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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:
SharonGless · 20/07/2012 22:56

Ps don't leave me this way....

LeB0F · 20/07/2012 23:01

I get them mixed up with The Proclaimers. I once sold a copy of Socialist Worker to a Proclaimer

Heartstart · 20/07/2012 23:02

Hi I'm ok, Mum not well and brother sister and I taking time to stay over there. So tonight I am at home with lovely supportive dh drinking wine and doing desert island discs. it s quite good therapy....So cold the night is my fave, alison Moyet, the Jam, catatonia, blondie

SharonGless · 20/07/2012 23:05

BOF really? jimmy could never be mixed up with the Proclaimers! Loving the sleb claim to fame though

Heartstart-sounds like just what you need after the shite you are dealing withat the mo

LeB0F · 20/07/2012 23:09

Oh I know they are nothing alike, but then I get Christopher Ecclestone and Ewan MacGregor mixed up. And Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. I'm rubbish.

Heartstart · 20/07/2012 23:14

Bof no way re confusion but excellent sleb story
ultravox reap the wild wind. Tom Robinson band 2468

Heartstart · 20/07/2012 23:14

Bof no way re confusion but excellent sleb story
ultravox reap the wild wind. Tom Robinson band 2468

Heartstart · 20/07/2012 23:17

Bof no way re confusion but excellent sleb story
ultravox reap the wild wind. Tom Robinson band 2468

jan2011 · 21/07/2012 07:23

Amax thanks for sharing, it sounds you are going through a lot with your dh being away so much - even if there are other caring people it still can be so hard having the one you love away. it seems you are coping so well under the circumstances while planning your wedding and all - i hope that gives you some joy and excitement in the midst of it all. i hope you can manage to get out every day and even journalling feelings can help when your getting it rough, i do that sometimes and it helps.

thanks for the well wishes for my dd, she is fine, woke far too early this morning but seems fine. dh of course went to the police and then the hospital he has a stiff neck (trust me, theres nothing really wrong with him) and im fine.

this afternoon im goin for afternoon tea so there'll be cheating involved...is it better to avoid the sweet stuff and go for savouries, or is cheating cheating. there will be scones, pastries sandwiches....alcohol.

WillieWaggledagger · 21/07/2012 07:56

Morning

Pleased you and baby are ok jan. re cheating choices I would say best to go for things that for you personally make it less likely for you to crave more carbs later on. Of course you may not know yet which ones will do that (or it may be all carbs!). Eg I find fruit doesn't derail me later on (I haven't tested cake or bread - too scared to!), though wine does make me crave carbs

Of course most important thing is that you choose truly delicious things and enjoy every mouthful

Finbar · 21/07/2012 08:03

So...after my week of weight not moving and losing heart and a glass of wine and some dark chocolate...I just got on the scales ( because as we all know you are lighter in the morning!) and there's 3 lbs gone somewhere!! YAY!

Don't want to go near the scales again in case it was a blip of some sort.

sassytheFIRST · 21/07/2012 08:08

Hi ladies, I want to join you of that's ok? Got about a stone to lose (and then keep off) which will take my bmi from 25 to 23ish.

I'm not good at low carbing tho so I will need encouragement and shouting in equal measure during next few weeks while I get to grips with it!

ZZZenAgain · 21/07/2012 08:11

eek I don't want to lose my boobs! I hope it doesn't all come off there, just want it off the waist

BIWI · 21/07/2012 08:11

jan - I missed your post last night. I'm so sorry. Glad that you are all OK - it must have been really scary, especially when you had DD in the car with you. It would be worth getting checked out at the GP, just in case you have sustained whiplash.

Was your car badly damaged? this happened to my trainer on Thursday - and the bloke who ran into the back of him didn't even stop.

If you know you're going to cheat this afternoon, then just enjoy it. It doesn't make any difference if it's sweet or savoury - the body will convert all those carbs into sugar anyway! Just be super strict for the next couple of days.

Heartstart - glad you had a good evening with your DH. Hope things are OK for you today.

