Light-hearted rant

[PudgyPal]

I'm NC for this because I need to rant.

It's almost 4 a.m. and I'm absolutely starving. I've managed to stay out of the kitchen and have a black Lady Grey. It's boring, it tastes like soil and I'm still starving.

I'm doing a meal replacement plan and so, when I allow myself to eat at 6 a.m., I will still be starving with three more 'meal packs' to last the day which means I'll still be starving until I start this all over again tomorrow.

I'm 5'3" and 72kg. My goal weight is 48kg, or thereabouts, so have a long way to go.

I'm sick of losing weight, since I've been doing this my whole life, so just want to use this plan and get to a maintenance I'm happy staying at instead of dragging this shit out for another 20 years.

Often I wonder at my age, of approximately but not yet or older than 50, what is the point of is being thin? When do I stop trying to chase the body of a 25 year old and enjoy making it up to this point without every day being a fight to fit in clothes that are nice but doesn't change my age?

I'm losing weight for health but I have no health problems. I'm trying to prevent them, due to seeing what obesity does when one is older, but these obese people are walking around pretty happy and eating what they want to on the way!

I'm not trying to offend, or have anyone pity me. I'm just rambling on a dark, lonely night when all I want to do is not be awake and hungry.

I thought the heat would make my appetite go down but it's gotten ravenous!

Get on WLI instead. Life changing and no hunger!

I'm not able to, unfortunately, or I certainly would! The meal replacement programme has even said the GLPs and meals are compatible! Sad for me!

I'm on a similar plan. How long have you been doing it?

I don't have my first pack until 10am. Then 1pm, 5pm and 8pm. Decaf tea and lots of water in between! I don't mind feeling hungry in the morning as I'm busy then so I don't notice so badly.

Hi i have similar problem am traying to loose weight but always let myself down. Am 14 stone target 10 stones. Everyday I wake up thinking today il reach my target calorie goal but that isn't the case.
You will do it. Never give up. Am always having these bad days at the minute with work and juggling house chores. But we will get by the dark days.

Low calorie high volume food is what you need. I’d be dying just on shakes! No wonder you’re miserable. Take a look at this influencers page. You don’t need to eat like a mouse to lose weight. https://www.facebook.com/share/1BiLE5dTeC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I have worked in elderly care, and obese people can really suffer whilst aging far more (generally). I’m the same rough age as you and have lost 5 stone, not using WLI. I have felt hungry so often but what helped me the most is doing a yoga video every time I felt hungry…multiple times a day often. I became fitter without noticing and so much calmer mentally. This all had the knock on effect on reducing the attention I gave to the ‘food noise’. I love being fitter and slimmer in this decade than I ever have been before. You can do this, you deserve this.

I've been dabbling with it since early March. I just can't get into the swing of it but I'm trying to get serious because I have a holiday coming up!

Your timing sounds so much better than mine. I am not sleeping well at all so not sure I could make it until 10 am for the first pack. Currently, I'm doing 6, 10, 2 and 6. The 10-2 slot is the hardest!!!!

How long have you been doing it and have you seen results?

@MrsPorridgepot I love the idea of distraction with activity! I was walking but it's just been too hot, recently, so I've eased up on that for now. I did get into the gym at 6 a.m. today, though!

You're 5 foot 3 and aiming for 48kg - a BMi of 18.7?? Why not aim for a weight of 60kg which is within the healthy BMI range and would be much more achievable.

Meal replacement sounds horrible. Can't you make yourself some nice salads with protein and veg?

My BMI goal is low so that I can rebuild weight with muscle. I'm working with a trainer so anticipate putting on another 7-10 pounds immediately after the diet ends, which won't be fat, but glycogen refills etc. So, the low weight won't be constant or maintained.

Living on salad sounds just as horrible as these meals, in fact, worse if I'm honest!!

"Living on salad sounds just as horrible as these meals, in fact, worse if I'm honest!!"

Really? Yesterday I made myself a warm salad of prawns, grilled peppers and leaves for dinner - it was delicious and there are lots of possible variations depending on what you enjoy. I wouldn't suggest this in January but in July at 30 degrees it's a great way of eating.

These meals are nutritionally complete and I don't have to shop, cook, count calories or use supplements. I've already paid for 16 weeks so I'm committed!

