I am in a similar situation! I'm 36 (will be 37 this year) and also did meal replacements in 2009 with good results! I lasted only 6 weeks, but did get 2 1/2 stone off in that time. A holiday scuppered my attempts though.
I have been trying ww and sw ever since, although had a break to have my second child. The weight all came back on and you can see from my side-bar how big I am now!
I never thought I'd go back to a meal replacement diet (I did Cambridge before), but here I am on day 2 of Exante. I think the reason I'm doing it is that I need to re-set my brain in a way, and just not think about food AT ALL for a while. I might just do this for a kick-start and then go back to healthy eating and calorie control, or if I am enjoying it and doing well, I may stay on Exante until I reach goal (here's hoping!).
I think that you have to be in the right place to start a VLCD, not only in your head but make sure that there are no pressures. This week hubby is off work, so it is a perfect time for me to start, as he's very hands on around the house and with the kids. Also, I have started having real mobility issues and painful back etc, so I'm really fed up with being so big.
I was spending loads of money on Physio, so thought I may as well spend the money on something that is going to help me long-term!
I wouldn't try starting a VLCD unless your head is in the right place, as it is so hard to get through these first few days. I'm so hungry right now and just want to go and eat something, but I know that as soon as I'm in ketosis, I will feel much better.
What I found really motivated me to really go for it, was to read through the success stories on here, especially the before and after photo thread, the pics are so so so inspirational! Also go to youtube and search for 500 before and after pics, there is an amazing video on there with hundreds of pics. Seeing that all those people, many of them as big as me have done it, really made me want to join them!
Also, don't know whether you have kids, or want to have them, but I have a 5 year old and an almost 1 year old, and thinking of not being around for them just kills me, so I am using that as motivation too. Not that it's worked in the past, but lately I have been feeling so unwell with my weight, that it's made me focus more on my health.
If you want a buddy, then I would be more than happy for us to support each other, I need all the support I can get too

and I think it really helps to read everyone's diaries. I have read through a few of them, and seeing people get through it week after week is really motivational too.
Just think, if we can stick to this, we could have lost 4 or 5 stone by summer! No covering up, sweating, hiding indoors in front of a fan etc! No sitting on the beach fully dressed!

Not sure how much you have to lose, but they say an average of a stone a month, so maybe you could plan something nice to do for around the time you would reach goal?
Hugs, and all the best of luck
