The first 4-weeks, remembering how to do it!

Hello all,

I'm at the end of my first week on SnS and apart from the mental, rather than physical food cravings, I'm feeling positive and excited to see what my first scale reading says tomorrow. As an ex-Cambridge plan dieter, I'm exploring the SnS range and so far, I'm pleased to have made the change! The meal packs are stuff of a VLCD'ers dream and the greater variety is something that I know I'll be thankful for in a couple of months time.

A little about my weight loss history...

I did the Cambridge plan in 2010 and lost nearly 5st (from 16st 3lb), dropping to 11st 7lbs. When I came off plan, I tried to low carb it and started weight-lifting in an attempt to repair my metabolism. It was semi-successful and I managed to maintain my weight between 12st and 12st7lb ish for 18months. I went on to dabble with Weight Watchers and more "lenient" ways to maintain but my penchant for Saturday night takeaways (that turned into Sunday night leftovers) proved too great and my weight kept creeping back up the scales.

I fell pregnant last September and at this point, weighed 13st 11lbs. In my mind, I won't deny... being pregnant gave me carte blanche to eat anything I wanted over the following 9 months. And I took full advantage of it!

My 2nd child was born in early May and now, almost 3-months on, I'm weighing in at 16st 1lbs, I'm determined not to go back above my old old weight from before I started CD, so here I am!!

I love the discipline of a VLCD and my body used to respond well, both with weight loss and minimal side-effects. Having said that, my husband has just messed up his knee (ice-skating with my eldest of all things!) and the challenge of being Mum, Dad, Nurse, and Husband while he's out of action is testing my patience! And when I'm fed up, I just want to throw myself at a big bowl of honey-roasted peanuts, a bottle of gin, and a tub of Phish Food. Tonight has been the worst for this BUT I'm not letting it get the better of me, I've got weighing-in day to look forward to tomorrow!

Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and say a big "hello!"

Hope you all have a great week on plan :wavey:

Hi there

Without the children in the middle that's a similar story to mine. Just wanted to say good luck and don't listen to those who say it can't be done second time around. It can.

Have a great day

Hello, good to hear your story one a lot of us can relate too. I lost 4 and a half stone on a VLCD in late 2012/early 2013. What with one thing and another and an international move I am ashamed to say I piled the weight back on but here I am again second time round and 3 weeks on plan so far and 17lbs lighter already. Good luck for your weigh in.

Clinquant said:

Hi there

Without the children in the middle that's a similar story to mine. Just wanted to say good luck and don't listen to those who say it can't be done second time around. It can.

Have a great day

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Thanks! Your losses are amazing, you're not far from goal now - bet that feels amazing, you're clearly proof that it can be done (again!). I remember lurking on here the first time around and remember reading "warning" stories from 2nd timers who found it far harder to return to once the initial novelty had worn off. Your tale is an uplifting one!

Skinny girl said:

Hello, good to hear your story one a lot of us can relate too. I lost 4 and a half stone on a VLCD in late 2012/early 2013. What with one thing and another and an international move I am ashamed to say I piled the weight back on but here I am again second time round and 3 weeks on plan so far and 17lbs lighter already. Good luck for your weigh in.

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We're very similar in terms of losses and gains then, 17lb in 3 weeks is amazing - how are you finding it?

Well I couldn't wait to jump on the scales this morning and I'm over the moon to discover an 11lb loss! I'm sure the weather has helped, I've probably sweated out at least 4 of those lbs this last week. Week 2 is now looming and I'm starting to discover my favourite packs.

The only thing I'm struggling with is finding something to eat if I've got to be out all day... I only like the shakes blended with ice, which leaves bars as my only option. Having a bar is my late-night treat though! (with a can of Asda Coke Zero), so I'm loathe to sacrifice that for daytime sustenance. I might take a flask out (I use one for the baby anyway) and make the shake hot with a tsp of decaf coffee granules - have read about the container exploding under steam pressure though, so will have to be careful!

What do you do when out and about?

That's a brilliant loss. Well done.

Always found the out and about difficult. I actually like the SnS salt and vinegar crisps. It does in practice make it a lifestyle day but I have used it instead of or as an extra pack sometimes for convenience. Because they are high protein they are more filling than you'd think. Other than that I used to make crisps or cookies when I did lighter life. But the flask isn't a bad idea. They say the vitamins degrade after 10 minutes or so but I doubt it makes that much difference. You can add a multivitamin if you wanted.

Clinquant said:

That's a brilliant loss. Well done.

