Brand new shiny VLCD thread...LighterLife, Cambridge etc

[Cheesyslice]

New thread as the old one is now bursting at the seams.

It took me a few weeks Talc, I did find it hard. Don't know why, not focusing I think. I had to think again about what my goals were and why I was doing it. Evenings are my hardest time for resisting, I'm absolutely fine during the day but god when the kids are in bed, those voices just keep creeping in, you know the ones I'm sure.

When that difficult time hits now, I make sure I find something to do to distract myself and then usually the feelings pass. You've been doing great, better than me. Keep focusing on the positives.

Hi alley. Yes, evenings are terrible, aren't they? I can't even blame being at home with food around, because I work from home, so the situation is the same all day. I had my weigh-in today, the first in a fortnight, and had lost three pounds - less than I hoped, more than I feared.

You're right. It's a matter of focus, and I took my eye off the ball. In the early weeks, I simply didn't put anything in my mouth that wasn't a Cambridge product, not even tasting things I was cooking. Trying to get back to that mindset... Good luck!

Hi guys, I'm joining in.

On day 3 of exante, in ketosis as my breath STINKS hehe.

This isn't my first time in a VLCD, I did CD 7 years ago, lost 4st. Gained a stone back, lost it with lipotrim for the wedding. Gained some back a couple of years later so did exante before TTC. Gained it all back during pregnancy, lost it again with exante then my mum died so piled it on and more.

I'm currently in therapy so instead of being stuck in this losing and gaining cycle I'm just going to lose.

I've got about 6-7stones to lose in total. I will be stopping this when my BMI hits about 26 (currently 37) because it stops working for me then and then switch to a healthy eating lifestyle.

I'm feeling good!

You sound all revved up and motivated, Pishedorf. (I have just 'got' your name - at first I thought it was a South African town...)

This is my first time on a VLCD and I'm trying to think beyond the end of it, about maintaining the loss - could I ask what you will do differently this time once you're a healthy BMI?

I am quite motivated this time. What helps is DH doing it with me, struggling with DDs food prep a bit but hey ho.

Got some ketostix yesterday and am firmly in ketosis. Day 5 today.

What am I going to do when I hit a healthy BMI? I'm going to not hopefully but DEFINATELY love myself enough to allow myself to eat healthier. I'm going to eat regular meals (I often go all day without food then pig of a night). I'm going to eat a lower carb approach and also keep up with the water as I actually enjoy drinking plain water anyway. I'm also going to buy a healthy portions plate as well.

One of the bigger things I will be doing is exercise. We've recently bought a treadmill and once I'm feeling less woozy I will be exercising. I have a list of NSV goals and a lot of them are exercise related.

The biggest thing I need to do is sort out DH. He is (and I say this with love) a massive glutton and a bit of a feeder. And with by self esteem etc being in my boots over the past few years with PND and my mum dying I've not been able to stand up against his feeding hence one reason why I'm sitting here a size 18-20 today.

But that's fine. I'll get back to my previous size 10-12 self I was in 2007, I know I will.

Can i join please? On day 3 of Cambridge and finding today hard! When does it get easier? Have 5 stone to lose so hoping this will give me the kick start i need

Well I might have killed the thread.but I lost 9lb in my first week on Cambridge

Hello, can I join too please? Also doing Cambridge but have only just found this thread. Started on SS, now on step 2. So far have lost 4 1/2 stone but another 2 1/2 to go so could do with some motivation please!

I'm still here, but haven't been able to be online much as have been out of the country. Rovercat, that's wonderful - how long have you taken to lose that much? Mck - sounds like an excellent week one.

I haven't seen my counsellor or weighed in in a fortnight, as have been away, but have ended up eating things other than Cambridge products. Not many, nothing unhealthy, but still not pure SS.

Great - the thread is not dead How have you been getting on Talc? Rovercat - that is amazing! How long has it taken you to lose that amount?

I'm half way through week 2 and finding it ok although I cant believe that I am not hungry all the time. Enjoying the shakes, not the soups so much though. Hoping for another good loss as I go on holiday in 10 days and really wanted to lose a stone before I go - fingers crossed

Glad to know I didn't kill the thread! Its taken 4 1/2 months so pretty much a stone a month overall. Started on SS with an occasional SS+ meal if I really wanted something to eat. Haven't found it too bad mostly the only times its been really hard is if I've gone out to meet friends as that always meant eating and drinking before so I've been lucky that the places we've gone have all done salads and have been able to stick with that.

