Lighterlife Lite views for a very desperate person please

[tkinsey]

Hi All

I am thinking of starting this diet next week - am seeing a consultant on Saturday.

I have read both wonderful and terrible things about this diet but am thinking seriously about giving it a go. I am addicted to food plain and simple. There are many treatments for people with alchohol, drug and Anorexia but they do not seem to take food addiction seriously. This diets seems to deal with both the mental and physical addictions.

I ballooned when I was pregnant with my daughter 18 years ago - pregnancy was an excuse to stuff myself silly but paid for it big time after. Three years later I lost 4 stone with a low fat diet and intense exercise. Alas after 10 years of keeping it off I put it all back on again. I would try the same diet again but I am older, less fit and have a very demanding job which keeps me away from home a lot so it is not feasible.

I have now got to the stage where I am having to wear clothes and wash and dry them over night as I refuse to buy bigger clothes. I also went on a girls holiday a couple of weeks ago and today have seen the photo's. I was mortified, angry, upset and totally disgusted and embarrassed at my appearance.

I am desperate to lose the weigth by summer. Is this feasible and how true are the horrific stories of hairloss, gallstones etc.

I think I will definitely going for it but would any views would be greatly received.

Appologise for unloading all this but am probably as desperate as I have ever been.

Thanks in advance

 

[zombiegirl]

HI.I am on Lighterlife total and have lost 3 and a half stone so far with another three to go. Of course I can only speak from personal experience, but i feel more well than I have done in a long time. Not only do I feel fitter and lighter (because I am!!) My skin is great and my nails are stronger. I am calmer and my moods are more even in general and I am sleeping much better than I was before I started the diet.Don't get me wrong, the first week was a nightmare for me as I gave up drinking diet coke as well as carb withdrawal but after about day 5 I woke up feeling great. I am not hungry and have energy enough for the work and the gym. I really feel this diet is beneficial for those like us addicted to food. The groups are really helpful and I have done more thinking about myself and the reasons I eat than ever before. I really believe that if I keep working at it I can succeed. Of course I still have bad days where my brain throws out new things to confuse me and put me off (my latest is goal setting) but this is all good stuff, it means you are changing and as long as you deal with it you are making progress. Apart from the first week, I have had no negative side effects healthwise. My doctor is delighted with me, my blood pressure is good and my cholesterol is healthy. Give it a go!

 

[tkinsey]

Hi Zombiegirl

Thanks very much for your post. You have done amazingly well - you should be so proud of yourself. Your comments have made me even more sure this is the way I need to go. I am more confident now that it will help me 're-train' my brain when it comes to eating.

My goal is to stop living to eat and begin eating to live.

Thanks again

 

[Spanglymum]

Hi there! I lost 5 and a half stone on lighter life total and can honestly say none of the 'horror stories' were true in my experience. It was two years ago and I still feel amazing. LL is just a set of tools - packs and cognitive behavioural therapy - that can help you if you choose to use them.

You sound a bit panicky and desperate in your post. I've been there. It's not nice! Perhaps thinking of LL as a door to a new way of being rather than as some kind of 'drastic' diet might help you? It's quite radical, yes, to replace food with packs, and it won't suit everyone, but for some of us it's really helpful to take a break from conventional food and look objectively at our relationship with it.

Best of luck!

 

[tkinsey]

Hi - you did great!!! It is also good to hear that you are still feeling good after two years. Some people said that they put the weight back on when they finished but I guess it is the mental side that may not have worked for them. You need to be focussed to achieve good results - you cannot rely on purely the physical change, it has to be mental to.

I think you are right in saying not to look at it as some drastic diet - which is the way I have been looking at it. I go for my consultation tomorrow and I am beginning to be a lot more positive about it thanks to both yours and the previous reply I received. I would like to thank you both for making me feel more purposeful than desperate in what I am about to imbark on . I am feeling much more positive.

Thanks

 

[tkinsey]

Well went to see a consultant on Saturday and she was great - I am genuinely amazed at her depth of knowledge of how the body work. I have been on many 'group' diets and diets of my own and have never come across a consultant who knows so much.

