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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.

Lighterlife anyone??

18 replies

barmybird · 28/11/2006 21:09

Has anyone out there used lighterlife? I'm due to have an introductory talk with my local counsellor (Stratford)week. I'd be interested to know how you found it, if it worked etc. At the moment its sounding like a good solution to my ongoing weight problems!

OP posts:
dara · 28/11/2006 23:26

Lots of people here but not me. Do a search on it!

mrspoppins · 29/11/2006 04:40

Unless you need to go for the counselling or would like to....STOP !!!

Cambridge diet is half the weekly price and lighterlife bought the rights to sell under the name of lighterlife and so it is the identical product.

Just a thought...try going to the cambridge diet webpage to see if there's a counsellor in your area.

Lots of luck whatever you do...from one who knows how hard it is!
xxxxx

barmybird · 29/11/2006 07:44

Thanks both. I'll have a look at the cambridge diet, but I did think the combination of groups, counselling and the diet sounded good. Has anyone done this?

OP posts:
wannaBe1974 · 29/11/2006 07:54

there is a mn'er who did this and lost three stone I think it was. I posted about this recently as my mum is starting it today and tbh I didn't think that losing such a lot of weight in such a short space of time was that healthy. have a look in the chat section - posted within the past two weeks or so so should still be there.

I do think the group therapy sessions are a good idea esp if you have a particular problem with food, but I do think you should look at all options, as losing that amount of weight so quickly is very contravercial.

good luck xx

glasshouse · 29/11/2006 09:05

Just thought I'd add my twopennyworth on the Lighterlife diet. I did it last year and lost 5 stone and can honestly say it was the best diet I have ever done. I've been overweight for the best part of 25 years and have done all the diets going, weightwatchers, rosemary conley et al. The problem is when you have a large amount of weight to lose it is very difficult to sustain your enthusiasm over the length of time needed when you are only losing at the rate of 1 - 2 lbs a week. I found it very easy to 'not eat' rather than cut down on what I was eating. I knew that I wasn't allowed anything so therefore didn't have the excuse to add things that I knew really shouldn't be added. Also not eating gave me a chance to focus on why I was eating and believe me it was very rarely from hunger. I finished Lighterlife in April and have since managed to maintain most of my weight loss. I'm at the top end of what I am 'allowing' myself to reach and am now trying to lose about 5 lbs but I know that it can be done. At the end of the day I have to recognise that I will always have a problem with food but I would rather try and control it other than it controlling me as it has been in the past. I'm sorry this has been so long but have to say that this diet was the best thing I have done for myself.

barmybird · 29/11/2006 11:57

Thanks glasshouse. To be honest I've got myself into a complete state. I eat for no particular reason, I eat things I know are bad for me, I worry about heart disease and dying before my daughter is grown up but still I can't stop eating. My thoughts are that lighterlife would take away all the pressure of food, I'd have no reason to be in Tesco's! so wouldn't face the temptations I face now, and the support and counselling might just help me sort my head out. I'm so tired of being over weight.

OP posts:
glasshouse · 29/11/2006 12:30

Barmybird I think you have to be in the right place with your head before you can be successful with diets. You have to be at the point where you will do anything. I equate it to being like an alcoholic or drug addict, except you cannot go cold turkey on food! As I said I found it much easier to know I could eat nothing rather than weighing stuff and then going on the chocolate.

The counselling was useful but to be honest nothing you probably don't already know, the real incentive for me was the fact that I knew I hadn't eaten so therefore the diet had to work. I lost 9lbs the first week and was steady thereafter.

I feel so much better having lost the weight - have even ventured to the gym, I'm sure all those aerobic teachers are sadists at heart!

I still find it hard but have to accept that I cannot eat what I used to if I want to keep the weight off. I think I'll always have a problem with my perceptions of food/comfort/love but at least I can now get into a size 12.

Another marathon post but hope it helps.

barmybird · 29/11/2006 18:22

It does help, yes. I think I am at that point were I will do anything. I've tried other diets with no success, I just loose the motivation when the weight loss is say half a pound. I want a break from food if you like, to look at what I am doing and why. The meeting tomorrow should be interesting!

OP posts:
artyjoe · 29/11/2006 18:39

I lost 7.5 stones on LL in 5 months. I then came off for Christmas and had operations and family ill health and general dramas for the last year which have kept me off LL. I did try the Cambridge inbetween but just managed to gain 20 pounds and not lose any, the product may be the same but the counselling is definitely not and you can buy in batches at Cambridge so you can go weeks without seeing a counsellor.

