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It's people like you who frustrate the hell out of me. :mad: Well meaning, but ignorant. This is not a regular diet, okay? And all calories are not the same. Alcohol is processed by the liver, and the liver uses its normal amount of glycogen stores to assist this filtration. If you are on...

I don't do anything to the shakes. They are supposed to be bland. It's part of retraining your tastebuds, and losing your sweet-tooth cravings. I take them generally at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm. (I split the man-size shakes into three portions, because I find it's easier to get through the day that way.)

Exactly right, and worth stating again and again. The weight loss is not constant, you will have good and bad weeks, but if you stay on the program you will continue to burn fat regardless of the weighing scales. And the end goal should be to get to a healthy weight. This isn't a diet that...

Hey Dan. Restricting yourself to 1000 calories a day, just makes the body change its metabolic rate. (Some people here call it going into starvation mode). This is probably why you're no longer losing weight. Lipotrim users lose weight by being in a state of ketosis, similar to the Atkins diet...

I'll tell you this. The program is not for everyone. It's very hard. On average, a man will lose about 21lbs a month. But that's an average. Some will lose more, some will lose less. This isn't a diet you can just start and stop. If you decide that all you can do is 8 weeks on the diet, then...

I generally don't go out while on the program. Yeah, my social life takes a hit, but this program is all about sacrifice.

Stef, drinking alcohol while on LT is actually *dangerous*. Have you spoken to your GP/Pharmacist about it?

Who did you speak to? That is simply wrong. There is no way that 5 litres a day is the minimum you should drink. 5 pints, I could see. But litres? Definitely not.

Depends on the gum. Some have sweetners that you're definitely not supposed to take.

At least you did a proper refeed each time. I understand that makes it easier to restart, than it is for those who just abandoned the program and jumped straight back into high-carb, high-fat, large portions again.

Yes, light headedness is normal. Are you doing the program with a pharmacist or GP? In either case, they should have explained the symptoms to you before you started.

It will get easier, but the first week can be really really tough. Many people try and fail. All we can tell you is that it's not impossible, and that you have to really want it. Think about how extreme this diet is. That's why it's only recommended for people starting with a BMI of over 30...

Refeeding after Lipotrim Total Food Replacement without Excessive Weight Regain. Preventing unnecessary weight gain after dieting... Remember, under non-dieting the primary source of fuel that the body uses for energy is its blood sugar. When the blood sugar supply gets low the body has...

No. You should have been given a full meal plan for your refeeding period. I've attached one to the post below.

Definitely the smart thing to do is follow the program to the letter. If you absolutely have to add something, the next best thing is to email the Lipotrim crowd directly. If you don't do that, the third best thing is to ask your pharmacist/gp (but bear in mind that we've all found that some...

Hi Cazzy, Yes, that is normal. In the first week, you are losing glycogen and water, but not fat. That's typically why most people can lose a large amount of weight in the first week. This weight loss can give people unrealistic expectations though, so I think it's important to remind...

"I am worried if i start lightly toning that i will put on weight at my weigh ins" Not really relevant. Unless you were taking steroids or something, there's no way you will put on enough muscle to counteract the amount of fat you'll lose on the scales. Plus, the more muscle you have, the...

Just bumping this thread to the front page...

http://www.minimins.com/lipotrim-forum/49300-omg-who-said-ok-add-curry-powder-shakes.html Some other people have tried adding curry powder, for example, it was NOT a good idea. See the link above.

I'm not a fan of adding anything to the shakes or soups. People are way too quick to assume that whatever it is they are adding, is harmless to the LT diet. And that's really not always the case. Check with Lipotrim or with your GP/Pharmacist before adding anything.

That's a lot of water. You might want to check with your GP/pharmacist that you're not overdoing it on the water side. Technically, no, maybe not. In week one, you typically lose glycogen and water. Fat burning typically doesn't begin until week two. It's important to make that distinction...

Well, unless your body chemistry was exactly the same when you started, no. Plus, some people who have failed at Lipotrim repeatedly find that the body almost gets used to the strict regimen and the rate of loss decreases with every attempt. Your GP/pharmacist could tell you more. To the rate...

Thought some people might find this interesting. Obviously there are going to be differences in the way we all react to the Lipotrim program, but somethings we can say with relative confidence. For example, it will take between 3-5 days for ketosis to kick in. Or that your first weeks weight...

Aye, that's something I've noticed too. I generally do as the others have said, and just have some water with me at all times.

You go back to normal food whenever you like. Obviously if you go back to your old eating habits you'll put on weight. But the idea behind maintenance is to get you used to real food, with real portions. It's a safety net type thing, for your own support. There's nothing to say that you will...

