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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.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Week 1 - Summer Low Carb Bootcamp starts here!

797 replies

BIWI · 29/04/2013 10:34

Morning all! There are over 150 of us signed up for Bootcamp, so it?s going to be busy I think. If you haven?t already put your name on the Spreadsheet of Fabulousness, here is the link so that you can add yourself:

Just add yourself to the bottom of the list and the lovely WillieWaggleDagger, our SpreadsheetMeister, will ensure that it is re-sorted to remain alphabetised. Don?t touch any of the blue columns!
We work in pounds, but if you are a metric person, there?s a tab at the bottom of the spreadsheet that says ?conversion? which will recalculate from metric to imperial.

It?s up to you whether you choose to enter your actual weight or to index it, i.e. you start today at 100, and for every pound you lose you drop by 1.

You will also see on the tabs on the spreadsheet the rules for Bootcamp, as well as rules for those of you who are vegetarian, and rules for Bootcamp Light, which you can move on to after two weeks of Bootcamp.

There are only 10 rules, and the thinking behind Bootcamp is that it should be as straightforward as possible to follow. If you follow the rules (yes, all of them ? and especially no 7!), you will lose weight.

The idea behind Bootcamp is that we have a strict fortnight of low carbing, to break the addiction that we have to carbs and sweet things. You are making sure that you are switching your body from burning carbs to burning fat, and you will go into what is called ketosis in these first two weeks.

All that this means is that you are fat-burning.

In the first few days of low carbing, especially if you haven?t done it before, you may feel a bit rubbish ? you may have headaches or just feel generally tired and achey. This is known as ?carb flu? ? and it means that you are withdrawing from carbohydrates. Sugar (which is essentially how the body views and uses carbs) is highly addictive, and your body will be craving it. Don?t give in! After a couple of days you will feel much better.

If you are feeling odd or ill, make sure that you are getting plenty of sodium, potassium and magnesium. Add salt to your food and cook with salt. Try making a drink from Marmite/Bovril. Good foods to include in your diet are spinach, salmon and avocado. Drink plenty of water and make sure that you really are keeping your fat levels up. Take some paracetamol if you have a headache (not aspirin or ibuprofen as these drugs can impede weight loss).

OP posts:
twinklestar2 · 01/05/2013 12:24

Thanks for menus!

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/05/2013 12:25

Just had a look at the spreadsheet of fabulousnessness and can't believe that swede is only 2.3g per 100g. So realistically I could happily eat a kilo of swede made with half a packet of butter.

Bollocking pointless bean sprouts are 16g per 100. Madness!

WhyIRayLiotta · 01/05/2013 12:26

I have lost the lb that Put on yesterday and another one too. delighted. I want to get into the 12st figures this week (I am now 13st 1lb.)

The meal plans sound great. I am going to steal some of the ideas!

Doshusallie · 01/05/2013 12:28

lidl yoghurt (170g)

lettuce, cucumber, mushrooms, lidl full fat mayo, smoked sausage and 2 boiled eggs - work lunch box

something with chicken and courgettes

pkt pork scratchings.

at least 2 litres of water, 4-5 black decaf coffees (I do have sweetener as can't drink it without Blush), 1 decaf tea with splash of milk

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/05/2013 12:34

I had lost nowt this morning.

That's one thing which is really apparent with this - previously on cal counting diets the weight comes off steadily. This though is more like a series of steps - you lose a few pounds, then lose nothing for a week. Then -whumph- out of nowhere you lose another lot of weight, and then is stabilises again. It's a bit strange, and can be frustrating when you have 10 days or so of no weightloss when you have not cheated at all, but you have to see it as a long game.

i have no idea why the weightloss is like that, there must be some scientific reason. It is just very different from what is considered the norm imo.

BIWI · 01/05/2013 12:38

GetOrf - I'm really not sure about polyols. Some interesting info here

They aren't advised on Bootcamp anyway, because they are artificial as well as being sweet, which we're trying to avoid.

And, they can have a dire effect on your digestion! Voice of bitter experience

Having said that, they can be useful to have as an emergency snack. I take them with me if I'm travelling anywhere (train or flying), so that I've always got something that is low carb to hand.

And occasionally some of them sneak into my cupboard Blush and I can't say that they have had a negative impact on weight loss. In weeks where I've been keeping a food diary, and I have had them, they don't seem to interfere.

