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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.

Lighter Life

32 replies

SoftWanstead · 06/01/2008 17:40

Hi - new here and can;t work out how to access archives yet so forgive me if you've already done this one but has anyone here done Lighter Life and kept the weight off without straving?! Just finished Day 5 and am feeling like it might be pointless...

OP posts:
chocolatespiders · 06/01/2008 19:40

you will def lose the weight if you click on search for meassages and search on lighterlife... you will find a thread i am sure

there is lighterlife magazine in shops at the moment as well

chocolatespiders · 06/01/2008 19:40

you will def lose the weight if you click on search for meassages and search on lighterlife... you will find a thread i am sure

there is lighterlife magazine in shops at the moment as well

chocolatespiders · 06/01/2008 19:41

you will def lose the weight if you click on search for meassages and search on lighterlife... you will find a thread i am sure

there is lighterlife magazine in shops at the moment as well

chocolatespiders · 06/01/2008 19:41

if you click on search for messages you will find a thread

there is lighterlife mag in shops at moment

dont lose faith you will lose weight

chocolatespiders · 06/01/2008 19:42

sorry about that computer crashed in between and i didnt think it had posted my reply

SecondhandRose · 06/02/2008 18:51

I have finished and finshed management, now i am in the big wide world of food again. I am sooooooo happy it is unbelievable. I have size 10 jeans and size 12 top. I look and feel fantastic!!!!!!!!!

Verso · 28/02/2008 13:35

Congratulations, secondhandrose. Can you point me in the direction of any active threads on this? I've done a search and this looks like the most recent - but you've finished (good for you - but not for me, boo hiss!)

I'm thinking of doing LighterLife - going to an information session next week - but have suddenly got cold feet. Am worried it's dangerous/faddy/silly etc and am talking myself out of it again.

Any thoughts?

mummypoppins · 29/02/2008 09:45

Im starting on Monday........cant wait. Have done the Cambridge diet but need the counselling aspect.

Saw a friend of mine last week. She has done 3.5 stone and looks fab.

How much secondhandrose did you lose ?

aznerak · 29/02/2008 12:59

Hi there

I have been doing LL since the middle of September and I have lost 7 and a half stone so far!

I am about 10lb off my target so today have started the route to management whereby I slowly reintroduce food. I'm hoping that whilst I am still on 3 packs for the next few weeks, I will manage to shift the remaining pounds.

So, assuming I reach my target, I will have lost in excess of 8 stone.

It has been a massive experience and I am so proud of myself. I started off with a BMI of 42.5 and now am 25.4 so with the last few pounds gone, I will get to just under 24.

I was wearing a size 24/26 when I started and now buy size 12 jeans easily and size 12-14 tops as I have extremely broad shoulders. But now, my shoulders are lean and strong as opposed to flabby and wobbly!

Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing/feeling

x x x

Verso · 29/02/2008 14:06

Thanks for the replies - and well done aznerak! I'm worried about ending up with loose baggy skin. Has that been an issue?

Also - how did you cope with social events? I get invited out to quite a lot of lunches through work and I'm not sure how I'll manage that...

After I've done the information session, what happens next? Do I have to have a medical?

Sorry for all the questions!

aznerak · 29/02/2008 14:37

Hi there

Loose skin depends on how mcuh you've got to loose, how big you are/were, how quickly you put on weight, how old you are etc.

I have a bit of loose skin around the bingo wings area of my upper arms and also around my navel but then I've had 2 children too and they were both big-uns!

On my legs, chest, thighs, bottom etc it has all gone back to how it was! I do use BIO-OIL after every shower which was recommended to me and it really helps keep the skin supple and encourages it to shrink back anf regain its elasticity.

Ulitimately, don't be fooled. LL is a MASSIVE undertaking but although Ive been doing it for just over 6 months, in the bigger scheme of things, that is nothing and it was worth making some compromises to get to where I wanted to be. I knew I would never do it unless the programme was full-on and worked quickly. When you have 8 stone to lose, going to usual diet places where you only lose 1 or 2 lb a week would never have helped me.

But, it has been SO worth it. Yes, it has been hard at times but then, no pain no gain.

At the info session, you get weighed to check you are eligible and then assuming you are, you get told about the next groups that will be starting. If you are interested in joining one of those groups, you have a short medical (they weigh you, check your BP and make a note of any medication you are on) and then off you go!

Bear in mind some GPs charge for doing this, even though it'll save them money in the long run.

Llloyds Pharmacies do it for free and I see my practice nurse who does it no probs. She has been very supportive and encouraging which makes it much easier. Others in my group had situations where the GPs were very negative and unhelpful about LL.

Ask anything else you want to know.

xxx

mummypoppins · 29/02/2008 14:40

Verso work lunches is a problem for me too...............guess you just have to be strong and determined. How much do you need to lose ?

