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Week 3 - New Year Low Carb Bootcamp - Full Fat or Light?

983 replies

BIWI · 20/01/2013 17:08

So we've completed the hardest part of Bootcamp. Now is the time, if you wish, to relax things a little, and to move on to Bootcamp Light.

On the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness you will - after weighing in, of course - find the rules for Bootcamp Light. However, as I know some people can't access the spreadsheet easily, here they are:

Bootcamp Light

1. Eat when you?re hungry - if you?re not hungry, don?t eat
In Bootcamp, you should have been eating three meals a day. The point of this being to ensure that you got used to eating proper meals, and so that your blood sugar is regulated and stable. Having achieved that, you can now relax this a little bit. If you find you?re not hungry - which often happens, because ketosis suppresses your appetite - then don?t force yourself to eat. But don?t let yourself get so hungry that you make inappropriate choices! Always make sure you have plenty of low carb food to access quickly, if you need to.

2. Avoid processed food
Focus on pure, natural protein as the basis for your meals ? meat/fish/eggs.
You may include processed meats like bacon or (low carb) sausages, smoked salmon, smoked mackerel, gammon - but please don?t have these at every meal or every day. As well as being highly processed they often contain undesirable ingredients, can add unnecessary extra carbs into your diet, and often include sugar.

3. Eat lots of fat
Eating fat helps to keep you feeling fuller for longer. 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 and has too many carbs), 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 the bulk 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.

Beware that some of the veg on the allowed list can be surprisingly high in carbs once you make up a portion of it ? this is because they are denser, and therefore you tend to use more ? compare, for example, 100g of onion with 100g lettuce! Keep your focus on those veg which contain 3g carbs per 100g and use these as the focus of your meals. Use those over 3g per 100g sparingly.

5. You may eat some dairy
You should aim to include plenty of butter on this WOE. Fry with it and add it to your vegetables. And if you know that dairy doesn?t impede your weight loss 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.

If you?ve been cutting out tea/coffee, you can re-introduce this ? but just be careful how much milk you end up drinking. You can end up adding a lot of extra carbs this way.

6. You must drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day
Even if you?re drinking more tea/coffee than in Bootcamp, this is still a non-negotiable part of this WOE. And the more weight you have to lose, the more water you should drink. Water helps to flush out the ketones that your body will product ? so flushing out the fat. However, drinking this amount of water can affect your electrolyte balance; you need to make sure that you get plenty of sodium, magnesium and potassium. There is less need to worry about restricting salt if you?re eating a low carb diet. Good sources of potassium are salmon and avocado and spinach is a good source of magnesium. You could also consider supplements if you have an issue with this.

7. You may drink some alcohol
But restrict this to once or twice a week max. Vodka with soda is the best thing to drink. Or Champagne, red wine or dry white wine. Absolutely no beer/lager, cider, liqueurs, cocktails or full sugar mixers. You can drink spirits with artificial sweeteners, but bear in mind that we are attempting to avoid all things artificial!

Alcohol is the easiest source of fuel for your body, and it will use this over and above anything else that is available to it. Therefore, even if you?re following the diet absolutely to the letter, including alcohol can prevent weight loss.

8. You may eat some fruit
Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and rhubarb are all fine. But please ? only once a day at the very most, and keep an eye on your portion sizes. Just for information ? these are the carb counts:

Rhubarb ? 0.8g carbs per 100g (but don?t forget you will need to sweeten this ? and not with sugar!)
Blackberries ? 4.4g carbs per 100g
Raspberries ? 4.6g carbs per 100g
Strawberries ? 6g carbs per 100g
Blueberries - 6.4g carbs per 100g (although this is a bit controversial - I have had differing carb counts from various sources - some saying as much as 12g carbs per 100g)

9. You may eat some nuts/seeds
Nuts/seeds can make a good snack. BUT it is incredibly easy to overdo it, and you can end up eating your bodyweight in carbs. As an occasional snack they are great, but keep it occasional and keep the portions to a small handful at most.

Macadamias are not only luscious, but they are very low in carbs.