For those who are going for a low BMI you really need to make sure that your body fat percentage is low, and that your muscle mass is high, otherwise you can be at your ideal weight, but your body composition is still unhealthy.

Stop weighing yourself. You will not, repeat not, see a steady and continual decrease in weight. Your weight will fluctuate. It will rise, fall and stay steady. However, you will continue to burn fat and ON AVERAGE lose about a stone to a stone and half every month.

Refeeding is designed to introduce your body back to carbohydrates gradually, so that you don't just suddenly build up massive glycogen stores (which will also hold water) and so put on a lot of weight. It can take between 4 - 14 days, depending on how long you've been on the program...

I had the same question, and emailed Lipotrim. They said you could use LT until you had a BMI of 20. The recommendation of only using LT if your BMI is over 30, is a rule of thumb for pharmacists and GP's when it comes to telling their patients to try the program.

Yeah, that's definitely worth a warning. My first attempt at Lipotrim lasted 35 days, and I never cheated during it. I guess I got a little cocky about how a single blip wouldn't affect my ability to go straight back on the program. But it did. And the months where I wasn't on the program flew...

You *could* as in, if it was an emergency (you're a rare blood type, someone else with that type needed a transfusion from you only) but in terms of general blood donation, no.

You could try Paul McKenna's book (which comes with hypnosis CD) "I can make you thin" It tries to use neuro-linguistic programming tricks to change the relationship you have with food. Personally, I think hypnosis is a crock and while NLP might have some benefit, it's not the sort of thing...

The more you eat, the *worse* you're making it for yourself. Remember that the next time you are reaching for some.

Do not drink more than 4litres a day without checking with your GP or pharmacist.

Try keeping yourself busy. Go for a walk in the park, avoid the shops where you might be tempted to buy a snack. Or listen to music. Or find a new hobby which keeps the hands busy. Drawing, art, something like that.

Do not take less than the 3 shakes a day, or you will be depriving your body of needed vitamins and minerals. Your body requires a minimum amount of protein too, or you will start to lose muscle mass. Not only will this slow your metabolic rate, you will find that loose skin becomes even more...

Well done! 126lbs in 18 weeks is a terrific amount to lose. "I won the Asda Slimathon" Excellent! That's another great motivator.

It certainly won't do any harm, but it's not the magical fat-burner that so many advertisements claim. For a slightly more sceptical look at the claims, see here : Wu Long Diet Tea Review...The World's Best Fat Burner - Really?

Hi, Cramps can become more common (I usually get them while I'm lying down or asleep) but if you feel that they are getting really bad, you can buy some magnesium tablets from any pharmacist or fitness centre. Magnesium is very good for preventing muscle cramp as any physio will tell you, and...

It's a leaf tea, so I don't see why not.

The longest I've gone with slipping in some way was 35 days. However, I'm one of those people that has real difficulty recovering after a slip, so I know from experience not to cheat because there's a high liklihood it'll mean the end of my efforts.

A single sugar coated pill might be enough to take you out, but it's strictly short term. A couple of hours later, you're body will make the switch back to ketone production. (However some people find this metabolic switch-over quite unpleasant. I'm one of them.)

Probably because it's early stages. Magnesium is good at preventing cramps, but you should be getting your daily recommended allowance of that from the shakes. So I'd suggest more stretching before and after any exercise in order to avoid cramping.

It won't have made any difference, but it's a good indication of why you shouldn't be weighing yourself during the week. Stick with weighing yourself at the pharmacist. Remember that your body weight can fluctuate by as much as 9lbs depending on what you've eaten and drunk during the course...

Guilt about it is a useless emotion, but try to get back on the program. Be aware that some people find it harder to get back on the program after a slip like this. If you can get back to the program, then remember that a slip like this will only set you back a day or two at most on your...

The first weeks loss is not representative of the other weeks on the diet. In the first week, you'll be losing glycogen and water, (some of which you'll put on again when the diet is over) but from week 2 on, you're losing fat. And you can lose up to a stone and half a month on average...

Wouldn't risk it.

Yeah, that's to be expected. Noises, reverse burps, the whole icky-mess of the thing. Fibre-clear or other similar products can help bulk up loose stool and keep the colon in decent shape.

As others have said, approximately 3 months.

Not yet... Tried to get back on it Sunday. Failed. Trying again today.

Your weight loss will slow down and speed up. It's variable. Don't worry about that. Even when it appears to plateau, you'll be doing fine.

Too many arm exercises focus on the biceps, while the sagging skin problem tends to be from the back of the arms, at the triceps. Working on building the muscles in your arms will help the skin problem, but obviously, don't overdo it while on this diet.

