VLCD/ Meal replacement diets/Slimfast for medical reasons

[Spidey66]

Before anyone criticises me, I need to point out this is in no way my diet of choice. It's imposed on me.

I'm waiting on my gall bladder to be removed in just under 2 weeks. As I'm a lard arse, I've been told I need to shrink my liver in preparation as this makes the op easier to carry out. I've been given strict instructions to do this by following Slim fast to the letter for 2 weeks. So 4 shakes, 800 cals and just calorie free drinks e.g. water, squash, diet coke, herbal tea.

There is a scientific basis to it so I have to go on with it, I understand it. However I'm now on day 2 and already bored shitless and feel I'm stuck inside except for work to avoid temptation. I'm on leave (back to work Monday but in fact not for long due to the op and having to self isolate to be covid free). The hospital want evidence of my start weight so yesterday I went to Boots to weigh myself and get a print off. It seems everyone was eating and I wanted to snatch the food out of their hands and shove it in my gob!

I know I'm only doing it for a fortnight (though I'll probably continue with more "conventional " weight loss methods after the op) but please tell me it gets easier!!

And if anyone has done this for similar reasons, were you able to eat anything? I was think that surely fruit and veg that are mainly water would be ok e.g. cucumber or watermelon just to have solid food?

Ive just finished 12 weeks! Ive since been allowed to swap a shake for a meal.

I was allowed to have a minimum of 2 cups of vegetables a day. I would double check with the team to see about the veggies. If you are allowed veggies I would suggest buying the opticook e cookbook. You can look at the recipes here opticook.org/

In terms of the shakes and stuff somethings that helped.
Using essences/flavours like rosewater, lemon to change up the flavours.
If you havea good blender then making the shakes with ice is so much better than just water. I use a huge cup of ice and a little water so its like a frappe.

The optifast lemon dessert is really yummy and if you making it with slightly less water (180ml) and let it set in the freezer for 30 minutes its really good.
With the Bars you can microwave the chocolate ones for like 30 seconds til it gets a bit melty. I quite like them cold but as a change its good.

My carer is on his first day of 'normal' food after doing a 12 week shakes only diet.

He was allowed flax seed and I think some milk. He is in touch with a dietician who has worked with him (he has a lot of food issues) this was due to developing type 2 diabetes, hopefully he has now kicked it into remission.

Good luck.

@sashh
I have heard of it reversing diabetes before.

Mind you any weight loss will go straight back on unless you continue with some form of weight loss plan.

It is working, certainly. I've only been on it 5 days and I've lost 5lbs already.

I did have a slight lapse yesterday. It was my birthday so some vodka may have been slipped into the diet coke and I may have had a slice of watermelon. I know how to celebrate.

FFS.

The hospital have rung me to say because my BMI is 40 they want to transfer me to the bariatric team and this means the operation is on hold for 5 days, but I have to carry on with this fucking diet regardless!!!!

I've asked if I can eat fruit and veg especially water based ones like cucumber.....apparently not.

I can't do it for another five days, i'm already pissed off with it, I can't carry on.

The irony of it is that as the weight if literally falling off, I could well have a BMI of 35 by the time the surgery is due.

To say I'm angry and upset is an understatement.

I think I'm going to have proper food tonight. I'm supposed to do it for 14 days. If I start tomorrow it will be 14 days before the rearranged date.

NB 35 is the cutoff BMI for surgery to be transferred to the bariatric team. That's why I mentioned it. Oh for an edit button

I think I'm going to have proper food tonight.

Don't do this. Don't throw away the hard work you've already done.

I'm going to be cruel to be kind here. You have a BMI of 40. You don't need me to tell you how unhealthy that is. You're in desperate need (I presume) of surgery on your gallbladder which can only go ahead safely if you lose some weight. They're asking you to commit for 14 days. I get that it's tough but it's nothing compared to how much 14 days of extreme weight loss will benefit you.
Can you find other ways to take your mind off it. A hobby that keeps your hands busy? I presume you could suck a few sugar free mints / sweets (M&S do some nice boiled ones like butterscotch / rhubarb and custard) to give your mouth a change?There are hardly any calories in them and you can't overeat them as they have a laxative effect
You've managed a few days already - well done! Don't spoil it by having to start again tomorrow.

@careerchangeperhaps
Could you be any more patronising?

I'm very aware of my weight and the risks it is creating, thank you. I had been planning for this to kick start my weight loss and carry on after the op.

I know I need to lose weight for the surgery, which is why I have cooperated fully with it. I have not eaten any solid food since last Wednesday in preparation for this. I have lost 5 lbs in as many days. The only exception was yesterday when I ''celebrated'' my birthday with a slice of watermelon. Whoopedo! A WHOLE SLICE OF WATERMELON!!!!

The hospital told me I have to do this for 14 days. I have done it for 5, they now want to extend it for another 5 days. If I eat tonight, and go back on it tomorrow, I will be still on it for 14 days continuously.

