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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:
BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 18:22

This is the 0g carb mayonnaise

Sainsbury's sell it - it is expensive, but also very nice.

This is the one I buy/like It's 2.1g carbs per 100ml

And yes, Hellman's is 1.5g per 100ml - apologies - I must have been thinking about another brand Smile

I know I was trying to buy some mayo in M&S recently, and was shocked by the carb counts when I checked theirs - maybe it was their OL version of Hellman's I was looking at!

2bayumimum in terms of how low/how high, it depends what you're looking at. For veg/salad, I have recommended that you should focus on those that are 3g per 100g - but it doesn't mean you can't eat any that are higher, you just need to be aware that you are eating more carbs.

If you're buying packaged goods, then anything around 3-4g carbs per 100g should be OK - but obviously it depends how much you will be consuming! With something like mayonnaise, for example, you're unlikely to be consuming 100ml in one go! Whereas it would be easy to eat that amount of yoghurt.

And with cheese, I would limit it - partly because it's dairy (and we're trying to minimise that, in case it impedes weight loss), but also because it adds a lot of extra calories. Whilst we're not calorie counting, nor do we want to add lots of unnecessary calories by snacking on cheese. Atkins limits you to 3-4oz/75-100g of cheese per day.

OP posts:
mummyduff · 16/05/2012 18:34

Hi all,

ok today I have been so thirsty again which on week 5 I thought would tail off, I have now had 9 pints of water and still want more Confused

working loads at the moment and because it exam related I dont always get breaks to eat, trying to fit meals in as and when I can.

so today was B:cheese
L:ham and cucumber
D: pork chops, sweede, green bean all dripping in butter
Smile

2bayumimum · 16/05/2012 18:44

Thanks BiWI, brilliant re the mayo and I now know where I am on the low cards too. Plus Ive been way under the limits you've mentioned for cheese ( still in low fat mode I think ) so that's good news too. Thanks for all the great advice, its really helps ! x

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 19:18

My pleasure!

OP posts:
Theeverexpandingrodders · 16/05/2012 19:19

I cant believe im not craving sweet stuff anymore i bought the kids a bag of percy pigs from m&s earlier and havent had one had a sniff of one though i would have eaten a good few by now if this where before !!

MmeLindor. · 16/05/2012 19:24

Checked the mayo that we have - 7.1g per 100g, so a lot higher than the ones you recommended, BIWI. I presume that is because they are low-fat ones.

What about hollandaise - just checked and it has 5.1g carbs per 100g - is that normal or a bit high? I have only been having a teaspoon on my eggs occasionally.

MmeLindor. · 16/05/2012 19:25

Yes, and massive Thanks to BIWI for doing this. Are you going to offer a MN Low Carb Academy Course?

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 19:26
Grin

For £299 a pop, it would be a bargain, don't you think?!

Re the hollandaise - yes it's high. Can you make your own?

OP posts:
BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 19:27

Delia's recipe here - looks easy enough

OP posts:
MmeLindor. · 16/05/2012 19:41

Delia and I are not friends.

I will ask my brother to come down and teach me.

DoUntoOtters · 16/05/2012 19:51

After being good, good, good for 5 weeks, I am suddenly craving toast/bread/crumpets...any refined carbs. Please tell me this is just a blip.

Today I have had:

B: omelette/frittata made with 2 eggs, 2 rashers bacon, mushroom and left over broccoli, cooked in butter.
L: celery sticks with Philadelphia cheese, small handful of walnuts
D: salad of rocket, cucumber, avocado pear and smoked mackerel, dressed with lemon juice and olive oil

Three litres of water (and still drinking) and 3 small, black coffees.

Does this sound OK? Why am I suddenly craving?

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 20:46

That all sounds perfect, DoUntoOtters.

No idea about the cravings, I'm afraid. Are you hungry? If so, have something to eat. Are you Bootcamping or Bootcamp Lite?

OP posts:
DoUntoOtters · 16/05/2012 20:55

Bootcamp Lite, I suppose but not very lite, IYSWIM. I'm still being quite careful with the carbs as I've tried this before and they creep up on me really quickly.

Not hungry, but I want to eat something. Had a bit of a stressful evening with two of my three DCs. Perhaps it's that? I would normally have opened the wine or sent DH to the shop for chocolate.

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 20:58

Do you think you have been using food as an emotional crutch in the past? Refined carbs are, somehow, very cosy/comforting! If you can get through it without giving in, you will feel very much better tomorrow. (As well as smug Grin)

OP posts:
DoUntoOtters · 16/05/2012 21:17

Not so much emotionally, but definitely to cope with tiredness.

Early night for me then. Grin

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 21:17

Night night!

OP posts:
MNP · 16/05/2012 21:29

Evening. When I said pancetta earlier I meant Parma ham, despite having lived in Sicily in the past I still get them mixed up.

This WOE has my eating broccoli and mayo, have yet to try the avocado tho I have bought one.

NigellasGuest · 16/05/2012 21:32

DoUntoOtters - could you be pre-menstrual? Google pre-menstrual food cravings - I did today because I am dreading that time, in a few weeks, when massive sweet/carb cravings will kick in. Apparently 1,000 mg Evening Primrose Oil, 100 mg vitamin B6 and 400 mg magnesium twice a day from 10 days before your period is the way forward! I might try it.

NigellasGuest · 16/05/2012 21:34

And BIWI you were talking earlier about feeling like turning up on other threads and converting people to this WOE - well I am very happy indeed that you did that to my thread! Thanks

NigellasGuest · 16/05/2012 21:35

and Teaandthorazine aswell Thanks

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 21:36
Grin

But you were asking questions and for help! It's a bit different to just pile into another thread and insist that they follow low carbing instead of what they seem quite happy with!

OP posts:
GreenEyesAndHam · 16/05/2012 21:41

Evening all

B- slices of ham and a nibble of cheddar
L- slice of turkey and some broccoli soup
T- beef stew with swede mash and kale

BIWItheBold · 16/05/2012 21:42

Evening!

OP posts:
2bayumimum · 16/05/2012 21:46

Mme Lindor, the classic Hellmans Mayo isn't low fat, it's the original full fat version and 1.5g carbs per 100g so perfect for this Woe :-) and tastes fab !

NigellasGuest · 16/05/2012 21:48

Breakfast: boiled egg and mayo (Hellman's)
mid morning: olives, garlic, feta cheese in oil (apertina snack pot thing - carbs are zero)
Lunch: tinned mackerel, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, mayo, olive oil
mid afternoon: not so good - a small pot of yogurt. but it was full fat plain Yeo.
Dinner: have not yet eaten, not hungry.. I suppose I'd better find something!