Was at my massage class earlier. Class went really well, but it takes a lot out of you. (You'd be surprised.) On the way home, I felt so weak that twice I started walking towards a fast-food joint, and both times I pulled myself away. Then while waiting for the tram, I got a phone call from a...

I had the trouser thing *almost* happen. I realised I was constantly pulling them up and keeping them from falling down. That was when I realised I needed to downgrade a waist size.

Well done on resisting! I doubt I'd have been able to. Right now, there's no way I'd cook for anyone. Wouldn't want to risk the temptation. (Fortunately, I'm also a lousy cook. :) )

I stand by what I said. I wasn't trying to put a dampner on her. Far from it. I've just seen people with unrealistic expectations for week 2 (set by the great loss in week 1) get very disheartened and quit when they only loose 4 or 5 lbs in the second week. And I didn't want to happen here.

What? Show me one person here who's lost 14lbs in week 2. I won't hold my breath.

Ethel? Sounds like a granny. As in granny pants. :)

I would consider it, if I have the loose skin problem that some people seem to get. However, from some of the reading I've done up on the subject, it appears that the loose skin issue won't happen (or at least not so much that it needs surgery) if you continue to work on building muscle and...

"I know the chances of losing this much next week are unlikely" Not unlikely. Impossible. This week you lost something like 3lbs of glycogen and 11lbs of water. Please bear that in mind, and have realistic expectations or you'll be setting yourself up for disappointment.

Rimski, You do know that next week won't be anything like 10lbs, right?

It's probably not tea. In which case it's not on the program. I have 3 blends of mint tea, and they all specifically say tea on them.

If there's a shop nearby which sells slim-fast products, a slim-fast soup is the most similar to Lipotrim of all the slim-fast products. (In terms of ingrediants and calories and protein/carb/fat break down) You could probably take one of them in a pinch, if you were really stuck.

I'm with you minimay. It's my biggest worry about losing the inches from my gut.

Nah, Rosiered, I'm not particularly delighted, and not really waiting for the next weigh in. I'm sort of mellowly taking it a day at a time.

I had a lot to lose. :( Besides, that's just the glycogen and water. Glycogen is stored mostly in the muscles, and despite me having arms like twine and a belly that Buddha would be proud of, my legs are actually quite muscular. (How could they not be? They routinely lug 19 stone around, as I'm...

Just throwing this out there : "My ketostix are telling me that I'm not in ketosis!! But I've been good! Should I just stop the diet, as I won't lose weight if I'm not in ketosis?" No. Ketones will spill into the urine ONLY when there is more in the blood than is being used as fuel by the...

Yes, it's perfectly normal. They will pass. It seems to affect coffee-drinkers more than non-coffee drinkers, but in any case, they are a temporary symptom, and will pass.

Yes, it's quite common. (didn't get them myself, but it seems to hit coffee drinkers more frequently than non-coffee drinkers)

If they do say anything, just mention that you're on a ketogenic diet, under medical supervision.

Well, sending will-power your direction anyway. :)

Just a suggestion, but now would be a good time to try and get used to drinking tea/coffee without sweetners (or at least less sweetners). I used to be someone who would have milk and 2 sugars in my tea. My mother drank tea with milk and no sugars, and occasionally if there was a mixup, I'd...

Why did they stop making them, do you know? Are they dangerous in some way? If so, stocking up is hardly the best thing to do.

It's very tempting I know, to keep weighing yourself, but you really shouldn't. Your weight is going to fluctuate all the time. I mean you're drinking lots of water, right? 1 litre of water weighs 1 kilo = 2.2 lbs. If you start fretting and freaking every time the weight loss slows down, or...

This is perfectly normal! Your pharmacist or doctor should have told you to expect it. In the first week, as your body gets used to the new diet (for me it happened on day 3) you may go through a period where you get loose stool or feel like you have diarrhoea. This is temporary and will pass...

It happens, and it's to be expected. Basically, your body is constantly trying to adjust to the new you, but the new you keeps changing so quickly. :) A week or two weeks where you get a massive energy burst can be compensated for by the body, by triggering the release of large amounts of...

Lain, calm down. This was your first weigh in. The reason that so many people on Lipotrim have a great first week, is because they are losing glycogen and water. Not fat. You were already dieting, so chances are you didn't have much glycogen or water to lose. You'd already lost it. (That's...

It won't make a difference, if that's what you're concerned about. Unlike most here, I actually like the shakes a lot. (Hooked on Strawberry. I've tried the vanilla and the chicken soup, but they're not really for me.) I make it with about 500 mls of water, and I have an electric hand-held...

