Lighterlife - Has anyone gone back to it?

[dalek]

A bit of background. Lost 3 stone on lighterlife about 3 years ago - felt fantastic but didn't do maintenance as celebrations to attend etc.

Over the past three years I have regained the weight but am thinking of doing it again as it's the only thing that has worked for me in losing weight.

I'm not stupid - I know it's not the healthiest way to lose weight and there are other issues to deal with but I have a large family gathering in the summer (family coming from all over the world) that I do not want to be fat for. For me was a quick effective way to lose weight, in the short term at least.

I know that this is a public forum and people can post what they like but I'm really only interested in hearing from people who have done lighterlife before - what do you think? Should I go back?

[Joanne2017]

Hi all, I've started lighter life today (yikes). I did the diet 8 years ago and reached my target weight, losing 3.5 stones however my own fault did not do the management which I will do this time round. I'm. Hoping I can use this forum as a support network and to also gain food ideas. I have decided not to join a club as 1. I cannot afford an extra £60 per month. 2. The last group I joined I found the lady who ran it was not very nice. I've bought my food from Superdrug however they do not sell all of the items. Can I just check can I drink sparkling water instead of still water? Does anyone know?

[emmachris88]

Hi, I have recently started back on lighter life but due to some personal circumstances I have decided it's not the right time to start back. I have therefore got around 2 weeks + of lighterlife products. I have chocolate shakes, toffee bars and Cheese pasta. If anyone is interested in these I would be more than happy to do them at a discounted price.

[BibiBelle]

well done 3HotCrossBuns, thank you for sharing your story

I went tonight, got weighed/measured and my packs ready to start tomorrow [meep]

[3HotCrossBuns]

I've read this thread with interest - I did LL last year, got to the end of 14wks of the Total Programme just before xmas, lost 47lbs. With the Xmas break and a holiday in Jan I missed the first 5 weeks of RTM. I sort of followed the guidelines but it was tricky whilst away (decided I would just not eat any carbs). But I did go to my RTM meetings once home which were very helpful - and for longer than the official 12 weeks. RTM was harder than the actual diet for me so I would totally say its important to go to those meetings. Verso, if you can stick with the 12 wk RTM course then I would do that, 4 weeks was not enough for me. I still have foodpacks in the cupboard which I have when I've overdone it!

I've now re-gained 8lbs since the end of the Total programme and seem to be maintaining that with some exercise every week. I'd still like to be half a stone lighter but that never goes away!!!

Well done everyone who's doing LL, there are times when the weight loss isn't great but it's important to see the "big picture" of just how much weight you've lost altogether. I used to work out my overall weekly average if I had a bad week - by the end it was 3lb a week for 14 weeks, makes up for the odd week of 1lb loss!

[BibiBelle]

collecting my form and getting weighed tomorrow GP has already said she'll back me and all I have to do is drop it off as I've had my BP taken etc already.

It's now only 4wks commitment at first which is great as the original 14wks always seemed like such a stretch. Esp when I work shifts and couldn't guarantee being there each week.

[BibiBelle]

Oh this thread is FAB and particularly well timed as I've just emailed my LL Counsellor to ask to go back

well done switfy and dalek

[carat]

swiftyknicks - how are you getting on? I'd love to know!

[KnittingRocks]

Swifty well done! I have been on it for 7 wks now and have lost 2stone!!

Feel better already although still have a long way to go!

[carat]

OMG Swifty! That's fantastic and I'm really chuffed for you.

Can you tell me your daily routine - when you have your shakes, drink your water, any exercise?

Thanks, x

[dalek]

Congratulations swifty - that is fantastic! Keep up the good work.

[swiftyknicks]

Hi just catching up with Mumsnet and ralised I'd posted on this on my first day of Lighter Life and wanted to say I am now in week 12 and have lost 4 stone!!! It is life changing and I feel and have to say look amazing!! I bought size 14 trousers the other day which after being a 22 feel skinny!! Have 2/3 more to go but am evangelical about it like Verso!

Dalek, I had a couple of weeks of small losses but was just about hormones and then lost 6 the week after- keep drinking loads!

x

[dalek]

Just finished week 7 and am feeling quite downhearted - only lost 3lbs over the last 2 weeks - and I haven't eaten any real food!!! On the plus side I have lost 22lbs in total - please come and tell me I'm doing ok

[KnittingRocks]

Just checking in to let you guys know I have now lost 17lbs - slower than I wanted to but had a bit of a wobble!

