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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:
captainmummy · 18/07/2012 15:34

I find i don;t really eat lunch anymore - it's more like an on-going snack attack! Today i had 2 celery sticks with pate, half bag leaves with 2 hardboiled eggs (that's 5 eggs so far today) and mayo and homemade coleslaw(mostly cabbage!), slice ham, few nuts...

Dinner will be other half of bag of leaves, avo, maybe some globe artichokes dipped in butter, maybe some more ham, or smoked fish.

NigellasGuest · 18/07/2012 15:36

re: Sugar cravings especially after a meal

I know someone was asking a while back...
For me, I find that a coffee with cream completely knocks that craving on the head. I am aware that caffeine is'nt a great thing to have too much of, and also that although double cream is allowed, it's best not to overdo it. so, I'm gradually making the coffee a bit weaker, and reducing the amount of cream. Anyway, half way thru the mug I am often full so it gets chucked! Sounds unappealing and when I am in my sugar craving mode, I don't actually WANT a creamy coffee, but I do find that if I have one, it really does work.

MarshaBrady · 18/07/2012 15:42

I find cream very handy these days and I do love it which helps.

I like these threads BIWI they are very useful. Have been doing this low carb thing for ages now and check the grams on here sometimes.

Can I ask quickly. What about brie?

Is it ok with the carb count?

BIWI · 18/07/2012 15:56

I can't see why it wouldn't be ok - will see what I can find out!

OP posts:
BIWI · 18/07/2012 15:59

Brie is 0.3g carbs per 100g, so should be fine

From this site, which is really useful

OP posts:
MarshaBrady · 18/07/2012 16:06

Ooh thanks!

I had a brief moment where I thought what if it's like milk. And I like it, but not that much to blow a whole day on eating it Grin

MarshaBrady · 18/07/2012 16:26

(had it been high that is)

captainmummy · 18/07/2012 18:26

I tink i might have blown my day - I made a fruit salad for the dc for pudding and just had to nibble the clinging bits of mango off the stone! Don't know how much that would be.

Also had about 5 raspberries with some creamy yogurt. Sad

mummyduff · 18/07/2012 19:01

ok so for dinner I have just had warm spicy chicken salad with lashings of mayo, god I love this WOE.

Captain just start a fresh tomorrow and drink lots of water its only 1 day after allWink

Marsh I had forgotten about brie, will add to shopping list and BIWI that site is great, have bookmarked it for future ref.

vnmum I posted on other thread alsoSmile

Hope everyone has had a better day today x

mummyduff · 18/07/2012 19:07

OMG just went on to weigtloss site that is great for getting carb info and put in my height and weight, it told me:

'Your weight 8st 12lb is within your healthy weight range.
You have a BMI of 22 - a BMI of 18.5-25 is categorised as healthy.
However, you could lose up to 1st 6lb and remain within your healthy weight range. Losing 1st 6lb could make you look and feel better.' That would make me 7st 6lbs think I would look gaunt and oldShock or is this what I should aim for ???

BIWI · 18/07/2012 19:15

Not if it makes you look gaunt and old! Who would want that?! We're all different, and even if you're the same weight as someone standing next to you, you can guarantee you will be a completely different shape. We all put weight on in different places (hence my glumness yesterday - mine is all round my torso, and so not great for bikini-wearing).

OP posts:
LeB0F · 18/07/2012 19:22

Dinner was: salmon fillet with veg, roasted tomatoes and plenty of butter&pepper. For pud, full fat Greek yoghurt, with a few blueberries and a kiwi. All very nice, and filling!

I wasn't sure if kiwi was an ok fruit or not- can anyone point me to a list or something, please?

mummyduff · 18/07/2012 19:22

Know what you mean BIWI, mine is my thighs and what I now like to call my hay bailing armsWink

My original goal was to get to 9st 7lbs, then to 9st and now I would love to be 8st 7lbs.

mummyduff · 18/07/2012 19:24

lebof www.carbs-information.com/carbohydrate-fruit/carbs-in-kiwi-fruit.htm re kiwi x

SharonGless · 18/07/2012 19:38

Evening, BIWI did you see my posts on Monday night regarding my bikini hell? I am doing my core and ab exercises nightly after seeing my paunch in the mirror.

