To think a VLCD is not a sustainable diet?

[shipgig]

Following on from this www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4438806-To-not-want-to-make-my-new-years-resolution-a-diet

I spoke to a friend who had done a VLCD. I had no idea she had done it. I spoke to her about my "gain" and she said that I could lose it easily.

After seeing what I would "eat" I feel that it is not something I could sustain over a period of time. Especially even for losing a stone or so.

She has messaged me twice and even though I do like her, its annoying me. Should I start and then quit to get her off my back or should I just block/ignore her?

Obviously, I do want to lose the gained weight. However, I feel my approach to calorie counting and exercise would work again (as it has done previously).

VLCD definitely not a good idea for most people. I imagine they can be useful in some circs eg a friend did it when she had to lose a bit quickly to get ready for weight loss surgery so it was for a limited period. I'd just say to her you plan to go back to your old routine as that worked for you. If she messages about it again, just ignore.

I try to stick to 1200...lost loads and hair fine. Total blow out over Christmas but bk on it now. I take vit d for hair etc.

Just say no thanks, i like not being bald and not having chronic pain from gallstones ( happened to me and very common side effects of cambridge et al )

VLCDs aren’t meant to be sustainable. They can be a good kickstart before moving to something more sustainable. Weight loss is never permanent if you go back to eating “normally” afterwards because whatever that “normal” was, it was what made you gain the weight originally.

I am personally a big believer that a diet will only work if it is the right fit for you. I could never do a meal replacement diet because of the lack of meals; a diet where you have to cook everything from scratch isn’t going to work for someone who hates cooking or doesn’t have the time; Slimming World is probably not a good fit for anyone who suffers from binge eating disorder; calorie counting won’t work if you can’t be bothered to track; the cabbage soup diet would be stupid to even try if you hate cabbage, etc. So even if, for example, a friend lost ten stone on WW, it doesn’t mean that you will have success with it, but it also wouldn’t mean you failed, just that diet wasn’t for you.

I suppose that you have nothing to lose by trying it to shut her up, and if you hate it give up, but if you find it gives you the kick start you need to start your weight loss then that would be a bonus. That said, if you have to spend money on it, I probably wouldn’t do it.

I did one a couple of years ago to try and reset the diabetes. I was only just over the threshold. 800 cals a day for 12 weeks. I did it and it worked but don't let anyone else pressure you into doing something you don't want to do!

@AnxiousPixie

I did one a couple of years ago to try and reset the diabetes. I was only just over the threshold. 800 cals a day for 12 weeks. I did it and it worked but don't let anyone else pressure you into doing something you don't want to do!

Im struggling with just finding out I have diabetes. Could I ask you some personal questions about this? Did you actually have diabetes or were you pre-diabetic? Were you actually diagnosed at the doctors? Did the weight loss take you back to the non diabetic range? What was the VLCD that you followed? How much overweight do you think you were and how much did you lose to reverse the diabetes. Did you do it under gp supervision, off your own bat, or a mixture of the two? Do you think that you have cured your diabetes or do you think it's lurking and will come back if you put the weight on? I know you can't know the answer to some of these question but what's your feeling? Lastly, obviously this is quite personal so I'll understand if you don't want to reply but congratulations on all your hard work and perseverance.

@madisonbridges the Fast800 diet was devised based on research and work done with diabetics, so that might be something for you to consider. It's a 12 week plan, based on consuming 800 calories a day. I think there are several threads about it in the weight loss section here.

Thank you @BIWI. I will have a search.

Of course it's not sustainable. This deprives you of nutrients too. Eating so few calories puts stress on the body and increases the risk of muscle loss.

There are much safer and sustainable ways to lose weight that don't risk your health.

Should I start and then quit to get her off my back or should I just block/ignore her?

Why does that need to be your options?

Why not just say "I don't think it would be sustainable for me so I'll give it a miss"

Certainly not for me.

I lost my weight slowly and in a boring way. But allowing for some fluctuations (pregnancy, Christmas), I've maintained it.

Thanks for the replies. I think the best thing to do is ignore the messages. That way, I can continue with my healthier eating/exercise.

I have also seen lots of before/after pictures and yes the change in some people is great. However, it has made me wonder, when losing it so quickly, if it is healthy? Also, if they will keep the weight off. I think that only consuming "packet" food for weeks on end, will ultimately lead to a binge of some sort after you have reached target/goal weight/size.

Ah is your friend a consultant for 121 or simular? She is in the deep depths of an mlm if so. I would avoid till she comes to get senses. Otherwise you will have lots of judgey chats with her telling you you're doing X Y Z wrong. It gets annoying.

I did it when I was 24, lost about 5 stone and dropped from 16 stone to 11 stone. By the time I was 31 I was 22 stone, had a bypass and not looked back since. I appreciate that is a drastic outcome but I honestly feel if I had never done Cambridge weight plan, I wouldn't have ever got anywhere near my ending highest weight.

Stay well away.

I’m only allowed a liquid diet at the moment. So struggling to get much more than 700 cals in.

