Lighterlife/Cambridge Diet Buddy

Hello lovely ladies,

I have literally just started the LighterLife programme (yesterday was my first day!) and I'm looking to find anyone else who is also doing LL or another VLCD programme for some mutual support. Although I joined a group as part of the programme I think the more support you can get, the greater your chances of success!

I'm 5'9 and used to weigh over 20 stone (gasp!) and although I did manage to loose 5 stone on my own through healthy eating and exercising, I have had a MAJOR wobble of late and dissapointingly I have regained 2 stone. I am getting married in 6 months time (3 January 2009), hence the need for drastic action, and would love to loose anothe 4-6 stone which I know on this programme is realistic. I'm very fortunate that I am having my dress designed and made for me and the designer has given me until mid November before he has to finish my gown which is at least some weight off my mind (excuse the pun!)

I'm not really hung up on being a perfect size 10 or the perfect weight, I just want to feel happy, healthy and comfortable in my own skin. I am a very curvy girl and want to keep my curves, and would love to look like Marylin Monroe so being a fabulous size 14 would make me very happy (I'm currently a size 18, although I was a 24).

I have also finally admitted to myself and my family that I have an eating disorder (binge eating/compulsive overeating) and feel so much better for acknowledging this and admitting I need help. The LL programme will help with the physical weight and some of the emotional issues but I have also decided to see a Life Coach who specialises in this area to sort this problem once and for all, I am only 29 and yet I think I have had this problem for 19 years!!! I guess part of this thread is me learning to be honest and open about my problem and stop hiding it away like the 'dirty little secret' I have always felt it was.

Anyway, now you know a little about me and my history, is anyone interested in buddying up with me? I really want to create a supportive group that can help each other when we need it. We've all pretty much got the same goal in mind which is to look and feel like a beautiful bride on our wedding day!

Also I would add that if anyone doesn't agree with the LL approach to weight loss that they kindly not voice their opinion here. Whilst I appreciate that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I would really like this to remain a positive and upbeat thread. In an ideal world I would be able to loose the weight slowly by eating healthy and I'm a big advocate of that, but having tried this method, I was unable to acheive my goal using this approach, and have chosen this more drastic measure as I am walking down the aisle in 6 months time!!!

I would love to hear from anyone who has started or thinking or doing the LL/CD programme. If anyone has already successfully completed the programme please let me know how much weight you lost and how you found the programme as it is always uplifting to hear of someone else achieving their goals.

Good luck to any fellow LL brides and please do come here for some support!
Love Princess DK xx

[Modified by: Princess DK on 01 August 2008 14:36:33 ]

Hi Princess dk i got married May 3rd but still some here as i have riends still to marry and we have a thread here for ongoing support.
However i'm just about to start the Avidlite diet i would do lighter life but can't afford it hence the one i'm doing.
I did it for 2 weeks as a trial and lost over half stone and i really need to lose more.
I am also a sie 18 and older than you 42 (my 2nd marriage) but will glady support you as i am a comfort eater and know what a struggle it is.

Hi Belle Louise,

thanks for your reply. I've never heard of Avidlite before? Have you thought about doing the Cambridge Diet instead of LL as it is cheaper (although you don't get the group support sessions). That's why I decided to do LL in the end, even though it's more money I feel that I need th support right now, but CD works in exactly the same way.

I'm only on my third day but last night I was lusting after my fiance's sausages and I'm a vegetarian. I just miss food so much!! Hopefully it will all be worth it in the end and I've lost 6.6lbs in two days so I can't complain!

Good luck with the Avidlite or CD if you choose to do it xx

Hi

Just wanted to show you my support.

I'm now 24 and I did Lighterlife a couple of years ago and lost 5 1/2stone in 5 months. Unfortunately I have put it all back on, and more, but that's largely due to bad diet and exercise.

Doing Lighterlife was one of the hardest things I've done because it meant no eating, no social life and no fun, but it was worth it.

I would like to go back on the diet to lose weight for my wedding but my h2b won't let me. I became weak and found just walking up stairs too tiring which meant I couldn't do much for fear of passing out. I often felt/was sick and had really bad headaches. Be warned - my hair started falling out in hand fulls and my skin dried out quite badly. I found that drinking the large amounts of water was one of the hardest things (and I only liked one flavour pack).

Another word of advice - I would seriously think about stopping Lighterlife a couple of weeks before your wedding to give your body chance to adjust to eating again before your big day. I decided to stop Lighterlife for Christmas and so had my last pack on Christmas Eve. After eating a small Christmas dinner I was ill because my body just couldn't handle the food again.

Hi Disney CMF,

thanks for your words of support. Sorry to hear you have regained the weight you worked so hard to loose. I know how this feels as I have also lost and regained large amounts of weight so many times, but I have never acheived my goal weight. I've been near it a few times, but as soon as I start to feel happier and more confident in myself, I loose my motivation. I am determined that this is it now, I don't think I could bear to go through this agony again, feeling delighted at the weight loss and then humilated at the weight gain. I have literally done this at least 5 times before, which is so bad for my health. But I am determined and hopefully in combination with the life coaching and counselling I will beat this demon once and for all!

With regards to the hair falling out, it actually can happen on any weight loss regime. When I lost 5 stone recently, I lost it following a very healty diet, mostly fresh fruits, veg, salad and fish and was doing yoga twice a day and it fell out at an alarming rate. I was quite shocked but my hairdresser also explained that this is normal and hair grows and sheds in 3 monthly cycles. It all grew back, so I imagine that the same might happen on LL.

One thing I am determined not to do is be a hermit. My weight has stopped me going out and having a social life (well I have stopped me going out as I felt so crappy about my weight) but I refuse to do that anymore, and I will be damned if I am going to stay indoors anymore LL or not! I have a friends wedding in August which will probably be a challenge but I'm still going and I'll be on my LL packs.

