Get Ready for Summer - Next Low Carb Bootcamp (10 weeks) starts 29 April

[BIWI]

Just to give you a couple of weeks advanced warning, so you can think about it, plan for it, etc.

[twinklestar2]

Is it less than 20g of carbs we are allowed per day?

[thenightsky]

twinkle that is exactly how I do my lunches. I take a box of salad from home each day and keep Tesco roast chicken pieces in the fridge at work. I think they are about £5 for two boxes and I eat half a box each day. On the 5th day I take a tin of mackerel in olive oil to add to the salad. I also keep a bottle of creamy ceaser dressing at work too, but you need to check the carbs on the bottle as different supermarket own-brands vary wildly in their carb count.

[WillieWaggledagger]

according to atkins for the induction phase, yes, though some people can tolerate more grams of carbs per day than others. you're trying to control your blood sugar, so ideally those 20g would be spread over the day rather than all in one go

[thenightsky]

Oh... and what Willy says about the chicken being coated in carby stuff... I buy only the plain roasted. The tikka/honey roast stuff is to be avoided.

[twinklestar2]

Great, thanks everyone for your tips. Will ensure I stick to the plain stuff and jazz up with dressing.

[twinklestar2]

oh no are we not allowed tinned toms?!

[WillieWaggledagger]

you can have tinned tomatoes, but (sorry for repetition) check the back of the tin of different brands - they can vary but some can be quite high carb. if i make something with tinned tomatoes in i try to use just one tin between several portions

likewise with onions, i cut down to maybe one small onion, or replace with shallots or leeks, which are lower carb per 100g

there are lots of sauces and curry ideas on the recipe thread

[twinklestar2]

Thanks I've been reading the recipe thread to get ideas. I have done low carb before but my version which is no bread, rice, pasta or potatoes. I usually end up eating meat with veg on the side. But I want to try it properly.

[twinklestar2]

mmmmm I love spinach curry, esp the way my mum makes it. She used spinach and various green veg and loads of butter. Would be great for low carbing (although I think she also uses chickpea flour which I think we're not allowed?)

[BIWI]

Wand - sorry not to reply to you but I've been away since Thursday and am only just catching up on the threads.

Remember what I said to you before - you don't actually have a lot of weight to lose, and therefore your rate of loss will be much slower than others.

Exercise is going to really help you to tone up, which should make you look better, but don't forget it will also build muscle so your weight may not go down.

Best way to measure your progress would be by the fit of your clothes as well as the look of your body.

[BIWI]

Oh, and twinkle - Sainsbury's Basics tetrapak tomatoes are the lowest carb I've found.

[BIWI]

Le Touqet, Wand, playing golf!

Re exercise. It might be wiser to wait until you've got through the first couple of weeks of low carbing, so that you aren't feeling weak/dizzy.

Make sure you're eating plenty of sodium, magnesium and potassium. So salt your food, try drinking some hot water with Marmite/Bovril. Salmon, spinach and avocado will all help. And make sure that you really are eating plenty of fat.