I won't bore you with last nights saga regarding DH - to do with DC.
He is getting better about Woe and made me cauliflower rice the other night when cooking a curry. He thinks I am being picky when I try and explain that I don't want balsamic vinegar on my salads or that I don't want to eat carrots whilst on weight loss. It's still a major bone of contention, but then most things are. At least I am not using food to comfort eat most of the time

LeB0F · 18/07/2012 19:48

Thanks mummyduff Smile

MrsCampbellBlack · 18/07/2012 20:10

Right I've gone crazy today and upon BIWI's advice had 5 brazil nuts and also 5 almonds.

Lunch was bacon and courgettes.
Supper was salmon and salad with mayo.

Not terribly delicious but had playdate that lasted from 10 till 5 so couldn't realistically get to the shops.

Strange though as fed the children pizza and crisps and salad which they ignored but wasn't even vaguely tempted by the pizza which used to be my most favourite food ever.

Hello mummyduff [she's my sister] and we've just confessed who we are on here in RL [rushes to ask mn to delete all my previous comments] Wink

mummyduff · 18/07/2012 20:17

Grin MCB

teaandthorazine · 18/07/2012 20:17

Hello all, not a bad day today - after a not-so-good night (well, it was a good night, but not v low carb Grin)

Dinner out last night with dp; we've not seen each other for over a week plus I handed in my assignment so double cause for celebration. Unfortunately that celebration involved two bottles of rather nice red, plus pork and pistachio terrine, and a v good burger with some luscious chips... soooo, slapped wrists all round I guess! Didn't have a pudding though!

Felt a leetle bit hungover this am, so feel virtuous in not succumbing to the carbs today, at least. Lunch was prawns dipped in marie rose sauce, and some hardboiled quails eggs (gotta love Waitrose!). Dinner was strips of pork belly with cheesy celeriac mash and buttered steamed cabbage.

Now off to read the rest of this now-massive thread (whilst watching supersize vs superskinny Hmm)

Bex66 · 18/07/2012 20:34

hmm - no fruit or nuts/seeds- really? Don't mean to step on anyone's toes here but it doesn't sound that healthy to me. And not being able to have a glass of wine once in a while would just about see me off - if this doesn't work for any of you, why not have a look at my blog? www.howilostweight.co.uk - its a Mumsnet blog. Healthy weight loss strategy that worked for me without resorting to pills or fads - I lost 20 pounds last year in 2 months - went from size 16 to size 12 - and have kept it off. Blog has gone viral since I launched it last month and is at last count read in 45 countries (including Tahiti - how cool is that?!!) , so I guess people like the approach!

teaandthorazine · 18/07/2012 20:49

Bex66 - good for you and v nice blog - but this is a two-week, low-carb bootcamp and a support thread for those of us who very much believe in the evidence-based health and efficacy of a low-carb WOE. We don't go on low-fat threads and tell them they're unhealthy, it's considered kinda impolite...

(And it's ghrelin, btw Wink)

HumphreyCobbler · 18/07/2012 20:50

no fruit/seeds/wine is just in bootcamp. Really it is healthy. It is bootcamp! It is SUPPOSED to be hardcore, All the things you mention are allowed if you are not in bootcamp Smile

toysoldiers · 18/07/2012 20:55

Right, I've had chicken thighs, roasted veg and halloumi for dinner.

I couldn't finish it all Blush

I had mackerel and salad for lunch and a chicken drumstick with the kids (did NOT finish their potato wedges)

DH is sitting next to me on the sofa eating chocolate biscuits AngryEnvyAngry

However I feel awful - I think I might have to go to bed. Achy, exhausted and just generally 'off'. Not sure whether I'm coming down with something.

Surely I can't feel this bad after 36 hours Sad?

Bex66 · 18/07/2012 20:56

Ok, point taken, good luck!

SharonGless · 18/07/2012 20:58

Toy soldiers it sounds like ' carb flu' or carb withdrawal. Take some paracetamol and drink some water. It will pass -
Your body has been used to carbs for a looonng time. Hope you feel better tomorrow

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