Verso · 29/02/2008 16:37

I think four stone, but I'm not sure. I was quite shocked last year when I was weighed for a general anaesthetic and found out how much I weigh!! 15 stone! Am 5'7" though so can kind-of dress in a way that lets me get away with it most of the time. However I saw some photos at the weekend (taken at the weekend) that made me realise it's time to sort this out...

Am worried about GP now. What do Lloyds pharmacies do? Weigh-ins? Or a full medical?

Verso · 29/02/2008 16:39

P.S. I bet you are getting LOADS of compliments!!!

aznerak · 29/02/2008 16:56

Sorry, didn't mean to worry you about the GP.

At your first LL medical to be accepted onto the programme, they just weigh you, measure you (height) and take your blood pressure and your pulse.
They also are asked to record if you are taking any regular medication.
That is it.

As such, this can be done by any qualified health professional and as some doctors view this as a "medical", they charge accordingly. Some do, some don't.

I didn't take the risk of any awkwardness and just booked an appointment with a friendly nurse, explained it all to her and she was/is brilliant.

Lloys pharmacies offer the same service (height, weight, BP) for free apparently.

And yes, I am getting lots of compliments. Not a SINGLE thing exists from my old wardrobe (obviously when I have lost getting on for 8 stone!) and am trying not to spend like a mad thing.

I am like a kid in a sweet shop now. I used to dread clothes shopping but now, being able to walk into any shop and pick up any size 12 and it fit is AMAZING

Fimbo · 29/02/2008 17:01

Well done to you all. Can I just ask how much it costs? I have about 3 stone to lose

aznerak · 29/02/2008 17:47

Hi Fimbo

Your BMI has to be over 29 and you have to have at least 3 stone to lose or you don't qualify to do Lighter Life.

That said, if you 'only' have 3 stone to lose, as long as you stick to it rigidly, you'd lose it within the 100 day foundation stage.

In foundation, when you are totally abstinent from normal food and drink, you live on 4 foodpacks and 4 litres of water per day and you pay £66 per week for the foodpacks, counselling and everything else you get during the 100 days.

Then, as you move onto route to management and slowly reintroduce food groups, you reduce the number of packs so when you move down to 3 packs per day, it costs £49.50, then when its 2 packs per week it costs £33, one pack per day costs £16.50.

If you do it all properly and do the reintroduction as well, which really is the most important bit as it teaches you NOT to go back to how you were, you are then a life long Lighter Life member and can go back to the counselling sessions, even for some support if you feel you are slipping a bit, for free.

It sounds expensive but when you take into account you are not eating ANYTHING, no coffees out, no muffins, cakes, paninis, sandwiches, wine, pub lunches, you do actually spend an awful lot on yourself.

Fimbo · 01/03/2008 11:40

Hi Anzerak,
Thanks for the reply.

It does sound expensive but as it seems to produce results, it would be something I will consider looking into.

Thank you.

Muppett · 02/03/2008 21:04

I hope you don't mind me joining this thread. I'm going for my medical on Wed with my GP and then hoping to start on LL all being well next week. I've been for an introductory chat at one of LL offices nearby and also have two friends who have undertaken LL recently. They both look fab and managed to keep the weight off. This has fired me up and made me more determined to do LL. It has been heartening to read other comments on progress and struggles. Keep going Anzerak, Softwanstead and everyone else doing LL

aznerak · 02/03/2008 21:24

Good luck Muppett. How much weight do you hope to lose?

It isn't easy, but it is SO worth the hard work when you look in the mirror.

I am so much happier, more confident and more healthy than I have done in years.

Good luck and keep us posted.

A x x x

Verso · 03/03/2008 08:05

Thanks for all the info, aznerak. It's good to see how it works once you come off foundation. (I'm glad it gradually gets cheaper!)

I'm going to an information session this Wednesday about it. Muppett - do you want to be weight loss buddies (if my GP agrees to it)? I will be starting about a week after you I hope...

mrspink27 · 06/03/2008 11:18

I started LL today! I am taking it one step at a time, I am proud to have reached 11.17am

mummypoppins · 06/03/2008 12:53

well done MrsPink27. I start on Monday. By then you will be feeling fab!

lennygrrl · 06/03/2008 13:01

Message withdrawn

mrspink27 · 06/03/2008 13:19

ANother 2 hours... and the soup and shake actually doesnt taste grim... which i was worried about...

There is no way I am going through all this... and then putting weight on...I think whatever 'diet' you follow there is potential to relapse... I have 3.5 stone to lose and as long as I can stay within 7lbs of the end goal... I will be happy... 2 or 3 lbs is far easier to drop than 2 or 3 stone... But thanks for the warning - point taken.