That's great! Keep it up. Remember that this week might be more difficult than normal, but the good folks here are sure to support you and help you through it.

"with alcoholism or drugs you are advised to totally give up and not touch a drop." Absolutely true! Something I've told friends of mine before, but they don't seem to understand it. You can't tell an alcoholic to just have one drink. And you can't tell me to just have one slice of pizza. :)

If this is a journey, I've barely got my coat on. :) It's day 8, and so far, no problems and no issues. Lost 10 kilos so far, and that back pain I used to get when walking (after I hit 117 kilos) is gone, so that's a plus.

what the hey, here's mine then, in some detail. Breakfast - 500ml coke, 330ml orange juice, tea, two pain-au-chocolates, 1 croissant, mars bar or snickers. Snack - bar of chocolate or two. Lunch - Could be either 4 sandwiches (bacon&cheese, cheese&onion) or 2 baguettes (chicken turkey bacon...

You must drink the water. Lipotrim is not new. It has been going in the UK since the 80's. You're not the first person on it who's had to deal with T.o.t.m. and nowhere is it even suggested that you should not drink the water just to get a good reading one week out of the month. Follow the...

So are you back on the plan today, like you wanted? Let us know!

Excellent loss!! A credit to the program. Sticking with it *does* pay off, even if weight loss is fluctuating from week to week and day to day. Month by month, you average a stone (for a woman) or a stone and half (for men). People shouldn't get discouraged if the scales don't appear to move one...

I say to hell with the cold, just wrap up warm and go for a walk. I can do about 5km in the hour, and that's not bad at all.

Rachel, chances are it's the water then. It should really be consumed throughout the day, though yes that means more frequent trips to the loo. The driving seems to be the culprit there, from what you tell us. The only thing I could say would be, changing your drinking habits (and finding a...

Good luck in the exams, but seriously, you brain will always be able to come up with a reason to quit this program. It puts a lot of stress on the body because it's so extreme. Headaches are a possible side effect, but temporary. Drinking more water can help with that. Since you're only on Day...

Hi Rachel, Check your ketone levels. That's the first thing. The ketones are what should keep you from feeling hunger pangs. Second, are you drinking enough water? Many people find it difficult to manage the minimum of 2 litres a day. But water is another thing which helps manage the appetite...

I wouldn't dare put down a full days worth of what I was eating. It was so much more than any of the ones above. (Not that this is a contest. :) ) I mean, you're putting down a bar of chocolate as a snack.. I would buy 2 of the 5-packs of something like smarties or snickers, and they'd be gone...

Please bear in mind that the two stone you lost on LT was not two stone of fat. Even with a good refeeding program you will regain some of that massive weight loss we all experience in the first week. That's because in that first week, you exhausted your bodies glycogen stores. Regular bodies...

That's amazing, and very inspiring. I still can't imagine myself doing 30+weeks on the program, though I need to. My starting weight was over 19stone and I want to lose half of that too. It's very cool to be able to read the success story of someone who has managed it. Can I ask, is there an...

I found out I was going to be an uncle, and I didn't want to be like my uncle kevin (a great man) who died when he was 55. I wanted to be like my aunt vera who is 80 and still acts like a young girl. (You know, gender issues aside. :) )

Chances are that your system is not reacting to the diet. It is a virus or infection of some sort. If you're worried about undoing the work that you've done in the last few weeks, don't be. Refeeding (even if done for one week) will not undo the work you've done. LT's refeeding program is also...

They recommend that you do not do exercise in the first week. Some slight exercise in the second week. More moderate exercise in the third week. By week 4 you should be able to do anything that you were capable of doing before you went on the program. I followed this advice the first time I...

I would say you have to turn them down. It's not what you want to hear, but it's the safest bet. This program is very strict and demands a lot of sacrifices, and this is one of them. The social life takes a hit for those few weeks or months that you're on the program. Many people get to the...

It will set you back to square 1, day 1. If you're okay with that (because you've only been on it a week) then that's your business, no-one elses. Just be aware that many people (though not all) find it difficult to start the program a second time, regardless of how long (or short) they've been...

Always a problem with the massive amounts of weight loss that Lipotrim can bring. The tempting little demon that wants us back on the food, changes tactics and tells us that we've done so well, and we're so close to the finish line, why not just let regular healthy eating and exercise take us...

A lot of people are finding financial problems are on the rise at the moment, and so like myself, can't afford gym membership. Do people have ideas for exercise plans which don't involve the gym? I got a Wii-Fit for christmas, so that's one idea, but obviously can't apply to everyone. I walk...

