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?

Lol! Loads of water, drank all day and didn't cheat once!

just started again on Tuesday and have already lost 9 pounds!!

Verso, your pictures look amazing.

Knitting Rocks, I'm very impressed with your 2005 efforts. 9lbs in a few days this time is great. Would love to know how you get on with it - please update on a regular basis!

Thanks, carat! Have to say I LOVE being five stones lighter (though my bank balance doesn't. Oops .)

I'm still trying to lose my very last three pounds, but my body has other ideas it seems! I will probably be going on to RTM at the end of this module (two weeks' time)... not sure if I'll lose any more on RTM but we'll see.

Good luck, everyone. You'll be glad you did it!

Verso, is that because of all the new clothes you keep having to buy?

I remember it well!

I still have most of my 2005 wardrobe in storage so won't be so many clothes this time, but I'm sure I'll treat myself to a few extras .

1 more lb today so 10 lbs already .

Love this diet!

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?

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 .

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!

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

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.

11lbs now

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

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 .

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.

Starting RTM tomorrow!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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.