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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:
CarolBornAMan · 29/04/2013 13:47

Thanks HalftheSize - hoping to steal your NN from you at the end of this!

toomuchtoask · 29/04/2013 13:48

I am hungry too Attackofthefiftyfootwoman.

halfthesize · 29/04/2013 13:52

Custardo tomatoes are very carby! Attack you should notbe hungry, eat something perhaps a boiled egg.

halfthesize · 29/04/2013 13:54

carol I used to be mummyduff but changed after bootcamp this time last year Grin

newlark · 29/04/2013 13:57

I've put in my actual starting weight from Thursday as I have actually managed to stick to the rules (veggie version) for the last 4 days and want to include the 4lbs I have lost so far in my total as a motivator!

Yoghurty · 29/04/2013 13:58

A-ha!

Have added my weight to the spreadsheet and am ready.

I'd said on the other thread that I've been LC-ing since January, but more bootcamp light (dark choc/nuts/ground almond baking)

I'm aiming to lose another 14lbs on this bootcamp - as I am 4lbs off 2 stone already.

I'm fortunate that coffee and dairy don't stall me but I'm going to take the hit and stop drinking my daily soya latte for the next 2 weeks to see if that gives me a nice 'boost' to restart me Grin

dawnpreview · 29/04/2013 14:00

Had tuna with some baby leaf spinach and a bit of feta for lunch. Really want something sweet right now :(
I feel a bit headachy, but not particularly hungry.

cathyandclaire · 29/04/2013 14:02

For whoever asked about mini Frittatas...Fry leeks in olive oil, chop in bits of ham (or fry up some bacon) and mix together with grated cheddar add beaten seasoned eggs (quantities really don't matter) and pour into fairy cake/tart/muffin tray and bake in hot oven until brown and risen.
Also fab with sausage and mushroom, asparagus and parmesan etc etc...good cold for packed lunches.

Kahlua4me · 29/04/2013 14:13

Just added my weight to the spreadsheet. I am so shocked by how much I weigh that knowing that makes me feel ill and off food that hopefully that will help with sticking to the plan!

Off to supermarket now to stock up

HavingAnOffDAy · 29/04/2013 14:22

cathyandclaire it was me - thanks Smile Thanks

They sound like a nice breakfast

MsRinky · 29/04/2013 14:23

Morning all. Just checking in. Have been off-piste for the last month or so, and have weighed in this morning. Have been duly punished for my transgressions, as have gained about 7lbs back, which I now have to lose before I feel like I've made any actual progress. Stupid. And I have to go to my in-laws at the weekend, and tomorrow is my last day in my old job and there will be fizz and cake at my send off. Damn life getting in the way of bootcamp.

However, 8 weeks tomorrow I am off to Glastonbury and it is going to be hot and sunny, so I am resolute.

timidviper · 29/04/2013 14:38

I've added myself to the spreadsheet. if I had lost all the weight I have over the years linearly without regaining and so losing the same weight over and over again, I'd be at goal by now. As it is I still have well over 5 stone to go but I am over 2 stone lighter than when I started this way of eating so onwards and downwards as we say!

I cooked a pork joint in coconut milk in the slow cooker over the weekend. I had a bit of that with spring onion and 2 duck eggs for breakfast. Will have a prawn salad in a minute as I am not hungry but know I won't last till tea time and will have turkey escalopes, creamed leeks and asparagus for tea.

twinklestar2 · 29/04/2013 14:45

Hey all,

Have signed up and am raring to go.

Today?s menu:

B: 2-egg omelette fried in olive oil
L: chicken, salad leaves, cucumber and anti pasti from the salad bar in Tesco: olives, mini peppers, sliced peppers ? hope that?s ok?
D: some sort of meat and veg ? probably more chicken!

2 questions:

Firstly, would this recipe: www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_206732_RECIPE-PRINT-FULL-PAGE-FORMATTER,00.html without the potatoes be ok on Bootcamp?
Secondly, how many carbs per 100g is an acceptable amount?

prettybird · 29/04/2013 14:46

Signing in. I think I'm 11 stone but our scales have finally given up the ghost; after being frustrated that after 3 days of ubercamp last week and not seeing any change (hovering around 11stone/11 stone 2lb), yesterday they tried to tell me I was 9 stone ShockShock. Tried again and they were then saying 9stone 10lb Confused. My ultimate objective is 9stone 13lb and having lost 2 stone 2lb (I think) since I started Boot Camp on 7 January, I dont think I have finally and magically achieved my objecitve Grin

So I'm off to Sainsbury's today to double up my Nectar points and buy new scales.

Anyway, the ubercamp did achieve its objective: I was able to fit in to my old Nicole Farhi dress for the rugby club ball on Saturday night :)Wine:) It was still very tight and one button in particular was gaping ever so slightly - but dh tells me I was the only person aware of it. And I was still able to eat! I've loaded a picture on to my profile :)

In fact, I managed to still stay pretty much on the WoE even at the Ball - minus the roll and the potato, thefirst two courses were pretty much LC/HF and the dessert was chocolate mouse with a berry compote. What's more I only have about 4 Wine over the whole evening (2 and a half glasses of bubbly and 1 and half glasses of dry white wine) and lots and lots of water.