Here are some carb counts ? BUT ? check the back of your packets as I don?t know if these are for raw or roasted nuts:

Pistachios 4.6g carbs per 100g
Macadamias 4.8g carbs per 100g
Pecans 5.8g carbs per 100g
Almonds 6.9g carbs per 100g
Peanuts 7.1 g carbs per 100g
Cashews 18.1g carbs per 100g

10. Avoid artificial sweeteners
The aim of Bootcamp was to help reduce the stranglehold that sugar has on us ? and to curb your sweet tooth. But it does make some things difficult, e.g. desserts at a dinner party, and it is undeniable that it can be enjoyable ? occasionally ? to eat something sweet. However, restrict such goodies. For some people, artificial sweeteners can impede weight loss.

OP posts:
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BlackAffronted · 21/01/2013 10:46

I have Alpro almind milk, unsweetend, and its 0.2 carbs per 100 ml.

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BIWI · 21/01/2013 10:51

Sorry Iamaslummymummy - my Grin was not about your constipation problems, but in reply to Penny's post!

You need to make absolutely sure that you are getting your carbs in the form of veg/salad, and this will help to keep your fibre levels up. Also, if you drink plenty of water and eat the fat, you should be fine. But I understand this is a medical issue, so you may need to take proper advice about it and how to avoid it.

Just so you know, though, I have been following this WOE for some time now, and it has never been an issue for me. I go regularly every day and (sorry for the oversharing) sometimes more than once. So low carb, per se, should not cause constipation.

OP posts:
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BlackAffronted · 21/01/2013 10:54

It does slow me down BIWI, and I eat lots of fat, veg, drink 4 ltrs water AND take magnesium! I used to be so daily, now I am 5 days :( and it is painful (sorry tmi). For me, its the only downside to this woe. I hope its sorts itself out soon.

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Bessie123 · 21/01/2013 10:55

taffyandteenytaffy how about tofu fried with soy sauce and mushrooms? Or the cream cheese pancakes that someone kindly posted a link to earlier (must say, I wasn't keen on them though)? Or those oopsie rolls with bacon in?

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skandi1 · 21/01/2013 10:55

BIWI. Just seen your post. Thanks.

I will hunt down some alternative snacks. I need snacks that are instant (ie no prep or cooking required) and portable as I don't know what the day will hold with a toddler and pre schooler.

I will try and eat more veg. Not a massive fan of veg as such. Mushroom and onion being the exceptions. Will hunt out the broccoli.

I have to have lie ins at the weekend. I can barely manage as it is. If I didn't get the extra sleep at the weekend, I would collapse. DS sleeping is hideous. Had yet another night of 4 broken hours and am sleep walking through the day. Ugh. The lie in at weekends isn't up for negotiation.

Ideas for instant and portable snacks are welcome.

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Bessie123 · 21/01/2013 10:56

Ooh, and only 1lb for me but it's still a loss so I'm pretty happy.

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herecomesthsun · 21/01/2013 10:57

*Jacaqueen" here. There are different sorts of almond milk though. The lowest is 14 cal and .2g carbs/ 100ml (looks in fridge). There was a special offer on at Waitrose for buying 3 for £3 till 2nd April- it keeps quite well, so I would be able to use up 3 within the expiry date.

Could someone link to the spreadsheet please?

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AuntieMaggie · 21/01/2013 10:58

Skandi read BIWIs post about your meals at 00:07:15!

I lost a further 3lbs at the start of the week and have stayed the same since so 9lbs in two weeks - yay!

Was hoping for more but still ill not eating really but drinking loads. I made a vat of sugar free jelly yesterday to have with berries and cream... a little cheat but its so soothing for my throat and one of the few things I can stomach.

Congrats on all your losses.

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Biscuit357 · 21/01/2013 10:59

Marking Place!

No loss this week (boooo) but have started the 30 day shred so am optimistically hoping that I've put on muscle and got leaner (in 3 days!?)

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BlackAffronted · 21/01/2013 10:59

Skandi, cheese? babybels are very portable. Boiled eggs? Bit smelly though.

I agree with the lie-ins, couldnt cope without my weekend sleep!

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BlackAffronted · 21/01/2013 11:01

I saw hazlenut milk at Morrisons this week, but they didnt have an unsweetened version :( sounds lovely though!

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herecomesthsun · 21/01/2013 11:04

Fairly instant snacks

  • avocado


  • cheese block


  • ? keep box of celery/ cucumber stix in fridge to grab poss with cheese?


