Cambridge Diet, Lighter Life, Slim&Save - VLCD'ers gather over here!

[SconeInSixtySeconds]

Welcome one and all to The New Thread !

Results for me on Slim and Save 10 weeks = 42 pounds!

:o

Week 11 is looking rubbish for me, but I have been (and continue to be actually) poorly.

Come and make yourselves comfy...

Maybe you could do a variant of the diet though? So higher calorie, adding some food. Crisps and choc not the way to go.

Hi all. I'm sorry I have not been on in ages. I am in a bad spot and need a kick up the arse/some motivation.

Basically, I have been on LL total since 14th September. In that time I have lost 4 stone and gone from a size 20 to a size 14, even a 12 in some shops.

I still have two stone to go. 1 to healthy BMI, 2 to wear I think I would want to be (although I will reassess when I get to healthy BMI).

I am finding it really really hard to get back into the abstinence zone. There are a couple of reasons for this:

1. First three months of diet I did not lapse once, because I feared the smallest morsal would take me out of ketosis.

2. Then I discovered that I could lapse and would remain in ketosis. So I started to lapse more and more.

3. Christmas was OK - not amazing, not awful. I lost 6 pounds in three weeks.

4. Now - I just can't get back into it again! I will be abstinent all day, then lapse at night. Because I live alone, the types of foods I have in are really unhelpful for lapsing - stuff like Golden Syrup and porride oats.

5. I look great. Really, I look better than I have in years - I don't hate my body, everyone has commented on how wonderful I look. The problem is, I am not as desperate as I was when I first started the diet. I want real food again. I am sick of the packs.

I really think I want to remain on Total until I am at goal. But now I am worried - worried I won't get there and worried I am going to pile the weight back on because I have not learnt the lessons of not over-eating. It seems my food dependency is as bad as ever

Sorry to post such doom and gloom.

Welcome back summer I think it's totally normal to feel like that occasionally on a VLCD. Have you told your counsellor? It is hard when you lapse and then still lose...it's like 'getting away with it'. You've come SO far. What I try and think of is what weight I will be in X amount of weeks if I carry on, and how I will feel if I get to that weight. I then try and think how it would feel if I gave up now. I'd feel awful.

hip You're right - I know. I'm on Lite so not producing as many ketones as someone on abstinence anyway, but I can still have a treat and stay in ketosis as long as I get back on it the next day (those little sticks are so handy!) I was very, very regimented at the beginning but as I've been doing this three months now I do need a little something to 'look forward to' each week, almost to feel normal again. It will keep me sane. It will also prevent massive pig outs. I'm not talking about taking a whole day off and eating what I want - that would definitely ruin it. I'm talking about a controlled treat - a little something after my 6pm Monday evening weigh in.

I really should be telling you not to do that, because tis the evil logic of the slippery slope and the beginning of the end. Always reminds me of that wolf and lamb Aesop's Fable about bad people finding any excuse to do what they wanna do. That said, I'm feeling pretty weak and in need of such treats tonight myself so maybe just tell me what kinda things you're thinking you can safely cheat by eating :)

Ughhhh you guys speak sense.

Hi guys still powering through, am gonna weigh at boots on fri as don't trust my scales, just wanted to know what ketosis was supposed to feel like? This is the 1st vlcd I've done so not sure what I'm meant to feel like, I know that my hunger has diminished a lot, I'm eating a bar for breakfast, shake at lunch (often don't finish it) and a meal pack and 200g of raw celery, olives and mushrooms in the evening, is there any other signs that would show I'm in ketosis, terrified of weighing fri and not seeing a good loss, started slim and save 6th jan

MrsBradfield where are you getting your protein from? Is it just three packs a day on slim n save? Sounds like you may be eating too little.

Hunger will reduce in ketosis and you should feel energised. You can order ketostix online - you wee on them and they will show how many ketones you're producing.

Hi guys
I had a break for Christmas/New Year and my birthday - now all treats are over!

I am finding it really really hard to get back into the zone

I'm on day 5 but can't say I feel energised..tbh I'm a bit worried about leaving the house as I went for a walk yesterday and thought I might faint I do feel better than I did on day 2! should I be in ketosis by now? On CD if you're over 5, 8 you have 4 packs...I think I'm 5, 7.5 - my CDC didn't measure me. Could it be that I should be having another pack? or do I just need to wait it out d'you think? am going to order some of those sticks. .

I have no idea, pram sorry. You will need to speak to your counsellor.

angel It's the HARDEST thing getting back on the wagon after some time off. I can't remember what plan you're on but have you been to group/got weighed yet? That's the best kick up the arse.

Day 15. Lost lots but dying to jack it in already. If I can make it till the end of the month it'll be a miracle! So tired and in need of treeeeaaats. Cooking fish and chips for the kids doesn't help. Sigh. This shall pass...

Hi everyone I hope it's OK to join in on this thread.

