to think that Lighter Life is a big gat waste of money!

[macdoodle]

One of my colleagues has just signed up to this and has gone off in a huff because I have said she is wasting her money!

FWIW I too am overweight and I know the only guaranteed way is to eat less and exercise more - I have done it before I got pregnant and yes its bloody hard work but this is one area where I am pretty sure there is no quick fix!

Also FWIW I am a GP and she is one of our nurses

So AIBU anyone prove me wrong??

right I am off to do some work too will post those links when I am home later - yes thanks you are right nothing wrong with a healthy debate

You need to speak to the LL medical team macdoodle. You freely admit you haven't researched LL or the training of their counsellors.

I don't know much about it, but from what I have seen, I would agree with OP, it surely has got to be a waste of money...of course it kinda works (I mean, well, your body is gonna loose on such small amount of calories)...but will it be sustainable? I doubt it...and it is quite expensive stuff, isn't it?

FLRAL, please read the thread and research it properly.

oh come on ilove so I should talk to them - I know the risks !! and then what I tell the patients so if it all goes wrong its down to me !!
Why arent THEY fully informing their clients ??

why?
It's to long and I am just voicing my opinion...
have had freinds that done it, and yes, they all lost weight, and then piled it all nicely back on and more...(by than NOT doing it anymore, which of course is the real problem)

OP, you have claimed on one hand that LL doesn't train its counsellors properly, yet on the other refuse to back up that statement.

FLRAL if you had bothered to read the thread instead of jumping in with misguided opinions, you would know that as with any diet, if you have not retrained your brain then you will regain weight.

However you cannot be bothered to read, I cannot be bothered to repeat myself AGAIN.

fair enough ...

one friend did it for a very long time, but got very fed up wiht it....and now is in a worse predicament than she was before....not exactly great advertisement for it...

tbh, I could not live on shakes and stuff..and I did Jason Vales Juicing....and loved that...but could not imagine living like that forever...

You don't live on shake and soups forever. You lose the weight, retrain your brain, reintroduce foodslowly and then, providing you have actually LEARNT why you eat in the first place, you live a totally normal life at a healthy weight.

But I am obviously wasting my breath.

OP, YABU.

ilove - I DID NOT comment on the training of the counselors it was someone else - my issue is the PHYSICAL risks of the VLCD and the amount it costs!!

macdoodle on Mon 01-Jun-09 11:54:04
I am overweight always have been suspect I always will be - I lost 4 stone before I had DD2 and still had a BMI of 27 (size 12 though ) - I am now 3 stone overweight after DD2 again so I do know where she is coming from!

howto - I dont/wont sign the forms - I am not happy to put my reg on the line by saying its safe when I have no idea what training the counsellors have!

Macdoodle that is your post from earlier. I have asked you to find out what training they have, you have refused because you are blinkered by your own opinions.

Mac, but what about the risks associated with other weightloss methods, i.e. Xenical (like I posted above), gastic bypass etc. Do you refer patients for these methods, despite having quite high risks themselves.

hmm ok ilove I see where you're coming from - what I meant was medical training/to explain the risks and monitoring and what to expect but ok I WILL email LL to ask them what training they have in this area and whether the risks are explained to the clients!
I do refer/advice other treatments BUT only where I have the expertist and knowledge to explain the risks and monitor it - I have sai before I DO NOT advocate any VLCD under 1000 cals/day because of the risks associated!!
And bollocks that I am going to take the responsibility/monitor them medically/advice them of the risks whilst LL take £66/week!!

so would you monitor them if you were paid the £66 a week?

no!
I said so before I would be within my rights to charge to sign the form and any "extra" monitoring ouitwith of normal GMS GP services - I dont because I dont feel that VLCDs are in my patients best interests!

ilove been out of the loop for a while and this thread has moved on...
but you said add up what you spend on..
food/drink/wine/coffees/takeaways/chocolate/sweets

and it will be over £66 in a week-
well, apart from my quarter of our family food bill, I do not buy or eat ANY of the other things you list.

