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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

SUPPORT?BUDDY UP?CHAT FOR VLCD

621 replies

zeis10 · 21/05/2015 09:08

Hi there I am starting Cambridge next week and have 3 1/4 stone to lose. Be good to chat, share stories and get support and inspiration from each other! Anyone else in the same boat? :)

OP posts:
carden · 21/07/2015 19:11

Thanks for your reply. I really need the support at the moment.

I did Cambridge years ago and thinking about it I remember being a bit disappointed with those results too.

So maybe these don't work for me but can't understand why they wouldn't. Am definitely in ketosis and I've not cheated.

Can't remember where I first heard about Boossh. Think it was in a magazine comparison. It's reasonably priced and I like their selection (apart from the soups). Am not even eating the bars so can't even put it down to having too many of those.

Really would have expected to be in double digits by now Confused

lilacblossomtime · 21/07/2015 20:31

It could be that you have increased your activity? I think that sometimes slows weightloss a bit when you first start an activity as your muscles can retain water.

lilacblossomtime · 21/07/2015 20:32

Do you feel slimmer, any inches lost?

carden · 21/07/2015 20:59

Clothes are marginally looser as I have lost 7 lbs.

But I know (and given the effort and sacrifice) it should be closer to a stone at 3 weeks.

Trying not to feel sorry for myself but...

lemonstartree · 22/07/2015 10:14

carden motivation is a big problem when the scales don't show a loss isn't it Sad- I can't imagine why that is ? Are you very muscular ? Fat burns reasonably fast in ketosis but muscle obviously doesn't - do you have not much fat to lose?

Some people, I have concluded , just naturally conserve calories more easily than others- in reality my SIL eats loads compared to my DB - but he gains weight easily and she remains slim ...

I gain easily , and need a low number of calories - about 1100 to maintain my weight - this is hard as I love food, cooking, eating planning etc ...

Sending you motivating hugs anyway xxx

I am at 9 St 11 after a blow out on Sunday- think I am unlikely to make 9 St 7 by my holiday - but the stone and a bit I HAVE lost in the last 5 weeks has made a big difference - it's almost 10% of my body weight and I can fit back into loads of clothes ...

carden · 22/07/2015 12:51

Thanks lemon and lilac (bear with me as am new to this so learning the etiquette.)

Muscular? I wish. Lots of cellulite though!

Am going to up my water intake and see if that helps. I've got 12 days of the stuff left and it's not like I don't like them and it's definitely preferable to shopping and cooking. And I guess I am still losing, just not at the rate I'd expect or like.

How you guys doing and feeling?

lemonstartree · 22/07/2015 13:30

I feel a million times better

I have had my hair cut an coloured. I am getting my nails done today
I am wearing nice clothes again instead of feeling frumpy and basically wearing everything as shapeless and big as possible

I think a LOT of my self esteem is tied up with how I look and I make 100 x the effort when I am slimmer. I still have a BMI of 25, but it just makes such a difference to me being 9 st 10 rather than 10 st 12 ...

zeis10 · 23/07/2015 08:31

Morning all...hit a new low of 10.8, so am very happy with that! Also yesterday I went shopping and bought a new tunic that was a size 10...albeit a generous size 10 in stretch fabric...but even so!!! Grin Tried on a 14, then a 12, before checking out the 10 and that defo looked best! Have not bought anything less than a 14-16, or 16-18 for over 12 years!

Just wondering has anyone had anything odd happen since doing the VLCD? I am now prone to a mild cramping of my calves and toes, though only at night, or in early morning and it is very mild. I also had an itchy rash on the inner side of my legs, the same on both sides, nearly gone now.