Back on track now though and feeling good .

My lovely dh is giving me money for every stone I lose and has also bought me tickets for a concert in July when I'll hopefully be at goal .

Hope you're all doing well too.

WS, when I lost last time it was pre-DC so everything snapped into place! However, I expect it will be a different story this time, although like you I'm tall and broad so don't have the layers of fat that some people do, it's more evenly distributed!

[Watersign76]

Interesting thread - thanks all for sharing. Very impressed with the weight loss.

I want to do something about my weight, I am starting to strain in my "I'll just buy these for now sized clothes". Arrh! Also ashamed by the size of the skiing trousers I had to buy (3XL men?s!), and looked in amazement at how small my pre-DC skiing trousers were - didn't feel like it at the time!

Anyway, I wanted to ask about excess skin - have you suffered from it? Did any of you do toning exercises? I know on a lcd you need to be careful, but I am worried about being left with excess skin. I guess I have about 5 stone to loose. I am fairly ?lucky? in that I am tall and broad, so I am wide rather than have rolls of fat which I guess might help.
Cheers
WS76

[dalek]

Verso - good luck. How many weeks did you do on total?

[Verso]

Starting RTM tomorrow!

[Verso]

Thanks for the tip re the dukan diet!

My hair is as copious as ever. Asked the hairdresser for a crop last timei was there and he refused because my hair is (and I quote) "too thick". I lost LOADS after both pregnancies, btw, so was a bit paranoid it might all fall out with LL but so far so good.

[KnittingRocks]

I've personally never had hair loss but do know others who have .

I would stop immediately if my hair fell out - I would rather be fat with hair personally .

[MissVerinder]

I am seriously thinking of doing it. I'm worried about hair loss and regain though.

[KnittingRocks]

11lbs now

[foreverondiet]

Verso - BTW your story totally inspires me. Well done.

How about following the maintenance phase of of the dukan diet? He recommends following for 5 days for every 1lb lost since he thinks that once you start eating "normally" again after loosing weight your body just wants to put on as much as possible.

Its basically high protein, low fat, very low carbs.

For the maintenance phase some carbs are allowed, eg 2 slices wholemeal bread per day and one other portion of carbs per week.

[Verso]

P.S. My DD1 said (on seeing the aforementioned posh frock) "you will look like a princess, Mummy". (>heart< emoticon).

[Verso]

Hehe. Sounds like me last week. I was in Monsoon, shopping for a posh dress for my 10th wedding anniversary "do". I tried a couple on, and instead of lurking in the cubicle I did a little (dare I say it?) "sashay" down to the mirror on the far wall! I'm a 12 too, and it feels A-MA-ZING after years of being an 18/20/22... unreal!

I had SPD with DD1 so you have my complete sympathy btw. VERY painful!

[KnittingRocks]

Nothing shallow about it at all ! I loved walking into any high street shop and being able to pick what I liked from the hangars - I remember going shopping with my dh in Monsoon and actually running out of the changing room in this gorgeous skirt shouting "it's a 12!" at the top of my voice . I got some funny looks from all the skinny minnies in the shop for whom being a size 12 would be considered enormous!!

'Fraid I can't help you with maintenance as I never did it. When I got to goal weight I immediately went on holiday to NZ for four weeks. On return I chose to exercise to keep my weight down and took up running/cycling. It worked, of course, until I got pg and then couldn't exercise (bleeding/SPD put paid to that) and another pg followed within 7 mths of the first . Of course cos I didn't do maintenance I hadn't really dealt with a lot of the issues I had so will definitely be doing it this time.

Good luck .

[Verso]

Yes, exactly, knittingrocks. I've spent a complete fortune. But it's brilliant being able to choose different things to wear that I actually LIKE each morning, rather than whatever makes me look "least bad". Fabulous. I fear it makes me sound v shallow, but I'm totally revelling in it.

Any tips for RTM? My LLC isn't keen on the 12-week programme as she says clients drop out so she's only giving me the option of the four-week "Lite" RTM, which is worrying me a bit (although it's cheaper!). Any tips as to how I can make sure I stay on the straight and narrow?