Always found the out and about difficult. I actually like the SnS salt and vinegar crisps. It does in practice make it a lifestyle day but I have used it instead of or as an extra pack sometimes for convenience. Because they are high protein they are more filling than you'd think. Other than that I used to make crisps or cookies when I did lighter life. But the flask isn't a bad idea. They say the vitamins degrade after 10 minutes or so but I doubt it makes that much difference. You can add a multivitamin if you wanted.

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Thanks Clinq! I've just ordered some "lifestyle" snacks from The Kee Diet (the thought of bbq flavour nuts reeled me in).

I'll feel more comfortable knowing that I've got a mini-stash of things that I can grab from to throw in my bag if I know I'm going to be out all day. Spent today at the local hospital and I *just* couldn't bring myself to eat the bar I'd packed, knowing I'd have to do without later if I did. Funny how our dopey brains work, I was starving when I got in! Serves me right but I'm savouring the bar now with my coffee!

Curious about the crisps/cookies you used to make, is that like when you mix a pack into a thick paste and nuke it in the microwave? (I remember doing that on Cambridge, saltiest chicken crisps ever haha!)

My ketostix arrived today, I've just tested and they say I'm not in ketosis?! Not even mildly. I've been sticking to plan but something must be keeping me out? Worried that I'll be burning muscle, rather than fat. My thoughts are that it's just taking me longer than the norm to reach ketosis (I'm on day 8 ), the coke zero (two cans a day) is preventing me, the liquid stevia in my coffee (decaf) is preventing me. Or, I'm just one if those unfortunates who won't enter ketosis unless daily carbs are below 50g, in which case, I'll have to majorly rejig what meal packs/shakes I can have. Has anyone got any thoughts on what is the most likely culprit?

charlottelottie said:

Thanks Clinq! I've just ordered some "lifestyle" snacks from The Kee Diet (the thought of bbq flavour nuts reeled me in).

I'll feel more comfortable knowing that I've got a mini-stash of things that I can grab from to throw in my bag if I know I'm going to be out all day. Spent today at the local hospital and I *just* couldn't bring myself to eat the bar I'd packed, knowing I'd have to do without later if I did. Funny how our dopey brains work, I was starving when I got in! Serves me right but I'm savouring the bar now with my coffee!

Curious about the crisps/cookies you used to make, is that like when you mix a pack into a thick paste and nuke it in the microwave? (I remember doing that on Cambridge, saltiest chicken crisps ever haha!)

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Yes I think the snacks are a good idea. I mixed and matched products too but wasn't sure how hardcore you were. And yes the crisps were the nuking the paste jobs and if you burnt them they were bitter. I used to quite like the thai ones and the sns thai soup is similar to the lighter life one.

As for the ketosis I think you probably are in ketosis. If you are drinking the water your wee will be too dilute for it to show. Try them first thing but I wouldn't rely on them - however nice it is to see the purple. If you continue to lose well I wouldn't fret about the amount of carbs you will definitely be burning fat.

charlottelottie said:

We're very similar in terms of losses and gains then, 17lb in 3 weeks is amazing - how are you finding it?

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I am just as determined as I was the first time around. I know it works but the key for me this time is working out what plan to follow to keep it off. I have 3 children so we are always out and about and on the go especially in the school holidays so even though it is hot I take a flask and have a soup pack or I take a bar. All my bars live in the freezer so they are solid I prefer them like that. I must admit when I am meeting up with other people I make excuses about having just eaten or I eat later and then try and eat the bar when they are not looking but that is only because I don't want people to know what I am doing.

Brilliant first week loss well done. As for ketosis I just assume I am in it but have never tested my wee this time or last time for that matter.

Keep up the great work, we can do this.

Clinquant said:

Yes I think the snacks are a good idea. I mixed and matched products too but wasn't sure how hardcore you were. And yes the crisps were the nuking the paste jobs and if you burnt them they were bitter. I used to quite like the thai ones and the sns thai soup is similar to the lighter life one.

As for the ketosis I think you probably are in ketosis. If you are drinking the water your wee will be too dilute for it to show. Try them first thing but I wouldn't rely on them - however nice it is to see the purple. If you continue to lose well I wouldn't fret about the amount of carbs you will definitely be burning fat.

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I'm not hardcore at all when it comes to ways to get through a VLCD, whatever keeps the losses going but my head in a happy place is all good by me! I tested again, first thing this morning and it was up to the next level (one from the baseline). I think you make a really good point and I'm not going to obsess over it. Much. I guess that if it's still not showing any signs of ketosis after a week, I'll drop the coke zero and see if anything happens!

