Weight loss on a budget

[Mat]

Thanks Fallen Angel and Serena,

I have been looking at another site for information on weight loss and muscle building. I am more interested in the weight loss though. I do want to build some muscle, but just a bit. The exercise will be more for improving my health and toning really. I have some exercise equipment, which has been waiting for me to make use of it.

Going back almost 20 years I was doing 2 hours of weight training per day, so I know that exercise doesn't shift anywhere near as much weight as healthy eating. I'll be doing more cardio this time though, rather than just weights.

 

[Serena A]

Sounds like a plan - no point having toned muscles if they're hidden beneath wobbly bits Keep us posted on your progress

 

[Mat]

Sounds like a plan - no point having toned muscles if they're hidden beneath wobbly bits Keep us posted on your progress

lol @ wobbly bits!!

Will do, once I have decided where to go from here. I really think I would benefit from a VLCD to begin with and then move onto SW later on. Just need to work out if I can afford it right now.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Slimfast is also a VLCD isn't it?

 

[Serena A]

Slimfast is a low calorie diet but not a vlcd as it's not a total food replacement formula - you still have to eat a meal. I just checked on the Slimfast forum and they say Slimfast plus the meal provides around 1300 cals a day...personally I think you may as well be eating real food on SW or WW but that's just my opinion of course

 

[HelenG]

Hi Mat

You could always have a look at Lipotrim - I suppose you could call it a very basic version of CD or LighterLife. It is a VLCD and you get it from chemist shops, their website will tell you which chemist near you stocks it. It is cheaper (not by much) than CD but only has 4 flavours of shake & two 'flapjacks'. I know that Hope Hospital in Manchester use it at their extremely successful weight loss clinic & some GPs (although very rare) can prescribe Lipotrim.

As I tend to 'skim read' I may have missed how much you are wanting to lose overall but you have to have a BMI >28-30 for VLCDs I think.

I use a calorie counting website called weightlossresources but there is a cost element to this one. I did try the site mentioned before but did not find it as easy for me. Horses for courses I suppose

Hope my rambling helps - better do some work now

 

[IrishMum]

I just checked on the Slimfast forum and they say Slimfast plus the meal provides around 1300 cals a day...personally I think you may as well be eating real food on SW or WW but that's just my opinion of course

I totally agree! Thats why I went for calorie counting- I'd rather learn how to eat food right than try & re-introduce it after existing on shakes for so long? Diets like SW & WW didn't work for me because I learned nothing about portion control and ate FAR too much 'free' foods to ever lose any proper weight? I also learned how to 'balance' my meals- I mean, to include protein and reduce/have 'good' carbs and fat in my meals. Its all trial & error until you find what right for you though? Good luck!

 

[Mat]

Hi Fallen Angel, Serena and Irish Mum,


I had a quick look at Slim Fast, as it seems very good on price. It got me thinking about exactly what the meal should provide. Maybe it's possible to get the calories down to below 1000 per day?


I agree that if you are replacing meals and still having 1300 calories, you may as well be eating real food. I worked out a diet about a year or so ago which was planned as 1500 calories per day, but I found it fairly easy to drop it to 1300 calories per day. So, instead of Slim Fast, I could just try that one again.


Or maybe combining the diet I worked out with Slim Fast would get me close enough to a VLCD. I wish I knew more about all of this.

 

[Mat]

Hi Helen,

Thanks for the advice. I have 6st to lose and I believe my BMI is around 34 :cry:

I was up rather late last night reading various threads and I did look at Lipotrim. Unfortunately there isn't a Chemist anywhere near me that does it. I don't drive, which makes travelling to one even more difficult.

It seems that VLCD's are trying to avoid me at the moment

 

[CW Consultant]

Hi

Here is the thread to current RRP of Cambridge Diet.

http://www.minimins.com/cambridge-diet-forum/18670-products-rrp-prices-1st-sept-2008-a.html

This is the CD main website where you will find loads of information.

www.cambridge-diet.co.uk

And if you look at the main listings page on Minimins you will find a CD section along with all the other VLCDS.