As I am borderline BMI, for the first 4 days I am doing 4 packs a day then moving onto the LLL programme. I am now on day 3 and so far so good. I was really sceptical when I received my food packs - though that there was no way they were going to fill me up. I can honestly say, that I have felt hungry once and I am a big eater!!! I am even finding it easy to not cheat when my family are around me watching TV and eating Haagendas, crisps, chocolate etc. How long that will last I don't know - am strong because it is early in the diet.

The only issue I forsee, is that I work away a lot. Am trying to plan out what I will do whilst I am away. Will really need to plan before I go.

Will be going back to the consultant tomorrow to see how I am doing - fingers crossed that it has got my weight loss of to a good start.

Thanks for everyones support. xx

 

[weasey]

When you are away I would suggest that you have a bar and two shakes. You can make the shakes up in half a bottle of small water if you are stuck (just drink half the water, cafefully add the powder, put the lid on and shake!). Have your bar at lunch time and your shakes at breakfast/supper. Then have your protein meal for tea. I tend to have lean steak (fillet is the lowest calorie) and salad.

 

[tkinsey]

Firstly - congratulations on your weight loss - it is absolutely amazing!!!

Thanks for the good suggestion.

I will do that.

Thanks

 

[weasey]

Firstly - congratulations on your weight loss - it is absolutely amazing!!!

Thanks for the good suggestion.

I will do that.

Thanks

Thanks!

 

[tkinsey]

Well today I went in for my first check. Only started this Sunday so was only three and a half days of diet so wasn't expecting much but was stunned that I have lost 4lb already!!!!

Have to say that it gave me a massive boost and has made me even more determined.

Trying hard not to expect to much on Saturday, which will be my normal weigh in day from now on, as I don't want to be disappointed if I don't lose any more this week.

Will let you all know how I get on. ;-)

 

[tkinsey]

Weighed in again today (Saturday) and only lost 1lb since Wednesday. So that's 5lb in a week. I should be happy with that but because I lost 4lb in 4 days I was hoping I would lose another 3lb in 3 days. I know that's unreasonable but can't help feeling a little disappointed.

I should learn to be more patient ;-)

 

[nomoreyoyo]

Hi. I start LLL on Wednesday next week. Reading this thread I am actually really excited. 5lbs in a week is amazing seeing as its taken me 6 months to lose a stone on WW.

What sort of meals do you cook for the evening?
Xx

 

[tkinsey]

Hi

This is definitely the best diet I have been on. I marinade pieces of chicken with various herbs and spices and either grill them or put them in a foil pocket and bake. My favourite is the dried piri piri mix. I have them with a range of veg, mushrooms, tomatoes. I also do strips of beef in Chinese five spice with either a salad or veg. I also have omelates with onion, mushroom, tomatoes etc. There is a thread on here that has some good recipes.

Weighed today after 4 weeks (a day early) and have lost a stone. Am so focussed and determined, more than I have been in years. Have also gone down a dress size to.

Good luck with your journey. Let us know how you get on.


xx

 

[bradgirl]

Hi all, I have read your threads and your weight losses sound amazing - well done to you all.
I am thinking of giving it ago, but want to ask a few questions if that is ok.

How much does it cost per week.?
How long do you need to do it for.?
Can you socialise on it.?
How does it work with a family around at meals time?
How do you choose what you are going to eat , can you buy at a supermarket ?
Do you plan what you going to eat?


I am following slimming world at present - but seem to be all over the place so thought perhaps if I was a little more restricted it may help me. What do you think?

Thanks for reading this and I hope to hear from you.

 

[weasey]

Hi all, I have read your threads and your weight losses sound amazing - well done to you all.
I am thinking of giving it ago, but want to ask a few questions if that is ok.

How much does it cost per week.?
How long do you need to do it for.?
Can you socialise on it.?
How does it work with a family around at meals time?
How do you choose what you are going to eat , can you buy at a supermarket ?
Do you plan what you going to eat?

I am following slimming world at present - but seem to be all over the place so thought perhaps if I was a little more restricted it may help me. What do you think?

Thanks for reading this and I hope to hear from you.

