VLCD/Meal Replacement on 1st Jan

[DelightfulCunt]

Hi everyone!

I’m starting a VLCD (Slim and Save) on 1st Jan and wondering is anyone starting too? Or Cambridge, Exabte etc and maybe we could keep each other motivated?

or try having 1 or 2 boiled eggs a day.

Exante Total Solution, 3 sachets a day.
I'm due to up to 800 cars next week, hopefully that will do something.

Yep I would add in some low cal high protein, See if that helps. It is crap though. Someone said I was looking slimmer today so that has to mean more than the scales.

How's everyone else?

I’ve been a complete shambles and I basically gave up for about a week, trying to start again each day and then quitting by lunchtime!

I was due to do this programme till 31 jan on the basis that most people lose a stone in a month and I only had a stone to lose. Well I’ve only lost half a stone (and probably put some back on this week!!) and so I’m going to continue with the diet in earnest for another two weeks at least and see how I fare.

I just find it so so difficult. I’m not actually “overweight”, whatever that means, I’m just unhappy with how i look compared with my body pre-kids so that probably accounts for why my weightloss has been slower than the stone in a month that I was hoping for!

Well done to the rest of you who are actually managing to stay broadly “on plan”. You all put me to shame!

So I went out for dinner last night and had my first 'proper' meal in a month. Today I've got a monster migraine and have had to ring in sick to work. Is that just coincidence or do you think it's linked?

Goodbye January, goodbye 14lbs! Hows everyone else doing?

Not obese today (for the first time in approximately 4 years!). I've lost just shy of 40 lbs now ...now to lose the 30 lbs needed to take me out of being overweight. I haven't had a BMI less than 25 for 15+ years so that will be quite a change!

I think a stone a month is a tall order Pitapotamus if you don't have much to lose - it will still be quicker than a regular diet though. I'm hoping for 10 lbs/mth now I'm not obese and will probably lower the expectation down to 7 lbs/mth when I moving through the sub 25 BMI weights.

Hard to say rainbowgrimm - hope the migraine lifts soon for you. Congratulations on the stone off in January!

I don't think you should have been on TS, Pipopotamous. Exante say that's for BMI of 30+. Even man plan (800 cals) is ideally for BMI of 25+. It would be a tall order to lose 14lbs of fat when you barely had it to lose in the first place. Being exceptionally hard on yourself expecting complete compliance! You might do better on an on/off version of it with breaks at maintenance calories.
Have found there is a MASSIVE difference in doability having 800 cals (ish) per day versus three products only. And losses have been as I wanted them anyway on that. Not worth the trauma and stress of TS for me.

Well done Hexqua!

I'm now 13lb down

Hmm. Food week, day 2 of upping my cals to 800 and I lost more weight in the last two days than in the past two weeks. Wondering if VLCD is just too low cal?

BishopBrennansArse

I've just read this on the Exante diet website and thought of you.

Why is a food week important while in a state of ketosis?

Including a food week – in which you up your calorie intake and introduce low-carb meals into your diet for every fourth week - is not only important for your health but can also help to maximise your weight loss results.

As your body adjusts to the reduction of calorie intake, your body will become adapted to running on less calories and this can consequently result in a weight loss plateau. By introducing a week of increased calories, this will allow your body to adjust again to an increased level of fuel, so that when you return to a reduced level of calories, you are more likely to experience more significant weight loss than if you do not include a food week into your plan.

Thank you BishopBrennansArse

I just wanted to add that I haven't lost those 40 lbs since 1st Jan! I started mid-October but took a break for Christmas (which was a month out effectively if I factor in the time it took me to get back down to what I was).

I'm doing Slim and Save (4 packs a day) and they recommend:

Calories: 520 (min) - 750 (max); recommended 600-700 kcal
Carbs: under 70g of Carbs (70-80g some people ok, over 80g most come out of ketosis)

I consistently have more than that - even on an average day I think I'm having more like 800 kcals and 75g of carbs, and a bit more on others. It make it more do-able long term for me, however, I think I'm pushing the boundaries a bit too much recently...I plan to monitor it a bit more closely starting tomorrow. I'm losing on average 2.9lbs/wk (ignoring the first couple of weeks) which I'm happy with (I do have concerns about losing weight very fast and loose skin) but...