After the 20 pound gain (also due to my own op and having to be on a particular tablet) I am now back on LL (am on day 7) and am doing well.

I have spoken to my GP and my private consultant and both think LL is a fantastic diet. Obviously if you were able to do it by counting calories I'd say go for it, but you wouldn't be on this thread if you could!

Any side effects of this diet are nothing compared to being clinically obese.

Personally, for me, the counselling is invalueable; yes you may know a lot of it, but the group participation and peeing on a stick each week really do help! I eat due to emotional triggers and dodgy thought processes...none of which Cambridge could address, only LL are trained for CBT.

For what it's worth, it really is the best diet in the world in my opinion, the first 5 days are hell and then it's a joy and it really isn't that big a deal...management is actually the hardest part and i wouldn't suggest going on this if you don't intend to commit to management.

I really wish you all the best with it, you must be in the same place I was to be considering it so big hugs to you.

Joe (female 36)

Yorkiegirl · 29/11/2006 18:41

Message withdrawn

barmybird · 29/11/2006 22:15

Thanks both. Yes the plan would be to start in Jan. The counsellor very sensibly said that to start before christmas would set me up to fail. A buddy would be very welcome. Where abouts are you?

Can I also ask what the side effects are. In the brief telephone conversation I had with the counsellor she told me I would probably feel better than I do at present as I will be getting all the nutrients I actually require.

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 30/11/2006 07:49

Message withdrawn

barmybird · 30/11/2006 21:36

Great. I've been today and intend starting in Jan. Nothing the counsellor had to say put me off. Hopefully I start the 1st or 2nd week in Jan. I feel quite positive, this plan appears to offer positive results quite quickly.

I reckon I have 5 stone to loose! Yorkiegirl I'm more than happy to buddy up. Email me if you are still interested.

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mummymic · 30/11/2006 23:10

hello - i too need to lose about 5 stone- it was soooo easy to put on (and enjoyable )
my mate works in a chemist and they sell something called lipotrim - its similar to LL but not as expensive and no counselling (although my mate is a trained counsellor and could 'do' me)
i am looking to start lipotrim early in the new year - i find it difficult to maintain enthusiasm for longer than 6 weeks, so am hoping that the qquicker results will spur me on! just hoping that i can cope with the temptation of making meals for the kids (single parent)
let me know how you all get on x

mrspoppins · 01/12/2006 01:28

Mummymic...I had a go at Lipotrim...not great on the taste side...worth a go as your friend can help you but same cost as Cambridge I think but cambridge tastier......
..........if any of these things can actually be described as that!!

xxKaren

HammerHeadShark · 01/12/2006 21:42

Hi there barmybird and YorkieGirl, I did LL this year and lost 8.5 stones in just over 6 months. Having yo-yo dieted forever and tried every diet going I honestly have to say this was the easiest diet I have ever done. I found it liberating to be free of food, not counting points or calories, measuring portion sizes, trying to make up for a bad day by being good the next, blah blah! It is a very drastic diet but the amazingly quick results (I lost a stone in the first week) kept me motivated. Now that I can buy lovely clothes in a size 10 for the first time ever, six months without food is such a tiny "sacrifice" for how much it has changed my life and made me feel good about myself.

I found the counselling fairly helpful as it was the first diet where I had ever thought about why my eating habits were so messed up - I am certainly not "cured" and will always have a problem with food but I am determined not to let myself gain the weight back again. I did find it helpful to be in a group with others in excatly the same situation and found it really supportive to have 10 other people really understand what it was like doing the diet and share highs and lows. After 16 weeks I swapped to Cambridge which is also great but I was glad to do LL at the beginning when I was at my most "vulnerable" and certainly benefitted from the support.

I wish you both all the best for January - stick with it - it is so worth it

barmybird · 01/12/2006 22:10

Thanks for that. I do feel that I should invest in this for me. Yes the cambridge diet may be cheaper but I think the counselling for me will be very important. Hammerheadshark you are describin what I want. A break from food, time to think and look at what I am doing to myself. Fingers crossed for next week when I go to get the medical form filled in, hope the practice nurse is sympathetic!

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 01/12/2006 22:13

Message withdrawn

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