ALIZONNE THERAPY?

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Just seen this advertised in National Press.

Has anyone ever tried it?

Is it pricey?

More to the point, Does it really work?

I'm intrigued..... I had never heard of this programme before...

Also is there anyone on here that is going to the birmingham clinic? If so let me now how its going and wether the people there are freindly

Hello, I was hoping someone can help. I have my first consultation booked for 2nd April (£120) in London. I have just over 4 stone to lose.
While I am happy to get the doctor to do blood tests, I alreadu know I have mild fatty liver as I had some tests done a couple of months ago.

Will this have any affect on me starting the Alizonne diet and therapy? I hope they don't turn me down!!
I also have a borderline BP (high). My diet isn't terrible but I think my metabolism is pretty slow. In addition I only started to gain weight when I was 12 after I was given steroids / cortisones to fight a serious illness. I've been well for many years but weight has yo-yo'ed from 10 to 15stone. Would like to get a handle on it once and for all.
Would like to try for a baby once healthier :)

Any advise, tips most gratefully received.

hey DaisyLondon i also have around 4 stone to loose? i havent had my consultation yet but i was wondering how long the clinic have said it will take you to loose the weight its just i need a rough estimate of how long it will take for an average person to loose around four stone and how much its going to cost you altogether?I did ask the clinic but they keep saying they cant tell me of how much its rougly going to cost me altogether, which is pretty annoying

Daisy: fatty liver and BP will imporve on the diet so I doubt it will stop you. The blood tests will check everything else is Ok, and you'll be Ok, I'm sure.

Malik: people often loose a stone a month, but it depends on how you have affected your metabolism by dieting before, so they won't give a guarantee. When you see the GP, s/he'll write you a plan. You also need to factor in time to phase off, and be committed to tracking what you eat when you are at goal to stay there.

I'm on plan - I was at the top of the range at 2 months, and at three months, I'm at the bottom of my target range - having lost 4 stone.

I'm now into size 22 jeans (from 26-28s). I'm happy with the programme - and have stayed on plan - I appreciate the salads and veggies, amd use a variety of sachets. It requires planning and commitment and the refusal to be sidetracked or sabotage. I can't belive it's only 3 months and I've already transformed.

Ali

AGal - thank you so much for your reply. It really helps to be able to talk to people on the same journey as I will be in 2 weeks time when I go in for my 1st consultation.

Very well done on your loss, it is fabulous! If you don't mind me asking which clinic do you go to? And any tips for a newbie?

Malik21 - when do you start? Maybe we could keep each other posted on the progress? I start on Saturday 7 April if everything goes to plan.

Look forward to hearing from both of you :)

Daisy,

Happy to meet for a coffee if you are London based too.

You'll find lots of useful info on the forum. Your clinic can give you the password. I read all the posts - lots of useful info and insights.

Get a wide mix of sachets to find ones that work for you. Get some extras in case you dislike some. You can get mixed boxes and also exchange some for others from the swap box to get a mix. Some things you think you might like (tomato soup, in my case) aren't great - whilst others are fine. Take back any you don't like and swap them on yr second visit. Most are an acquired taste - but worth it for the results.

You'll work out what you like. I prefer the plain choc desert/shake to the hot choc. I prefer the orange and grapefruit to the plain orange. I use the smoked bacon omlettes and the sheep's cheese (works well as a sauce for mushrooms - like a non garlicy low fat boursin).

Get organised, have a water bottle to make sure you get through 2-3 litres of water a day and a food scales that weighs in grammes. Plan when you are going to have your sachets, salads and veggies.

Read and re-read to info you'll be given. Post on the Alizonne forum and if you want the support, somewhere like the vlcd section of Minimins. There's no such thing as a dumb question, and it's good to get support.

In 3 months, I have lost 60lbs. I feel great on Alizonne apart from some PMT style symptoms (probably hormones being relased that were locked up in my fat) and a couple of tired days. The GP gave me some ways to sort that out. The GPs and therapists are there to help you, so just ask them if you have any issues.

