Thread: newbie

Hi everyone this is my second day on slim and save, i've switched over from the cambridge diet, I just want to ask a few questions and hopefully get some good advice from people with experience, as im really confused

I have started to exercise after being on a vlcd for 3 months. Is it really ok to do cardio on a vlcd? Im currently running 5 times a week and hour each time. Also how will I tone without adding more muscle to what I have, I'd rather just keep the same amount of muscle im carrying.

Does exercise stop losses on a vlcd? I've noticed my losses have stalled in the last few weeks ive been exercising? If so does inch loss happen instead?

Finally, I've lost loads on my top, around my waist etc, a small amount on my thighs but still, not very much and my calves haven't lost much at all either, they aren't just muscle, there's fat surrounding the muscle to, Will I lose on my lower half eventually?

Originally Posted by Littlemissalice

Hi everyone this is my second day on slim and save, i've switched over from the cambridge diet, I just want to ask a few questions and hopefully get some good advice from people with experience, as im really confused

I have started to exercise after being on a vlcd for 3 months. Is it really ok to do cardio on a vlcd? Im currently running 5 times a week and hour each time. Also how will I tone without adding more muscle to what I have, I'd rather just keep the same amount of muscle im carrying.

Does exercise stop losses on a vlcd? I've noticed my losses have stalled in the last few weeks ive been exercising? If so does inch loss happen instead?

Finally, I've lost loads on my top, around my waist etc, a small amount on my thighs but still, not very much and my calves haven't lost much at all either, they aren't just muscle, there's fat surrounding the muscle to, Will I lose on my lower half eventually?

Hey hun,ill try and help you best I can...exercising is fine on a Vlcd but listen to your body and don't over do it,when I did Cambridge before my consultant said to give it a week or so before exercise so my body gets used to the calories,if you feel weak or hungry have an extra pack or some chicken,I've noticed on any diet I do as soon as I exercise my weight loss is slower or it stops,i think its quite common,but you will still be losing inches so make sure you measure! As for the calves id put my life on it being the running! When I was doing a lot of running on the treadmill my calves were huge,I so soo upset! They were very muscly but like you they still had fat around them,id calm down on the running,and maybe try swimming instead?once I stopped the treadmill they went back down,I've quit the gym now and do Jillian Michaels 30 say shred,its amazing,I've never done anything like it,really is great! Goodluck xx

Hi, welcome to the forum.

First of all, I have to express my concern. With a BMI of under 25 you really shouldn't be doing a VLCD, I'm surprised that you found a CDC who would agree to sell you Cambridge products. The advice is that, for those that start above 25, you work down to that and then move to a higher plan to get to the point below 25 that you want to be. You have a BMI of 19, that's considered to be underweight and so you really shouldn't be doing a VLCD. Basically, when you have a BMI of 19 then, regardless of how you see yourself, you actually don't have a great amount of body fat. So when you do a VLCD like Slim and Save that puts you into ketosis, you're actually doing yourself far more harm than good. If you're in ketosis but don't have a lot of body fat, like you at the moment, then your body will be losing lean muscle mass for energy instead of fat. This will not only put extra strain on your heart etc. but it will actually make you look even less toned.

Slim and Save ask you to agree to their VLCD conditions, one of those is agreeing that you don't have a BMI of under 25. So if you've been able to order S&S it's by ticking that without really answering it honestly. That's one of the problems with having an online VLCD I suppose. They do ask that question for a reason though, which I've explained.

Generally losses do slow down if you exercise a lot on a VLCD, for some people. This is because your body is already working at a massive deficiency and the exercise just pushes it too far. For those that want to exercise intensely, a VLCD probably isn't the way to go. You will generally lose inches still though, though you lose inches a lot slower than lbs.

My advice to you? Give up doing a VLCD, I don't think that you need it at all and I think that's shown by the fact that your losses have stalled but also it's just not healthy for you anymore. You're putting yourself at risk. Start eating a healthy, balanced diet that's high in protein. Keep on with your running, I'd say do that 3 times a week and then also add resistance training on the 2 days that you've stopped running. That way you'll improve your body fat to muscle ratio, which will make you look more toned. You say you don't want more muscle but that's what being toned is, losing fat and gaining muscle to improve that ratio. You just obviously don't have to gain muscle to a massive extent but at the moment you'll actually be losing it.

I hope you don't take this post in a bad way or as criticism, it's really all said out of concern.

Totally agree with the above post. At a BMI of 19 you should not be dieting at all. But it doesn't mean you can't eat healthily. In my opinion it is wise to watch carbs and to eat more protein, especially if you are wanting to build some muscle. if you are exercising you will be putting on some muscle but not a great deal, if you are eating a low cal diet.

My view is that you should up your cals to at least 1500, make 50% of that protein, 10% as carbs and the rest as fat. get rid of your S&S packs and eat normal food. Oh, and get some counselling to deal with your body issues.

On my mobile so can't see your weight,bmi etc and assumed you had a lot more to lose,I agree with the above posts,you're doing more damage than good doing a vlcd! Goodluck xx

Thank you for your advice I dont want to become a walking skeleton, I actually thought that may be why I was staying the same weight, to be honest with you I like where I am now, but I really do need to concentrate on toning more than anything. I'll look at the 30 day shred and start to increase my calories now so I don't lose any lean mass by accident.

It's nice to have someone who takes advice so well! It's really what would be best for you. If you do the 30 day shred and have a high protein diet, I guarantee you'll see the results that you want.

I've spent ages in the gym with no noticeable results,but a week into 30 day shred I could see a difference,lost an itch off each arm in a week too,and they've toned up quite well,Defo increase your calories now,if you feel you need to follow a plan then maybe maintaining on something like slimmingworld red days would be good for you xx

Can only echo what several posters have said. I'm 9 stone 2 with a bmi of 22 - I can't see your stats but with a bmi of 19 you should not be dieting, let alone a VLCD.

If you feel the need to be so restrictive about your food intake and also combining this with a full on exercise regime I'd question whether you should seek counselling if some sort to get to the root of it all.

The 30ds is amazing. Esp level two in my opinion

Originally Posted by Bananas

The 30ds is amazing. Esp level two in my opinion

Did level two the other day! Not so good on the abs as level one was but my God it makes me sweat loads! T shirt was soaked through,I actually felt like I was on biggest loser haha x