. He was told by his teacher that he couldn't eat them as they were not healthy. Per 60g portion, they have 133 kcal, 12.9g protein, 2.9g carb and 7.7g fat. The cereal bar (which the school deem healthy enough to have) has per 30g bar, 123kcal, 2.1g protein, 3.4g fat and 20.1g carb! sugar in some form or other is mentioned 6 times in the ingredients list.

DH wants to take both packets in tomorrow and explain which is healthier, I want to give them a copy of Taubes to educate them but I have a feeling we would be flogging a dead horse, especially when you look at the typical 'balanced' school lunches thery serve (pizza with wedges, cottage pie with wedges followed by cookies or sponge and custard).

The typical low fat, high carb mentality strikes again and we are getting quite frustrated. grr

sorry, rant over

Theeverexpandingrodders · 16/05/2012 16:37

My head is really sore today think its because i havent had as much water as normal so now working my way a 2 litre bottle hopefully will have another litre after .

B: 2 boiled eggs
L: I was on the run so had some chicken and coffee with double cream
d: I will be having a lamb chop some king prawns in butter and garlic with salad and also roasted veg in butter

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 16:38

I know! I was reading another thread earlier, where women are talking about 'cutting down' and calorie counting - but all being hungry and eating really carby stuff - e.g. 2 bananas as a snack after breakfast.

I really, really wanted to pounce on them and drag them over here! But I restrained myself.

Having read Briffa and Taubes, I feel like I'm seeing things through totally new eyes. This despite having been low carbing for years!

OP posts:
LittleFrieda · 16/05/2012 17:27

I keep having the same lunch. Half and avocado with a little dinky pot of M&S prawns and mayonnaise (have checked its carb content and it's v v low). It makes a lovely lunch.

Thegoddessblossom · 16/05/2012 17:32

LF - I think I am just a pig. I'd need to eat at least 2 of those to be full.... Sad

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 17:32

Yum!

Just don't get bored - variety is also important to keep you on track.

OP posts:
2bayumimum · 16/05/2012 17:36

Sorry for a very basic question, but what counts as low carbs, anything under 3g per 100g maybe ? Im a bit concerned about your comment BIWI about Hellman's Mayo being High Carbs, as just bought a large jar of it ! Checked and its 1.5g per 100g....is that OK ? Also with regards to cheese, how much is it ok to eat on the 2 week bootcamp ? Am really limiting cheese currently, but wondering if I could actually be allowed more....? Reckon you should start charging us all soon BiWi for your consultations :-)

teaandthorazine · 16/05/2012 17:49

Hellmann's is fine, don't worry. There are some mayos that are lower in carbs but I love Hellmann's. Just don't eat spoonfuls of it straight out of the jar Grin

Am soooo with you on the irritation re: low-fat, low-cal atm. So many threads on here just make me want to barge in shout 'Oi, step AWAY from the low-fat yoghurts and muesli!'

But I don't (generally speaking...)

Schoolwise- they have it all wrong, don't they? Was slightly heartened by ds coming home today to tell me that one of his classmates gets cheese wrapped in parma ham for lunch - ds liked the idea so that's what he's having tomorrow! But they get sweets as a reward for doing well in class... drives me mad. It's not that I'm against sweets per se (part of every childhood imo) but I'd prefer they're not given as a reward! Don't even get me started on 'healthy' lunchbox rules... GRRRRRRR.