I dont need a hobby, I am at work. I will not suck sugar free mints.I've had them before, and the explosions mean I will not be able to work. All I'm asking for is one solid meal in 3 weeks. Is that too much to ask for?

NB To clarify. They asked me to do 14 days of extreme weight loss, which I agreed to and have cooperated with. They have now put my surgery back, but want me to carry on with eating no food for an additional 5 days, so no solid food for 19 days. If I eat tonight I will still be on this plan for 14 days, given the surgery is postponed.

I'm not talking of a total binge of thousands and thousands of calories. Just one fucking meal. I mean who knows they may cancel it again or I might test positive for covid and not be able to have it again. And then I'll have gone without solid food for 4 weeks+. Do you really thinking that just because I'm a fat cow I should never ever eat again?

I speak as someone who used to have a bmi of 41 so please don't bite my head off like you did to the previous poster (who was really just trying to help). Stick to the diet and don't just quit to start all over again. I know how hard it is but if you gave survived 5 days then you are over the worst. I had a gastric sleeve 3 years ago and had to do this diet for 4 weeks to shrink my liver before they would perform the operation. The first 4 days were a nightmare then I felt much better and hopefully you will be there soon.

They have asked me to do it for 14 days. They have now rearranged the surgery and asked me to do it for 19. I dont think it is too much to ask to have one solid meal in 19 days, especially as in doing so I will still have stuck to it for 14 days. If I do eat tonight-and as I said it will not be a massive binge, just a proper meal instead of the two fucking milkshakes I'm due, just like some chicken, measured carbs and some veg, I will still have been on it for 14 days which was what they have asked.

Anyone would think wanting one meal in 3 weeks is some kind of crime or something.

And sorry, the pp was condescending.

So what happens if they can suddenly do it on the original timeline but you miss the opportunity because you won't stick to the diet for a few extra days?

You're being a bit childish. 14 days or 19 days, it's hardly "never eat again". You've only managed 5 days and already you want to break it. Well actually you broke it yesterday after only 4 days. It doesn't really bode well. So what's the next excuse?

A slice of watermelon is hardly breaking it
And they ain’t going to change it. They’ve made it clear.
400 cals in a disgusting chemically loaded SlimFast shake or a healthy meal of maybe 100 cals more, then going back on it from tomorrow and still doing the 14 days after? Seriously people don’t understand why I want this???

I think people do understand why you want to eat normal food , we've all been there when the diet is so boring bland and uninspiring that you contemplate just giving it all up
I think what people are trying to say ( with kindness and no ill will ) is that
19 days straight will benefit you even more than the 14 and as you have managed , even though you are not enjoying it , so far it would be a shame to start all over again
And speaking personally as someone who could probably regain that 5lbs in one weekend I'd advise exactly the same
Please don't jump down my throat either .. people generally offer help here because they care

@66babe

I think people do understand why you want to eat normal food , we've all been there when the diet is so boring bland and uninspiring that you contemplate just giving it all up I think what people are trying to say ( with kindness and no ill will ) is that 19 days straight will benefit you even more than the 14 and as you have managed , even though you are not enjoying it , so far it would be a shame to start all over again And speaking personally as someone who could probably regain that 5lbs in one weekend I'd advise exactly the same Please don't jump down my throat either .. people generally offer help here because they care

Yes. This sums up exactly what I meant to say (but probably worded a lot better ).

@careerchangeperhaps you said it just fine

Look I’m going to leave this here. I’m ratty, I’m hungry, it’s 30 Celsius.

All I’m trying to say is by eating one healthy meal instead of the processed shit I’m expected to drink and going back to it tomorrow I AM doing what the hospital have asked.

It’s bad enough having the op rearranged without you guys having a go for being human.

And you know sorry for having a slice of watermelon on my birthday. Don’t worry I’ll let the hospital know I cheated big time on my birthday and had a 30 calorie binge.

I did a VLCD (think it was Slim and Save), yes it’s not very exciting. The reason I was so overweight was that I ate all the time, I love food, I eat my emotions.
When I finish breastfeeding my second I am going back on it to kick start my weight loss. I ate low carb too until getting pregnant. The insane hunger wears off, you get used to it. I did it for 6 months and my BMI went down 5 points.

I haven’t even taken all my drinks today. I’ve had 2. I was going to have a healthy meal instead of that shit, not as well as.

But I’m leaving it before I get jumped on and judged even more.

This has really upset me. Thanks.

Good luck with your op @Spidey66
No one has jumped at you but I'm done

I get you with the shakes. 400 cals in a milshake? I’d rather have a baked potato or a low calorie ready meal.

Is there a reason it has to be shakes? If there’s a medical reason you may have to suck it up , but I’d ask if you can’t do the replacement bars or something on occasion.

How much weight do you need to lose to reach a bmi of 35?

Does it have to be Slimfast? Huel has a lot less shit in it and is way more filling.

Do you have to do slimfast?
Could you try a different vcld? I lost 2 and a half stones pretty quickly on the 1:1 (Cambridge) diet - they have more ‘food’ type options not just shakes so you feel like you’ve had a meal.