Very Low Calorie Diet ..any experiences?

purpleshoes_2

The diet should not be making you unwell. The fact that it is and you are talking about starting up the Cambridge diet is worrying.

Meal replacements are crap. Stuff like slim fast and herbalife are full of sugar.

You are losing weight now because you are basically malnourished.

Weight does not go on overnight. It shouldn't come off overnight either.

I was almost 16 stones two years ago. It took me 18 months to lose 4 stones.

I don't calorie count. I eat a clean diet and I exercise. I've had a horrible relationship with food for about 20 years but no longer.

I know it's tough and it's tough being overweight but a vcld teaches you nothing about sorting out why you got big in the first place.

Plateaus are totally normal. I've hit plateaus lasting 6 months but I kept working out and clean eating and I got over them.

Losing weight should not equal misery and feeling unwell. If it does something is very wrong indeed.

jayII

The symptoms you're having are worrying. I think you need to go back to your GP for a chat and be checked out.

I've been eating a lot less for a few weeks, but my energy levels are very high (less weight to carry around) and my digestion and everything else is fine.

If you're causing harm to your liver or other internal organs, then your weight will become the least of your worries!

Mojisola

Mumcoach wrote: »

..
So after a few years of being very overweight I have finally had enough. I have consulted my gp and been given the go ahead to start a vlcd of around 500 kcal a day for no longer than 12 weeks to begin with.

Mumcoach wrote: »

From reading the Cambridge diet they would start you on 440 kcal so less than I'm on now.

Not if you really are "very overweight".

fairy_lights

How much do you actually want to lose, mumcoach? 'very overweight' can mean totally different things to different people.

slimsia

Hi MumCoach


Good for you for taking things in hand.


I have done a VLCD. I fulfilled the criteria and was given the go ahead by my gp. Firstly I followed the Lipotrim Pharmacy programme. This was Shakes (biscuits/soups) You need to go to Pharmacy every week and get weighed but more importantly they check your urine to ensure you are drinking enough and not doing damage to your Kidneys.
http://lipotrim.co.uk/pharmacy_programme/


I then switched over to Exante as I was getting bored.


Cost seemed huge initially but I ended up saving money as I wasn't going into the shops. I did not have a family in those days. I now think I would find It difficult to have willpower to not eat in those early weeks. It took me a month (which was horrendously tough) and then it was great when ketosis kicked in I had so much energy and the lbs came off. But I was being monitored by G.P Hospital Dietician or Pharmacy during this time.

However I have not had long term success. I lost 4.5 stone in 6 months. fell of wagon. Then became pregnant. I now wish I had lost the bulk of weight (which took me out of health danger zone) then went onto a slimming programme.


I do think it is very worrying your G.P as left you to your own devices and not recommended a programme for you. Weekly check ups etc
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Obesity/Pages/Treatment.aspx


I found great support on the minimins VLCD support pages.
http://www.minimins.com/#food-replacement-diets


What I didn't realise was VLCD make you more susceptible to GallStone/Accepts (But so does Obesity).


I could not bring up the will power do to VLCD again but am doing slow and steady.


If I had my time again I would give it 100% and follow on with Slimming Club.


Good Luck

Mojisola

Mumcoach wrote: »

I need to lose about 6 stones I think. I'm embarrassed to say really. I'm 5ft 5 and at present I'm 89kg so far to heavy for my weight but when I went to docks last week I was 95.6kg

It doesn't seem to say on the CD site anymore but they work out which out which plan you go on depending on your BMI - if you have six stones to lose, you would not be given the lowest calorie plan.

I can understand how exciting a VLCD can be because the weight drops off quite quickly at the start but very few people maintain the weight they lose when they go back to eating real food.

Choosing to go as low cal as you have, you are likely to give yourself health problems as well as putting the weight back on when you stop.

Look at the various options - WW, SW, 2:5, paleo, calorie counting (use Fitday or similar) - find the one that's easiest for you to do and lose the weight slowly. You're less likely to end up with loads of saggy skin if you lose it more slowly.

purpleshoes_2

You aren't so overweight that you need to be doing a vlcd. Plus, the height and weight charts don't apply to everyone. You might get to 11 stones and with exercise look good at that weight.

I was 100kgs 2 years ago, I'm now just over 73 so I'm not light on the scales but with the amount of exercise I do, even when I've lost no weight I've lost inches.

Losing another 5-6 stones on such a low cal diet I think will make you miserable, if you are already miserable.

skint_chick

I did a VLCD for a couple of months 2 years ago and the constant tiredness didn't really go away - I was in bed asleep by 9 most nights to keep the hunger at bay and because I was exhausted. A lot of people - even ones who didn't know about the diet - commented on how tired I looked, and my hair started to fall out. I still have a slight bald patch today after taking supplements and eating a really nutritious diet. I had constant heartburn and really missed chewing food. I did lose weight but as soon as I stopped I put a stone back on in about a week. However I've now lost a significant amount of weight just by exercising 5/6 times a week and eating cleaner - all my food is homemade from simple ingredients. You might think you don't have time for this but once you get into a routine and get your family on board it works well. My friend did a VLCD last year for her wedding, lost 7 stone in 6 months and has kept it off but is still having to eat the meal packs for 2 out of 3 meals and has a lot of loose skin because she didn't exercise or do anything to tone up. She commented that she's not any happier now she's shifted the weight because her skin is loose and she is constantly thinking about food

Anoneemoose

I have to have my say!! ��

I am 5'6" and weigh 100kg which is actually disgusting to me. Not much different from you in terms of height/weight.

I did Cambridge a few years ago and it felt fab at the time. The weight just fell off. It also pretty much flew straight back on almost as soon as I stopped. Ideally I would like to lose 3.5 stone and I would be a size 14, which I would be happy with.

I am not telling you not to do it, because if you are like I was, what others say won't put you off. What I will say though is that if you do carry on, please be aware of what others say, because it is totally true. You are in essence, starving yourself. And be prepared for other effects - I lost loads of hair, I had dark circles under my eyes and I actually looked awful, slimmer, but awful.

I did it before I went on holiday and ended up bingeing during the hol and continued when I returned. And to be honest, I haven't learnt how to stop properly yet.

As I said, you WILL lose weight but I can pretty much guarantee you WILL put it back on.

Whatever though, I wish you luck.

Edited to say I don't mean I think you are disgusting - apologies if I gave that impression. I just meant when I hear those numbers, it still shocks me.

gettingready

I have done Lipotrim, Lighterlife, Cambridge - lost loads of weight on all of them and then promptly put all back on (and more).

They really are not worth doing as the extra weight and shifting it needs to come from your head/attitude and not sachets with rubbish in them.

Which VLCD are you following? What brand?