Dear Everyone
I just wanted to do a bit of cheerleading for the LighterLifers and other VLCDers who pop into this forum.
My neighbour was so impressed by my weightloss (more than me, I think, as I still can't get my head round it, LOL!) that she decided, after long chats with me, that LL was for her. I even wrote the Beginner's Guide for her (posted on here, too).
I went to check up on her last week (her first week) to discover that she had given up after 24 hours; she hated the shakes and decided it just wasn't for her. I was sad (for her) but recommended WW instead as my mum has had a lot of success with their GI diet.
Anyway, the one thing she said to me was "I don't know how you did it and I am full of admiration for you". To be honest, I don't know either!
Then something Sarah (Cerulean) said on my blog, when I was full of doubt this weekend, struck a chord; she said "'Then I remembered that yeah - I did do it - I stuck to the strictest diet in the book for 6 months! Perfectly! I can do anything!" And Sarah has been inspirational for many of us on here.
I think, when we're in the middle of the LighterLife regime, it's hard to forget WHY we were doing it, what drew us to LL (or the other VLCDs) in the first place. The only thing I felt about my neighbour was that she didn't want to lose the weight (badly) enough to want to do something so hardcore.
I was desperate, depressed and felt that there really was only one option left when I signed up in February.
I'm not where I want to be yet but I am nearly five stone lighter than I was at the beginning of the year. My brain hasn't caught up with what my body has done but people keep commenting!
For the first time in my adult life (I already had the BIG 4-0 birthday last autumn), I am not size 18/20+ (biggest jeans I bought were size 24). It's still a daily struggle for me but coming away this weekend has given me some perspective (and distance).
I think it's time to acknowledge that LighterLife IS hard (not impossible but NOT easy) and that we are all doing it, to the best of our ability. Maybe we need to remind ourselves that we are committed to the programme and that we'll see it through - whatever stage we are at - Foundation, Development or (Route to) Management. Just by sticking with it for the first few days shows commitment!
Anyway, I know I sound a bit evangelical but through LighterLife and this amazing forum (thanks again to Mini, big round of applause please for her and the team), there is some amazing support and I am so very, very grateful for that.
So a big virtual group hug and wishing everyone an abstinent (or on track!) week ahead.
Take care.
Mrs Lxxxxxxxxxxxx
I just wanted to do a bit of cheerleading for the LighterLifers and other VLCDers who pop into this forum.
My neighbour was so impressed by my weightloss (more than me, I think, as I still can't get my head round it, LOL!) that she decided, after long chats with me, that LL was for her. I even wrote the Beginner's Guide for her (posted on here, too).
I went to check up on her last week (her first week) to discover that she had given up after 24 hours; she hated the shakes and decided it just wasn't for her. I was sad (for her) but recommended WW instead as my mum has had a lot of success with their GI diet.
Anyway, the one thing she said to me was "I don't know how you did it and I am full of admiration for you". To be honest, I don't know either!
Then something Sarah (Cerulean) said on my blog, when I was full of doubt this weekend, struck a chord; she said "'Then I remembered that yeah - I did do it - I stuck to the strictest diet in the book for 6 months! Perfectly! I can do anything!" And Sarah has been inspirational for many of us on here.
I think, when we're in the middle of the LighterLife regime, it's hard to forget WHY we were doing it, what drew us to LL (or the other VLCDs) in the first place. The only thing I felt about my neighbour was that she didn't want to lose the weight (badly) enough to want to do something so hardcore.
I was desperate, depressed and felt that there really was only one option left when I signed up in February.
I'm not where I want to be yet but I am nearly five stone lighter than I was at the beginning of the year. My brain hasn't caught up with what my body has done but people keep commenting!
For the first time in my adult life (I already had the BIG 4-0 birthday last autumn), I am not size 18/20+ (biggest jeans I bought were size 24). It's still a daily struggle for me but coming away this weekend has given me some perspective (and distance).
I think it's time to acknowledge that LighterLife IS hard (not impossible but NOT easy) and that we are all doing it, to the best of our ability. Maybe we need to remind ourselves that we are committed to the programme and that we'll see it through - whatever stage we are at - Foundation, Development or (Route to) Management. Just by sticking with it for the first few days shows commitment!
Anyway, I know I sound a bit evangelical but through LighterLife and this amazing forum (thanks again to Mini, big round of applause please for her and the team), there is some amazing support and I am so very, very grateful for that.
So a big virtual group hug and wishing everyone an abstinent (or on track!) week ahead.
Take care.
Mrs Lxxxxxxxxxxxx