Cost - £15 plus the cost of your foodpacks - tends to come to a total of around £72 per week. Remember that you won't be buying coffees in starbucks or take aways. There are cheaper options for doing the same type of diet but they don't come with counselling.

Time - You should lose roughly a stone a month.

Socialise - Yep. I went out for meals with people - I just didn't eat. Fizzy water and coffee. Really enjoyed myself still! In the pub I have fizzy water. Not a problem.

Family - You can have a pack whilst they have a meal. Some of the packs are sort of like little meals - so pasta carbonara or chilli for example.

What to Eat - You eat 4 foodpacks a day - you get these from your lighterlife counsellor. No other food or milk.

Plan What to Eat - You can choose any of the packs at any time (but a max of one bar a day). You can have chilli for brekkie if you're that way inclined...

 

[bradgirl]

Cost - £15 plus the cost of your foodpacks - tends to come to a total of around £72 per week. Remember that you won't be buying coffees in starbucks or take aways. There are cheaper options for doing the same type of diet but they don't come with counselling.

Time - You should lose roughly a stone a month.

Socialise - Yep. I went out for meals with people - I just didn't eat. Fizzy water and coffee. Really enjoyed myself still! In the pub I have fizzy water. Not a problem.

Family - You can have a pack whilst they have a meal. Some of the packs are sort of like little meals - so pasta carbonara or chilli for example.

What to Eat - You eat 4 foodpacks a day - you get these from your lighterlife counsellor. No other food or milk.

Plan What to Eat - You can choose any of the packs at any time (but a max of one bar a day). You can have chilli for brekkie if you're that way inclined...

Thanks for your reply.
Are there any downfalls about LL? Also what is RTM.?
Do you get hungry?
Do they encourage you to do exercise?
Can you give yourself a time scale Like do it for two months ?
Is there a cooling off period ?


Thank you again

 

[Spanglymum]

Are there any downfalls about LL?

It's quite difficult until you get into ketosis - definitely mind over matter. You might also get constipated! (sorry if TMI) but psyllium husk capsules (from Holland & Barrett) and drinking plenty of water will help avoid that. The packs are an acquired taste. People do better by thinking of them as medicine or a means to an end rather than the "food" packs they label them as. Having said that, I found 95% of them totally palatable - but be prepared that they can taste strange at first!

Also what is RTM.?

Route to Management - a structured programme where you carefully re-introduce normal food at the end of the plan.

Do you get hungry?

Yes - at the beginning, VERY - until you've got into ketosis. After that - only occasionally - and only because it's "mind" hunger - ie the kind of occasion where you might have turned to food for comfort/emotional reasons previously (eg being tired or stressed or upset). Bear in mind you're using the energy from your fat stores to fuel your day-to-day life - and if you're overweight you have PLENTY of calories available. The packs are there for your vitamins, essential fatty acids and protein.

Do they encourage you to do exercise?

Yes, absolutely! Don't go mad in the first couple of weeks but then yes, whatever you enjoy. Walking is great.

Can you give yourself a time scale Like do it for two months ?

It's totally up to you how long you choose to go with the programme for. You pay weekly, for the counselling sessions and for whatever packs you buy.

Is there a cooling off period ?

You don't sign up to a contract so there's no cooling off period. You're not tied in!

Hope this helps. I did LL a couple of years ago and can honestly say it's one of the absolutely best things I've ever done. Good luck!

 

[bradgirl]

Thank you for your replies,
Have you managed to keep the weight off you lost with LL, once you went back to eating sensible portions ?

 

[Spanglymum]

Yes! I'm still size 12 (was size 22 when I started). I've been a size 10/12 and am currently heading back there as I prefer it. I have to be vigilant about carbohydrates to stay a size 10 though. All depends on where you want to draw the line between lifestyle and weight/size. You will find your own balance I'm sure!

 

[bradgirl]

Please could you let me know, what I could expect to eat/drink in the first week. Should I have a week of not socialising much?
And also what is meant by ketosis.
I can also suffer bad migraine from not eating sufficient ( I know I need to eat every 4-6 hours during the day). Would this cause a problem.
I believe I have to get permission from the doctors is that correct ?


Thanks once again ,