Discovery Home & Health

Hi All!

I first started a VLCD May/June last year (Starting Weight: 18st 6lbs) and managed to lose exactly three stone before I went on holiday to Ibiza in August. Towards my holiday date I was so fed up with the LT flavours I was down to just the chocolate shake. On holiday I did eat, have the odd drink and generally relax the rules BUT I made good use of the hotel's gym every other day, when my son went to the kids club, and marched on the treadmill for as long as I could stand the heat..... and guess what? I actually came back weighing the same 15st 6lbs I was when I left to go on holiday!

The story probably sounds really good so far but believe me it goes rapidly down hill from here on out. When I came back from holiday I just couldn't stop EATING!!! My particular weakness is savoury food, and while I've done my best to stay away from carbs (okay, I confess, I have inhaled the odd bucketload of cheese and onion crisps), my weight has crept up to 16st now and I'm throughly miserable and disgusted with myself.

I transferred to the CD in February and while the counsellors have been outstanding and the range of flavours in their soups and shakes have been a revelation ..... I can't seem to stop eating!!!! I get through breakfast and lunch but when I get home from work and I'm making dinner for the family, I give in to temptation than feel furious with myself afterwards!

I don't know why I found SS so easy last year and can't seem to stop eating this year. I know I'm defeating myself and I haven't even been able to get into ketosis ONCE!!!!! I really don't want to waste all the hard work I put in last year - but it's frightening that a year later I'm still the same very tight size 16 when if I'd behaved myself I'd be finished by now!!!

I so desperately want to lose a dress size before our holiday to Majorca on the 21st August - not least because my ex-hubby is coming too! ???What's wrong with me??? My sister and I started this diet at the same time and while I love that she's a couple of weeks from her target weight and finishing the diet it just makes me more furious with myself.

I find it really easy to drink 4/5 litres of water a day, but it's frightening watching the scales creep up everyday - I don't want all my hard work to be in vain. And to be honest I'm dreading running out of my current supply of satchets and having to face my counsellor (and his scales) when I go back on friday for more.

I just wanted to reach out and grab onto some support today - haven't been on the site since the refurb (in fact since last year - and I hear all my old buddies have lost all their weight and are at target! Well done guys!!!) and don't quite know my way around yet. Everyone seems to be doing sooooo well, but was hoping to also run into some restarters / strugglers like me so we can start a buddy system and drag each other through to goal!

All the best!
Bev

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Beverley75,

Hi Bev, welcome back and believe me you are soooo not alone in how you're feeling!!! The golden moment of a VLCD has been a hot topic on the forum for a while now, and I think it has been universally agreed that we only have one shot at sticking with it 100%, once you break the spell you lose that magic!

There are plenty of restarters out there right now, all saying the same things as you...and there is also support in bucketfuls, keep posting to get what you need and hopefully the inspiration to get going again will strike you soon!

Vikki.

After reading this (and other peoples experiences) I am petrifed of going on holiday in august and eating - then carrying on with abstenance when i get back. Am i doomed???

Hi Vikki!!!

Thanks for posting - it feels so weird letting it 'all hang out' and not being sure if anyone's actually reading my ravings!

I'm going to be a regular on here now - it's so nice to spend my break reading all the threads instead of stuffing my face!

You didn't mention what diet you're on but the fact that you've lost 85lbs is FANTASTIC!!!!! How long did it take and did you have any hurdles to jump? Seriously - well done.

Bev

Hi Bev,

I am also a restarter and have made it to day 9! I had a couple attempts at re start and would manage brekkie and lunch fine and then just go to bits at dinner, eating anything gave me an excuse to eat everything and i would binge all evening.

I started a week ago at 13stone 10lbs and this morning weighed in at 13 stone exactly. When i finished CD last year i was 10 stone 4lbs, i convinced myself that i would keep a check on my weight and it would never creep on again but alas i was not strict enough, actually not strict at all.

