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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.

Two Week Low Carb Bootcamp Bonanza Challenge! All welcome.

969 replies

BIWI · 16/07/2012 08:11

For those of us who have been here since the beginning, these are the last two weeks. And it seems like a good idea to finish with a couple of strict weeks, seeing as there has been a fair amount of slippage!

For anyone who wants to join - you are more than welcome! These two weeks will get you off to a great start if you are wanting to lose some weight.

So. Who wants to sign up for two weeks of strict Bootcamp? If you want to join/continue, put your name on the list and we can see who is there. We have a fabulous Spreadsheet of Marvellousness to track weight/weight loss, which I will also post a link to.

Here are the rules - for carnivores and then the veggie version:

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

Allowed veg

Don?t eat any veg unless it?s on this list, and try and focus on eating those that are under 3g carbs per 100g:

Veg (raw)Carbs per 100g
Mushrooms0.4
Watercress0.4
Spinach0.8
Celery0.9
Broccoli1.1
Asparagus 1.4
Cucumber1.5
Lettuce1.7
Fennel1.8
Courgettes1.8
Cauliflower1.9
Avocado flesh1.9
Turnip2
Pumpkin2.2
Runner beans2.3
Swede2.3
Celeriac2.3
Bean sprouts2.5
Green pepper2.6
Baby sweetcorn2.7 (there is some debate about this - carb counts seem to vary according to variety and where you buy from - check the packet to be sure)
Aubergine2.8
Leeks2.9
Okra3
Tomato3.1
Mangetout3.3
Shallots3.3
Brussels sprouts3.5
French beans4.7
Cabbage5
Yellow pepper5.3
Carrots6
Orange or red pepper6.4
Ginger (peeled)7.2
Butternut squash7.5
Onions7.9

Veggie Rules

Only slightly adapted from BIWI's but best to take notice of the changes if you're vegetarian.

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 ingredients as the basis for your meals. Vegetarian Sausages and Burgers are ok in small quantities, but check the carb count as some can be very high. Avoid foods marketed as 'Low Carb' such as Atkins Daybreak Bars, etc.

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). Absolutely no low fat/light foods of any kind!

4.Make sure you are eating plenty of vegetables and salads with your food ?
This is where most of 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.Beware of Nuts and Seeds.
Nuts are a very good way to include more fat and protein in your diet, however some are very high carb (e.g. Cashews). Stick to small amounts of Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Dried Coconut, Walnuts, Seeds and Peanut Butter, but check the ingredients, many supermarket brands have sugar added.

10.No sugar or artificial sweeteners

OP posts:
teaandthorazine · 18/07/2012 22:05

That means no rice, no bread, no pasta, no potatoes, no couscous, no lentils, no porridge, no couscous... did I mention no couscous? Grin

You're going to be eating:
meat
fish
eggs
dairy products (cheese, cream, butter)
veg veg veg (see the allowed list
and full-fat greek yog seems to have gained acceptance on bootcamp too!

It is delicious but it's probably very different to any weight-loss thingy you've done before (I'm making assumptions here). Please please read the rules, and then feel free to ask any questions you want!

emmak86 · 18/07/2012 22:12

Blimey!
This is going to be tough! No bread/pasta/COUS COUS/lentils!
I hope this low carb book arrives quick.. Im defo going to be needing ideas!
Still.. Its a challenge!
Em x

emmak86 · 18/07/2012 22:15

Carrot and swede mash or roasted butternut squash? That sounds yummy instead of pasta or potatoes??? X

BIWI · 18/07/2012 22:16

Be very careful with the carrot - it can quickly get very carby.

Have you looked at the list of allowed veg?!

You are much better off focussing on green, leafy veg and salad to start with, as this will keep your carbs low. To replace potatoes, try celeriac - it makes a lovely mash.

OP posts:
emmak86 · 18/07/2012 22:22

Ooo ok ill give the celeriac a go!
I love my greens so thats a bonus! I love any veg other than brussels :)
Em x

BIWI · 18/07/2012 22:24

Oh no. I love sprouts! Baby ones, with lots of butter. What's not to love?! Grin

OP posts:
emmak86 · 18/07/2012 22:29

yuck x

SharonGless · 18/07/2012 22:36

Em if you like greens - cabbage and leeks fried in butter is yummy

You can have fry ups with sausage, bacon, egg and mushrooms ( just to every day as processed meats)

SharonGless · 18/07/2012 22:39

toysoldiers I'm not American but the rest of it is pretty accurate - including the alcohol!