You have to be committed (no mucking around or cheating) and to do what the clinic says, and you'll get great results. It takes some management to handle it around real life - but is worth the commitment, as the results come - sometimes fast, sometimes slower, you'll see it really does work. I have been to major social events, parties and dinners. I don't feel self conscious and now ask for what I need, and have found people don't comment. Disappearing Dawn's blog has a draft email to use with restaurants, and is a good read.

I won't deviate as I know that by shedding the excess weight I will be so much healthier and live longer. At last I am putting myself and my real needs ahead of other people.

Good luck and come and say hi on the Alizonne forum or Minimims.

Ali

HEY AGAL and DAISYLONDON for your replies really appretiate it your replies..

AGAL: well i have to first of all congratulate you on your weight loss. Having lost that much weight in such a short time.. wow i its amaizing . I wish my results turn out to be as good as yours sound. Tbh i have been a yo yo dieter for a good few years now. Iv been overweight since i was 15. I would often get told by ppl that i would stay overweight all my life which drove me to sometines starve myself to loose the weight quikly ( I NO THATS VERY BAD) and id often loose the 2 stones in 6 weeks until my body just gave up and i was back into reality and realised i had to eat otherwise i would get ill, Thats wen id end up putting all the weight back on .. PLUS MORE :( I am still young.. im 21 in 4 months. Im 5 ft 4 and weight 12.5 stone. im hopeing to have lost the weight by the time by birthday arrives. AGAL do u find the diet alot easier to follow now?

DAISYLONDON: well i go in this saturday which is 24/03/2012 just to chat to one of the advisers. they said they will not charge me for this meeting as they will jus go through how it works and stuff... and i can then decide wether i want to go ahead and book a consultation. The clinic said if i go ahead with it i could start in april so hopefully we'll be starting aroung the same time... And yes definately lookin forward to share my progress with you and i hope you could post and let me no how the diet and everythings going as you are most likely to start before me. also DAISYLONDON.. how long did they say it will take you to loose the weight?

looking 4ward to hearing from you both

Malik

Yes, It's easy to follow. You just have to read and re-read the manual, and ask the clinic or the forum if there's anything you don't understand. It takes organisation and commitment to stay on track.

The medgem check of your basal metabolic rate at the start and end will let you know how many calories you can eat when you are at goal.

The real work is when you get to goal - learning how to keep it off, with monthly monitoring visits to the clinic.

Ali

AGal - sounds great re coffee! I am sure we can arrange one saturday when we're both around there. I go for my blood tests and first consulation on 2nd April with the aim of starting on Saturday 7 April. Thanks for all your tips. I am a nervous wreck thinking about how I'll get on as I have failed so many times on so many different diets. But i am going to try and take each day at a time and get through it and persvere with the diet. I am 15 stone at the moment - I am going on holiday tomorrow for a few days so i am sure I'll come back with a 2- 3 extra pounds on me before i actually get started but hopefully not too many.... If you don't mind me asking, what was your start weight and how much did you lose in the first 4 weeks. I feel that i am always more motivated if i can see quick results. Anyway thanks a ton for this. I will check out minimin forums too after i;m back from hols and hopefully i'll get to meet you in April some time as well.

malik - happy to keep you posted once i start. Havent had my consultation yet so don't really know how many weeks it'll take. I want to loose 5 stone ideally.

good luck!

hey guys i went in to clinic today just to have a chat with one of the consultants, this was free of charge.. she was lovely, really freindly i am in the BIRMINGHAM clinic btw. She went through the list of foods i will be having whilst on the alizonne diet and also the costs and treatments etc.. she showed me pictures of herself which was very convincing and she managed to loose 5 stone in 6 months which is relly good, she showed me her before and after pictures which were crazy bcuz she had lost soo much weight and i think it meant more to me as i had seen her in person. I have to say it is pretty expensive, nearly £400 for the first week and then 210 a week after that :o

Anyway im hopeing im doing the right thing here coz i decided to go ahead with it...my medgem is on the 12th april and bcuz they are busy nxt month and they didnt want me to fell as though i was being rushed into it.. they decided to fit me in for my consultation a day after my dr consultation on the 13th april... so yes i have to fast 12 hours before my appointments twice in a row... nevermind im not too fused, im more excited to just go ahead with it.

