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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:
prettybird · 05/05/2013 22:38

If you must graze throughout the day although it may be more of a habit - one I'm guilty of too - then try to have things like boiled eggs and cooked chicken (skin on) and even small tubs of clotted cream in the fridge. That way if you do succumb to the need to snack graze, then you should last longer until the next time you feel genuinely hungry.

decaffwithcream · 05/05/2013 22:39

It is a lot of fun browsing your supermarket for tempting things you can combine into a nice meal 2712. It only takes a minute to put the meal together. Lidl has a lot - like individual hot smoked salmon fillets and feta-stuffed olives.

2712 · 05/05/2013 22:40

Not sure how much I weigh as don't have any scales....too scary.
I am ATM a size 12 but veering towards a 14 as pre menopausal and seem to have turned from a very happy pear shape into a not so happy apple shape overnight.
I guess my weight is about 10-11 stone and I am 5ft 7.
not hugely overweight, just feel very wobbly.
Did the Atkins diet very strictly and successfully about 12 years ago, but that was when I was in my mid 30s and pre DCs.

timidviper · 05/05/2013 22:46

Jax I too am very crabby and maudlin today. Don't know if it is anything to do with the eating, hormones or just me! I am pissed off with everybody!

BIWI · 05/05/2013 22:52

2712 - look, you either want to lose weight or you don't.

If you're prepared to contemplate low carbing, and how to do it, then there is lots of good advice here.

If you don't want to do it, then that's fine too. It's up to you.

OP posts:
2712 · 05/05/2013 23:10

I do I just don't see the necessity of eating 3 rigid meals each day.

BIWI · 05/05/2013 23:12

Fair enough. But Bootcamp means that you need to eat three meals a day.

OP posts:
Bessie123 · 05/05/2013 23:14

Grin 2712 don't mess with BIWI

BIWI · 05/05/2013 23:15

Oh Bessie. You know me only too well!

OP posts:
BIWI · 05/05/2013 23:17

2712 - if you want to join Bootcamp you will be very welcome. There are ten rules and you have to follow them.

The rules have been designed on the basis of what works for weight loss. The first of which is to eat three meals a day.

OP posts:
2712 · 05/05/2013 23:30

BIWI, you are so like my old math teacher Grin

BIWI · 05/05/2013 23:42

Hey - less of the old! Grin

OP posts:
2712 · 05/05/2013 23:47

Sorry!!!!
Seriously, I am a snacker, grazer, whatever. Find a regimented 3 meals a day hard, so all snack suggestions are great.

BIWI · 05/05/2013 23:50

Seriously.

If you have to snack, at least start off with a decent low carb breakfast. You may/should find that you won't need to snack after that.

Please look at the Bootcamp rules and try to follow them. They have been designed to deliver appropriate weight loss.

OP posts:
prettybird · 05/05/2013 23:54

At least start with the principle of three small meals a day, using HF/LCD guidelines. Then if you are still hungry and feel the need to snack/graze, do so. One of the great things about Boot Camp is that if you are hungry, you are allowed to eat - as long as it is HF/LC.

And drink plenty of water.

Bessie123 · 05/05/2013 23:55

2712 why don't you have a look at the 5:2 threads as well? They may suit you better..?

Ilovemyteddy · 06/05/2013 06:28

2lbs off for me this week, which is a bit disappointing as I've been very strict. Off for a swim before work now, hence the early post!

sybilfaulty · 06/05/2013 06:36

Teddy, 2lb off for me too. I have had two small lapses though so I am quite pleased. How much do you still want to lose? I recall that you were nearly there so perhaps weight loss is slower as there is less to go? Enjoy your swim.

sammisatt · 06/05/2013 06:38

4 pounds off for me this week. Hooray.

I've got a hideous cough and have been up all night with it but was too scared to take benalyn and it undoing all my good work. Are their any sugar free cough syrups out there?

CalicoRose · 06/05/2013 06:45

I lost 4 pounds!

Can't really believe it.

But now I'm worried the other way. People say if you lose weight by low carbing, when you stop it all comes back and more. Is that true? Do I have to low carb for ever?

sammisatt · 06/05/2013 07:09

I think if you go back to getting your carbs from wheat, sugar, potatoes etc then yes, you will put it back on.

This is a way of eating not a diet. Of course you don't have to be as strict as this to maintain and can introduce berries, nuts etc later on which makes it even more doable as a long term way of eating.

I've been low carving since October and have no desire to go back to my old ways as i don't want to feel starving, bloated, deprived or to gain weight. This way of eating suits me and I can honestly say i feel I'll do it forever!

Tigglette · 06/05/2013 07:18

First week and 3lb off - TOTM for me so I'm delighted with that result! Looking forward to seeing how every else is doing.

milliemoomay · 06/05/2013 07:43

Well done all :-)

I've lost a 1 lb which although isn't a great loss, I'm pleased. Altleast It's not a pound gained which is great considering I spent a few hours in a pub yesterday. Lunch there was Liver and Bacon (NO mash!) and salad. And a Mount gay Rum & Tonic - the taste of sunshine in a glass.

Thanks BIWI for your words of wisdom and occasional thwack with your big stick! You're brill - wish I'd found this site ages ago.

I'm off to try the Nigel Slater recipe posted by BlackAffronted - sounds yumm.

MillyMollyMandy78 · 06/05/2013 07:43

I stayed the same this week but not really surprised as had a big birthday family meal and wedding both over the weekend, so obviously ate more than usual then.
Anyone else having problems adding their new weight to the spreadsheet? I couldn't do it this morning - something wrong as not showing the list of all our names, only the rules etc?

MillyMollyMandy78 · 06/05/2013 07:48

It's ok - sorted it now. Didn't have much sleep so was me being a bit dizzy!

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