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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:
vnmum · 19/07/2012 16:09

toysoldiers If it is carb flu it will feel really bad if your previous diet was very carb heavy. Try to get some electrolytes (no carb ones from sports/cycle shops or tesco sometimes but read the nutritional info) or if you can't get them get some stock/bovril down you just incase all the water has flushed out your electrolytes.
Also eat if you are hungry and eat lots of fat! I read on another forum about people complaining about headaches etc when first starting and everyone was advising them to eat loads of fat, they were then replying that they had and it had worked. Makes sense really as your brain will need the ketones as it switches from glucose power to fat powered.

prof Eating only seasonal fruit and in concentrated periods then nothing for a bit is a very Paleo way of eating. It is how our ancestors would have eaten and probably the best approach.

I might pop off to Lidl in a bit, They have kangaroo steaks on offer at the moment, £3.99 for 300g. Not the cheapest meat but not bad for something different Smile

mummyduff · 19/07/2012 16:09

Lunch - cheese omelette and salad
Dinner - will be pork chops, cabbage & brussels(fancied since BIWI mentioned them) both with butter Smile

obrigada · 19/07/2012 17:02

It's been a long time since I had Boursin but am definitely going to try some with boiled eggs in the morning, almost can't wait to wake up (and bedtime not for a few hours yet Grin)

Jins · 19/07/2012 17:23

toysoldiers I agree with everyone else that you will probably get a hefty dose of carb flu if you were a big carb eater before but I do think that a temperature means that you aren't well.

It doesn't last long though so try to stick with it. There's some good advice above. Fluids, salt, plenty of fat and make yourself a nice cup of coffee.

emmak86 · 19/07/2012 17:38

Dinner was lush tonight:

Half a stuffed yellow pepper with a chicken breast :)

Getting into this healthy eating its all ive been thinking about the last two days.. Anyone else find it takes over ur brain? Lols

Em x

teaandthorazine · 19/07/2012 17:41

Sounds delicious Emma, please don't say it was stuffed with rice though? Grin

It does take over a bit, definitely - and then after a while it's second nature!

BIWI · 19/07/2012 17:42

Rushing in before I rush out again ...

toysoldiers - I never suffered from carb withdrawal - but I had a massive withdrawal issue with caffeine.

Like others have said, if you have a temperature, it's probably something viral. however:

  • have a cup of coffee
  • eat something carby, like a piece of wholemeal toast

if you feel better after those, then you will know it's the withdrawal. If you don't, then it's something else.

And now, I'm rushing out to a 50th birthday dinner, where there will be if I have anything to do with it Champagne ...

OP posts:
sybilfaulty · 19/07/2012 18:48

ENjoy the champagne, BIWI!

Lovelyl antipasti today for lunch - though I had one bite of toast and pate as too delicious to pass up altogether - and husband out tonight so Sex and City avec pork scratching for me. Not quite a cosmopolitan but hey!

BettySuarez · 19/07/2012 19:21

toysoldiers the symptoms that you have described are exactly the same as the symptoms that I experienced in week 3/4 including the high temp/flushes.

I didn't know whether I was low in salt or low in iron or maybe I wasn't actually drinking enough water but I felt so rough that I had to stop low carbing. I do feel better and now don't know whether to start low carbing again and see if it reoccurs or what?

I have noticed that Dr John Briffa has a Facebook page and he seems to be quite pro-active in answering people queries so I am wondering whether to message him through there to see whether he can shed any light on it.

Judging by these threads, we are in the minority because most people are managing without experiencing these symptoms (thank goodness!) but it would be very helpful to know where we might be going wrong.

If I pluck up the courage to post a message on there, I will let you know.

Just out of interest, how many weeks have you been low carbing?

SharonGless · 19/07/2012 19:39

Betty
He was fab when he did the MN webchat and even came back on and answered my question the following day!!

He has his own website and blog and seems to answer lots of questions on there

Roseformeplease · 19/07/2012 19:42

Forced through circumstances into a baked sweet potato today. Damage? Can anyone help?

BettySuarez · 19/07/2012 19:48

Thanks sharon he does indeed sound lovely. I have left him a very long message though so god knows if he will see it or have the time to reply. I will let you know if I hear anything Smile

captainmummy · 19/07/2012 20:10

I didn't get carb-flu,but I wasn't doing it properly and was still having porridge withg soya milk in the mornings, then low-carb the rest of the day. (I waas a really big carb-eater!) In spite of this i still lost 2kgs in 3weeks. Been low-carbing properly for about 3 more weeks, not lost a lot since then tho; have been really good today!
B - 2 egg omelette with mushrooms in butter
L - half mashed avo with chili, 2 eggs with mayo, little gems lettuce to scoop it all up in, 2 celery sticks with pate.
S - handful brazil nuts
D - cauli rice with leeks cooked in cream and butter.

Sounds ok I think? Not hungry now at all!