I wouldn’t recommend it long term.

Personally I would say it messes with your mind where food is concerned more than trying a regular diet.
I'll assume she's a cambridge/ one 2 one consultant? Trying to make money off of you.

Personally in your position I would say "thanks for thinking of me, but really the lifestyle change I'm trying to make will challenge the way that I approach food, and I don't think meal replacements will do that for me. This way, I'll also be able to lead the rest of the family in the right direction too! Thank you so much, and if I change my mind, I promise you'll be the one I go to!"

I have quite a few food issues and the VLCDs I've been on were great for a very short period of time, however there was never any lasting effects and ultimately cost a lot of money and taught me worse habits!

Ultimately I'd convince myself, as long as its less than the calories of a pack, I can have it for a meal.

So I'd eat the crisps or the chocolate though vilified actual food like a chicken breast or steak.

Please do try any other way first!

@OmgIThinkILikeYou

Ah is your friend a consultant for 121 or simular? She is in the deep depths of an mlm if so. I would avoid till she comes to get senses. Otherwise you will have lots of judgey chats with her telling you you're doing X Y Z wrong. It gets annoying.

I did it when I was 24, lost about 5 stone and dropped from 16 stone to 11 stone. By the time I was 31 I was 22 stone, had a bypass and not looked back since. I appreciate that is a drastic outcome but I honestly feel if I had never done Cambridge weight plan, I wouldn't have ever got anywhere near my ending highest weight.

Stay well away.

Wholeheartedly agree with this!

I reached 23stone 10 ar my heaviest (14 and a bit stone now but 22 weeks pregnant though same weight as when I fell pregnant)

But it really did skew my views on eating even further than they were when I started on VLCDs at 15 odd stone.

I also do know of counsellors who piled the weight back on, and some who had WLS and said they lost through the VLCD they sell. Murky practices there!

I love them! Did them once or twice a year for 7-10days. Normally exante or juicing. Always lost 10lbs plus. Spend rest of the year eating as much cheese and as many croissants as i like.

Much prefer a strict 2 weeks a year to allow me to indulge the rest of the year then the constant slog of counting calories.

Hungry for first 2 days, easy after that. Really easy weight maintenance for me.

@Nowayoutonlydown

Personally I would say it messes with your mind where food is concerned more than trying a regular diet. I'll assume she's a cambridge/ one 2 one consultant? Trying to make money off of you.

Personally in your position I would say "thanks for thinking of me, but really the lifestyle change I'm trying to make will challenge the way that I approach food, and I don't think meal replacements will do that for me. This way, I'll also be able to lead the rest of the family in the right direction too! Thank you so much, and if I change my mind, I promise you'll be the one I go to!"

I have quite a few food issues and the VLCDs I've been on were great for a very short period of time, however there was never any lasting effects and ultimately cost a lot of money and taught me worse habits!

Ultimately I'd convince myself, as long as its less than the calories of a pack, I can have it for a meal.

So I'd eat the crisps or the chocolate though vilified actual food like a chicken breast or steak.

Please do try any other way first!

Thanks. Yes. I did assume that money making would be involved. Given how eager she was for me to sign up and start.

@JustWonderingIfYou

I love them! Did them once or twice a year for 7-10days. Normally exante or juicing. Always lost 10lbs plus. Spend rest of the year eating as much cheese and as many croissants as i like.

Much prefer a strict 2 weeks a year to allow me to indulge the rest of the year then the constant slog of counting calories.

Hungry for first 2 days, easy after that. Really easy weight maintenance for me.

Does it not bother you though, that you have to keep going back to do them? Surely just eating slightly less, would mean that you don't ever need to go back to them?

Thanks for the replies. I haven't messaged her back. I also haven't received anymore messages. Hopefully, I won't get anymore!!

Hopefully she'll drop it.

If I was going to embark on a vlcd, I'd only consider one involving real food, like fast 800 as that has a natural progression towards maintaining in the real world where food isn't isn't replaced by expensive plastic wrapped gloop.

No doesn't bother me. Suits me to be strict twice a year and then eat what I like the rest of the time. Can't bear being on a normal diet and having to restrict myself when socialising, vlcd I squeeze in when I know I have no plans.

I don't want to eat slightly less the rest of the time. I'm only 5ft so my standard calorie need is pretty low anyway -without exercising i think its 1350kcals. Pretty boring to stick to that year round, I love my food!

I'm happy to slowly gain, then quickly drop 8-14lbs. I don't ever go over 9stone or a size 10 is the rule basically- obviously this is broken as I'm hugely pregnant currently.

I've done a vlcd after putting on huge weight after both pregnancies. It isnt sustainable but its ot meant to be. Its quick loss, slow re feed then healthy diet long term.
As for your friend, I suspect she is doing with lighter life or cambridge and is scouting for business from you. Yiu need a strong mind set for it. It's hard getting into keto but after a week I find it easy. Bot for everyone and it depends on why you gain weight. Emotional eating etc will mean you put the weight on again, but I guess that's the same however you lose it

Just tell her you want to continue calorie counting