Summer Low Carb Bootcamp - The Questions Thread

(507 Posts)
BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 16:18:52


Picking up on some that have already been asked today:

Can we eat dairy in Bootcamp?






BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 16:20:07

Is hard cheese out/is cottage cheese better?

Hard cheese tends to be very low in carbs or to be carb-free, whereas there are carbs in cottage cheese/cream cheese.

If in doubt, check the labels on the back of pack when you're doing your shopping.

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 16:24:18

Where is the list of allowed foods?

I don't know! They seem to have disappeared from the spreadsheet. I'll ask WillieWaggleDagger to investigate further.

However, if you click on the Veg Carb Counter tab, that will show you the list of allowed veg and their carb counts. It is also a spreadsheet that will work out the carb count of your vegetables in any recipe, should you want to count your carbs. (Just remember to clear the columns first, as you may find that other people have put values in from their recipes!)

When looking at the veg list, please make sure that you focus on using those veg/salad that are 3g carbs per 100g or less. You can eat other veg, but just be mindful that they can quickly add up to a lot of carbs.

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 16:25:36

Celeriac seems very carby - is it really allowed?

Despite its lush texture (try making soup with it - it's fabulous), celeriac is only 2.3g carbs per 100g, so it is very low carb. There are some lovely recipes that use it on the recipe thread

anchovies Mon 29-Apr-13 16:33:52

I'm new to all this and to be honest am finding the food quite exciting grin

Am just putting together this weeks shopping list and it appears that I can have this for tea? Surely not?!

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 17:04:23

Can I have coleslaw?

You have to be very careful with coleslaw as it can be very high in carbs - and they vary significantly. Often they are made with lots of sugar, plus the carrot content increases the carbs.

Home-made is much better. Here is a recipe that will serve two people:

125g white cabbage (less than 1/4 of a cabbage)
75g carrot (1 medium-sized carrot)
25g shallot (1/2 a banana/echalion shallot)

Slice white cabbage thinly
Grate carrot finely (don't use the largest holes on the grater)
Chop shallot finely

Add oil and wine vinegar - roughly 3 tablespoons oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar, and salt and black pepper. Stir everything well together. Leave for half an hour or so. Just before serving, stir in a tablespoon of mayo.

This will make 2 portions, each at 6g carbs

If you are buying coleslaw, check the carb count on the back of the label.

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 17:05:24

anchovies - you will wonder how this can possibly be a diet! And yes, absolutely, you can eat that. Just avoid the apple chutney and serve it with a lower carb veg on the side. Broccoli or leeks would be lovely with it.

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 17:09:31

What is Ubercamp?

Ubercamp is three days of strict low carb and no dairy meals. Look at the spreadsheet tabs for the meals, shopping lists and recipes.

This three day plan is great if you really need to be strict, and/or if you want to check if you have a dairy issue. But don't do it until you've completed at least two weeks of Bootcamp, as you will find it very difficult. You need to have switched from carb-burning to fat-burning before this will really work for you.

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 17:12:29

What can I snack on if I'm hungry?

One of the greatest joys of low carbing is that it suppresses your appetite. Your blood sugar levels will be stable, which will mean that you stop craving food. You may even find that it's quite possible to forget to eat sometimes!

That said, if you do find yourself getting hungry, then eat. But make sure that you're eating low carb snacks. Good low carb snacks include:

hard boiled eggs
cooked meats (try and avoid too much processed stuff though)

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 17:15:39

How many carbs per day should we be aiming at?

We don't have a specific level of carbs on Bootcamp as this would mean you having to weigh/count everything, and the whole idea is to make it simple.

If you focus on getting your carbs mainly from veg/salad, and only eat veg on the allowed list, then you will be keeping the level of carbs low enough to ensure that you are losing weight.

All the different low carb plans give different levels. Atkins' Induction (the strict 2 week phase that kicks off the diet) says 20g carbs per day. Dr Charles Clarke (who doesn't have an initial phase) says 40-60g.

Dr John Briffa says that we shouldn't eat more than 100g carbs per day - although I believe that this is more about maintenance rather than weight loss.

Also, the other reason for it being impossible to set a daily limit on carbs is that we are all different. Some people have to keep their carbs really low every day in order to lose weight, other people can tolerate more.

pennylovesleonard Mon 29-Apr-13 17:19:26

I am ttc so aiming to do boot camp lite.
I don't eat much meat - only chicken & ham really, so I'm thinking I'll be eating lots of eggs, cheese & salads, (omelettes?)

What do you think biwi? Any tips?

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 17:25:07

Not really sure why Bootcamp would affect ttc?

Re the meats, chicken is fine, but it can be very low in fat, so you'll need to watch that. Use chicken thighs, or roast a chicken and make sure you eat the skin (which you have slathered in butter/oil before you cook it!). If you're using chicken breast, make sure that you use a lot of fat in the rest of the meal - i.e. add mayo or cook your vegetables in butter/add butter to veg - fry rather than poach/grill the breast.

Ham is OK occasionally, but like all processed meats shouldn't be something you're having at every meal/every day.

Eggs, cheese and salad (with an oily dressing) are all perfect low carb food.

middleagedspread Mon 29-Apr-13 17:25:45

What about flax seed? it's quite filling, good on yoghurt but I wonder how carby it is?

middleagedspread Mon 29-Apr-13 17:27:37

Sorry, another bought prawn cocktail? the Waitrose one says 2.7 g per 100g, 1.7g sugar.

pennylovesleonard Mon 29-Apr-13 17:30:45

Cool thanks biwi!
I think it's just avoiding ketosis when ttc (? Not sure though..?)

Flax seed / ground flax seed is used in low crb recipes as the fibre is high so 'effective' carbs are low

However it makes me stall so I would be careful with it and maybe avoid for the first two weeks of bootcamp

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 17:31:52

Flax seed has 1.7g carbs per 100g, so it is low carb.

It's not something I have used much at all, but others have reported problems with it, I believe.

To be honest, though, you won't need to think about things being filling if you're eating low carb 'properly', as you really will find that you're not hungry between meals.

Penny I think that's pregnancy, I'm not sure about ttc

Middleagedspread you should be using fat to fill you up you shouldn't really need something like flax

twinklestar2 Mon 29-Apr-13 17:33:55

I've seen a few recipes on the recipe thread involving coconut milk. Are we allowed coconut milk?

middleagedspread Mon 29-Apr-13 17:34:07

Thanks, will avoid to begin with.

twinklestar2 Mon 29-Apr-13 17:35:21

Another one: are we allowed to eat things that are deep fried?

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 17:36:08

Oh yes, twinklestar2 - remember fat is good! Deep fried is perfectly OK on this WOE (way of eating)

twinklestar2 Mon 29-Apr-13 17:37:21

Great - thanks! If you can get back to me about my coconut milk question too, that would be great :D

BIWI Cote D'Ivoire Mon 29-Apr-13 17:39:32

You can happily use coconut milk, as it is 3.4g carbs per 100ml. Coconut cream is even better, as it is only 1.8g carbs. But avoid creamed coconut, as that is a whopping 22.1g carbs per 100g!

(All carb counts are for Blue Dragon brands. Carb counts do vary, so check the back of the tin/packet if you're choosing another brand)

twinklestar2 Mon 29-Apr-13 17:51:13

Great thanks! Thai green curry here I come!

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