Hi Patricia
I have been on this diet for almost 8 weeks now and I have a further 9 weeks to go, maybe more if I don't reach my goal which will take me over Christmas. This will be really hard for me because I have all the family round for Christmas dinner and I will be cooking a huge menu but its only food and it is more important for me to finish what I started, get to my goal, refeed properly and then live a life of sensible, portion controlled healthy eating. Christmas happens every year so I will be able to join in with the food bit next year if I don't make it to goal this year. i will still be able to enjoy everything else about Christmas this year, the presents, time off work, seeing family etc.. It's only the food & alcohol I won't be having.
During the time I have been on this diet, I have had my son's 21st birthday for which I hosted a party at home with loads of fabulous chinese food my Mum cooked (including crispy peking duck & the pancakes etc..) ribs, curry etc. etc.. I stayed 100% TFR throughout the whole time. I have also had friends round for dinner for whch I cooked but I sat with my shake at the table.
I'm not saying it has been easy to stay 100% but I'm on this diet for a number of reasons including the obvious, to lose the fat that would have killed me eventually if I hadn't taken control, to get myself back in control of my diet & learn thatfood is not what makes life fun because I still do everything I did before LT, I see friends, go to work, go out to my dancing class, have friends & family round for dinner...nothing in my social or work life has changed apart from I have shakes instead of food. I obviously do all of those things so much better now as I have a wider choice of nice clothes to wear which makes me feel a million times happier, I don't feel uncomfortable because of the bulk I was carrying around, now that I have lost 2st 5.5lb in just 7 weeks, the long standing lower back pain I had has gone. I still have a further 3st 6.5lb to lose so I'm not even half way ere yet!
So I would not recommend eating anything at all because this is supposed to be a total food replacement diet which you shouldn't hop on and off. It's only food at the end of the day and I'm sure that if you explain to your friend what you're trying to achieve and tell her she can buy you some sparkling water to have in a wine glass so it's like you're having a glass of wine, then you're still doing everything you would normally do but just not the food & alcohol part.
At the end of the day, its your choice but I just thought I'd give you my view and experience so you can make an informed decision. Good luck.
