Lighter Life - Has anyone done it & kept the weight off?

[madamebovine]

I'm seriously considering doing this. I have about 4.5 stone to lose. Usual story. I am pretty goddamn greedy but when I put my mind to it I am capable of being strict. I lost 3 stone on weight watchers 9 years ago, but life was very different then.

I now am stuck at home in the evenings due to DH's work so normal weight loss clubs and exercise classes are not possible.

I also think the quick start of these type of diets could be such a boost.

However I know 3 people who have done this. Weight fell off no problem but 2 of them put it all back on again (and more).

I should add that a healthy eathing approach has just never worked for me. It's like either feast or famine.

Any thoughts?

Thanks, hotcross. I feel a lot better after your comments. Was feeling pretty discouraged, but you're absolutely right! Thank you for giving me some perspective!

Did I kill the thread?!

Another 4 lb off at last night's weigh in so that's 21 lb in total!!!

How's everyone doing?

I'm here!
Does anybody know what happens if for whatever reason you're thrown out of ketosis after being in ketosis for 2 solid weeks? What are you supposed to do?

Hello!

How do you know you're out of ketosis? I've been wondering whether I was borderline because I've been drinking Earl Grey which is made from citrus fruit (though my LLC said it was fine). I got paranoid about the bars... but anyway. The jury is still out.

If you're definitely out of ketosis I would go back onto four packs a day (ie no bars) and see how you go from there. Or are you on Lighter Life Lite? If the latter I would suggest calling your LLC as I'm afraid I'm on Total so can't really advise!

Hi Verso, cheers for your answer. I bought a pack of Ketostix from Boots. They're only £5 for 50. I check if I'm in Ketosis every other day just to be sure nothing I may have eaten (as I'm in LLL) has afected my ketosis. As it happens, I am now in Ketosis so I think perhaps my urine (sorry if TMI) was a bit too diluted as I'm drinking lots and lots. My hat goes out to you ladies on the total program though, seriously!

Ah I see. I got some ketostix from Ebay but keep forgetting to use them! I definitely feel better today for no Earl Grey so think it's the way forward...

Hi all. Interesting reading about Earl Grey, I didn't know that it was made with citrus fruit. Damn! Its the only tea I can drink black! I will ask my LLC...

Otherwise all ok here, 5lb loss this week which gets me to 2st exactly in 6 weeks. Only 8 weeks to go.... I'm not sure can carry on for that long, esp as I can now see a real difference and everyone says I look great. But I need to remember that the last time I was this weight (pre kids but post wedding) I wanted to be a stone and a half lighter. Just need to take each week as it comes....

I think I've also been thrown out of ketosis (mainly by odd bites of food - I know I know it's bad but this diet is HARD, esp when you have a family and therefore there is food in the fridge) as I've been feeling hungry all of last week. How long does it take to get back into ketosis do you think? Surely not as long as the first time round as we don't have the carb store to deplete first?

Keep up the good work everyone. And well done Verso on your weight loss, 21 lbs in 5 weeks is incredible.

Two stone in six weeks is amazing!! Well done!

I thought bergamot oil was made from orange flowers (and we're not meant to have floral teas either) but googled it and found that bergamot is a citrus fruit. Who knew?!

I did check before having any and my LLC said it was fine but I definitely feel better without it.

If you've lost 5 lb I'd have thought you were still in ketosis. Is it worth asking your counsellor? (or don't you want to fess up to cheating?!)

I did confess - need to get re-focused or I fear I would go the distance! I guess it's still possible to lose the weight as the calorie intake is still so low?? It's a vicious circle of feeling hungry, eating something I shouldn't and then feeling hungry again! Aaahhh.

3HotCrossBuns, you've made a tiny mistake but you're putting things right now, so please don't beat yourself up about it. Like you said, this diet is bloody hard; what you have achieved so far is amazing and you're not going to throw away all the hard work for one tiny mistake. You are human after all. Not a lot of people have the strength to even make it this far but you obviously do, which means you also have the strength to accept eating something you shouldn't as a human weakness, and move on.

Please do try the Swiss Vegetable Bouillon; I am finding it a real lifesaver.

I am soooo happy today! I tried on a pair of trousers I have hardly ever been able to fit since I bought them and they are comfortable! I can even actually sit down in them! Ok, so they're size 18 but I think I've been in denial about my real size for so long that this feels like a huge achievement. Go me!!

I think it's taken a while for my measurements to catch up with my weight loss, if that makes any sense.

hotcross how are you getting on? I hope you're not struggling so much.

Go Verso!!! Excellent news!

Thanks guys, doing a little better this week so far. My 14m old DD is a challenge though - into EVERYTHING, way more than my DSs were and I feel like I just don't have the patience or energy for her at the moment. Sigh.

I have my best friend from school and her family coming for the weekend on Friday night so busy ordering lots of yummy food from Ocado which I can't eat!!!

Verso - that's brilliant news. Did your LLC take your measurements in week 1? I asked mine to re-do my measurements last week and the difference is huge. I agree it's difficult to know what your true size is, I've also been in denial for a long time and squeezing myself into things which are too small.

