Two months ago, (22 June 2013), I began a low-carb diet. After initial teething problems, and subsequently lowering my calorie intake, the pounds started to come off. They didn't fall or tumble. It was hard work. Plus, I have that problem that for two weeks of the month, I cannot lose weight. So it took two weeks, then I went from 154 kg (!!!) to 148 kg within two weeks. Over the next two weeks, my weight went back up to 150 kg. At that time I was on less than 40 g of carbs and between 1500 and 1800 kcal.
I could have continued, of course. I'm sure I would have continued to slowly lose weight. I mean, I felt great. And I went down to 148 kg again quickly.
But all the time I realized that at my weight, feeling healthy was an illusion. Also, my goal was 1500 kcal, but more often than not, my consumption went up to 1800 kcal. I needed something drastic. I was in the right frame of mind to lose weight. I was committed. Why wouldn't I take advantage?
So I read reviews on various VLCDs, and picked one. In the second month, I went from 148 kg to 143 kg. actually, I lost all that within a week, but as I mentioned, that's how I lose weight: nothing for a while, then kilos melt away in weeks. Mind you, kilos. My measurements have not really changed yet...
Of course, the true test will come once I enter my dark weeks. Will I lose or gain?
Initially, I complemented my 600 kcal/day with olives, or an extra meal, but I've got to the stage where I NEED to make myself eat. That's good. Also, I realized that all this debate between Cambridge or Exante or any of the others is irrelevant. Who says I can't mix and match?
What I've found is that the problem with shakes is that they're sweet. Too sweet. I'm more of a savoury girl. So I keep the shakes for mornings, and instead go for soups or meals. And if I want a handful of grated cheese on my 200 kcal bolognese, it's just an extra 90 kcal. If I feel like "real food", I reach for a packet of Applewood-smoked ham at 135 kcal. The reason I can do this, is because I no longer crave food.
I'm now quite happy to carry on. I will take a break from VLCD every 10-12 weeks, and for two weeks continue the low-carb food plan I was on before. After all, it was the plan that made me feel good.
Now comes the big butt. Oops, I mean BUT. What if I can't stick to it? A few weeks of VLCD hardly makes me an expert, and I don't want to get complacent. This is what this post is for. Also, should I ever feel like needing to fall off the wagon (weddings, barbecues, etc.), I will want to do it the low-carb way. That way, I'll stay in or near ketosis, and the damage will be minimal.
Also, I would like to invite others to share their stories with me. Inspire me. Have you lost a significant amount of weight? How do you cope with temptation? Do you have any dark weeks, where the weight simply won't come off? Do you have a lot to lose, like me, and feel daunted? Share your stories with me.
There are many great posts, but many are about which diet to choose, or about losing that last stone or two, rather than two-thirds of your weight. I want to be in that exclusive club of people who only have a stone to lose. But I'm a long way off that dream. To get there, I'll need help and encouragement.
Tweepypie
Week 1: 154 kg
Week 4: 150 kg
Week 8: 143 kg
I could have continued, of course. I'm sure I would have continued to slowly lose weight. I mean, I felt great. And I went down to 148 kg again quickly.
But all the time I realized that at my weight, feeling healthy was an illusion. Also, my goal was 1500 kcal, but more often than not, my consumption went up to 1800 kcal. I needed something drastic. I was in the right frame of mind to lose weight. I was committed. Why wouldn't I take advantage?
So I read reviews on various VLCDs, and picked one. In the second month, I went from 148 kg to 143 kg. actually, I lost all that within a week, but as I mentioned, that's how I lose weight: nothing for a while, then kilos melt away in weeks. Mind you, kilos. My measurements have not really changed yet...
Of course, the true test will come once I enter my dark weeks. Will I lose or gain?
Initially, I complemented my 600 kcal/day with olives, or an extra meal, but I've got to the stage where I NEED to make myself eat. That's good. Also, I realized that all this debate between Cambridge or Exante or any of the others is irrelevant. Who says I can't mix and match?
What I've found is that the problem with shakes is that they're sweet. Too sweet. I'm more of a savoury girl. So I keep the shakes for mornings, and instead go for soups or meals. And if I want a handful of grated cheese on my 200 kcal bolognese, it's just an extra 90 kcal. If I feel like "real food", I reach for a packet of Applewood-smoked ham at 135 kcal. The reason I can do this, is because I no longer crave food.
I'm now quite happy to carry on. I will take a break from VLCD every 10-12 weeks, and for two weeks continue the low-carb food plan I was on before. After all, it was the plan that made me feel good.
Now comes the big butt. Oops, I mean BUT. What if I can't stick to it? A few weeks of VLCD hardly makes me an expert, and I don't want to get complacent. This is what this post is for. Also, should I ever feel like needing to fall off the wagon (weddings, barbecues, etc.), I will want to do it the low-carb way. That way, I'll stay in or near ketosis, and the damage will be minimal.
Also, I would like to invite others to share their stories with me. Inspire me. Have you lost a significant amount of weight? How do you cope with temptation? Do you have any dark weeks, where the weight simply won't come off? Do you have a lot to lose, like me, and feel daunted? Share your stories with me.
There are many great posts, but many are about which diet to choose, or about losing that last stone or two, rather than two-thirds of your weight. I want to be in that exclusive club of people who only have a stone to lose. But I'm a long way off that dream. To get there, I'll need help and encouragement.
Tweepypie
Week 1: 154 kg
Week 4: 150 kg
Week 8: 143 kg