I always have my 200g of veg and milk allowance (cashew milk - which is lower in kcals and carbs than skimmed so I can have a bit more). I also have itsu wasabi crispy seaweed (22 kcal/1 g carb - 1 to 3 packs); Hartley's sugar free jelly (allowed half a sachet made up but I regularly have more); sometimes have pickled gherkins and onions...and I don't plan my packs around their kcals/carbs. I've also discovered that I CAN have drinks with citric acid in and stay in ketosis (so now have Robinson's special R squash although if I do have a fizzy drink it still tends to be coke zero) and get into ketosis whilst having caffeinated drinks.

I put a typical day into MFP and came out with this (photo) but I often have MORE then one jelly and MORE than one pack of itsu wasabi seaweed (£2 for a pack of 3 and a lot of packaging - so more than one motivation to cut down there!) and extra cashew milk and a few pickles so I definitely need to calm it down a bit!

Well I'm guessing that my body has more than adapted to running on less fuel as I still haven't lost. I think I'm around 11ibs lighter in 5 weeks. Which presumably could have been achievable on SW or WW or similar.

So depressing. I'm not sure what to do. I have 3 packs and some low cal protein
each day, but I'm sure it is not more than 200 cals worth so averaging 800 per day. I've even been to the gym/swimming. I don't log everything though so am thinking I need to do that in case it is actually more extra calories than I'm thinking or change the products? Just do shakes only? I don't want to do that as it will bring unwanted attention at work if folk see me having a shake for lunch rather than soup or the Dahl thing.

I'm not giving up as I know it will all just pile back on and more. But I need to do something different.

I probably should just be delighted to have lost 11ibs but because the scales have only gone up in the last 3 weeks I'm finding this difficult to celebrate!

Sorry to moan! Meant also to add well done to all those who have lost, I'm really glad it is working, it's making me more determined to keep going I think hearing how everyone else is doing. Might try and find a tape measure and take actual measurements as well today.

Sorry your disappointed kittens, it's hard to keep plodding on.
Do you honestly feel you would of lossed those 11lbs with slimming world or ww? I know people do, but I wouldn't of done( & I've tried many times!) If you think you would of done and that would be easier/make you happier switch.
Re work - I didn't/don't want to get in a big discussion about it. I have one of those workmates who seems to think he's an expert in everything & you're just waiting for his opinion. I planned what I would say if asked - this is what I'm doing and I'm not interested in your opinion, I'm doing 5:2 or 16/8 and you've caught me on a fast day, I'm just not hungry today, I ate earlier etc etc No ones actually asked but I felt happier having my answer ready in my head.
Try writing everything down for a few days and see if you can identify anything you could change, anything youre underestimating.
11lbs in 5weeks is still a tremendous achievement. Have you worked out how much as a percentage of your starting weight that is? Or how much your BMI has dropped - that might be motivating. I'm aiming for 10% weight loss as a first aim and to get 3.3 off my BMI as that gets it to a round number. I think little goals are important. Chin up.

Kittens - must be frustrating - I would give it another week before thinking you need to change anything.

I went back a few pages and noticed that you didn't WI until day 3 - I lost 5 lbs in the first three days (yes, water weight but...most other people who be including that in their total loss). Would it help to think of it as losing 16 lbs in four weeks and then having a small stall (I've just come out of a week long stall).

I love having loads of small goals - I have a spreadsheet that works out how far away from each of them I am. My next is 1.2 lbs away...rare to have a gap of 3+ lbs without a mini goal!

I haven't told anyone at work I am doing a VLCD. If anyone asks I say I am having porridge for breakfast; a meal replacement for lunch (work can be very busy and it was common for me to skip lunch completely - when obese - and then overeat later) to make me eat; lots of veg with dinner and easy on the carbs. All true...just not mentioning that that they are meal replacements too!

Thank you both, v much appreciated. It's true I wouldn't have lost this much doing WW so will keep going, and yes I didn't weigh in right at the beginning so reckon I could have been at least 5-6 pounds heavier. So it could be over a stone which does feel much better.