So yes AGAL your advise has been really good and thank you for that... i just wanted to ask you tho... bcuz your weightloss has been very successfull... do you do any excersize and if so how often? are you doing cardio and weights or just cardio?

DAISYLONDON- I will probably be starting 2 weeks after you have so yeah would be really happy for you to tell me how your 1st 2 weeks will go bcuz the consultant said they will be the hardest and you might get headaches and feel really tired and sumtyms emotional, i no how you feel when you say YOU'VE FAILED SO MANY TIMES bcuz iv tried almost everythin 2... no need to be nervous im sure youll be FINE and i hope this time it works for you!!! and me :) lol

Also my consultant said after my dr consultaion i could make a list of foods that i want to try and they will make it for me and i can taste them to decide which ones i want to buy as she said most ppl end up bringin them back anyway in the first week... which is really good so i might do that!!
AGAL- Any advice on which foods to go for in the first week?

Hi, I have my 1st appointment on Fri 30th March in London. I have 2 stone to lose does anyone know how long it will take?

Hi I'm new on mumsnet. I'm on day 4 of Alizonne and have 6 stones to loose. For me they estimated getting 90% of the weight off in 19 weeks and then there would be another 6 or so weeks phasing back to a normal healthy diet.

Shooting starz - I don't think 2 stones will take long at all. Maybe a couple of months or so. Good luck on Friday. I have my first weigh in on Sat (a week from today) as they didn't have any earlier appointments.

Thank you Mrspannie, Its the last bit thats the hardest I tried but it just wont shift with other diets.

Good luck with your weigh in on Saturday and welcome to MN (Im new too)

I saw a few people on this chain recommending that we buy the assortment boxes for our first week, which allows us to try lots of different foods. That's what I did. I bought 4 assortment boxes (i.e. Soup, Savoury, Dessert and Cold Drink). I also bought 3 other boxes (i.e. Potato pie, Vanilla dessert and Hot Choc) - all based on recommendations here. So I bought 7 boxes of food at my first appointment, which should have been fine and given me lots of room for choice. Only problem is that my second appointment is 10 days after my first one (no earlier slot available) - so I'm going to have to eat every sachet even if I hate one! I have just enough food and no more.

I love the Vanilla Dessert - that's my favourite so far, and I wish I'd bought two boxes of it.

I would recommend that you go for more of the easy sachets to start with (i.e. the soups, desserts, drinks) as you just mix with water. The Omelettes and Potato pie all require a bit of cooking - which means I can't bring them to work and I'm having to use them up this weekend.

I really didn't like the Omelettes or the Potato pie the first time I had them. But I'm now starting to experiment and yesterday I bought a ton of new spices for my spice rack... So I had Cajun-spiced Omelette for lunch, followed by Indian-spiced Potato Pie at supper. Much better! It does seem a waste to eat something that is yuk when our calories are this restricted, but I'm hoping I'll grow to love them all.

Good luck!

This is what I am scared of as I am fussy eater( I don?t like dairy, red meat) I don?t mind holding my nose and drinking a drink but I don?t think I could physically eat something that tasted horrible.
What drinks are we allowed to drink, my downfall is sugary drinks. I?m dreading the headaches associated with withdrawal, have you experienced any side effects?
I?m actually weirdly excited. It?s really nice reading other posters comments and hearing about their weight loss.
Thank you for the tips.
Good Luck to you too x

I was ridiculously excited too in the days running up to my first consultation...I was also worried they'd tell me I wasn't suitable for the programme. I'm v overweight and finally have my head in the right place to start "the last diet", so it would have been very dispiriting if the clinic had found a reason for me not to do it.

During my three few days on Alizonne, I had a crashing headache in the afternoons (around the time when I normally would have reached for a large latte and some cake!) - so much so that I came home from work early on two of the days. I haven't really been massively hungry though which is good and I seem to be through the "cold turkey" stage (I'm on Day 5) - no more headaches and I'm very much planning to do a full day at work tomorrow as well as go to the gym before work.

