Struggling with C9 & how to keep the weight off?

[kitkat321]

I sceptically started this on Monday - pre baby my weight had hovered around 10st 3 ish - sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

I lost much of my baby weight but when I started going to the gym regularly and exercising more I found myself getting heavier and I don't think it was all muscle.

Despite sort of doing slimming world using online and some of my mum's old book I wasn't loosing but was putting on and when the scales hit almost 12 stone I felt physically sick so decided to fork out for the C9.

It cost me £100 for the pack. I'm on day 5 now, have lost 8lbs and this morning I was 10st 13lbs with 4 days to go.

I hate it - I don't mind the pills or the aloe vera but I hate the milkshakes - so sweet and chalky and I've yet to notice the surge in energy I've been promised. My skin and hair aren't glowing - although my nails look good. My food cravings haven't disappeared - I would kill for just a small taste of chocolate right now or a normal cup of even decaf tea! It has been good for showing me that I do often eat for the sake of it though and for showing me how foods can make you bloat.

I've been a bit naughty today and I think I've gone above my 600 calorie dinner with a very unhealthy brown rice, veg & chicken dish (going crazy here!) because otherwise I'm starving and feel lethargic. I've not yet been able to exercise because I honestly think I'd have passed out.

So 4 days to go and I'm now wondering if it's worth staying on it to see if I could loose a few more lbs or if ultimately, I'm going to put it all on again anyway even if I try and eat healthily afterwards (plan is to join slimming world).

Looking for honest advice for anyone who has done this - did you manage to keep the weight off afterwards when moving to a more sustainable diet/healthy eating plan? My aim is to exercise 3 or 4 times a week again when I finish the C9 although I'm hoping to start feeling more energized in the next few days.

[MarchEliza2]

Is C9 something to do with aloe Vera?

It sounds like you're starving yourself and are miserable. Surely a less drastic approach is more likely to yield lasting results?

Sorry if not helpful - I do wish you luck it's just what you describe sounds too punishing to stick to and dietary changes are difficult enough to make habitual.

[Woodenmouse]

I did the herbalife shakes for a while and hated it, I'm in slimming world now and lost really well and I'm always nice and full. The shakes etc just aren't worth the stupid money.

[kitkat321]

Thanks both - I am effectively starving myself. I've seen people claim they never felt hungry - I'm constantly hungry but I just have to ignore it or try and satisfy my hunger with a handful of blueberries.

I partly wonder if it is a good method to help you balance out your diet - this feels so extreme that when I start eating "normally" i.e. healthy diet then it will feel easy.

I might see if I can manage another day or two and then switch to slimming world where i can have my curly wurly every day.

[Lorelei76]

Wait, £100? And you still eat a dinner that they didn't make? Not sure why you paid for that.

I don't see how this can work, I'm losing and just eating less. Go straight for SW I reckon. If this is a VLCD then be prepared to regain what you lost though, doesn't matter but I think for 9 days there's a high chance of losing loads then gaining the minute you eat even 1200 cals.

[Ni58]

I've done it a couple of times and couldn't stand either flavour of the milkshakes so I ended upreplacing them with two meals (under 300 cals each). I don't know how this affected the final weight loss, but that wasn't really my focus anyway. I did feel better afterwards and my hair, nails and skin were much better for it.
I won't do it again though because at £100, it's a bit pricey if I'm not using all the components. I might buy some more of the aloe gel at some point.

[Moanranger]

I did a VLCD & lost 4+ stone, but I did it over 5 months, which gives you time to re-train your eating attitudes, etc.
These sort of "quick fix" approaches don't work long-term & are useful only if you are trying to fit into a party/wedding dress/bikini. You will probably put it back on quite quickly.
Go back on an eating plan of some sort, look at portion control, maybe pay for a session with a personal trainer to find an exercise regime that doesn't lead to weight gain.
Don't eat yourself up.
Good luck!

[Vickytoria75]

I would advise stopping straight away - it sounds awful & nutritionally not good & certainly not a long term eating plan. I'm using weight loss resources at the moment & it really works. You eat what you like but log everything that passes your lips and stay within your calories allowance. You can earn extra calories to eat through exercise & it really works. I've been doing it for 3 weeks now and have lost 9 lbs so far - highly recommend. Good luck!