Hi Natalie, has your nan tried other diets? Like slimming world, or weight watchers? I personally wouldn't let anyone from my family who hasn't seriously tried dieting (more conventionally then TFR), or basically very healthy eating, and been active (if possible, I know this sometimes isn't easy due to health issues) to go on this diet as VLCDs are really a last resort diets. At least that's what the research says. I wouldn't even let my mum, who's only 53 to go on this diet unless she was seriously obese and it was impacting her health......
These are only personal opinions and also I really believe that this isn't a diet that can be jumped on and off as that's what causes yo-yo dieting and is really bad for health. And since the failure rate of putting on weight (again from research that I have read) within 5 years of ending the diet is incredibly high you've got be see this as 'it's either this diet or nothing else will help' solution. That's at least the way I see it.....
Since it's only two stones she can potentially loose them by Xmas by going to dietician, completely cutting out on sugar (wherever she can; I know lots of food has 'hidden' sugar so hard to cut out all the sugar), fried food (chips, fried meat, etc.), sticking to 4 vegetable & 1 fruit portions a day, and reducing the foods made from wheat and milk. Getting a pedometer and walking above 5000 steps would be fantastic as it's not difficult on the spine & knees and helps with fitness.
There are several books I can recommend for cooking (I know how hard it can be to see healthy food as delicious when many ready made foods are delicious usually because they're loaded with sugar, salt and fat....but trust me, healthy food can be even more exciting when you know what to eat and how to cook it
): Gillian McKeith (great for learning lots about fruit, vegetables & grains - she also has loads of delicious but incredibly healthy recipes for puddings) and The Food Doctor Diet - Ian Marber (he really brings concepts of eating to what I believe it should be - as food being an excellent nourishment whilst being a real pleasure in our daily lives). The more drastic diet change can be achieved by reading everything from Harvey & Marilyn Diamonds (Fit for Life).
Now, I don't mean to presume that your nan eats unhealthily or isn't active
but I've listed all stuff above because this could be useful to even those that are coming off Lipotrim - cause that's what this diet is about
Relearning how to eat so we don't put all the weight back on once we start to eat conventional food.
I hope that your nan and you work out whatever the best plan for her will be; whether Lipotrim (you'll have a buddy
) or a different diet plan, or simply a healthier diet and more active days so that she looses the weight in a more natural way.
All the best to you both and take care of each other.