I allowed myself yesterday off - had a few mini eggs that ds has been nagging me to open since Easter and a couple of chocolate chip cookies and pieces of tablet that I made for the cake stall that we were running yesterday for the kids at the rugby club plus a small rice crispie cake that fell on the floor - but I'm back in the zone today :)

PennyHofstadter · 29/04/2013 14:46

MsRinky, I too have been off piste and gained about 6-7lb back. I too have a team lunch tomorrow as one of the team is leaving (its not you is it?!) so I sympathise with life getting in the way.

EwanHoozami · 29/04/2013 14:47

I'm in. I've maintained pretty well from the last bootcamp, only 3lb on. And they shall begone!

B: Lidl yog
L: Chicken thigh and leftover braised cabbage
D: Chicken liver salad

Now I'm bouncing around near maintenance I'm going to be more mindful of things like portion size, cutting out the milky coffees that had crept back in and keeping a watchful eye on cheese intake. Just some tweaks, really.

If you're new to this - welcome! Don't be shy to ask questions, share your recipe successes and shopping finds and to shout if you feel like you need a bit of support.

timidviper · 29/04/2013 15:01

Can I just say, as a piece of advice to newbies from one who has done this before, that I think one of the keys to making this easy for yourself is to follow ALL the rules of bootcamp as strictly as you can for the first two weeks. I find it works much better for me if I stick to this as much as possible as it seems to give me the kick in the pants I need to move forward.

frenchfries22 · 29/04/2013 15:24

Day one completed for me!
Breakfast omlette
Snack cucumber and Philadelphia
Lunch big salad with mayo
Dinner home made veg soup and salad
Need to try harder on the water front tomorrow
Those frittatas are on my list for tomorrow would be great as a work snack

Doshusallie · 29/04/2013 15:33

twinkle - I think the recipe is okaaaaaaaaaaaay, but tomatoes are quite carby. We aim for below 3-4g per 100g.

Lidl yog for breakfast.
smoked sausage with lettuce, celery, mayo and two HB eggs for lunch.

1.5 litres of water so far today, 1 decaf tea and 2 decaf coffees.

JustasmallGless · 29/04/2013 15:38

Wave

Doshusallie · 29/04/2013 15:46

[crackle of radio] Red 10, Red 10, this Red 9, Justasmallgless spotted on MN, I repeat, Justasmallgless has posted on MN, over....

halfthesize · 29/04/2013 15:56

Waves to Gless

Just having a snack of celery and soft chilli cheese, yummy...

prettybird · 29/04/2013 15:57

Tonight's meal is not going to be terribly Boot Camp-ish Blush: ds has been desperate for me to make chili and I've refused as I was still following Boot Camp rules (and even doing ubercamp) in my desperation to get in to my dress.

I ended up promising him I'd make it for him after the Ball - and I thought if I got it out the way early on, it would do less damage Grin. Dh and he can get it with rice - while I will try to minimise the amount of kidney beans in my portion!

ecuse · 29/04/2013 15:58

Hello all

Haven't logged in for a couple of weeks, but thought I'd see how everyone was doing.

Have been not-quite-bootcamp-but-reasonably-strictly doing low carb/primal type eating for about two months and have lost a stone so far without really feeling like I'm on a diet. My partner has lost about half a stone in the last month doing it (slightly more obsessively than me - he's closer to Atkins than primal). We've both visibly changed shape as well, so we look like we have lost more than we physically have. I read somewhere that traditional calorie-restricting diets make you lose muscle before fat, wheras LCing means you lose fat first but retain muscle bulk (and therefore don't necessarily get lighter as quickly). This certainly seems to be the case with us. Anyway, I've done it more for long term health reasons than to get slimmer but it turns out I am really loving being slimmer!

We're off to spain on holiday for a week this weekend, and then moving house gradually over the next fortnight, so expect there'll be a few slips off the wagon, but I feel like I genuinely could do this forever. It feels really right.

DP and I had some of our 2yos birthday cake at the weekend, and we both reallly noticed how the carbs lead to another carb craving straight after. Neither of us has ever been very 'in tune with our bodies' before, so to eat this way and actually physically notice what food is doing to us is a revalation.

Have added myself to the spreadsheet!

JustasmallGless · 29/04/2013 15:59

Shh for Gods sake you'll have the klaxons going Doshie!!

For those newbies who are wondering whether LC is the way for them I can honestly say it is the best thing that ever happened to me.
I lost 2 stone last year on first Bootcamp and have maintained since then mainly through alcohol!!
However my mental health as well as rosacea has improved dramatically and I'm back to being me again.

Keep posting daily and we WILL get you through

Ps has anyone linked to the wonderful recipe section on MN yet?