Weight loss on a budget

Mat

taking control (again)
Hi everyone,

I'm looking at various threads on the forums, but not seeing any mention of how much it costs to join groups or follow different plans. So I was wondering if people would post what they are doing and how much it actually costs per week please?

It may help other newbies like myself to work out where to start.

Mat.
 
I'm calorie counting, and its free. I log using www.foodfocus.co.uk and use it as a guide as to how I eat. I've learned what a portion 'should' be (not what I thought it should be?! LOL!), and it helps me keep track of my fat intake as well as carbs & protein so I don't harm my system while trying to lose the extra lbs? I've tried all the slimming clubs, and meal-replacement diets (except lighter life) and so far this is the best way for me to learn about how I should be eating, so I can maintain any loss forever (hopefully!)
 
Slimming World is usually £10 to join then £4.50 per week though sometimes you get a half price joining offer, or first class free - check out your local papers advert.

Slimfast is £4.86 per can (though often on offer) of 12 powder shakes (two per day) but you can get lots of different snack and meal products.
 
Hi IrishMum, thanks for the reply. I think calorie counting is going to be the way for me to go, especially at the moment. I guess long term it is useful as well, as you can use what you learn to keep the weight off. The VLCD would most likely show results quicker, I'd guess, but I wouldn't want to to rely on meal replacements any longer than I have to. I'm still looking at the options.
 
Slimming World is good in that you have plenty of 'free food' to pick at - the idea is to never be hungry. Its quite simple to follow on your own after a few classes (to get the books and the idea) and then with support from a forum such as this or others.

FA xx
 
Hi Fallen Angel,

My Mum has been on the SW, but didn't keep it going. But she does still have a lot of the information from when she was going. She is going to sort it all out for me to take a look at.

I heard some bad things about SlimFast. It was quite some time ago, so maybe things have changed. It does seem fairly cheap compared to most, but I think I need to read up on how good or bad it is now.
 
I couldn't do slimfast long term like some but I'm taking a break from SW to do it until Xmas just to give my system a kick! :scale:

I love SW and always will do - its certainly something that I can see continuing for life unlike any other 'diet' :D
 
I'm calorie counting, and its free. I log using www.foodfocus.co.uk and use it as a guide as to how I eat. I've learned what a portion 'should' be (not what I thought it should be?! LOL!), and it helps me keep track of my fat intake as well as carbs & protein so I don't harm my system while trying to lose the extra lbs? I've tried all the slimming clubs, and meal-replacement diets (except lighter life) and so far this is the best way for me to learn about how I should be eating, so I can maintain any loss forever (hopefully!)

Sorry to hijack your thread Mat! :D

Thanks for that website address, very useful! x
 
Thanks Fallen Angel,

SW does seem to be more of a long term solution. I was hoping to go onto something like that after some serious weight loss though. I have about 6st to lose and want to do it as quickly as possible, without going over the top or causing any health problems.

I'm not sure I can afford the better weight loss plans at the moment though, so it looks like I will have to go for a longer plan. Or get a job selling the meal supplements for one of the companies. :D
 
You've got a similar amount to me to lose (and you don't live far away by the looks of things!). I've lost 2.5stone in a year on SW (but i have taken the very scenic route) but men always do better on it. There's a lady (Kate?) on the SW forum on this website who's lost half a stone every three weeks for God knows how long - you can do it too, never be hungry, and never go without anything you fancy (albeit you have to make concessions sometimes, but there's nothing you can't have on SW!)

FA xx
 
Hi Fallen Angel,

I'd ask where abouts you are, but I am guessing you would have put that in your location if you wanted people to know. :)

Do you have support at home or friends and family? Or just from people on here since you joined? I could get my Mum back into SW and maybe get her to stick to it, as I know she wants to lose weight.

I am wondering if I am trying to lose too much too quickly. I would like to lose half a stone per week. Or close to that as possible. I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but it seems other people have done it before. I don't want to set my sights too high, but if I set them too low I will give up too easily.
 
