I am thinking of giving Tony Ferguson a try. This program is basically 2 shakes a day, 1 meal of lean meat and vegies as well as fruit for snacks. I have had success using shakes to lose weight in the past. When I was at my highest weight of 128.5 kilos I was quite depressed and I needed a helping hand with weight loss, I tried optifast and lost 15 kilos that I kept off. That loss was a lifeline to me and I don't know where I would be now without it.
As everyone with PCOS and insulin resistance knows, it can be extra difficult to lose weight and it gets really frustrating. A lot of people on the PCOS website I visit have done this program and have been successful with losing weight when nothing else would work. The good thing about this program is that, if you follow it correctly, you can be pretty much assured of losing weight.
At this stage in my life this program is as much about convenience as it is about losing weight. I really struggle to find the time to exercise every day, let alone shopping, cooking and packing lunches. I feel a bit overwhelmed by things that I just don't want to do. I work at least 12 hours a day as well as a 30 minute commute to and from work, then I get home and have to cook dinner, do dishes and other household chores, then exercise, shower and go to bed and do it all again. Any spare time I have at the moment is used to look for new house and take driving lessons- both not fun!
I feel like I never have time to do anything I actually want to do. I know that this is just life for most people and I am not special in this regard, but I am sick of it to be honest. I am sick of all the pressure I feel to do things I don't want to do. Exercise is one of these things. I want to keep exercising for my fitness and for fun, but the pressure I feel to get on the treadmill every night when it is late and I am exhausted is just not fun. I know that if I don't exercise every day I will not lose weight. My body just does not respond to weight loss unless I bust my arse on the treadmill. I want to enjoy a nice hike on weekends, a swim at my brothers house or a bike ride every now and again, I just don't want the pressure at the moment. The thing about the TF program is that you can lose weight with little or no exercise, so if I don't have time to exercise one night, I don't have to beat myself up about it.
I would love to hear if anyone has had any experience with TF or any similar programs. Try to be nice though, I know a lot of people hate these programs! I might hate it too, but I guess it is worth a try.
Lurker coming out of the woodwork... :)
ReplyDeleteI attempted TF earlier this year but found it too restrictive - I can get on board with limiting starchy carbs but TF was just a bit full-on. I checked out the official forums and the people there were nuts, like people saying they were doing big gym workouts and wanting to eat an extra serve of protein, and people would respond with things like "You should really contact a TF consultant before you do that!!! omgz it might bad!!!". Ugh.
My boyfriend's sister has done really well on it, followed it to the letter. I'm not sure how much she lost or if she's still doing it but last time I saw her she was looking amazing.
I guess my biggest issue with it, is even though it's "reduced carb" - there's still a lot of carbs and not much protein. Not to mention the carb portion of the shakes are ALL sugar - no wonder they taste great! :D
Still, it IS convenient and simple - if you do it, be prepared for an absolutely FOUL taste in your mouth for a week or so. It's kind of a metallic taste and nothing gets rid of it. It's "ketosis" apparently.
The only shake flavours I would get are chocolate, latte, mocha, esspresso, vanilla and maybe strawberry. THe mixed berry isn't too bad either. The rest are gross. I haven't tried the soups.
Sorry to post such a long comment!
I don't know much about TF. I did something quite restrictive last year though in Cohens Lifestyle plan (Sure Slim was based on this)..
ReplyDeleteI get you when you say you just need that heads up kick start. Sometimes that all any of us need. The thing with these restrictive programs is - while it may not be smart or sustainable in the long run sometimes that kick is brilliant (depending on the person/their drive/their weight & food issues)
Either way, as someone who successfully did a restrictive program (until I fell pregnant) I am certainly not one to judge.
I know you are a smart woman who will look and trial this objectively and I'll look forward to reading about your experience with it all.
Heya Tully..I have sent you an email before- i actually remember you from the OF website. I highly reccomend going on these diets- and as ya know i had great success with OF. It was what i needed to take the leap forward. It was a fantastic kickstart. I am on it again at the moment- merely becuase i am feeling a little unmotivated! Wish you well. I will email you sometime again soon. Leish
ReplyDeleteTotal lurker also poking her head out. Would you recommend the Optifast program to someone hoping to get a kickstart on weight loss?
ReplyDeleteI say by any means necessary. It may not be a program you can or would want to live on but if it jump starts you, helps you lose weight and feel better, I say go for it.
ReplyDeleteI really empathise with you when you talk about how demanding your life is right now. It's hard to take care of oneself adequately when you just don't have time. Take the chance with the program and see what happens. You never know. Good luck!!!
My sister lost 15kgs on optifast and is now maintaining with TF just having a shake for breakfast every day. She found it helped to have a treat meal once a week (blueberry pancakes at coffee club)and she would also have a few extra rice crackers here and there. She also walked the dog for a short walk every day.
ReplyDeleteGive it a go, what have you got to lose? I have tried it but unfortunately I got a bit crook in the stomach from it. But it tasted a whole lot nicer than optifast.
Good luck and be kind to yourself, I love your blog and you are very inspiring so thank you.
I have never done a "shake diet" before as I think I would not have the willpower to stay away from food.....although perhaps it is OK to do this sort of thing for a while as a "kick start".
ReplyDeleteJust an idea....have you thought about something like Lite N Easy? They deliver all your meals and snacks to your house or work and everything is sorted into little bags for each meal so you just have to grab the bags out of the fridge. Dinners are frozen. Now this isn't the greatest of cuisine but it's OK and would mean no time spent shopping, cooking, etc.
Another thing....Is the treadmill at your house? If so....perhaps you could "link it" to a TV show you watch eg. use the treaddie while watching the News...or whatever you like to watch. This way, it's not necessarily eating into "your time". I am like you....I hate exercise. It is such a chore and even harder in winter!!!
I can't wait to read an update on TF or whatever you decide to do. Good luck!!!!
lurker here, but i think i've commented before, haven't i?
ReplyDeletei have no experience with TF, but it sounds like something you should really only use as a kickstart, nothing to use longterm. if you think it will help you get that start you need and get your motivation back, though, go for it!
I have been alirker for a little while but have recently started my own blog.
ReplyDeleteI think that thesekinds of kick starts are helpful - i ususally have trouble getting started w/o some sort of a weightloss kickstart (usually happens when i get a migraine for a coulpe of days and feel unable to eat due to nausea). So I reckon it's fair that you give whatever has previoulsy worked or you another try. I found that it can be easier to lose weight while sticking mainly to a liquid diet. Altho the issue w me is the "sticking" part as I tend to lose my willpower and stray.
PS. I sympathise on the driving lessons - I also waited until I just turned 21 to start learning to drive. The whole thing made me a bit anxiousand I didn't really think ut that necessari and just relied on public transport and cabs. But now I have been driving for 3-4 years soon and loving it. Once you start and get your own car - you won't know how you ever did w/o it!!! Honest.
*a lurker sorry for the spelling errors, it happens when i try to type too fast =)
ReplyDeleteHello - Delurking too. No experience with TF, but if you do it for 12 weeks & it takes the pressure off you, it is worth a go. Freeing youself from some of those mundane chores will hopefully allow you time do do something you choose to do, rather than something you feel you should be doing. Good Luck!!!
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I think this is a mistake, given your experience with Optifast.
ReplyDeleteYou got into your skinny jeans through hardwork and perseverance, and honestly? While Tony Ferguson might give you numbers on the scale that might be favourable, I highly doubt it'll stay off.
My two cents.