Thinking of starting LL - a few questions if anyone can help I'd be grateful?

[Greavsie]

Hi - I only discovered LL last week through a friend of a friend who has lost 6 stones on it and am now considering joining myself. I lost about 3 stone on WW about 2 years ago but have since put on all that I lost, plus an extra 2 stones for good measure (annoys me even to type that - grrrr) and am now back to a size 18.

Have had a good read of the LL forum on here (invaluable and inspirational!), have looked at LLC profiles on the LL website but have a couple of questions - grateful for any replies.

(1) When I first head about this I thought, wow, I'll wait until after Christmas because it is Christmas party season and it's going to be too difficult. However, the more I read the more persuaded I am to start now - however:

(a) While I think I can abstain for various office parties etc coming up I am unsure I can abstain for Christmas Dinner (I am cooking it for the first time for the rest of my family) - from what I've read eating christmas dinner would kick me out of ketosis, leading to the withdrawal symptoms people have described for 3 - 4 days, but NOT if I avoid carbs?;

(b) is anyone else considering starting or has started recently so we can support one another - esp through 100 days over christmas?

(2) I know from posts that your LLC counsellor is extremely important to how well you do and at £66 per week I understand that part of the expense is due to the CBT and TA element of the 2 hour weekly classes which is part of the attraction for me. I live in London (west central) and work in the City (square mile) so would attend a class near either. Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good LLC counsellors working in these areas?

(3) I have suffered hair loss in the past and this still resurfaces from time to time. Nourkrin seems to help with this so i need to stay on this. Would taking these tablets prevent ketosis? I think the answer to this is yes if sugar coated but then I can't really stop taking these so does this totally preclude LL?

Sorry to ask so many questions on my first post - any help very much appreciated and to all those who are already on LL - congrats on your success - loved reading your posts (Shadow, Chicken, Carolyne, Zemmie et al) and for the first time in ages made me think losing weight might be possible

Bests
Greavsie

[Isis]

Hi - I only discovered LL last week through a friend of a friend who has lost 6 stones on it and am now considering joining myself. I lost about 3 stone on WW about 2 years ago but have since put on all that I lost, plus an extra 2 stones for good measure (annoys me even to type that - grrrr) and am now back to a size 18.

Have had a good read of the LL forum on here (invaluable and inspirational!), have looked at LLC profiles on the LL website but have a couple of questions - grateful for any replies.

(1) When I first head about this I thought, wow, I'll wait until after Christmas because it is Christmas party season and it's going to be too difficult. However, the more I read the more persuaded I am to start now - however:

(a) While I think I can abstain for various office parties etc coming up I am unsure I can abstain for Christmas Dinner (I am cooking it for the first time for the rest of my family) - from what I've read eating christmas dinner would kick me out of ketosis, leading to the withdrawal symptoms people have described for 3 - 4 days, but NOT if I avoid carbs?;

(b) is anyone else considering starting or has started recently so we can support one another - esp through 100 days over christmas?

(2) I know from posts that your LLC counsellor is extremely important to how well you do and at £66 per week I understand that part of the expense is due to the CBT and TA element of the 2 hour weekly classes which is part of the attraction for me. I live in London (west central) and work in the City (square mile) so would attend a class near either. Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good LLC counsellors working in these areas?

(3) I have suffered hair loss in the past and this still resurfaces from time to time. Nourkrin seems to help with this so i need to stay on this. Would taking these tablets prevent ketosis? I think the answer to this is yes if sugar coated but then I can't really stop taking these so does this totally preclude LL?

Sorry to ask so many questions on my first post - any help very much appreciated and to all those who are already on LL - congrats on your success - loved reading your posts (Shadow, Chicken, Carolyne, Zemmie et al) and for the first time in ages made me think losing weight might be possible

Bests
Greavsie

Hi Greavsie and welcome aboard...

I'm on CD now but I did originally start with LL about this time last year. I came off to go on hols to Florida and then didn't get back on.

I would say start now if you feel very strongly about it. There will be other Xmas's etc.

In my experience,both my own with weight loss, and also my job with people who want to make changes about their drug or alcohol use, it is grabbing onto that first motivation and getting stuck in asap.

Hope this helps a bit,

Lacey....

[mags1x]

Hi there

I was worried about christmas when I started (my 100 days are up on Jan 6th) but now I don't care. Of course my opinion could change by then but I don't think so. I honestly do not feel hungry on this diet at all, although I won't kid you, not being hungry doesn't mean you won't want to eat! I cook for my daughter and clear away left overs every day without a huge struggle so I think I will be fine.

There is an argument if you wait you could gain another stone over christmas..... only you can know what you are like to answer that.

You may need to ask a proper LLC about the drugs question, I'm not sure any of us can answer that.

Anyway aside from all the queries and decisions to be made, I'd certainly recomend it!

Mags
xxx

[gaijingirl]

Hi there,

I had a counsellor in South London near where I live - but we did not hit it off. I now have a fantastic counsellor in Finsbury Park who is extremely knowledgeable and was involved with the setting up of LL and has been with it ever since. She would be a good person to ring about your other questions.

However, a) most counsellors seem to stop taking on new customers around now as it is so close to Christmas and b) they do not seem to advocate the idea of just eating protein regardless of whether or not it kicks you out of ketosis.

Hope this helps. I can let you know the counsellors name and number if you like - it's also on the LL website!

Best of luck. I have not regretted starting this diet for a moment!

[Greavsie]

Thanks so much all of you - I've arranged to go and see an LLC in just over a week so will ask her my questions then. From my phone conversation I understand they are now waiting to take people on in January. I am quite capable of putting on a stone over christmas but I am also trying to persuade myself I am equally capable of not putting on a stone - am steeling myself!

Bests
Greavsie

[mags1x]

you are definately capable of keeping the christmas stone off if you put your mind to it!

If there is one thing this diet has taught me, its that a lot of what I thought about myself was wrong, and I'm really going to try and remember that forever! What I mean by that is I have gone for 54 days without having biscuits/crisps/chocolate/normal food which is something I actually didn't know I was capable of.....

However I did manage to slip up this weekend and ate 3 cocktail sausages.... bad mags!! However I know that is just a little slip and I don't expect it to have any effect. Back on the wagon as it were and I just won't buy them again until after I'm done. ( Although I may have to give in and buy some over the festivities but hey-ho I'm doing well really!)

Confession over lol needed to admit to it!

Best of luck for next week when you se the LLC, I hope the answers to all your q's mean you can go ahead and change your life early next year!

If it all goes ahead, you'll notice a difference in yourself sooo quickly, it really does make it all worth the effort.

mags
xxx

[Shadow]

Hi Greavsie

I am very touched by your post that by reading about my lighterlife journey and that of other members you have been inspired and motivated to make the decision to start LighterLife. But mostly, I am delighted for you that you have been able to make the decision to change your own life.

LighterLife has now become normality for me and I suppose I take my weight loss for granted sometimes, but when someone new comes along it reminds me that to lost almost 6 1/2 stone in only 5 months is a dream come true. Not only do I have a healthier body but I have a happier and healthier mind as well.

I believe that the only way to succeed is 100% abstinance as I have done so if Christmas will make it difficult for you then I suggest you would be better to wait until afterwards. In the meantime you can prepare your body by gradually increasing your water intake and reducing carbs.

Keep motivated by checking the forums, and we look forward to hearing how you go when you start your group.

Good on ya girl.....Shadow x