OP posts:
BIWI · 21/07/2012 08:13

Yay! Finbar So that's half a stone now, yes? Well done.

Welcome, sassy. You will find plenty of support and encouragement here, and I do shout every now and then!

OP posts:
SingingTunelessly · 21/07/2012 08:21

Morning! What a gorgeous one as well, can't believe we finally have a few days of summer.

Finbar, great news.

Amax, hope you're feeling a bit brighter this morning. Have a Hug. We do hugs on this thread. Smile

Welcome Sassy. If you want encouragement and shouting you've come to the right place.

Heart, I used to love 2468, haven't heard that for years.

jan2011 · 21/07/2012 08:23

hey Biwi thanks... if i feel any pain next week ill go but i really feel fine. dh is dying but then he is on his death bed with the cold so its hard to tell with him. thats awful that the guy didn't even stop - you must have no conscious at all to do that! the guy who ran into us was very shaken, a young fella. i had to calm him down as he was so upset about the baby being in the car and all, esp as my dh went thru him as soon as he got out of the car. at the end of the day it can happen to anyone and the main thing is we are all ok and i told him that.

thats good about the cheating, as i prefer sweet stuff and eating sandwiches etc just for the sake of it will probably make me cheat more later on as ill feel in my mind i have 'blown it' even more, where as if i just have a few sweet things ill see it more of a treat that i like. i know that doesn't make sense, but it does in my head...

hi Sassy welcome :):)

BIWI · 21/07/2012 08:33

I wrote a post a while ago about cheating - I'll find it ...

OP posts:
BIWI · 21/07/2012 08:37

Here you go:

Today's sermon is about cheating. There's been plenty of it along the way and there will be plenty more of it in the future.

It is important to accept that this is and is going to be a fact, as (hopefully) this is about a way of eating, rather than a diet. That means that sometimes there will be occasions and circumstances where it's impossible to keep the carbs down. The classic is when you're invited to dinner and your hosts serve you something 'forbidden', like pasta or rice.

Every now and then you will find that you also have a 'fuck it' moment. Where, for whatever reason, you eat something you shouldn't. It happens.

So.

If you're going to do it, do it right!

If circumstances are beyond your control - e.g. the dinner party - don't stress about it. If you've deliberately gone off piste, don't feel guilty about it. Enjoy the moment while you're in it.

What is absolutely critical is what you do next.

Beware that you will crave carbs and don't let yourself spiral out of control into a mammoth carb fest! Make sure that the 2-3 days immediately afterwards are strictly low carb, and drink plenty of water. And avoid the scales for the next few days!

Here endeth the lesson.

OP posts:
Heartstart · 21/07/2012 08:43

Morning all what a lovely day. Jan hope all ok ...shakes you up that sort of thing.

Need to get a real focus back in on to boot camp. Well done fin.

mummyduff · 21/07/2012 08:52

Morning all, the sun is out and well done to the loosersGrin

AmaxaSad so sorry to hear your feeling low.

jan really hope you are all okSmile

Heart I really hope your mum improves soon, glad you have a supportive DH x

Breakfast - boiled egg with a babybel(my fav breakfast)

mummyduff · 21/07/2012 08:54

MissBeehivingUnderTheMistletoe your dinner sounded lovely, may do that tonightSmile

BIWI · 21/07/2012 09:12

Have just seen the weather forecast and can't believe we're actually going to have some sunshine and some heat!

Barbecue weather on Sun/Mon/Tues - and barbecues are fab for low carbers.

OP posts:
emmak86 · 21/07/2012 09:52

Mornin all [smile

Ive lost another .6 kilos lol woo!

Dinner last night was a beef grillsteak with carrot and swede mash ( which i couldnt decide if i liked or not so left most of it!), cabbage and green beans.
Breaky this morning was 2 rashers of bacon, 2 eggs scrambled and a few mushrooms Grin

yum!
Em x

emmak86 · 21/07/2012 09:53

Bring on the barbys BIWI (dances round the room)

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