PMA - Positive Mental Attitude. It's a fairly new phrase that is fast becoming a cliché but the sentiments are still valid.

I've been trying to analyse why, after numerous restarts, I feel more positive this time. Why do I feel I stand a chance of succeeding this time? I think the answer is in my perspective of this very strict diet.

On other restarts I've felt I was embarking upon a period of punishment for having been such a glutton and for demonstrating zero self-control....

Another day done ... another day closer to my goal.

I did feel physically hungry a couple of times but I'm learning to embrace that. It seems that in our culture, hunger is something we are almost afraid of and will do anything to get rid of the feeling immediately.

How many diets use something like 'never feel hungry' as a strap line? But maybe we need to learn to feel hunger and not live our lives in a state of perpetual 'satisfaction' or even fullness. I know I've...

So here I am coming to the end of day 3 and, far from feeling depressed and hacked off I'm feeling motivated and upbeat.

I'm enjoying the taste of the Exante packs which is a bonus - it makes it less of a chore. It's nice to savour the meals rather than think 'get this down me', hold your nose and gulp it down.

Last night I dreamed about food. I remember this from the last time I was on a VLCD. The dreams are vivid to the point of almost being able to smell and taste...

That's day one out of the way. As day ones go, it wasn't too bad. The packs taste nice and there's less of a chemical 'after taste' than I found on Cambridge in the early days.
I had a vanilla shake for breakfast, a toffee, nut and raisin bar for lunch and a Thai chicken soup for dinner. I'm a bit hungry but not ravenous - I think I'll cope until bedtime.

One thing I noticed was just how many times I either think of food or eat it casually. In the afternoon, I walked through...

Well, tomorrow is 'D Day' and, hopefully, I'll be on the path to a new me. I've been on a VLCD before and know what I SHOULD have done to make my route to ketosis easier ... but have I done it? Nope.

On the contrary, I have fallen straight into the 'last supper syndrome'. I've basically gorged and binged my way through today because not being able to indulge in my favourite foods for a while isn't the most appealing of prospects.

So today (so far) I've had 2 sachets...