My name is Ally and I'm 34, and i weigh 20st7lbs. I've been researching Lighter Life for a few weeks and called my Counsellor and booked my first consultation for Tuesday evening.
My main concern are possible side effects of the diet. I've read that people get bad breath, dizzy spells, insomnia and some other conditions caused by the very low calorie intake. I'm just curious to know if anyone here has experienced anything of a similar nature and do these symptons last long? I'm actually really excited about starting LL. I think it's because the weight loss seems acheivable and part of the programme is getting to the root cause of why I gained so much weight. I've tried so many diets, seen a nutritionist, slimming clubs,seen a private counsellor, slimming tablets, you name it. Been there, done that! I'm at my wits end so I'm hoping LL will bring me the results I so desperately need.
Anyway...I rambled on a bit there..haha! This seems a friendly and encouraging board. Good luck to us all eh?
Ally
This message has been edited. Last edited by: tadeudz,
Posts: 289 | Location: West Sussex, UK | Registered: 02 June 2007
Hi Ally I am on the cambridge diet which is similar to lighter life without the counselling, the first few days are tough, i was bad for 5 days, headaches, dizzy, nausea, light headed and couldnt sleep but this was due to carb withdrawal, after 5 days i felt fine, you just have to try and ignore the hunger and have plenty of early nights, long baths etc to take your mind of it, after a few days (only 3 in some cases ) you will feel better, the hunger isnt as bad, when you are in ketosis you can have bad breath as ketones are leaving your body, i take crystal breath which you get from chemists, which is a capsule that freshens your digestive system from within, my hubby uses them as he smokes and when he burps it smells of mint ( lovely aye !!! )this helps keep your breath fresh, also i use ketostix to check i am in ketosis which can be motivating seeing the strip turn pink and knowing you are burning fat, one point though dont cheat and nibble ( like i did !!!! ) because it is sooo hard getting back into it and nibbling makes you hungrier than ever this is the best diet ever in my opinion as you get results quickly and it is great too see the scales moving so fast, i have tried calorie counting and weight watchers but find vlcd the way to go as it takes food out of the picture which helps me good luck and keep us posted Laura
I bet you can't wait to get started? My name is Sara, age 31 and i weigh 13 stone 8 pounds. I am on Howards Way, which is the same as LL, except for the fact that i get one pack less a day. I tried LL before, but i moved to Spain and could not continue. HW do a postal service, and thats what i am on. Anyway today is day 4 for me. The bad breath thing is true, it started on day 2. I just bought a travel toothbrush as you can't chew gum. I am still hungry, but i have been told that should stop once my body has detoxed. They say if you can do the first week then the rest gets easier. I can't say i feel dizzy, although today has been my toughest day yet. I feel slightly light headed. I am just going to take it easy today and hope it passes! This is a good place to get encouragement, so check back in soon, maybe we could be weight loss buddies Good luck next week!
I think we've all been there...trying so many things but never keeping the weight off. Today is day 1 on LL for me and I'm excited but scared I'll fail.
Hi Ally, I've just finished my 1st week on LL and lost 7.5 lbs. I had a headache & felt giddy on days 2 & 3. Unfortunatley, the bad breath is an issue with this diet, but brushing you teeth, using mouthwash & gold spot does help. I'm feeling great now & seem to have more energy, and a few people have commented that my skin look better. I'd say give it a go, you've nothing to lose but weight. Lesley x
Posts: 170 | Location: Scotland | Registered: 23 May 2007
I'm also a smoker and I'm curious as to whether I'll start smoking more (i've cut down to approx 6 a day from over 20!) and I really hope not. However, the weight is more important at this stage. I'm actually come to a point where I food really boring at the moment. Nothing tastes good anymore! I think i wore my tastebuds away! haha Perhaps LL will be just the thing in that case. Thanks for the encouragement! I shall get some minty mouth wash on standby!
Ally
Posts: 289 | Location: West Sussex, UK | Registered: 02 June 2007
We all need the encouragement and support. It seems that the first week is the hardest but that's true of any diet programme. I think it's a case of just looking to the end results and knowing I will have prevented any serious health problems from occuring!
Thanks again..I'll check back in after my appointment on Tuesday!
Good luck to you too!
Posts: 289 | Location: West Sussex, UK | Registered: 02 June 2007
I think we've all been there...trying so many things but never keeping the weight off. Today is day 1 on LL for me and I'm excited but scared I'll fail.
Let me know how you get on.
Good luck on Tuesday.
F.
Hi Frejja
I know what you mean about being scared of failing. I've only told my boyfriend I'm trying it. Fortunately, he's 100% supportive of me wanting to lose weight and only is concerned about my health, as am I. I think I've not told anyone else because if it doesn't work for me I don't want to go through the humiliation of it all over again.
Thanks for your support. I'll check in Tues and let you know how it went.
xx
Posts: 289 | Location: West Sussex, UK | Registered: 02 June 2007
LL is definately the best diet that ive ever been on, the sympthoms that you mentioned to occur, but these are mostly just the first few days. You could be lucky and not suffer any side-effects at all, but rest assured it does past easily.
As for myself, i sleep so much better on LL than i do anyother time!!!
Best of luck with it all!!! You can do it!!!
JEN
Posts: 46 | Location: United Kingdom | Registered: 28 May 2006
I'm so excited about my first info meeting tomorrow! It took me aaages to get hold of my local LLC-we played phone tag for about 2 weeks so yay! Finally, an appointment! I have already booked my doctors appointment too but the earliest I could get to see him is 14th June, so gawd knows when i'll start day one of LL lol! Anyway, I've been cutting back on carbs, drinking plenty of water already (mostly so my bladder doesn't go into shock!!lol) and I've stocked up on some Gold Spot for the dreaded bad breath! Anyone else starting LL soon...want to joing forces against our nemisis FOOD?
Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Ally xxx
Posts: 289 | Location: West Sussex, UK | Registered: 02 June 2007
Good luck with starting on LL - sounds like you are really excited to do it - what a shame your doc can't fit you in before 14 June - but at least you have started making some changes which should make it easier in the long run.
I started CD last Tuesday and am going to weigh myself tonight and count that as my official weigh in for this week as my CDC is away working so can't have my weigh in with her. I've felt really strong this week!
I've got the gold spot too - feel really self conscious about bad breath but my dh said it was ok last night (or maybe he just loves me a lot
Hey Ally, I thought I'd come and say hello to you on your own thread. I can tell you are ready to get going with LL, and I don't blame you, it's a really exciting decision to make in your life. I certainly don't regret ever starting LL....but I do regret stopping it before I'd lost all the weight I wanted to lose. So my advice to you is..no matter how fed up you get, keep going until the end. Once you fall off the wagon and start eating it is SO hard to get back on track.
I hope your intro session goes well, much of LL success centres on the LLC...if you can feel her enthusiasm for it then you know you're on to a winner!
Keep us posted as to how you're getting on!
Vikki.
Posts: 4539 | Location: UNITED KINGDOM | Registered: 15 September 2006
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