I'm a bit older than you and the same height/ weight. My goal is about 60ish- I'm aiming for the top of the BMI range ( for Caucasians even though I'm Asian so I will still be over BMI) What is this low weight then building up muscle? Is that what you're meant to do? How? Weights? Surely 10lb of muscle will take ages to put on?

Yes, weights and changing eating towards a surplus in calories to support the extra activity. So, basically, go as lean as possible. Transition off the diet and then go into a calorie surplus that supports muscle growth and not fat. The scale will go up but the body composition will change. Otherwise, I'd just be super skinny or skinny fat and that isn't ideal!

I don't want to detail your thread but how much exercise do you have to do for that? I swim 3-4 times a week but not high impact and do 2 x yoga. I know I need to do weights but just can't motivate myself. Is that to stop you putting weight back on after?

@Desperatelyseekinglazysusan Hi! No worries! So, because the calories are very low on this total meal replacement, I'm doing 3x 20min strength training per week and no cardio. The weight training is very light so it basically ensures there is not muscle loss along with fat loss. Then, there will be a week of transitioning from this food to "normal" food and moving from low calories to maintenance. After doing that for about a month, then a calorie surplus will be introduced and weight training will increase from 3x20 min / week to 4x 45-60/week. My trainer isn't fussed about seperate cardio since it will be incorporated within the lifting.

So, the weights aren't meant to help with not putting weight back on. It's to guard against bone loss and sacropenia as we get older.

I hope that makes sense. I'm not a professional - I'm just working with one and putting my trust in their advice!

@MyKingdomforaNameChange I managed to wait until 9 am before having my second meal - ha!

I've been given a lot of tips for managing hunger and have been told that, after the fourth day, things should be a lot easier since hunger will naturally reduce due to the composition of the packs.

Have lots of bubbly, calorie free drinks, black tea and coffee to hand.

Got some electrolytes and a good book.

So, hope you're doing well! I know hunger is part of losing weight so I will persevere but I sure would like to stuff my face with some dark chocolate 😜

I hope it works for you OP but I totally question the advice and approach you’ve been given.

@Lodolite that's ok! The website says people wouldn't be on board, due to not understanding, etc. The programme is endorsed by the NHS so I'm okay with it. It's very aggressive but very temporary. At least the food tastes ok!

Oh I sympathise! I've been on a diet since August 2024, I've lost 3 and a half stone and gone from 18 stone 4 to 14 stone 11 (no idea what that is in kg sorry) and I'm STILL obese and it's all starting to feel like What is the bloody point?

If I lose more weight I'll get even saggier than I am, if I don't, I'll be obese.
Either way I'm never going to look nice again and I'm only 45! I want to look nice!

I've actually put 4lbs on this week what with my period and the bastard weather.

@DreamingOfGeneHunt you've done so well to lose all of that weight, though!

I know it's hard to work hard, constantly, and feel like it's never ending.

That's the point I'm at right now and why I chose this aggressive programme.

I'm sick of losing 1 pound a month, even though I cut calories which allegedly mean I should be losing 2 pounds a week, and then starting all over.

I have thyroid disease, which doesn't help, probably perimenopause and all manner of things working against me! I don't want to keep trying to lose weight until I'm 90! I just want it over with so I can focus on being strong!

In the meantime, I am going to complain about being hungry!

It's so tempting just to give up but I guess that's how I got here in the first place!

So, the weights aren't meant to help with not putting weight back on. It's to guard against bone loss and sacropenia as we get older
Thanks yes this is what I'm concerned about ( clearly not concerned enough to do any weight training though 😂) I've started walking more and doing aquafit instead ( and hrt!)

I haven't got a thyroid any more and I'm supposedly adequately medicated. Perimenopausal as well! I'm on calories to lose 1.5lbs a week. I can't function on any less. It's utterly rubbish isn't it.

Yes! It's nice to be able to talk to others about it but it's not nice knowing there are so many of us in the same situation!

It is nice, sometimes you just need a good moan! I'm on another weight loss thread and so many people there have their start weight as stones lighter than my target and it's getting a bit hard to be cheery (if anyone from there reads this, sorry, I am trying!) when I'm not going to be out of the overweight category for probably another two years.