My advice is to visualise one day at a time. If i think i have 4 stone to lose i get frustrated and dishearted, whereas if i tell myself that i just have to get through today i manage. If you can get through to the first weigh in you will have dropped your 6lbs and have inspiration to take you through to week 2.

Thanks for popping in, Hollybear!

As to your question about whether you're doomed ... the answer is a resounding 'NO'!!!

I speak from experience when I say that forewarned is forearmed. You know what we went through and how we were 'blindsided' by eating on holiday so you can mentally prepare and tell yourself that the MINUTE you get back you're going straight back into SS. Have you thought about perhaps having a shake for one of your meals when you are away? I know CD does some handy carton drinks to enjoy on the go - maybe that could help keep you in check. Eating sensibly (ie: not going wild on the carbs and loading up on protein, bottled water and veg/fruit)should help you keep close to your goal on holiday.

I know it sounds crazy, but try not to indulge yourself and dive into the food you love. Strange, no? But I'm thinking if you don't indulge your taste buds for the duration of your holiday and like a mantra keep repeating that the food you're eating is only fuel, when you get back your subconscious won't be telling you, "we had that lovely paella/ kebab / full english on holiday and now I WANT A CURRY!!! FEED ME, FEED ME NOW!!!". So try to avoid what I did - I headed for the types of food I adore like a heat seeking missile and that may be part of what's defeating me now ... I didn't think of the half board buffet as essential fuel only and not a source of one of my pleasures. Maybe I should have. You'll be fine. You've lost 42lbs already ...congratulations on your perseverance and acheivement so far. You'll be fitter, healthier, and slimmer for your holiday - and you'll keep it off.

Good luck & let me know how you get on!
Bev

None of us are doomed hollybear. I think we just need to think positively. We can get there but it is soooooooooooo much harder and takes longer. I can honestly say that I haven't come across anyone that has got back to 100% completely until goal after they have eaten for a while. Although there are still those of us that can continue to lose weight just not quite as fast and easily as before. If you can stick with it for your holiday then I would do so. It's only one holiday out of your life after all.

Hi Bev!

Nice to meet you so to speak.

I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that I might not be 100% all of the time but that doesn't mean I can't lose weight. I'm taking one day at a time. Not letting any slips turn into a whole day of slips.

If you pick while making tea don't then go and have tea and desert if you get my drift. If you say sod it I've blown it now so I might as well leave it for today and start again tommorrow you tend to eat more than ever. A 100% tommorrow might never come. All this leads to a fatter than ever tum!

It's hard I know. Many of us are in the same boat at the moment as Vikki said. Just try and have things at hand that aren't going to do too much damage if you do pick. Keep going and eventually we will get there.

I did 4 days 100% until yesterday then blew it after a row with hubbie. But still I didn't eat 2000 calories worth yesterday. So really yesterday was a good day. I still must have lost something in the long run. Today so far I have had one pack and feel fine. Probably will have a 100% day again. At the end of the day I know I will lose this last 3 stone. I'm not ready to give it all in certainly not going back to being 19 stone again.

Don't know if what I have said helps at all. But at least you know you are not alone.

Keep posting and don't give yourself a hard time it makes it worse and increases the chance of gaining weight back again.

Bev, that really did make me chuckle! Cheered me up
I wasnt planning on going for the foods i love (i doubt the chinese take aways are the same over there?? haha)
Like you said I was thinking of sticking to lots of chicken and fish and veg and the water, i may allow myself a couple of naughty foods but i wont go mad, and i am a water baby so I will swim lots and of course all the other fun exercises a holiday brings
My dad is starting CD tomorrow so maybe I should ask him to get me some of those cartons to take. I know last year on hols i had a fry up every morning for brekkie, what was i thinking??! The counselling has been a great help to me and im looking forwards to putting it into practice!
I get back from my holiday on a Monday and my LL weigh ins are on a friday morning, so Im thinking straight on the packs and try get any weight i gained on holiday off by the time friday comes, or at least some of it so I dont feel so bad when she weighs me!
Thanks for all your advice and help you dont know how great it is

Hi Littlelells,

You've lost 10lbs in 9 days - that's brilliant! Well Done you!