I have been doing this for a total period of 8 weeks and lost nearly 2 stone in that time. I had 2 recent breaks from the VLCD for 3 1/2 days, then 1 1/2 days, where the weight fell off again pretty easily and it even seemed to fire up the weight loss more. What is odd for me is that the food I ate during these times was disappointing. Weird as previously, during any period of food deprivation, food would then taste like Manna, but it tasted a bit unexciting, apart from a bite of someone else's pizza and some liquorice allsorts! Maybe I was expecting too much? Maybe the appetite suppressing aspect of ketosis has affected my taste buds? Confused My stomach has shrunk, so I cannot eat a lot of food, without feeling uncomfortable. Need to plan this in more next time, so I feel more comfortable. Has anyone else had this experience?? Smile

OP posts:
RufusTheReindeer · 23/07/2015 13:31

Only just started exante today

Tried the mushroom soup...not looking forward to the meals after reading some of the comments on here Grin

I think I should have ordered more bars to eat on the go...does anyone here know if suitable bars can be bought else where? Boots perhaps as I'm going into town

lilacblossomtime · 23/07/2015 14:47

Hi Rufus you can buy lighterlife bars in superdrug also I think some exante bars might be on offer if you want to order some.

lilacblossomtime · 23/07/2015 14:49

I have heard the new exante vanilla cupcake wasn't very nice but didn't try it myself.

lilacblossomtime · 23/07/2015 14:54

zeis yay for fitting into a size 10 that's brilliant! How much more do you hope to lose?

lemon getting to bmi 25 is a fab milestone I think. Now you are a healthy weight although I know you probably want to lose a bit more. I was a bit surprised that the lowest healthy bmi is 18 which seems very low. Being a shorty I would only weigh 6stone 10 at that bmi.

zeis10 · 23/07/2015 15:44

Hello lilacblossomtime I am aiming for 9 1/2, or a bit less, as I will probably bounce back up a bit, so maybe 9 stone. :)

Am still a 14 really!!

OP posts:
RufusTheReindeer · 23/07/2015 16:16

Thanks lilac

Just tried the peanut butter bar...it's something to chew I'll give it that Grin

lilacblossomtime · 23/07/2015 20:18

Lol Rufus! Some people like the Jam bar and the chocolate and orange bar but quite a few said they were not so keen on the peanut bar. I did have a coconut bar that was Superdrug own brand of diet bar and it was quite nice.

lilacblossomtime · 23/07/2015 20:21

Oh I was slightly wrong earlier the lowest healthy bmi is 18.5

Rockchick1984 · 23/07/2015 20:24

Hi all can I join please? Ordered Slim and Save, it's arriving tomorrow so will either start tomorrow or Saturday depending on what time it arrives! I've got about 3.5 stone to lose, never tried a VLCD before so I'm very nervous but also excited Confused

RedButtonhole · 23/07/2015 20:36

Hi everyone, I met with Cambridge consultant today. She was so supportive and really encouraging.

I kept to shakes and soups, if I give myself too many options I tend to waver and cheat. Doing SS+ which is four products plus 200ml skimmed milk.

Was a bit self concious having photos taken and stepping on the scales in front of someone else was scary but worth it!

How do you all deal with negative responses? My mum has been great as has my sister but I have a friend who I think will be very skeptical and I wonder what to say when I tell her. Thought I might say the doc advised it but not sure I want to lie so blatantly.

lilacblossomtime · 23/07/2015 22:22

Good luck Rockchick it is quite hard at first, I would be prepared for a few tough days before you get used to it and go into ketosis. Make sure you have enough water. A

lilacblossomtime · 23/07/2015 22:24

Good Luck Red when do you hope to start?

carden · 23/07/2015 22:56

Boyfriend who I hadn't seen for 10 days said (unprovoked) that he could tell I'd lost weight which cheered me up a bit.

Just wish it was coming off quicker (as it should be). Will weigh myself in the morning to see if I've lost any this week.

Was looking at Exante. Can you have 3 bars a day and it still work? I couldn't see anything on the site that said you couldn't so maybe I'm getting it confused with something else.

lilacblossomtime · 23/07/2015 23:02

The bars seem to have the same nutritional profile as the other meals and quite a few people have at least 2 a day. They also sell a 4 week pack that is all bars so I think that it is OK.

RedButtonhole · 24/07/2015 07:20

Thanks lilac. No time like the present so I am starting this morning Smile.

lilacblossomtime · 24/07/2015 07:31

That's great Red hope it goes well.

carden · 24/07/2015 09:10

Good luck Red

I've lost 2 lbs this week so total weightloss of 9 lbs so far.

I've done an Exante order this morning. Just one of each of the things I'd like to try. Even though I've still got some Boossh left I quite fancy the Exante bars so will swap to that for a week and see how it goes and then decide who to carry on with.