I start Cambridge sole source again tomorrow. I started the plan in January 2012 and lost 4 stone in 3 months. I lost my job so had to give the plan up due to finances but I managed to keep most of it off. I fell pregnant in October 2012 and treated my pregnancy as a luxury and manged to put on 5 stone

Baby is now 7 months old and I'm ready to start again. I tried when she was 3 months old but for medical reasons I had to stop for a couple of months. I've been cleared by doctors etc and I was weighed yesterday at the Dr's surgery - 19st 9lb the heaviest I have ever been. I'm 5'8 and take a size 20/22 clothing. My ideal weight is 11st 7lb so I have about 8 stone to lose and I'm hoping to lose it by summer.

The comments I've had recently from friends and family have been awful. They are disgusted by my appearance and have been very patronising. I can't wait to show them I can do it and keep it off. They aren't keen on Cambridge they think it's a load of crap but I know it works for me and that's all that matters.

I'm going to need support and lots of it. It would be great if I could get it here

Hi 30 and welcome. Firstly, politely tell your 'friends' and family to FUCK OFF. Weight loss is so hard without support, I'm sorry you're going through that. We'll be your friends though . Have you thought about doing LighterLife so you can have the support of a consultant and group? My group is awesome, I would have given up weeks ago without them.

pink Hang on in there. How much have you lost?

Just had an omelette and veg.

I was looking at lighter life and it looks good but I still have £120 worth of Cambridge shakes in the house so I'm going to stick to this plan and at least I'll not need to buy any for a couple of weeks which is a bonus. I am really excited about the next few months and buying clothes etc. I'm not going to fail this time

I'm glad I've got this for support because I'll not get it anywhere else. I'm going to keep quiet about the shakes etc and just see when people start noticing the weight is coming off. It was 3 stone last time before people realised I was losing

Two weeks in over here. DP has lost a stone and a half! I weigh on Monday.

Hi all, Cheesy thank you for your kind words. You are right - I will never forgive myself if I give up now. Yes, I am bored - but I am not going to be eating like this forever, indeed, I am not supposed to be eating like this forever!

Welcome to all the newbies - I am watching your progress with interest. 30, the truth is that a lot of people really don't understand this type of diet. I didn't really until I did it.

We are patients, taking medicine (foodpacks) to sort out our symptoms (weight gain). We know that we have to deal with what is in our minds if we are going to solve the problem (our emotional dependence on food). We are not starving our bodies, we are looking after them.

We don't expect to be eating 600 calories forever. It is for a season only.

Hip - men always lose quickly. It's bloody irritating. Good luck on Monday.

Sorry - slowly going up the list reading posts. MrsBradfield for me, Ketosis feels like a reduction of my feelings of hunger (they do not go away, at least not for me). I initially got the euphoric feeling, but that has worn off.

Ketosis doesn't really feel like anything to me, except that I turn a stick pink when I wee on it and survive on 600 cals a day without feeling particularly tired.

Also, I think someone asked about going to the GP. You do not have to go for a GP check on LL Total unless you have pre-existing medical conditions. Your counsellor will tell you about that if it arises.

It makes me sad that the hunger doesn't go! It's the lack of energy I'm. struggling with though - have 6mo DS to look after so it's not going to work for me as it is. Going to speak to my consultant later about doing sole source plus and see how I get on. I'm sure she'll agree it's the best thing to do! I've lost half a stone in 5 days though so am very pleased!

I've just had my first shake of the day and I'm already hungry. I'm going to clean the house to take my mind of the hunger and take dd1 to the park when she finishes nursery.

I forgot how difficult this is and I'm only a couple of hours in

I know I can do it and I know what the results will be so that's keeping me motivated.

cheesey thanks for that. I drank lots more water and hung in there and feel better today. Not stonkingly great, but think that's too much to ask.

I've lost just over a stone, so am definitely seeing the benefits. Guess that second time around I'm taking the loss for granted a little and noticing the downsides more. I swear I had more energy too last time. Really want to do a proper run but get pooped much more easily than usual. Gonna stick it out till Feb and see what the scales say. If I've got below 12st, I might try to do the last stone just by being 'good' (deludes self that this ever, ever works) :)

Good luck beating the hunger, ladies. I find it does subside most days, but the habit of wanting to scoff is still there. It really helps having a modicum of real food though. Pathetic how I relish my hard boiled egg!

Hi ladies...how is everyone?

Busy day at work today so managed shake at 08:30, soup at 12:00 and bar at 14:30. Lots of water and tea. also three bags of Boots carrot batons waiting for the train at Victoria

Staying with friends Saturday day/night so that will be a challenge. Also at neighbour's for lunch on Sunday. Great.

Some woman is stuffing a M&S sandwich on the train. I may stab her.

Hi all. .CDC said it would be better for me to do sole source plus so I had an egg and mushroom omelette earlier and feel sooo much better!

I've also lost an inch off my waist and half an inch off my hips!

Feeling v motivated now although I did walk past the bakers earlier and look the other way. Unfortunately the smell still got me so next time I will be holding my nose too!

Can I come back please?

Day One Again

Hello Chesty! Lovely to see you again! How have you been?