Starting VLCD, worried

Hi everyone

I have started a VLCD as I am 13st which is 3st heavier than I'd like to be! I piled a lot of weight on since having my daughter 13 mths ago and need to lose it!

Unfortunately exercise is out of the question as I have SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction) and even walking upstairs is agony. So this seems to be a good way of losing weight fast.

I can't afford any of the VLCD plans out there. Even £25 a week is inaffordable to me. We spend less than that on actual food lol.

So I have devised my own plan. My overall day's worth of food consists of the same quantities as the cambridge diet - roughly 40g carb, 8g fat, 40+g protein etc.

I am struggling with fibre intake but other than that, along with a good multi-vitamin, and a potassium supplement, I seem to be matching cambridge reasonably well. I am certainly getting more vitamins this way than through my old way of eating!

I have a few questions though.

This is day 2 of my diet and I think I am entering ketosis.

How long will the feeling of hunger and food cravings last?

How much is the average weight loss per week?

Is it true that weight loss slows to 2-3lb per week after the first few weeks?

I have heard bad things about vlcds - that they basically work well for a few weeks and then the weight loss is slower and not much more (if at all) than a 'real' diet. Is this accurate?

Hi, I don't think you are taking the right approach, because as soon as you start eating properly again you'll pile the weight back on plus you're not getting enough calories for your energy.

And yes, you should only be losing 2-3 pound a week any more than that will be a bit too much. Why don't you try slimming world (that's what I'm doing)? I'm about the same as you, I was always around 10 st and I'm nearly 13 :-(. X

Its the vitamin intake that is the worry hun, the shakes although expensive are designed to make sure nutritionally your not missing anything... xx