LighterLife www.lighterlife.co.uk Review

Overall Rating

I lost 4 stone in 12 weeks. Starting weight 14 stone 2, end weight 10 stone 2. From a size 16-18 to a comfy size 12 and in some shops size 10.
I started in June and finished in September this year (2008).
Now feel amazing, no other diet has ever worked for me like this, on Weight Watchers and Slimming World both of which I have been a member on a number of occasions have I ever lost this much, it would have taken me years to achieve what I did on Lighter Life.
This diet worked for me because there were no decisions to make about what to have to eat for each meal a day, on WW and SW you could choose to have a packet of crisps or a bar of chocolate and use it as sins or points but with LL it is so strict it really worked for me. Four packs a day and up to 2 litres of water, black tea or coffee with sweeteners.
I managed a week in Spain and two weeks in France with out putting any food to my lips, I was so proud of myself, on holiday I normally manage to pile on around half a stone at least.
I did a bit of exercise when I first started the programme but nothing since, I am going to start again after xmas as my resolution.
I did not stick to the route to management scheme which they did not tell me about when I first started out, I did management for 2 weeks then made my own decisions about my eating habits which seem to work for me on a daily basis, everything in moderation which is something I couldn't stick to before LL.
On lighter life you have a counselling session every week with up to 12 same sex people in the same situation as you, this is not as scary as it sounds, it was actually just a good laugh and a way for everyone to share their weekly experiences, at the same time you watch a brief DVD and talk about your past behaviour around food, amazing, I really learnt alot about myself during this, some saw this as pointless but for me it was the key to my success, loosing weight was just a bonus, learning to deal with day to day life and eating was the best for me.

I stopped having my periods whist on the programme, which actually was a nice break, although at the time I was a bit worried and did a number of pregnancy tests just in case, however my lighter life supporter had told me this is normal and just my body slowing down. Since being back on food my periods started again on a monthy cycle.
I have experienced quite alot of hair loss since returning to food, however my hair is usually very thick and so you couldn't really notice it, I am taking hair and nail supplements available from any pharmacy which have helped my hair thicken up again.
Since being back on food I have put on half a stone - which at first I was a bit annoyed about, however I have been maintaining my 10 stone 9 for three months without any problems.
Whist on the programme I noticed a pain just below my right rib, which used to come and go a few times a day. Soon after starting to introduce food again it was my fathers birthday party, needless to say I enjoyed a bit of party food and cake - however around four hours later I experienced an attack of which I have never had pain like before, this is after having two natural births too, I became all hot a clammy, with pain beyond what i have had before under my rib and spreading all over my body, i couldn't sit up or do anything, I was completely in agony and couldn't talk and breathing was really shallow and painful, I thought I was having a heart attack, i was violently sick too.
I went to the doctors the next day, he referred me to consultant at hospital, after a visit there followed by a scan it turned out to be gall stones, which it turns out can be caused by rapid weight loss, last week I have my gall bladder removed by keyhole surgery and I am slowing getting better.
Lots of people moan about the cost and I admit it is alot £66 a week, however if someone had said give me £792 and in three months you will be up to 3 stone lighter i would have given them the money there and then. It may sound like alot but when you add up how much you spend a week on the odd chinese, indian, chip shop, wine, beer, pub, chocolate, sweets, crisps, biscuits, even paying for petrol i would always grab a bar of chocolate, this added up on top of your normal shop would probably be close to £66. £66 a week includes four food packs a day, two hours counselling and weight loss, it is not that bad if you put it that way is it.

It may seem to you that the bad points outweigh the good, but despite all the problems I have been through including surgery, given the chance again I would definitely do the diet. I have never been so happy with myself and the way look and feel about myself, I am very confident and happy and absolutely love shopping for clothes which is something that has not happened since i initially piled on the pounds after having my first son 8 years ago, before having him I was a size 10 weighing 9 stone 2, I feel I have my life back, i now enjoy dressing up and where as before I would avoid any social occasion due to lack of confidence and hating the way I look, I now think of it as an excuse to buy a new out fit.
To sum it up - IT WORKS!

Members' Comments onlulubelle's Review

• Flyingbuck Stud on 20th Dec 2008

  I found this review helpful because...I currently need to lose some weight and I had never heard of Lighter life diet.
  Also, to be aware of the pitfalls before starting the diet is useful, as forewarned is forearmed.
  I think I may give this a try myself based on the review.