 

[Serena A]

I had a quick look at Slim Fast, as it seems very good on price. It got me thinking about exactly what the meal should provide. Maybe it's possible to get the calories down to below 1000 per day?

Hi Mat

VLCDs have sound medical research behind them to enable you to get not only your daily vits and minerals but also the exact balance of protein, carbs, good fats and fibre etc. This is what makes it differ from eating say 600cals of "normal" food and popping a vitamin pill (NOT recommended!) You wouldn't be able to acheive safe weight loss by trying to drop to 1000 cals per day on a diet like Slimfast (or any other non-vlcd for that matter). Your body will go into starvation mode so that your weight loss will stall anyway and you may do yourself some serious harm.

I think you need to decide between and accept what is more important to you: fast weight loss on a vlcd with the associated costs/restrictive nature of the diet, or the steady route of a conventional diet like calorie counting, WW etc. Unfortunately you can't have it both ways x

 

[Mat]

Hi Linda,

Thanks for the information. The Cambridge Diet does seem to be a very good choice. I just wish I could afford it at the moment.

 

[Mat]

Hi Serena,

Thank you. I think you just summed it all up in that post. If it was possible to do it cheaper, everyone would be doing it themselves and not looking to a specialist like CD.

Right, time to work out what I need to do to afford to get myself onto a VLCD. I can’t sell my body, as it’s not in good enough shape. Hmmmm. This may take some thinking.

:thinking2:

 

[Forever Starting Over]

tesco has their own light choice shakes if you did want something similar to slim fast and its 59p a shake. But i think your going with a different diet, so good luck with whatever you choose. Its just a matter of being able to stick to them. I found that the only way i can do vlcd is to get rid of all the food from the house but at times where money is tight this is not possible even if u do live on your own as cant simply get rid of stocks of food.
good luck on your journey
x

 

[EmGee]

Take a look at www.allaboutw8.co.uk

I have been doing the Rapid plan for some 17 weeks or so now and my weight loss currently stands at -95lbs or 6st 11lbs and all for £49.00 a week
( Mods, if inappropiate, my apologies and please delete)


Mike Goss
SEN Consultant
W8 Altrincham

 

[Mat]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the info. I'm in a bit of a tight spot financially, as I am currently doing Microsoft Certification. When I am back into work next year the cost won't be an issue. I was considering CD, which seems to be about the same price. Unfortunately I am coming up short on the money side of things. I will look more into W8 though.

Mat.

 

[HelenG]

Good luck with whatever choice you make Mat. You have done real well so far.

How about writing down all the money you spend on food & drink for the next week or so and see if it actually costs more than CD would. Remember that includes coffees & soft drinks. I found that I actually saved money when I did it.

 

[Mat]

I'm desperately trying to afford a VLCD, but just can't seem to get there. The good news is, I've lost 5lbs since I joined the forum!!

 

[randomgurl]

Hi Mat,

I'm a poor student - so I now what you mean about the cost of things. Have you calculated the cost of the food your eating right now? Shopping + meals out/takeaways + soda's + alcohol + any other snacks. I thought vlcd's sounded a lot until I realized how much people do actually spend per week on these things!

 

[Mat]

Hi randomgurl,

Thanks. Under normal circumstances I would definitely agree that it's most likely cheaper to be on the diet than not. I don't find the VLCD's to be expensive, especially when you consider how much it could change your life. I just don't any income to be able to afford to do one right now. Other people have mentioned about working out what I spend per week too. However, my circumstances are probably a little different to most people here, which is why I have been dodging the question. I may as well be honest though....

I am living with my parents.

When I am working I pay a set amount each month which goes towards the bills and food etc. While I'm studying I am lucky enough to not have to pay anything. I am doing a course through a training company, not a college or university, so can't get any kind of loan. I am pretty much out of money right now, except for someone coming to buy my rowing machine this evening. That will get me a months supply of packs, but I still have to do more to be able to afford packs for the rest of the months I am studying.