SingingTunelessly · 19/07/2012 20:29

BIWI enjoy night out. If you have lots of champagne I might catch up with you on the scales. Shock. . Grin

Toysoldiers really hope you're feeling better. How odd Betty that you had a high temperature as well. Hopefully the lovely Dr Briffa has an answer.

Just had chicken roasted with lemon, olive oil and salt, buttered cabbage and courgettes with mushrooms in cream. Delicious. Breakfast was a hard boiled egg with coffee. Babybel and some celery and cucumber for snack and three litres of water throughout the day. I just don't get properly 'need a meal hungry' until dinnertime these days. I'll say it again, I LOVE this woe!

Whippoorwhill · 19/07/2012 20:36

Urgh, turns out the chicken soup my Dad gave me at lunchtime not only had potato and carrot in it but also had Oxo's and was thickened with flour. I'm now doubled over with tummy cramps and am expecting diarrhea any minute.

My Mum is very poorly and Dad can't drive at the moment and it was by way of a thank you for all the running around, shopping and hospital appointments I've done so couldn't really turn it down gracefully. Chicken soup sounded like quite a safe option. Too much gluten for my poor tummy now though. :(

mummyduff · 19/07/2012 20:42

Whippoorwhill - so sorry your mum is poorly at the moment x

BIWI enjoy your night and bubblyGrin

toysoldiers · 19/07/2012 21:00

Whip, that sounds a rough day Sad

I felt so awful mid afternoon I threw everything at it. I had a cup of vegetable bouillon (I read somewhere it might be lack of salt), some Paracetemol. Then I took dS to a cafe for his tea and there was nothing to eat so I had large latte (realise this is all too much dairy but it was that or Victoria sponge Wink). I also bought some fybogel for the constipation which I'm hoping is the cause of the back ache. The only other option is kidney infection Sad

Then fell off the wagon a little at teatime. Lamb, spring greens, but then a few spoons of lentils with yoghurt.

How bad are lentils (in my head I think they're protein Blush).

But I definitely feel better so think it definitely was the carbs.

I'm going to stick with it and hopefully the lentils weren't too bad.

Slight problem - I'm going out for drinks and curry tomorrow. What can I drink? Presumably even diet coke is out.

What is the best curry option (no naan obviously)?

ZZZenAgain · 19/07/2012 21:01

haven't had any signs of carb flu but when I gave up caffeine, that was pretty horrendous - headaches, muscle pain, tremours etc

I wonder if carb flu is the normal reaction to changing your diet this way or if it indicates some kind of underlying health issue. Does anyone know how common these carb/sugar withdrawal symptoms are? I ate a lot of carbs before and I have not had these symptoms at all

ZZZenAgain · 19/07/2012 21:02

glad you are feeling a bit better now toysoldier, hope you can sort it out

Lorelilee · 19/07/2012 21:07

Well done Tuneless!.

The major drawback to all of this? The many visits to the 'wee room' (especially during the night - grrr).

SingingTunelessly · 19/07/2012 21:20

Ooh whip that sounds nasty. Hope it doesn't last too long.

zzz I had carb flu which lasted about 48hrs and was a horrible feeling which seems fairly standard, but definitely no high temp with it.

lorililee Grin are you better now? Agree about about wandering to the loo a zillion times a night. I seem to be able to manage it with eyes still closed. It's such a routine I barely notice.

Finbar · 19/07/2012 21:27

oh poo am stuck at 4lbs lost! Great in first week - not moved since.
Not sure what I'm doing wrong. maybe my two squares of dark chocolate?
Am losing heart.
But really this is typical day:
b- 2 egg omelette or greek yogurt with some raspberries
L- prawn cocktail
D - fried calamari and salad
cup of tea - no sugar

SingingTunelessly · 19/07/2012 21:31

finbar maybe ditch the raspberries if you are Bootcamping? Are you frying in butter, adding mayo, oily dressing to salad? How much water are you drinking?

MissPricklePants · 19/07/2012 22:06

How does this look for tomorrow??
B- Omelette with mushrooms
L- Chicken salad with mayo
D- Pork chop with leeks in butter and a splash of cream

That seem ok??

SharonGless · 19/07/2012 22:23

Miss prickepants - looks pretty good to me. try and fry your mushrooms in butter with your omlette. Whhich salad veg are you having with your salsa?

Finback - is your calamari coated in anything and what is in your salad?

Toysoldiers- if on soft drinks I have sparkling water or lime and soda very occasionally. The idea with not having diet coke is to break your addiction to sweet things, plus diet coke has loads of additives in it

Curry wise you can try either
Tandoori grill/shashlik which are dry meats with salad or if going for curry sauce try something fairly dry which will be tomato based rather than cream ie bhuna, kharahi, madras. You can have lots of side dishes as long as it isn't aloo which is potato. Just remember this strict phase is to wean you off carbs, once you are used it, you can take it as quick or as slow as you want regarding weight loss.

Different people, different strokes. Some find that they don't put weight onwith dairy, others find a sniff of milk and the scales are up. It's finding out what suits your body rather than a prescriptive "diet"