Thanks for the advice re eating again, I had actually realised that recently as I want to eat at my wedding and when I go on honeymoon so I think I will go onto Management as soon as my dress is finished (should be end of November) and gradually introduce food so that I can enjoy the wedding breakfast. I won't be able to do the tasting so I want to enjoy it on the wedding day!!!

It's motivating to hear that you lost the amount of weight I have to loose in a similar time frame, and I've already lost half a stone in the first 4 days, so only another 5 to go!

Hope you find another way to loose the weight you want to. Have you read 'How to loose weight without dieting' by Jessica Robbins? She is actually the lady I am having coaching with and is so lovely. Is worth reading and if I had more than 6 months to loose the weight I would be following the book. Anyway best of luck xxx

Hello!

I started the Cambridge Diet this morning and so far so good!

I've been on Slimming World since February and lost in total 4.5lb and got fed up, I am getting married in June 09 and I want to start looking for a dress by Autumn and 4.5lb in 4 months is just too slow for me, I think I naturally store fat - if only I were a bear that is about to go into hiberation lol.

Anyway I would definately like to form a supportive environment, and just to get the ball rolling, my friend Sarah started CD last Monday and has lost 7.5lb already!

Hi Pigsbum (love the name!!)

welcome to our club! Congratulations on starting CD, how have you found your first day? If you need any advice about 'recipes' just ask, I've only been on LL 5 days myself but have already figured out some things to do - like making chocolate "muffins" (and I use the word liberally!) which are a little piece of heaven to me. You simply mix a chocolate pack into a thickish paste, pop it in the microwave for a minute and it will cook into a muffin. I just make it in a small cup which works fine. If a minute isn't long enough just keep putting it back in for another 10-20 secs until it rises and cooks. Something you can chew and it's yummy! Be aware that you can only 'cook' one food pack per day as it destroys the vital vitamins and nutrients.

I have to say that I'm feeling great so far and not hungry anymore, if anything I have to remember to take my food packs! Something I'm not used to!

Let us know how you get on and once you make it past the first few days the hunger does go away, I promise! xxx

I feel quite good actually, I had a cuppachino shake this morning about 8 then mushroom soup at about half 2 and then a mint choc chip shake at 6. I've not felt hungry yet which is good so worst case scenario I'll be hungry for 2 days starting tomorrow and I can totally cope with that!

I did 40 minutes very gently on the cross trainer at lunchtime and burnt 350 calories so I am feeling really quite optimistic.

I almost forgot to mention, I intend to lose 3 stone and see how I feel about another half-ish stone after that and seeing as we you were brave enough to bear all earlier, I am about 5'6'' and currently weigh 14 stone 6.5lb with a 39 inch waist and a BMI of 31. All of those fact make me: obese BUT NOT FOR MUCH LONGER!!!

Hi Pigsbum,

glad to hear you are doing so well on your first day. You might not even feel hungry, I didn't much, for me it is more about missing the chewing. But with my bars and muffins by my side I know I can do this!!

Also, just a word of advice about the exercise, try not to overdo it in the first couple of weeks with your body adjusting, unless you already did a lot of exercise prior to starting CD.

This programme definitely works if you stick to it and as long as you gradually introduce food once you've lost the weight, I'm sure we'll all be reporting amazing weight loss over the weeks and months to come!!!

Luckily I am used to doing a lot of exercise (not that you can tell by looking at me ) and so what I did today was less than I would usually do.

Is this the first time that you have done a VLCD Princess DK?

I did LL for about a month last year but then I moved from Nottingham to Surrey in the middle of it, then I had lots of problems with my thyroid so wanted to take a break. So I have a little experience getting through the initial few weeks - this time I'll be doing it for about 5 months though!!! Can't wait to start seeing the difference, and got my first toile fitting for my wedding dress in a month which is exciting.

Well I am home from work and still feeling fine! I had a bit of a headache this morning but was fine after a while. I had a vanilla shake for breakfast, strawberry for lunch and I am having leek & potato soup for tea. I did 40 mins on the cross trainer at lunchtime and kept my heart rate in the fat burning zone.

Are there any ways of telling when you are in ketosis other than using the sticks? I have a funny taste in my mouth, but not obviously unpleasant????

Hi,
Good to see some others in the same boat as me!
I'm on week 5 of LL and its honestly been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life! But so far its been worth it - I lost 11 lbs the first week, and at this stage its almost 2 stones off which is fantastic, but I still have 4 stones to go, so I'm going to be on it for quite a while.
I'm getting married in April 09, but I know I'll need to start looking for a dress around Oct/Nov, and I want it to be a pleasant experience.
It would be good to have others to talk to that are in the same situation - Just over a year ago, I was 5 stones heavier than I am now, so I know how you feel - I'm hoping to only have to do this once, and retrain myself to treat food with a bit more respect than I have in the past.
As for excercise, I'm gradually increasing what I do every week, so now I walk about 4-5 miles a day, and swim a couple of times a week, and its not been too hard. In another months time, I think I'll be brave enough to join a gym and see how that goes.
I must try the choc muffin trick, as I really miss food! But if you have a good blender, put a lot of crushed ice in with the vanilla sachet and it honestly tastes exactly like a McDonalds milk shake. A girl in my class chops up the toffee bar and freezes it and she says it tastes like fudge that way ( cos its not too good normally I dont think)
Be good to talk some more, and see how you are getting on,
M

Hi Moira,

5 weeks - well done! I am just thinking of one week at a time at the moment mind you it is not helping that my h2b is eating his tea as I type this and it smells good......

i know - its a nightmare - ive slipped up more than once but just got right back on it asap - just convincing myself its not forever, and i want to have nice photos on the mantlepiece to look back on!