LeB0F · 18/07/2012 22:41

Where is this list, please? And the recipe thread?

emmak86 · 18/07/2012 22:42

Sharon both the fry up and leeks and cabbage medley sounds very yummy :) so surpriised a fry up is allowed! X

MissPricklePants · 18/07/2012 22:46

I want to join, have to up my b12 intake and reduce carbs! I have a question though, I work for Mcds, we have nowhere to store or cook our own food so would I be ok having a grilled chicken salad and a bottle of water?? Whats the stance on salad dressings??

SharonGless · 18/07/2012 22:48

Recipe thread here

SharonGless · 18/07/2012 22:49

List of allowed /recommended veg at top of this thread in BIWI rules (which ate guidelines really but don't tell her that)

MissPricklePants · 18/07/2012 22:51

Oooops skim read the rules too quick! Will check out that recipe thread too, thanks Sharon.

SharonGless · 18/07/2012 22:54

Miss prickepants-salad dressings good if full fat but watch out for hidden sugars.

Is that legal that they don't provide anywhere to store your own food?

MissPricklePants · 18/07/2012 22:56

I have no idea if its legal but we can't use the walk in chiller/freezer for cross contamination issues. We have no where to cook or heat things up either, for the same reasons. Its so frustrating because if I'm working 8-9 hours and don't get a break until the last 2 hours of my shift then food will be festering in my locker for 6-7 hours! Will keep my eye out on salad dressings!

SharonGless · 18/07/2012 23:01

interesting
They do have to provide somewhere to heat food although it doesn't mention storage, it does somewhere that food wont be contaminated

mummyduff · 18/07/2012 23:17

Hi Emma great to see you here and welcome PricklePantsSmile

Just finished my 3rd litre of water and my headache has completely cleared up. Emma I tend to have boiled eggs in the morning just for ease.

OHforDUCKScake · 19/07/2012 07:48

MORNING!!

Hope youre all well! Im back with a few questions again if thats ok

First of all, what was everyones weight loss in week 1,2 and 3? Out if interest, if thats ok to ask.

Also is corn on the cob not allowed? I had that last night, I assumed it was ok?? I think it must not be its not on the list.

If low carb is what Im concentrating on (successfully so far). Why is lack of fruit so important? Ive struggled and failed the last 2 days on this. I love fruit so much Im struggling to not eat it.
Can I still lose weight low carbing and eating fruit?
My main concern was my mood swings at PMT time, if I low carb but eat fruit could it still help?

Im about to do one of two things, whatever happens the carbs are gone. But come Monday Im either going to break away from here and do low carbing with fruit, or I'll start again with this diet - depending on what the deal is with the no fruit rule, because I dont understand about that.

Thanks!

Oh, I lost 4lb week 1, this week gained 1lb and staying there. Very annoying.

Fourfingerkitkat · 19/07/2012 07:50

Mmmm am determined to give this a go but will have to adapt a fair bit as I don't eat red meat or chicken/pork. Eat fish occasionally when we can afford it ! So I'll be doing the veggie version me thinks. With regards to dairy, I cut it out of my diet about two years ago and really don't want to include it again if at all possible (my acne cleared up brilliantly, so would rather be chubby with clear skin than skinny with massive cysts on my chin !) Is Soya milk considered the devil's semen on the low card woe ?

Fourfingerkitkat · 19/07/2012 07:55

OHforDUCKScake ...am not an expert but I think it's to do with the fructose in fruit...at the end of the day it's still a sugar. Know what you mean though....I salivate at the thought of a bowl of strawberries almost as much as I do with a family size bag of maltesers !

MrsCampbellBlack · 19/07/2012 08:09

Yeay seem to have lost 1lb but have fluctuated by a lb for the last 3 weeks. Bizarrely I had a bad weekend food wise and my weight was the same on Monday but went up on Tuesday so the over indulgence took 2 days to show despite me being super good on the Monday. I guess this is why one shouldn't weigh every day.

So another 7lbs to go - well 5lbs and I'd be happy really.

My absolute favourite thing to eat at the moment is roasted fennel with whatever meat I'm having.

I fancy making chicken tikka - does anyone know of a good recipe/marinade I could use?

I've had to stop with the dark chocolate as I just can not stop at one square [addictive]

MrsHerculePoirot · 19/07/2012 08:16

I had been doing so well then our end of season netball match, we won, had a good dinner (salad at pizza express and NO dough stuff of any kind!). However did have a ridiculous amount small bit of alcohol and then stayed out dancing until 230 am. I was however back down to 16 st and a quarter, that clearly won't last now though!!!

mummyduff · 19/07/2012 08:20

Morning all and well done MCB, I have lost another 1lb this morning so thats 4lb so far this week, its like the 1st week all over againGrin

ohforduckscake my loosses were:

8lb week 1
1lb week2
1lb week 3

re fruit its all to do with how much sugar is in it, so for bootcamp its out! Wink

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