Week 7 - New Year Low Carb Bootcamp - Where We Get Tough!

[BIWI]

Morning campers

Here is the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness

This week sees the start of Ubercamp. This is entirely optional, by the way!

The idea is that we have three very strict days, keeping our carbs under 20g each day and consuming no dairy.

If you want to take part, I have put together three days' worth of meals as a guide - one which includes eggs and one which is an egg-free plan for those of you who don't like eggs. I'll also do one today which is purely fish-based.

As well as the meal plans, I've also written shopping lists and some recipes, where necessary, and the lovely Willie has put these on the spreadsheet - just look at the tabs at the bottom.

TheHumanCatapult, you ARE amazing and an inspiration!

Lavender, wow! So happy for you!

Splitthetea, you shouldn't feel bad for asking your question. Being overweight has issues but so does being underweight so it's important to find the right balance so that you stay in the healthy range. I almost wonder if this shouldn't be a 'weightloss' thread but more a general health one, as we all started with our weight being the focus but as you go into it, that almost becomes a secondary issue.

I've just googled this and found [[http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-if-i-dont-want-to-lose-weight/#axzz2LaAHZI85 this] article on Marks Daily Apple which might be useful.

Good luck!

link again for Splittheta.

Really interesting piece, thanks mumat39

Oh gosh Jake, you're very welcome. I don't know where you are but I'd be happy to lend you my copy if it helps. Although from what I remember I think the Gaps.me website is actually supposed to cover all the basics of starting the diet. Also, the author runs a clinic in Cambridge, and it is possible to book an appointment to see her and then I think she'd be able to guide you through the diet.

I considered it for my daughter as she has lots of allergies and I am convinced that it stems from her gut being not quite right, but as she is allergic o nuts and seeds and eggs, I couldn't quite get my head around it.

I think there was a user on one of the earlier week threads for this bootcamp, called Mawbroon who was hoping to start the GAPS diet.

I'm the same as you I would love to try and help my daughter get over her allergies, and find the not being able to do anything about it incredibly frustrating. I may have to revisit it soon once I'm more in the swing of things with this woe for me. I need to get my dc off rice which is a real staple for them and a bit worrying now that I know the effect it has on them.

Xxx

BIWI, I think there must be something about this woe that makes it self regulatory in terms of weight management, once we figure out what we can and can't eat. That's sort of what that MDA link suggests. Very interesting me thinks!

Link to the book again for Jake

here

If you do get it, you need the one with the red oval on the cover as it's updated with more info and advice.

Thanks mumat that article is really helpful, just the sort of thing I needed to read. Very enlightening as well that as a rough benchmark maintenance level is likely to be in the region of 150g carbs/day. I am prob having about 20-40 depending on the day at the moment, so there's a lot of room to expand the veg/nut/seed repetoire and add a bit of fruit. I bit the bullet and had some broad beans with my (otherwise very low carb!) dinner

Thanks also for the post about GI/GL considerations timidviper, that is a really sensible idea. I think in my head I assume that GI and carbyness is pretty much the same thing, but having scanned though a few GI tables, it's really not, there are some surprises in there, like how low on the scale things like plums are for example (24) compared to strawbs (40) when strawberries are the lower in carbs. Similarly hummus scores a tiny and exemplary 6 on the GI index but is really quite carby due to the chickpeas.

So I think my intentions based on combining the LCHF philosophy, GI information, primal ideology and my own reasons for actually starting out are to eat whatever I want from veg (and lots of it, both quantity and variety), to freely include nuts and seeds, to have lots of animal products (meat, fish, fat, dairy), to include fruits like I used to have cakes/biscuits, so as a once or twice a day sweet treat, and to bring in moderate amounts of pulses. And then see what happens. Staying away from refined grains/potatoes (largely) but occasional small tastes will not make the skies fall in. I have been regarding flour/pasta etc as poison (whilst weaning myself away from them, continually telling myself they are EVIL and will ruin my body) and realise that is neurotic. They just should not form a major or even daily part of my diet.