So I'd say - not for Bootcamp, but once we're on Bootcamp Light they can be useful.

OP posts:
BIWI · 01/05/2013 12:39

and it looks like maltitol should definitely be avoided

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 01/05/2013 12:39

No, I wasn't thinking about bootcamp. Just for a chocolate treat when in dire need (thinking also of diabetic chocolate and ice cream).

Thanks for that link.

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/05/2013 12:44

Well that maltilol looks pointless - you may as well have sugar. How strange. I wonder what is in those atkins bars.

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/05/2013 12:47

Maltilose apparently. Mind you I have eaten them before and they didn;t have any ill effect. But probably if you had one or two a day it would slow the weightloss down.

Convert · 01/05/2013 13:06

Thanks for the answers to my question. Will persevere with the water!

Doshusallie · 01/05/2013 13:43

I had 3 thorntons sugar free chocolates last night - and had major runs this morning. Blush

MaryBeardfanclub · 01/05/2013 13:49

B: 2 hard boiled eggs with butter
L: bolognaise sauce with buttered cabbage, cheese on top
D: will be salmon with buttered spinach

My energy levels have really gone up massively - really noticed it yesterday as I've been feeling tired and headachy for 2 weeks previously. It could be AF has come and gone (1st one for 2.5 years) or maybe coming off caffeine. Anyhoo, it's great!

Smile
ecuse · 01/05/2013 13:54

GetOrf not for bootcamp but for longer term general low carbing I believe dark chocolate is fine (I have been having a strip or two every night for the last two months, and have lost a stone)

85% Green & Blacks or Lindt chocolate has about 22g in the entire (cooking size 100g) bar so about 7g in a couple of strips

NigellasGuest · 01/05/2013 14:08

you can beat some chocolate powder into double cream to create a syllabub type puddingy thing, if you're ok with dairy, and like cream! or add chocolate essence!
sorry for lots of !! .... I do get quite excited talking about cream and chocolate.... Blush

BIWI · 01/05/2013 15:29
Grin
OP posts:
BerylStreep · 01/05/2013 16:36

I was on a course with work about 6 weeks ago, and to avoid the scones, had brought Brazil nuts with me.

As I was snacking on them, the girl beside me piped up (uninvited) that I should be eating cashews, as they were healthier for me, as she tucked into an Atkins bar.

I just smiled and said 'what a great idea, I'll think about that'. Numpty. I hate people:
a. commenting about what I eat
b. dispensing rubbish advice

Anyhow, I'm off to Amsterdam this weekend, so I will probably weigh myself tomorrow and enter it onto the spreadsheet early. Cutting down on diary, especially milk, seems to have helped the weight loss.

VikingLady · 01/05/2013 16:51

We made our own ricotta yesterday! Low carbing is sooooo expensive that every little helps, and it is helping me maintain an interest in cooking. I am getting quite bored already...

Fried or roasted broccoli is gorgeous btw!

Finbar · 01/05/2013 17:04

Oh hell - fallen off the wagon on day 3...what's that all about?

Did ok all day until I got home and craved bisuits and gave in. am gutted
Had:
Greek yogurt and blueberries
mini babybel snack
Piri piri chicken for lunch
Assorted nuts
lots of water...

WHY?!!!

JustasmallGless · 01/05/2013 17:05

Viking- Lidl or aldi are your friend when low carbing

CarolBornAMan · 01/05/2013 17:17

Finbar - it happens, so learn from it, and get back on wagon! maybe get rid of biscuits until you are into the swing of the plan - I would just drink a load of water, review your goals that you had when you started the plan and get back into it - progress not perfection should be the mantra!

Finbar · 01/05/2013 17:27

But I did so well before!
(thanks though!)

Off to drink drink drink

CarolBornAMan · 01/05/2013 17:36

as long as it is not wine wine wine!!

dawnpreview · 01/05/2013 17:37

Today I had nothing for breakfast (I know, I know!), for lunch I had 2 black farmers sausages, 2 hard boiled eggs and some salad.
Snack this afternoon was some feta and a couple of spoons of Greek yogurt. Does that sound ok?
Not sure what is for dinner yet. I have also drunk loads of water. I feel quite tired, but I did do 30 mins on my elliptical and swam for 30 mins this morning.
Thanks to BIWI and willie for all their hard work :)

dawnpreview · 01/05/2013 17:38

Don't know what I miss most, wine or chocolate!