The honeymoon period of starting Alizonne is now over and I still have 6 days to go until my first weigh in, so it's going to be hard keeping my brain on track before I see any official results. I'm not liking the sachets very much at all. I've just had some fruit of the forest yoghurt one and it was truly VILE. But I'm determined to keep going all the way through to the end. I hate the way I look right now - it undermines everything at home, with the kids and at work. This is the beginning of the new more confident me! We have visitors coming tomorrow, which will be my first big test (as so far I haven't told anyone what I'm doing).

In terms of drinks, you must have LOTS of water (2-3 litres a day) and you will therefore wee for England. You can also have herb tea, light tea and black coffee either with or without artificial sweetner. And they said to avoid ready made products (they contain too much sugar). Alcohol, light and cold drinks and fruit juices are not allowed. I've seen some people in this chain allow themselves diet coke - but I'm trying not to have it - not for the moment anyway. There are about 6 or so "cold drinks" that you can make up from th sachets. Some of these are OK. I hated the one with coconut in it though! Just keep going and keep experimenting.

This weekend I've made a huge batch of stewed rhubarb (made with Splenda sweetner) and massive batch of Aubergine Rogan Josh and have frozen it all in portions for one in the freezer - ready and waiting for me when I come in from work after a "bad" day. (Before starting Alizonne, I would have reached for a bag of crisps and a hefty glass of wine).

hi SHOOTINGSTARS and MRSPANNIE.... welcome to MN

shootingstars- I guess you havent got long at all until your consultation, i can understand y ur excited!! thats exactly how im feeling only Iv got a little longa 2 w8 b4 i have my consultation. u say uv got 2 stone to loose, which is not alot. when i went to the clinic i was told an average of a minimum you would loose is 10lbs a months and a maximum of 1.5 stone a month is lost and so i would probly say 2-3 months on the allizone diet but it also depends on your medgem, but you will find out all of that info on your consultation with the doctor.... i want to loose 3.5 stone, i am 12 at the mo and hopefully if i loose 3.5 stones it will bring me down to 8.5 but the only thing concerning me is wether the doc will let me come down to that w8 r not as i am 5.4 - 5.5 (not too sure) if you dont mind me asking how much do you weigh atm?

mrspannie- hi thre and as you've already started :) i could take some tips and advice of you.. which would b great. hopefully you could let me know which foods you find are most appropriate for the 1st week as im worried ill end up buying foods which i will not b able to stomach in the 1st week as i am also fussy about what my food tastes like.. ALSO LET US KNOW HOW MUCH W8 U LOOSE ON UR WEIGH IN!!! :) and wether u will be doing excersize and how much of it.. just concerned as when i went to the clinic they said the first 2 wks they wouldnt advise excersize as u will feel pretty tired and ur body is just getting used to the changes..

Looking 4ward to hearing how much weight u will have lost in your 1st weigh in, as iv bin told you loose an excessive amount of weight in the first few weeks...

++++++++++++++ GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU AND I HOPE YOU ACHIEVE YOUR WEIGHT LOSES QUIKLY ++++++++++++++++++++

Hi everyone!

I have just finished the Alizonne diet, it was great and although I had to stop failry abruptly without continuing to the end I am proud of what I have achieved so far.

I have ALOT of food sachets left over due to the abrupt stop, some are even full, unopened boxes. I know that it is probably not recommended by the clinics but i am happy to offer them out for a discounted price if anyone is interested, I need the space in my cupboards back! I have a wide selection left over, all sorts so if you are interested you can email me ([email protected]). if not they will be packed away into the garage!

Good look and to those just starting out, keep going. It is well worth the results!

hey lauraw85 how come you had to stop the diet? how long wre u on the diet for and how much did you manage to loose?

NEWBIE QUESTIONS!

Hi everyone, I guess I am posting on behalf on my daughter (nearly 17), who has a consultation Monday. We thinks she need to lose about 2 stone, she is studying performing arts so we are trying to get her slimmed down. She is on holiday for 3 weeks, so thought this would be a good time.