This thread has been brilliant, lots of great ideas, food inspiration, knowledgable folk and has really helped me do the tough bit at the start of going cold turkey on the carbs

By the way BIWI you were right, I no longer am fussed over golden syrup sandwiches, though I would cheerfully have killed for one two weeks ago.

My diabetic father has been following what I've been doing and reading about it, (he loved the Food Revolution video) and is now starting to bring down his carbs. I got a phonecall at lunchtime asking how exactly to do cauliflower rice to go with their chilli I am spreading the word!

Re children, low carbs and diet:-

My DS (4) has noticed the Babybels in the fridge. He used to take a marmite bagel to school for his snack, now he takes a Babybel and half a dozen apricots. I would guess that is a bit healthier.

We have diabetes and a tendency to overweight in my side of the family, so I have been careful with carbs. Sweets, crisps only at birthday parties. No biscuits on the go. Usually only cakes if we have been making them. Fruit and yoghurt for pudding. Water or milk for children's drinks. I no longer have cereal; the rest of the family have porridge and blueberries for breakfast. I no longer eat potatoes, rice, noodles etc and DH has been slightly scaling down the portions for the rest of the family too.

Dad is however fond of crumpets/ muffins/ bagels etc and when DS was a toddler lovingly fed him lots of cheesy savory snacks. Ds is a slightly chunky little boy but quite fond of sport (swimming, football, rugby) which we support and, at this early stage, encourage. I was overweight, bookish and an only child and was keen for DS to have a rather healthier attitude to food and exercise. I have not openly discussed any of this with DS but he was aware when I was pregnant with Dd that mummy was being careful with food because of her blood sugars. He understands now that mummy is being careful again to make sure her blood sugars aren't a problem. Ds was rather overweight for his height on starting school. He hasn't lost weight but he is proportionately a bit less overweight now.

Dd is 50th centile for wt, 75th for height so far, which is fine. I don't think there is any harm in being a little mindful of how they are growing. I am not that bothered about looks and fashion so much as wanting to help them avoid ending up as part of the obesity epidemic/ diabetic.

jake it's very exciting that feeling just before you start Bootcamping aproper of standing on the brink of something entirely new, a big challenge (mentally I think) of giving up that sugar hold. I am excited for you, and hope you really enjoy it (bar the murderous cravings that you might be suffering on about Wednesday...).

Good luck deciding how best to change your son's diet, fwiw I think a gentle transition sounds really sensible, as you described, reducing carb portions and increasing protein & fat & veg to compensate. I am trying something similar on my DD, but she is a lot younger, only 18 months. However she's excessively reliant on pasta too, and used to eat loads of the sugary fromage frais and I don't want those preferences becomming engrained habits.

I have started giving her plain Greek yog which she really enjoys as I let her "steal" it from my bowl (just dished me both of our helpings really!) and now she will happily eat a bowl of that by herself. I have also taken to serving bolognaise/chilli to her with broccoli/cauliflower (I mashed it into the meat sauce with a slosh of cream and a grating of cheese on top). It's going well so far, but I am not trying any sort of total carb removal. She did have pasta with veg sauce and fish for lunch, just not giving pasta at dinner as well.

It's great that he is keen to try it, and he's probably old enough that including him in the decisions/meal choices would help with the changes.

TO ALL LIDL SHOPPERS !

Low carb gold this weekend - butter is half price on Sat & Sun only, 68p per pack. I for one shalll be stocking up! Also, avocados 50p each at the moment and they are huge ones. I have 4 ripening now in my fruit bowl

Evening losers
Wow there are some really inspirational posts today to catch up on.
I love it when people on the threads start getting evangelical.

I have been out tonight on a works do and met up with lots of old colleagues who were complimenting me on my weight loss. One even said "oh my god you are so thin!" I wanted to tell them all to join us on the low carb woe.

I am trying to convert my DC to more low carbing. DD in particular is a pasta/toast queen. It could be a painful process for both of us. however they were both at holiday club last week and had low carb lunch boxes and enjoyed them so maybe I can do it.

