VLCD (lighterlife) to Atkins?

[Tasha73]

Hello all,

I am currently doing a VLCD and have lost 19lbs. However I am getting very bored with it and would like to consider switching to Atkins. My only concern is that I will regain weight once I start to eat on the Atkins programme. Has anyone else done this before? And what were the results?

Your input would be much appreciated as you have all done amazingly well.

Thanks

[pipee_pl]

i know lighter life is a very low calorie diet- but i don't know what the plan is. generally speaking- if you go off this and change to atkins- you will probably gain some of the weight back, then level out, then start to lose- of course i am not a dr. but this is what i would expect anyway. it has to do with getting your body into ketosis which is achieved by limiting the carb intake- so by switching to high fat atkins- your body which has been in starvation mode on a low calorie diet- will probably take its time to adjust to atkins (maybe a week or a bit longer) and as a result you may gain some of the weight back- but here is the good news......once you get your body into ketosis- your hunger pains will subside- i am thinking that on "lighterlife" you are probably hungry all the time? Atkins is much healthier in the long run- in my opinion- lighter life is a crash diet- you will gain the weight back over time- where atkins is a lifestyle change and correcting of our eating habits.

[SunnySmile501]

I agree that your body might think it has hit the jackpot for a while and gain back a little weight. That's because of the "feast and famine" aspect of our genetic code. Just stay off the scale for the first 14 days.

I, of course, believe in the high fat, moderate protein, low carb way of losing weight, so in starting Atkins properly might confuse your body for a few days, but done right, you will lose weight and become more healthy in the long run. Starving yourself has never been a healthy to lose weight and has caused much harm to our metabolisms over the years.

If you are eating low fat, you will notice right away that your skin and hair are healthier and more luxuriant with the addition of fat in the diet. Don't try to do a low fat version of Atkins.

Please do read the book to find out the right way to do Atkins. Use whole, pure foods and stay away from processed junk.

[SunnySmile501]

Originally Posted by Tasha73

Hello all,

I am currently doing a VLCD and have lost 19lbs. However I am getting very bored with it and would like to consider switching to Atkins. My only concern is that I will regain weight once I start to eat on the Atkins programme. Has anyone else done this before? And what were the results?

Your input would be much appreciated as you have all done amazingly well.

Thanks

What does the Lighter Life Diet involve?

Effectively, Lighter Life combines a very low calorie diet (VLCD) with counselling. All normal food is banned and instead you have four meal replacement shakes, soups, mousses or bars every day, which provide around 500 calories in total and contain the protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals needed on a daily basis. (See Nutritional Value)

Yikes! Please, please don't trade this unnatural diet for Atkins made up of the low carb junk foods (bars, shakes, soups, breads) promoted by Atkins Nutritionals the company. Eat real food and ditch the highly processed "non-food" junk! The real Atkins is made up of healthy whole foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, cream and many low carb veggies.

[Tasha73]

Thanks so much for your replies. I have the Atkins book, I just wish I'd started on the Atkins instead of Lighterlife. Once I get over the fear of regaining the weight I'm definitely going to start it.

Good luck to you all

[Zarabelle]

Hi Tasha

My friend's mother lost an enormous amount of weight on lighterlife. She stuck with it for about five months. She felt she could maintain this loss but as soon as she started eating real food, the weight has been piling back on... I don't think it's realistic to be able to maintain any weightloss which is caused by such dramatic action as eating 500 cals a day.

Save your money (I know lighterlife is very expensive!) and make the switch. We will gladly welcome you here and give you lots of advice xx