Skinny girl said:

I am just as determined as I was the first time around. I know it works but the key for me this time is working out what plan to follow to keep it off. I have 3 children so we are always out and about and on the go especially in the school holidays so even though it is hot I take a flask and have a soup pack or I take a bar. All my bars live in the freezer so they are solid I prefer them like that. I must admit when I am meeting up with other people I make excuses about having just eaten or I eat later and then try and eat the bar when they are not looking but that is only because I don't want people to know what I am doing.

Brilliant first week loss well done. As for ketosis I just assume I am in it but have never tested my wee this time or last time for that matter.

Keep up the great work, we can do this.

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Good for you! Yes, it's no joke about the hardest part of weight loss being the maintenance - we all know that a VLCD doesn't address our tendencies to overeat, why we do it or how to stop it but it is nice to give yourself a "break" from food, which I think is therapeutic in itself. I'm a PCOS'er so I've always found that my best way to maintain is by reducing the carbs. Sadly, that in itself isn't enough for me to lose weight - I'm toying with the possibility of not beating myself up over maintenance this time around and simply accepting that I may need to VLCD for 4 weeks every 6-8 months to keep things in check.

Hope you're having a great week of it!

Well, I had my first Scrambled Egg pack yesterday. I'd been dreading it but it was actually quite nice (I made a mushroom omelette out of it with a few drops of tabasco) but I could "sense" an overpowering taste of artificial egginess that I'm sure would be revolting if I hadn't added the extras!

Finding myself going off the shakes though, I always have one first thing either with ice or hot (I don't do room temperature!). Not sure if that's just because I don't like them or simply because I prefer the other stuff. Think it's because I prefer the soups and mealpacks rather than out-and-out disliking the shakes tbh. Kinda like my 5yr old who decides that if something isn't as good as chips, she doesn't like it.

Tested for ketosis again this morning and I was off the baseline but only by one square. I'm not going to obsess over it though, I'll test again next week and if there's still nothing showing, I'll cut out the Coke Zero. Off to do a shop now for everyone else in the house, must avert my gaze from the chocolate eclairs (and the biscuits/crisps/booooooze!)

Scrambled eggs packs sound horrible!

I'm going to struggle like you as I am at work from 715am until 4.30 & don't want to tell people at work I am doing this. I used to love the Cambridge cartons as they were so quick & useful for days out. Not sure what I will do apart from a bar unless I tell my boss .... Tomorrow will be my day 1 so that will be fine and then half day frid so it's going to be Saturday being day 3 that I will find hard. I work in a cafe so no lunch break or anywhere to hide & make a shake!

notlongnow said:

Scrambled eggs packs sound horrible!

I'm going to struggle like you as I am at work from 715am until 4.30 & don't want to tell people at work I am doing this. I used to love the Cambridge cartons as they were so quick & useful for days out. Not sure what I will do apart from a bar unless I tell my boss .... Tomorrow will be my day 1 so that will be fine and then half day frid so it's going to be Saturday being day 3 that I will find hard. I work in a cafe so no lunch break or anywhere to hide & make a shake!

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Yep, the quicker they introduce cartons, the better - I think I read that it was in development ages ago... but nothing seems to have come of it! I've picked up some "snacks" instead from the Kee website, so will have to turn any out-and-about days into "lifestyle" ones. Not ideal, but better than succumbing to the temptations of Costa/Starbucks at lunchtime!

If I worked around food, I'm not sure I'd have the willpower to do it! Hope your first day went well, off to read your diary and find out!

Today's been a good one, considering...

It started with a hazelnut shake that I made hot with a touch of decaf coffee. Big mistake... I had to hold my nose to get it down me. Will try it iced next time and minus the coffee!

I spent the afternoon trudging around Ikea... stomach growling as the scent of meatballs reached my nostrils. No caving for me though, I sat angelic-as-you-like while my daughter troughed a plateful... the cowbag even washed them down with apple cake. I'd hold a grudge were she older than 5.

I think I've finally gotten the hang of the swede chips in my actifry. I'm using a couple of squirts of the garlic-infused frylight, not sure if that's allowed but it makes them extra-delicious!

Hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to the weekend!

Well done on staying on the straight and narrow. I have never tried a shake hot, always blend mine with loads of ice. My official weigh in day is not till Sunday but sneaky weigh ins have told me I have not lost anything yet this week which I am not happy with. I know daily weighing doesn't help but I am being 100% and expect losses!