About two weeks ago I really thought I had cracked it. I saw my counsellor on the friday and I don't know what clicked for me in his pep talk but I went home, geared myself up, and on monday started SS and breezed through the week! I wasn't hungry, didn't indulge in dinner (didn't even think about it to be honest) and felt full of energy and on a roll. By thursday I felt like I was in ketosis and could swear my mouth tasted funny ... you can guess where this is going .... went to my 'weigh in' the following friday, peed on the stick and found out two things that left me feeling deflated and gutted. 1) I wasn't in ketosis, and 2) I lost only 2lbs!!!! Gutted. I was honestly devastated and went home and was mentally and emotionally back to the 'see-saw' square one. I know all the arguments logically: 2lbs is a loss and there's no such thing as 'only' 2lbs, I could have entered ketosis in a couple more days and once I was burning fat I'd lose more. But you know what? It made no difference, the battle was lost that day. Again. It's ridiculous but I know that if I had done better & lost more I'd be still going today but it was so demoralising at the time that I gave up and defeated myself. Again.

I've been surfing some of the threads on here and think I may know a way to motivate myself and insulate against feeling that I'm making a lot of effort for no gain - I'm thinking of buying the ketosis testing sticks. After five days I can test myself and if there's no joy I can realistically grit my teeth and keep going, and the minute I'm in ketosis ... well, I think that may be joy enough for me right now. I reckon that will help me stay focused on one day at a time and not get my hopes up too high. What do you think?

What diet are you on, littlelells? It'll be lovely to know how you get on.

Bev

Sorry i went on a bit then, this thread is supposed to be about you not me!
x

Hi Sarah!

It's great to meet you too ... thanks for your advice, it helped me make a resolution that I'm going to do my d**ndest to stick to: I'm going to start fresh and committed from tomorrow. Between coming on here to read posts, my counsellor and my admittedly feeble inner voice I'm going to give this a real bash. I'm sure it'll be hard but I can do this 100% to goal, or strain something vital trying

You've been doing so well Sarah, and yesterdays' 'hiccup' won't knock you off base, if you didn't go 'hog wild' it was still a good day - not a perfect day (who has any of those?) and not a 100% day but a good day none-the-less because it was simply a day in the life of your journey. Keep going ... we can do this ...and you're right, knowing I'm not alone has helped already. I honestly feel far more confident and certain than I did a couple of hours ago. Thank you & please let me know how you're getting on.

Bev
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Hey Hollybear,

The swimming (and other vigorous exercise ... - you saucy madam!)will do wonders for keeping you in trim when you go away!That's a really good idea.

You're welcome - the advice is free ... and so is all the good luck I'm wishing your way!

Bev

I was talking about...... Volley Ball!

I will deffo keep you posted. Thanks again and good luck on your new journey xxx

Thanks Hollybear!

er ... I was talking about ...er... volleyball too!!!

And by the way - this thread isn't all about me ... it's about anyone that wants to join in, identifies, wants support, wants to chat, whatever. It's our space to use as we like, so join in anytime!!

Take care!

I'm right there with ya!! Why is this so tough?

Ails xx

Hi Alis!

I know exactly why this is so tough ......... because it means so much!!!

I'm about to struggle through one of my 'shaky times' - the lunch hour.
Everyone in my little office LOVES thier food and seem obsessed with the acquiring and eating of it. The annoying thing is, we don't have a break/lunch room so everyone sits at their desks offering to buy food, offering to share food or just filling the office with the smell of their lunches!!!! Aaaaaargh .... this is my day one! No fair! And the worst part? I'm convinced they must all have worms in their tummies or something as they are all (well, except my boss) skinny!!!! How is that fair?

Actually, posting this message has made me feel a lot better (the 2 litres of water I've sucked down so far helped too).

I'm off to have my delicious Banana shake .... when the going gets tough, the tough get out the 'hand held' blender!

Bev xx