Anyone else worried about the next stage?? I don't know what/how to eat anymore!!!!

I did get my measurements done and was hotly indignant (inwardly!) at the shocking waist measurement. If it was right, then I have lost eight inches off my waist in six weeks .

I get worried from time to time re the next stage but am reading some interesting books about carbs and weight gain etc, and thinking of ways I can make my portion sizes smaller. (Was just a shopping excuse, the latter one. I went out and got some really sweet mini-casseroles!! ) Seriously though our dinner plates and bowls are HUGE and I think I used to eat healthily, but just FAR TOO MUCH.

I'm trying to trust that RTM will answer a lot of my questions for me... and we get free follow-up counselling for life once we reach goal.

Would you recommend any of those books Verso? I'm the same as you - thought I ate pretty healthily (no ready meals, the odd take away, v few choc biscuits etc) but portion sizes way too big. Also I am v bad at waste so would always finish up the last 1/2 portion in the pan, left over kids food etc. I keep telling myself "I am not the bin"!!!

Same here 3HotCrossBuns!
I would love to educate myself on carbs, weight gain, etc.

One book I'm reading is "Potatoes not prozac" which is really interesting (if a bit unusual!). I've also just ordered "Good Calories, Bad Calories" which has all the scientific studies behind low fat vs low carb ways of eating and sounds like it will be a thought-provoking read. I am certain that when I come off the end of RTM it will be carbs that I'll have to most careful about... but we'll see. Just using this time without food to start thinking about diet and nutrition in new ways.

Also reading about various low-carb programmes online and the Paleo diet. Food for thought! (ta-da boom). All about insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, low-GI foods etc and keeping your blood sugar stable etc. Fascinating! (I think so anyway.)

Hotcross I like your "I am not the bin" comment. Oh, how I used to PICK! At one of our LL groups we shared examples of unhelpful messages that we still live by that we got as children and a couple for me (and a few of us in our group) were around always clearing your plate and never wasting food because others don't have enough.

Weigh-in tonight so wish me luck!

Oh and last night I had a bit of an "epiphany". My first time out in ages with someone I find quite difficult. I know I don't have a problem with not eating at social events and on the whole so many people have been positive to me and interested in what I'm doing. (Yay!) Last night though. OMG! I got the third degree and then negativity about this and that and the other thing.

Ended up (epiphany moment) realising I don't want to see her again - ever - AND THAT'S OK! I feel naughty for writing this actually, but it's huge for me to decide I don't actually want to spend my precious and scarce free time in someone's company and DON'T HAVE TO. lol

Hope that makes sense!

(go me!) :)

yep go Verso! Well done, exactly right to be putting yourself first - your time is precious! I think this is 1 of the things we're supposed to be getting out of the counselling because now you will be better equipped to say no to certain foods etc.

I too have the "clear your plate" mentality. But I also have the "save the waste" mentality too - leftovers are supposed to go in the fridge, not the bin. More often than not that means picking at them later not actually using them for another meal. Which doesn't count as only "proper" food has any calorie content, obv. . Hence the weight gain I suppose...

Good luck later. Weigh in is Sun for me, not looking forward to it, don't feel like I have lost any weight at all this week!

Afternoon everyone. Hope all are enjoying half term so far. its a bit full on with all 3 DCs at home all day but we've lots planned so keeping busy.

How was everyone's week? Ok I hope? I only lost 2lbs last week but it was the "wrong" time of the month so I'm hoping it will be more this week. Had friends to visit over the weekend and not participating in the roast lunch was very tough. Felt miserable! But I'd rather lose the weight long term than enjoy the short term pleasure of the meal...I think...

Anyway I'm now in week 8 so over half way, hooray! Hope it's all going well for you Verso and Chinhair.

Going ok here though popped in tonight to swap some packs and wasn't planning to get weighed but while I was there the llc weighed me and I have lost .1kg since friday!! TOTM on it's way I think... But still a bit discouraged!

Well done on not giving in to the roast lunch temptation!

I've lost 9 stone on LighterLife in 7 months, it was losing that weight that enabled me to have my dear son Lewis. It works and if you really buy in to the counselling, it will change the way you think, the way you act and the food you eat in the long term.

I've got a bit of baby weight to lose now, but I'm back on the programme and it's falling off just as easily as it did the first time round.

Nat

Hi Nat - that's amazing to hear! Well done (and congratulations on the son!). I got weighed yesterday and am now two stones down!!! Wooohooooooo!

Hi Everyone - Can I join you....

I lost 7.5 stone with LL before becoming pregnant with DD3 - pics in profile...

I'm now about 4 stone above where I want to be so I've returned as a returner and I'm now coming to the end of week 2...

Week 1 I love 8.5lbs, and just waiting for Monday weigh in for week 2's losses...

After my success on the programme and the way it changed my life completely for the better, I gave up my job to train as a LL Counsellor. I'm now the LighterLife Counsellor for Hastings & East Sussex, so if you need any advice, don't hesitate to give me a shout.