  • peperami or sliced meat


  • nuts


  • hardboil 6 eggs at once and put in fridge in labelled box. I am thinking of making dukkan to try with this (not got round to it yet)


  • Total yoghurt
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Iamaslummymummy · 21/01/2013 11:05

Thanks biwi. The doctors just want me to take revolting laxido so I just need to manage it. We are eating prada of greens. My diet is much much better than it had been for months. I have several health conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome. This woe is making me cook. Its giving me something to do with my day now I can't work. It really is wonderful. Thanks

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Iamaslummymummy · 21/01/2013 11:07

Btw dh is now on 13lbs since nyd. He's a happy man!

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herecomesthsun · 21/01/2013 11:07

Oh and also - Waitrose reductions produce little packs of smoked salmon, goose and salmon mousse etc sometimes for pennies - adds variety and provides a new taste experience for the DC!

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Bessie123 · 21/01/2013 11:12

iamaslummymummy and blackaffronted you can get flaxseed in oil form from holland and barrat. It is in the 1p sale just now but you must mix it with food because it has the rankest taste ever. You can also get aloe Vera colon cleanse, which apparently gives you a 'gentle, natural, overnight cleanse'

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NoelHeadbands · 21/01/2013 11:14

Well done everyone!

STS for me this week, onwards and downwards

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jan2013 · 21/01/2013 11:14

you have my sympathy skandi - also not coping very well at the minute on lack of sleep. at my wits end with dd waking continually all night its a nightmare can't even think straight anymore!

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NoveltySlippers · 21/01/2013 11:19

Iamaslummymummy I take ground flaxseed (though haven't done on bootcamp) for all the nutrients and Omega 3s. I wasn't taking it on Bootcamp assuming it was carby, but I just read this:

"It may be tiny, but it?s mighty: The flax seed carries one of the biggest nutrient payloads on the planet. And while it?s not technically a grain, it has a similar vitamin and mineral profile to grains, while the amount of fiber, antioxidants, and Omega-3 fatty acids in flax leaves grains in the dust.

Additionally, flax seed is very low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for people who limit their intake of starches and sugars. And its combination of healthy fat and high fiber content make it a great food for weight loss and maintenance -- many dieters have found that flax seed has been a key to keeping them feeling satisfied."

So sounds like it could go on Bootcamp light?

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NoveltySlippers · 21/01/2013 11:25

Taffy I was a massive consumer of carbs at breakfast pre-Bootcamp. However, I've totally gone down the continental route for brekkie now - I eat a slice of thick (good quality) ham and cheese. I mix the cheeses up for variety. Mature cheddar, Gouda, parmesan (hard cheeses are good on this WOE.)

And I'm loving it! I feel like I'm at the Oktoberfest in the morning and should be wearing lederhosen. Love it! (And it keeps me fuller than porridge ever did - much to my surprise!)

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ChoosandChipsandSealingWax · 21/01/2013 11:27

Other quick snacks:

  • olives
  • chicken legs
  • soup


BIWI/Willie - while adding my weight to the spreadsheet I noticed that there were a whole load of people who (I thought) had added themselves to the Weekly Loss column. So I started moving them into the Weight Jan 21 column instead, then about halfway through, thought, "hey that's funny, none of them have lost anything" and realised that actually they are probably the people who have not yet added their weight for this week. So, for the sake of it all being the same, I moved everyone's into the Weight Jan 21 column so that at least we can see Total Loss. I am really sorry if I have screwed up the spreadsheet Blush promise not to touch it again!

By the way also BlackAffronted noticed that you are in as 88 pounds - is that right? If so the reason you are stalling could be you are near goal weight?
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skandi1 · 21/01/2013 11:30

BlackAffronted. Yes to lie ins! Smile

Herecomesthesun. I will package up a few nuts. Will also make a small Tupperware box of cucumber sticks to take out. I will try to stay away from pepparami as BIWI has been waving her big stick at me. Grin

Auntmaggie. I missed BIWIs post due to sleep deprivation. I thought I was fully up on thread when I posted weight but clearly not. Found it and read it now though.

BIWI. Thanks. I will add some leek and mushroom to my morning omelette. And more butter.

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AuntieMaggie · 21/01/2013 11:32

Choos Some people like BA have put 100lbs in as starting weight as they didn't want to put their real weight in.

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thenightsky · 21/01/2013 11:39

I only have a weight loss of 1lb this week, making me now 153lbs. Can someone add it to spreadsheet for me, pretty please? I don't want to mess it up.

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coldethyl · 21/01/2013 11:42

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