Which VLCD?

[Oddsocks15]

I like the look of Lighter Life because of the CBT element, but it is expensive

Anyone tried slim n save/exante etc?

[DullAndOld]

honestly if you want to lose weight all you have to do is eat less and exercise more.
Have a day or two of VLC but look after yourself x

[amusedbush]

I've just restarted Slim and Save for the hundredth time because I have no willpower but it really does work and if you can find the motivation and willpower to push through the first week, it's not actually hard to stick to.

I wouldn't recommend Exante though, there's a reason their products are so cheap. They're vile 🤢

[user1468234673]

Hi, I've just signed up to LighterLife on the weekend because i need the group support. CBT sounds like it will actually help me.

So far so good with the food products!

They were giving free delivery away on their emails, might be worth signing up to their newsletter? They send promotions over x

[Moanranger]

Am doing Lighter Life, the “light” version. So far, after week one, I have lost 5lbs.
We have weekly counselling. Leader is a v experienced therapist. For some people, this is uncomfortable.
I do it as much for the mind work as for the weight loss. It seems pricey, I agree, but if you take into account you actually buy less food, it is not so expensive.
Time will tell. I am in this for the long haul.

[makingmiracles]

No experience but I’m on blood sugar diet(basically no grains, starchy veg, pasta or sugar, so low carb and reasonably high fat and moderate protein) and I’ve lost 9lbs in one week! It’s 800cals for 8weeks, although you can do 12, then stick to diet and increase calories after the 12 weeks. Most people lose 10% of their body weight.
I feel great on it, the first day or so was hard, felt really hungry but I’m enjoying it now and not feeling hungry at all, I think the natural fats help with satiety.

[BettyBlue81]

I've lost 3st so far with LighterLife (started at the begining of November and have got 4st in total to lose) and I couldn't have got this far without the weekly counselling. Like you Moanranger I'm doing this as much for the head stuff as for the weight loss and, same as you I found it wasn't expensive, in fact I reckon I've saved money, and I feel better than I have in years!

[PoptartPoptart]

Please reconsider doing a VLCD. Yes it works, but it can completely screw up your metabolism and digestive system long term.
I did it and lost 3 stone in 3 months. I was left with severe heartburn and indegestion when I started to reintroduce proper food. And the weight nearly always goes straight back on because it is not a sustainable way of eating.
There are also well documented case studies of people developing gallstones after spending too long on these diets.

[BettyBlue81]

I appreciate your sentiments PoptartPoptart, and because of all the 'stuff' online about vlcd I did do my research before I started. There was no negative research around vlcd and it affecting my metabolism, what I read was that it naturally changes because there's less of you to fuel. Also I found it was actually weight GAIN that caused gallstones, not weight loss (my conclusion was that it's thanks to the weight loss that you actually know about them). Sorry rant over. As you can hopefully appreciate, it gets frustrating feeling like I have to defend myself when I'm doing something positive
for me xx

[PoptartPoptart]

You don’t have to defend yourself Betty. I was exactly the same as you. Of course it’s your choice whatever diet you choose and you must do what you feel is right for you. I just wanted to share my experience (and the experiences of others that I know of) so you can make an informed decision. If I had known how badly it would affect me I would never have done it in the first place, that’s all.
The gallstones comment was about people losing vast amounts of weight on a VLCD and then putting it back on again and so forth. It can create problems. It’s easy to lose weight on these diets but it is very difficult to maintain afterwards once you go back to normal eating. It is not sustainable long term and the diet doesn’t teach good eating habits as a way of life.
I wish you luck whatever you choose to do.

[Moanranger]

If you pay attention & do the work, LL does give you new eating habits. That is because thru counselling it gives you insight as to how you relate to food (inappropriately). I certainly kept the weight off for a considerable period of time, and it only (partly) returned due to severe personal stress.