I am worried about her coping as she is fussy eater and doesn?t really like salad. We know she will have to make changes and reading all the success stories and seeing the pictures has really inspired us. I would like to do this for me as well, but my daughter is the priority at the moment.

What flavours do you like best?
Any tips for the consultation?
Any questions you wished you had asked, or we should ask?
Any tips/info gratefully received :)

Hoping she will be able to continue when back at school, she has a really long day from 8am to 6pm and we will have to try and get round ?School Lunch? without her feeling excluded and having to explain herself.

Thanks!

Theresa

oooh I agree.... the fruits of the forest yogurt was not nice. The only flavour I disliked more was tomato soup.

Wow it's been busy on here! Do come over to Minims and share more info - my thread is on the vlcd forum there. the Alizonne client forum is really useful (read the old threads for lots of good ideas) however I like the more frequent posting on Minimins.

Defintely get some mixed boxes. You can also swap some sachets to get a mix of other flavours in the clinic's swap box. I recommend getting an extra box of something you think you'll like - as that gives you flexibility if there are some things you hate. The only prob is you may find somnething you like in real life isn't to your taste in Alizonne and vice versa. I do like sachets now that I didn't at the start. For example I often have the hazelnut praline cereal for breakfast.

I like the plain choc desert as a shake, the bacon omlette with veg in it for supper and herbs for lunch and the orange and grapefruit drink. I also eat other sachets as it's good tpo have a mix. There's lots on this in teh Alizonne forum. Get the password as soon as you can from your clinic - as lots of helpful info there.

I don't do lots of exercise. I walk the dog, and occasionally do yoga or zumba. They don't recommend doing lots of exercise if you didn't do it before - as you risk pushing yrself into starvation mode.

I'm now 62.5lbs down since mid Dec - and it is really obvious I've lost so much weight. The great thing about the ultrasound is that it targets the loss and shapes you - so whilst I've lost all over, my belly has really shunk. I'm into size 20 trews (from 26/28s!).

Ali

Hello Malik21 - I went for my medgem, inital consultation and blood tests today. Lovely clinics London, staff were nice - my doc was really tiny and petite so I did feel a bit embarassed. But she was perfectly nice and talked me throughmy programme.

My BMR was low - 1320 and I have about 4 stone 5 lbs to lose according to them for which they've suggested it'll take 20 - 22 weeks. I'd thought my target weight would be 10 stone but the doc said 11 stone would be a better target as that'll bring me to a 27 or 28 BMI and I can assess again when there.

They gave me some samples to try, I haven't yet - will do so in a day or two. These are hot choc, caramel drink, chicken curry soup and peach mango drink.

Cost wise, it has £120 for doc's consultation and £97 for blood tests so far.

That's all for now. Will report back soon

Hello
I'm also new to mn and to alizonne. Have been on the diet for 11 days, with the London clinic, they are very nice and professional, and really it is true that you don't feel hungry! You can cook lots of the savoury stuff in advance if you need to take it to work - I've got cold "pizza" tomorrow, and you can make a decentish flatbread with the pizza mix too. The potato cake also works as a portable snack. The key seems to be to add lots of herbs and spice. The drinks are good at work, quick and easy. I was a bit down after a small first week weight loss (everyone on the alizonne forum seems to lose lots in week one), but it really seems to be possible to stick to this plan. I miss proper cooking though!
Good luck everyone

Hello
I'm also new to mn and to alizonne. Have been on the diet for 11 days, with the London clinic, they are very nice and professional, and really it is true that you don't feel hungry! You can cook lots of the savoury stuff in advance if you need to take it to work - I've got cold "pizza" tomorrow, and you can make a decentish flatbread with the pizza mix too. The potato cake also works as a portable snack. The key seems to be to add lots of herbs and spice. The drinks are good at work, quick and easy. I was a bit down after a small first week weight loss (everyone on the alizonne forum seems to lose lots in week one), but it really seems to be possible to stick to this plan. I miss proper cooking though!
Good luck everyone