I'm going to keep going. I've haven't told anyone at work and don't want to because they would judge hugely. So I have a dahl pot or the noddles/soup at some point during the day and no one bats an eyelid because it looks like 'normal' food but if I had a shake they'd know immediately. Sounds paranoid now I write it down! But true

I think I might have to do more than 12 weeks to get to where I need to be. So would it be safe do you think to do 12 weeks, have a month off then go again? (They don't recommend you do more than 12 weeks continuous)

I'm thinking the same Bishop, I had thought I would just do Jan/Feb/March but realistically it is going to take longer. So am thinking currently to plod on until end March but aim to maintain the loss for April and then go back on in May-June depending how much I lose over next couple of months. It's the maintaining that I know will be most difficult so quite good to have a trail run in April maybe.

What are you following Bishop? On slim and save I think (I haven't looked at it that much) that they recommend a break week every 12 weeks where you eat a bit more real food protein and fruit. I can screen shot their advice if it would be helpful?
Ps today I'm wearing the trousers I couldn't get on in January

Well done Rainbow !

I'm doing the same/similar - doing this diet in blocks with a break between (not just a food break but completely off plan).

I'm going to need three phases in total I think

Phase 1 to nearly get out of obese DONE
Phase 2 to get out of obese and nearly get to healthy NOW
Phase 3 to get to healthy and then ideal (whatever that may be!) PLAN

not forgetting the hardest phase of all...phase 4 maintenance!

OTT detail to follow, if you are interested :

Before Christmas I did nine weeks losing 33.4 lbs (8.8, 3.8, 2.2, 3.4, 2.6, 3.4, 2.8, 4.6, 1.8 lbs respectively) and reduced my BMI from 36.4 down to 31.0.

I then took a 'week' off completely for Christmas. That turned into three weeks...(+2.8, +2.8, +0.2) BMI went from 31.0 up to 31.9.

I then started cutting down again - 4 days cutting down and 3 days on plan losing 5 lbs and reducing my BMI back down to 31.1.

Ignoring those first three days (I started back on a Wed but official WI day is Sun and I wanted to stick with that) I've now done 3 weeks of phase 2 and have lost 7.8 lbs (2.6, 3.2, 2.0) so far (7.4 lbs when adjusted for the fact that I didn't quite manage to get back to where I was before declaring phase 2).

I plan to stay on plan for 12 weeks this time (+ those 3 days) which takes me up to the start of the Easter holidays. Have around 2 weeks off (not to go wild - mainly healthy eating but I do have a couple of nights out involving booze planned!), spend another week losing the water weight again and then onto phase 3...

I've got no intention of doing the food breaks and re-feeds as prescribed (although I do my own version of phasing on and off) - I plan to go 5 lbs below where I want to be to allow for water weight re-gain.

As I mentioned in another post I am pushing it in terms of my total kcals (800+) and carbs (75g+) so may need to be stricter if my losses slow too much (I'm happy losing between 2.5 - 3 lbs a week on average but not less than that...if it can be helped).

@rainbowgrimm I'm on exante, they recommend not doing more than 12 weeks continuously but not more than that

I love your phase approach Hex, I think I'm going to have a think about something similar. I don't think I've ever dared dream that big before or felt I could actually get there. My next mini goal is to get another point off my BMI as that'll take it to a round number, but I think a broader longer term plan will also be helpful.
I've been reading a lot about capsule wardrobes and found this blog really helpful to work through to plan clothes purchases as I lose and then longer term.
I bought a skirt in the sale yesterday following what I've learnt as something to aim for (it was reduced from £45 to £8.89) and it just about fits now.

httpsw.midlifechic.com/how-to-build-a-capsule-wardrobe-women-over-40-1/

Great blog find Rainbow - I'm enjoying having a good browse!

I really can't claim the credit, I found it on one of the style and beauty threads. I've really enjoyed working through her little activities. I've saved my notes on my phone to keep adding/adjusting.
Have you heard of project 333? It's where you chose 33 items of clothing and only wear them for 3 months. I've been working on a hyperthetical list for when I've lost enough to need new clothes so I don't just buy random crap that doesn't go together.