B: Mushroom, cheese and salami omelette
L" Tuna salad with mayo
D: Bolognaise sauce with courgette pasta

It is Friday so a glass of

Gless a good LC lunchbox food that would prob be quite appealing to children would be crustless mini quiches. I make mine in a muffin tray. Just fry off the veg and bacon/ham/salmon or whatever and put the veg/meat mix in the base of the muffin holes. Add grated cheese to each one. Then beat up some eggs, add a slosh of cream and pour over each quiche mix. Bake for about 30 mins. Really nice with some veg crudites and extra slices of cheese.

And congrats on the congrats you've been receiving!

Does anyone else find everytime they type carb it comes out crab and you have to go and correct it all the bloody time?? Nope. Just me then

3 soft boiled eggs
2 slices of Edam with baby gem lettuce, bowl of cauliflower and broccoli soup
2 small pkts of pork scratchings, big handful of macadamia nuts and almonds
3 g&slimline tonics
Hard boiled egg, celery stick with pâté, chunk of cheese
2 x decaf teas with splash of milk, 1 latte at my dad's, 2 x decaf black coffees, 1.5 litres of water, (not enough)

I keep meaning to do frittatas in muffin tray. DS loves omelettes now and either has one or porridge for breakfast. DD is more tricky

Mine autocorrect goes for carv instead of carb for some reason. That's not even a bloody word!!

Can highly recommend the crustless quiche. Hth.

Lavender I've just read your post from this morning, FANBLOODYTASTIC you! Well done, I can practically feel your excitement It is amazing isn't it? So pleased your IBS has been improved so much.
I know what you mean about just feeling really good. I have no bloaty gut all evening. I don't want to go to sleep at 3pm. I don't need chocolate/flapjack mid afternoon. My energy is steadier and there is more of it. I feel stronger. The food is AMAZING. Did I mention I was enjoying this??

Quicklookbusy hope you found something delicious and low carb on the indian menu. I love indian food. especially onion bhajis and garlic naans

Anaisa can you link to the meatloaf recipe? Sounds really good.

Thanks Dosh

Quicklookbusy

I go for either tandoori mix or chicken shaslick with mushroom bhaji

You back from holiday then Dosh?? Considerably less [hics] in your post

Gless what sort of things does DD like? I'm sure we can come up with some suggestions. There's a recipe on the low carb recipe page for scotch eggs, would she eat those? Basic gist was boil the eggs, wrap in sausage meat, dip in melted butter and roll in grated parmesan/paprika/herbs and bake.

DH likes taking just a selection of bits and bobs, which has the advantage of being very quick to prepare. I think yesterday he had some cold gammon, some chopped cucumber and a few cherry tomatoes, cubes of feta and some olives.

Maybe a flask of soup? There are lots of recipes on here for broccoli &cheese soup, curried cauliflower, celeriac in many guises.

Cold sausages? Cheese? Veg sticks?

Spilt - IT WAS A WORK TRIP!!! A phrase I had to keep repeating to dh and half the office as I left on Wednesday!!! IT WAS A WORK TRIP :-)

Whoever wanted a dinner party pud upthread - chocolate pots? Can provide recipe if not in section,,.

Dh takes a low carb lunch box - egg/ham/tuna salad.

The trouble with my DC us that they go to breakfast club and after school club, have school dinners so I currently have little control in what they eat four days a week. It isn't ideal but the alternative may tip me over the edge so will have to try and stick to low carb for them the other days

Ah I see, it's all about the snacks and the other 3 days then. Well I think half low carb, half "normal" very much worth doing anyway.

Sorry Dosh!

Spilttheteaagain - I used this one www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2938/hot-or-cold-meatloaf but without rusk or oregano, added some zukkini and used streaky bacon instead of prosciutto.

sorry, i'll try the link again Meatloaf

ooh that does sound nice. Mind, I love sausagement stuffing and it sounds as if it would be similar. Thanks.