I would personally say half a stone a week is only achieveable in the first week. The average (and suggested) weight loss is 1-3lbs a week. the faster you lose it the faster you'll put it back on. The first time I did SW I lost 3.5stone in 5 months.

I'm in North Worcestershire but not far from your border ;)

My OH did it with me for a while but soon tired of it (wasn't really trying) and my parents have been 'supportive' in their own way. I've pretty much always gone to classes too as the discipline of knowing I'm getting weighed keeps me on track. I've done SW since 2002 but taking a brief break to kick my a&*$ by doing Slimfast until Xmas but i'll go back to SW in Jan.

FA xx
 
Hi Mat

I've tried every "conventional" diet going (calorie counting being my usual weapon of choice) and have always lost 1 1/2 - 2 stone without too many problems, but then my weight loss always stalls around that point. I then give up, cram in a load of food before I "start again on Monday" but Monday never comes!

Anyway I stumbled across the Cambridge Diet and have been doing it now for 7 weeks, have lost just over 2 stone in that time with no sign of my loss slowing down (2 1/2 stone in total as I did Atkins for a couple of weeks before I found Cambridge). Your aim of 1/2 stone a week is a little ambitious long term although on a VLCD you'll lose loads in your first few weeks.

I believe Cambridge is the cheapest of all the VLCDs - it would be around £45 per week for you as men need 4 packs a day instead of three. Lighter Life is similar, more expensive at around £65 I believe but you do get counselling.
Sorry to go on a bit, good luck whatever you decide!
 
The last time I tried to lose weight, I did lose about 7lb in the first week and then roughly 4lb per week for the following weeks for a while. But that was without exercise and not being as strict as I should have been. I thought exercise would help me with the extra few pounds per week, on top of the healthier eating.
 
Hi Serena,

Thanks, you weren't going on at all. I think maybe I have certain ideas or hopes in my head of what I want to do. If they are wrong, I doubt I'll ever stick to anything. This is my main reason for joining here. I am hoping to get some proper advice from real people who have done or who are doing the same. That to me is the best way to learn, before trying it for yourself.

I have failed so many times before and I feel that I really need to do something that works, before I completely give up.

Your advice is very much appreciated, as is everyones.
 
Exercise is good, but it rarely doubles a weightloss. If you stick to SW 100% you probably will see that kind of weightloss as you did last time. Exercise oftens stumps people intially as your body retains a little more water for it (when it realises its happening) and then obviously you may get to the stage where muscle weighs more than fat so you'll find you'll plateau as they cancel each other out.

Saying that exercise is an essential part of any weight-loss and toning but I understand (from what i've been told) it should be moderate (swimming, walking etc) in order for it not to affect 'dieting' weigh-loss) so you should do well.
 
I agree with Angel, exercise will help with your general health but it won't help you shift loads of extra weight. I've seen in a couple of places that diet accounts for around 80% of loss and exercise will only ever be a max of 20%. I'm sure you know this but a 1lb is equivalent to around 3500 calories. Energetic cardio will burn up to approx 500 cals per hour so that's an hour a day for just one extra 1lb a week...hard work!
 
Hi Serena,

Thanks, you weren't going on at all. I think maybe I have certain ideas or hopes in my head of what I want to do. If they are wrong, I doubt I'll ever stick to anything. This is my main reason for joining here. I am hoping to get some proper advice from real people who have done or who are doing the same. That to me is the best way to learn, before trying it for yourself.

I have failed so many times before and I feel that I really need to do something that works, before I completely give up.

Your advice is very much appreciated, as is everyones.

Glad to be of assistance :) I know your thread was entitled loss on a budget however many people find on a vlcd that they actually save money as there are no other expenses - just your food packs and that is all. The other bonus with a vlcd is that it seems to be the only diet where you will be practically guaranteed to lose a decent amount of weight each week if you stick to it (unless you're really close to goal) which is huge motivation - on most other diets you see countless threads of "I have stuck to it 100% and not lost this week".

A vlcd is not for everyone though - for me it has helped me face my demons as I can no longer turn to food for comfort but for you a plan like SW may be more sustainable if you want the freedom to eat.
 
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