Talc I found that if I stuck more or less to SS the weight still came off, the main thing was to keep drinking the water.

Did you really find the water was the key thing. Rover? I did well for the first four weeks of SS, but I've been in and out of the country since then on work and family visits, with no weigh-ins, and while I decided to stick to the diet as much as possible when away, there have been times when I gave eaten in situations where I couldn't make the soups etc. I'm wondering whether I should have taken a holiday entirely from Cambridge and returned with renewed vigour, rather than doing it in a slightly half-assed way... Anyway, too late now. But am dreading my weigh-in this week...

I lost another 5 pounds, taking me to 2 stone 3 pounds in eight weeks (though the last few weeks have been very poor efforts). Not stellar, but not awful...

Ok so I'm attempting this again today. I really didn't think it through enough at the beginning of the holidays. I don't want to make excuses but it was a trying time. But something really has got to change. So here goes. I'm doing slim and save 4 packs. I only drink water anyway so that side of things will be easy. Reading all of your success stories has helped motivate me

Good to know someone else us still here! Good luck, squirrel. I've had good and bad times (and it has actually been a testing time in my life in other ways, including a new job, so I sympathise), but I'm 2 stone 4 pounds down in eight weeks. Not astonishing, but not awful either.

Wow in 8wks that's amazing. What plan are you doing? I'm guessing the first week is going to be torture but its only food and that's what I need to keep telling myself. I've drank all of my water already a have only had one shake which was really tasty.

I'm on Cambridge, but Slim and Save is much the same thing, isn't it? I have a bar and two soups a day, that should total around 500 calories. (Actually, I gather that's not an unusual loss for eight weeks of Cambridge, but I've been away a lot and things have been a bit complex, so I've not been sticking to it religiously...) The difference is that a consultant comes to my house once a week.

It was only the first three days or so that were difficult - after that ketosis should have kicked in and you stop being hungry. And a big loss in week one is fabulously motivating. I haven't the patience to lose weight very slowly...

My only advice is that water is key. The one thing this has taught me is that I often misinterpret thirst as hunger.

I've had a shake and bar today, enjoyed both but it was very testing when the children came home from school. Going to get an early night tonight. How much is it on Cambridge?

Hello everyone, sorry to have joined the thread and then vanished! I was taken into hospital on bank holiday Saturday and only came home 4 days ago. Had to have my gallbladder removed but unfortunately had so many flare ups that they kept me in on a drip for fluids and antibiotics. Only current benefit is that I'm now only 2lbs away from having lost 5 stone!! My Cambridge consultant has told me that I have to come off the plan for 12 weeks so that I recover properly so I will continue with my healthy eating just have to up my calories. You all seem to be doing really well and I'll be back to join you soon.

Oh god, Rovercat, did your gall bladder flare up as a result of the impressive weight loss? I hear the one can be related to the other...?

I survived day one and am feeling positive for day 2. I've just ordered another pack but I got it from slim and saves ebay store because ebay sent me a 15% off voucher. I got 42 products, 15 different flavoured shakes, 9 bars, 6 soups and 12 meals. Plus its free delivery and cost £33.
I have another ball shaker coming with this order and another copy of slim and saves booklet and tape measure if anyone wants them, I already have them.

Good for you, Squirrel. I got a range of Cambridge products in my first week, but tbh couldn't stomach any of the shakes or porridges. Now I stick to a particular kind of bar and two soup varieties, which sounds terribly restrictive, but at least doesn't make me gag. If you're not eating much, at least it should be something reasonably palatable.

I won't frighten you by telling you how expensive it is....

Oh go tell me, it can't be as much as alizonne! I'm a bit weary of trying the soups I have here but I won't know unless I try. I really like the shakes I have tried so far, I make them with a little less water and plenty of ice. Though it doesn't compare to a homemade peanut butter thick shake

It varies, depending on how many products you consume per day, which in turn depends on your sex and height. I'm on three products a day and if I order a full set (there have been a couple of times when I didn't because I had things left over from the previous week because I'd been in situations where I couldn't make soups), it's about £45, with a home visit from my consultant included. I'm thinking of it as an investment! Especially as I needed to lose one third of my body weight...

I'd never even heard of Alizonne until I began to come on this forum. My mind is boggled...

I had never heard of alizonne until yesterday until I stumbled across the thread...WOW! What was your start weight? I'm 5ft 2 and 12st 10lb. 3st and I will be very happy.
Today is proving difficult I'm so tired but I'm thinking how good I felt last year when I was slim. Plus I seem to take more pride in my appearance when I'm slim.