By eating now (I know you have to) you WILL be bringing your body back into that state where it's expecting food all the time. That can be a very difficult stage for some, as it makes it really difficult to get back on the program.

Kurt Russel, The Thing

To be honest I usually wake up having to go to the toilet at least once, but apart from that, my sleep patterns are unchanged.

You're going through something that most of us have (or will) go through while on the program. Because you're in ketosis, the body isn't actually hungry. The hunger pangs you feel are your body's reaction to the recent food that you had. It's cravings from habit, and the reassurance that food...

If you post the details of your weigh in each time on the board, I'm sure there'll be plenty of encouragement and congratulations (or sympathy and encouragement if that week hasn't been too good) posted by the other members.

Hey there. Definitely come on to the forum and try not to feel shame or guilt or embaressment. We all know how hard the program can be at times, especially because I'm sure all of us have used food as a crutch of one form or another for years. We're all trying to break that habit. Just think to...

Yes, that's just one of the changes. I remember the first time I woke up smelling toast, and I was alone in the apartment. I thought I was having a stroke or something, but it was the neighbour downstairs who had toast on. After a month, I found that my tastebuds had actually changed quite a...

Lain, check that the cuppa-soups have no carbohydrates. I wouldn't recommend them, unless you were completely stuck. I have found, by comparing the ingredients and breakdowns, that Slim Fast soups are the most similar (of all the slimfast products) to the Lipotrim shakes. They could possibly be...

I vary mine a lot. Sometimes have one in the morning. Sometimes have my first at lunch. I confess that when starting the program, I do favour taking a fast day and sometimes if I'm not hungry, I will not use the full complement of shake powder in the same 24 hour period. That builds up a small...

I'm in. 9 stone to lose and will probably need the support.

Well, the longest I ever stayed on the program was 35 days. I certainly found it harder after "cheating". So I'd highly recommend not cheating. That makes it easier. In terms of strategy, I try to occupy myself with other things, and shut down my social life (kind of) because I couldn't...

Thanks Demaris. Good to know that these symptoms are typical.

Don't want to alarm anyone with that headline, but some friends of mine have diabetes (have had it for years) and luckily, I don't. (Or at least didn't at my last check up, despite my weight problems.) One of them was reading a blog entry of mine where I described the sensations I associated...

More than likely you've just delayed getting into ketosis, and reminded your body of food, and your mouth of flavour and texture. These things might make it difficult to stay on the plan. Now the little tempting food demon in your head has two plans of attack... First "You've had that tuna. You...

Well I'm just glad to see that there are other Coke Zero fans out there who've found it didn't interfere with their plan. I'll try to avoid it myself. But I'll know that if I have it as a treat, it'll be relatively harmless, since it hasn't produced any cravings in me this first week. (And the...

Try to take your mind off of it. Watch a movie, read a book, or go for a walk. Definitely drink some more water. Water is the friend of the LT'er and it can help deal with hunger. On the other hand, if it's a psychological hunger, then you've got to focus on the positives and remind yourself...

Thanks Miss. I kept a diary during my last two efforts, so I know roughly when to expect the cravings based on previous experience.

I would say it's definitely a good idea, but in moderation. The first time I was on the program, I was also in training for a 20km run. The run was hell, and I fell off the program big time once it was over. I think if I hadn't pushed myself so hard, I would have stayed on the program longer.

Not be a negative nelly (because that's a great first week's loss) but just a reminder that week 1 is always a lot more than other weeks. (Because that's when you're losing the glycogen and the water that it contains.) It's all fat-loss from here on in though. :) I only felt the need to mention...

Okay, thanks for clearing that up Linda. I hadn't found that it produced any cravings in me, but better safe than sorry.

The online panic about aspartame is pretty groundless, IMO. Just my 2cents.

OKay, so it's a no-no. But it's not because of citric acid. There isn't any in it. (As far as I can see.) So does anyone know what the reason is? I'd heard Aspartame could have an impact on ketosis, hence no Diet Coke on any ketogenic diet like Atkins. But still, not sure.

Hey all, I know that on LT you drink water and leaf teas and black coffee. But does anyone know what is the effect of drinking diet minerals? I'm downing at least two litres of sparkling mineral water a day (because I really can't stand the flat water) and plenty of tea, but I do love coke...

Thank you Cherry, that's good advice. If I find myself having to cheat in the future (though I hope to god I won't) I'll stick with some form of meat/fat and no carbs, like on Atkins.

Hey everyone. I've a question about the cheating/restarting trap that some people (myself included) have fallen into. I've tried Lipotrim twice before. The first time, I lasted 35 days. The second time a mere 18 days. In each case, the moment I fell off the wagon, I fell and crashed. And in...