Maybe that's what keeps me a size 8-10.

ilove the counsellors I know have all trained full time for 4-6 years at least and have masters degrees in psychotherapy. Similarly, if you see a CBT or a hypnotherapist- both of whom help with addictions- they are properly trained and belong to a professional body. I doubt very much if LL counsellors fall into that bracket- in fact, I am surprised they are allowed to be called counsellors- since the BACP was formed, counselling has become much more regulated.

I think they should be called "sales advisors".

they are certainly not counsellors.

In fact if you do ll you can go on to become a "counsellor".

It might add a bit more fuel to the fire to say that in the dim and distant past I have seen adverts for people to become LL sales advisors.

The thrust of these adverts is not "Do you want to help society and overweight people?" it is "Do you want to run your own business and make lots of money". What a surprise eh?

By howtotellmum on Mon 01-Jun-09 15:36:16
ilove been out of the loop for a while and this thread has moved on...
but you said add up what you spend on..
food/drink/wine/coffees/takeaways/chocolate/sweets

and it will be over £66 in a week-
well, apart from my quarter of our family food bill, I do not buy or eat ANY of the other things you list.

Maybe that's what keeps me a size 8-10.

Urrgh - what smug, heartless and miserable post that is Howtomum - you have really revealed your true colours there. And your utter lack of understanding of what a food addict goes through.

If this were an AA or NA style thread, you'd be completely flamed.

look how easy it is

"We?re currently expanding our network of Weight-Management Counsellors throughout the UK and are looking to recruit motivated, self-starters to run their
own business."

"As a LighterLife Weight-Management Counsellor you can:

list of 6 items
? Proven business format and weight loss programme.
? Fast start-up and support programme.
? Work flexible hours (minimum 35 hours per week).
? High earnings potential.
? Accredited training programme to diploma level.
? Dedicated support to help you grow your business.
list end

Note that the "high earnings potential" comes before the accredited training to diploma level. And as they're offering quick startup it would seem that you can start today and will only be fully trained in six years time.

It reads like one of those "earn a fortune overnight" type job adverts doesn't it?

You know what, fine. Those that are signiciantly overweight on this thread that want to continually bash LL, go ahead. You stay fat, and I'll stay thin and you can feel a lot better about yourselves than I do because you did not put yourself at risk.

Just keep on with your risk of heart disease etc etc.

Wannabe - you say any diet works if you do it properly. Not for food addicts! How many times do we have to say it. If you're an addict, you need properly support, counselling etc to wise you up around food and behaviour.

And why are we blasting LL counsellors - what about so called WW counsellors. Listen ladies, you are MAD if you think what these women earn would mean they could attract properly qualified psychologists etc. You are just not living in the real world.

You are lobbing opinions round on a very emotive subject and not conceding anything.

OP - I'm glad you have agreed to speak to LL. You may not change your opinion, but then at least you will have heard their side of the story. That's obviously the most sensible way to make any decision on something like this.

What's your point Wannabe? Honestly, just how helpful is that? Are you being obtuse on this issue. How else would you expect people to advertise?

"Please, come and give your fricking heart and soul to a bunch of strangers for next to no money because it might make some people less fat and you'll feel good about it?"

Get a grip woman. That is an advertisement as per any other franchise

OP YABVU. I have four friends that have done it and lost about 5 stone. Whilst LL is not for me I have nothing but admiration for my friends who have the will power to sit in a restaurant where everyone is eating and drinking and just make do with a soup and water.

I found that my friends responded well to encouragement rather than judgement so not surprised your colleague went off in a huff.

BTW Weight watchers is a very successful business too so not sure what is wrong with making money from weightloss - people have been doing so for year.

because they are not counsellors.

Lighter life is sold to people on the basis that for your £60 odd a week you get your food packs (fair enough) and counselling. That is hugely deceptive, because you are not getting counselling, you are getting to talk to someone who has bought a franchise, who might have been doing this since last week for all you know.

To sell that as counselling is wrong, and is deliberately taking advantage of people who are desparate.

If people want to do ll for weight loss then fine. Whatever works. But don't kid yourself that you're doing it with professional support because that is not the case.