Stonewall's Velocity Diet Lite

Training Over 35 Lifter
1

I finally started the V-Diet Lite yesterday. Day one was tough. The hardest part was the evening shake ONLY! But the evening binging and mass-feeding that I am used to is going to be one of the hardest habits/addictions to break. This experience for me will be mostly about self-discipline, which I currently have very little of.

Used to workout regularly, quit about 2 years ago always meaning to pick it back up. Just kinda got burnt out and life got in the way. When I was working out steadily, which was about 1 1/2 hours a day, 4 days a week, I was able to get my weight down to about 205 and 11-12% BF. I flattened out then lost some of my lifting buddies…

Oh well, I fatter now and weigh more now than I ever have in my life. So I am sick of it and knew I needed to do something.

Here’s what I am doing or attempting to do, which is implement the V-Diet Lite as I understand it.

I take the Metabolic Drive Complete shake in the morning, eat a sensible lunch (switching to more salads and lean stuff instead of cheeseburgers and fries) and then have the Low-Carb Metabolic Drive at night. The last one is the toughest because it doesn’t have many carbs, which I am used to, and its low calories. I can tell that I tire out easily now. All of this is somewhat to be expected, as I know the body will have to adapt.

Currently I am NOT working out, but plan on changing that, soon. The only other things I am taking is a multi-v, some HOT-ROX, while they last, have a morning cup of coffee, and that’s really it.

I wonder if I am getting enough fiber. Also, if I start working out in the evening before that last shake, will I be able to survive! Again, I know the V-Diet Lite is not forever and having stepped on the scales this morning quickly re-motivated me to keep going.

Long Term Goal, measurement wise: back to 200-205 with less than 13% bf.
Behavior change: Learn to eat and live lean. My job and lifestyle are mostly sedentary unless I add in the harder physical stuff. I already know this, again, just got to apply the self-discipline to get it done.

2

Missing one fundamental element: 5 to 6 feedings a day, not 3.

Sample:

Meal #1: Metabolic Drive shake

Meal #2: Turkey burger on whole grain bread, salad

Meal #3: Tuna on low-carb, while grain wrap

Meal #4: Grilled chicken breasts, steamed vegetables

Meal #5: Metabolic Drive shake

For convenience, a Metabolic Drive bar can be counted as a “meal” / feeding.

3

Thanks for that (and my stomach thanks you.) I was adding up my calories for today just before I have my final shake and I was figuring I was at about 1100-maybe. And the last shake, the protein one, is 200–I am doing 2 scoops. Got through cutting the back yard, and yep, I was wooooozy.

For the record, and its hard to even say this, I weighed 241.

There.

It’s documented. I plan on taking some pics for my own sake, but frankly, I’m embarrassed by my fatness.

That’s gonna change.

4

Hey Chris I was just looking at this V diet LITE…I was doing the REAGULAR v diet with my husband and by the second week just could NOT stomach the taste and smell of the shakes any longer. I was feeling like a REAL failure with this, until I saw this thread about a LITE version of the v diet. I think I could handle the two shakes a day instead of five.

Would I still take my supplements as usual? The HOT-ROX, Flameout and seven pills? I would like some input if you could. Like I said I did not want to stop but I just could not take it anymore without wanting to puke. My husband will keep doing it though, so if you could write and let me know how this lite one works that would be great Cara

5

Into Day Four–feeling ok but a little groggy. It is like I feel, physically, more fatigued than the usual lethargy I was experiencing. I think the lethargy was from high carbs and sugars intake at the end of the day. For lunch, before the diet, I was having what my brother calls “gut bombs,” or mostly burger and fries or chick-fil-a and, of course, fries. Then I noticed, after reading the label, that the small glass of grape juice I was having late night has about 25 grams of carbs in it.

Well, all of that is off for now. Have been enjoying my turkey and steamed veggies, some grilled chicken with whole wheat wraps, etc. Even had my first turkey burger and it was good! Granted, that may be because of the hunger factor, which is elevated but not bad, but this experience is teaching me the value of breaking the bad food choices and habits and, that there are viable alternatives if you just look and DO!

Already starting to think about what I am going to do when I come off. In other words, I will have to have a definite plan of what I am going to eat until it becomes a better patter or habit for me or, well, I will have to do it all over again. Not obsessed about it, just thinking about it.

Still have to up my physical activity level. That’s next.

6

No, I don’t necessarily plan on putting daily posts but, what the heck. Maybe someone will want to read what its like for a 46 yr old fat boy to try the V-Diet Lite and want to know if they are freaking out or just, well, dieting.

Thermogenesis and protein - oh yeah. (This statement is not to be construed as a medical fact and I was not paid by any one to make that statement. Although its 69 degrees in my office and the fan is on high.)

Satiety - screwed up last evening. Had my last feeding before the shake planned out–it was turkey and steamed veggies. Either ate too much or ate it too late. Timing is somewhat key for this thing to work I see, but I stuck to old habits and just had portions that were really too large.

Sometimes feel like that if I just cut every meal in half, ate that half, and then if I were still hungry and hour later, eat the other half, I’d get my portion-reflex retrained. Of course, this V-Diet Lite is helping because most meals are more controlled for me.

I do try and make sure that I keep the last 2 feedings, not counting the shake, on a lower carb basis.

My daughter started South Beach yesterday. She needs to lose 5 lbs. I lost that yesterday (ha!) My sister is starting a workout plan and she and my bro-in-law want to know how I do on this. And I have a cuz and bro that are watching…and waiting to see how it goes. They say once I past the 240 “plateau” that I entered into their realm.

Then it comes to “lunch” time and I start to ponder what in the world I could eat at McD’s, Arby’s, Wendy’s, Whataburger, ChickFilA…Start looking at their nutrition information - and there just ain’t a lot of ‘good’ choices. Reckon that’ why you gotta plan and bring your own stuff. Its just that as I “plan” to come off the V-Diet Lite, I will have to move to something that works, and just have to figure out if any of these places are viable alternatives at all.

7

Two questions:

  1. Is fruit a no-no on V-Diet Lite, or should they be restricted after the 2nd or 3rd feeding? I notice lots more carbs, but maybe they’re the good kind?

  2. Are sweet potatoes a valid food for this diet to have along with one of the middle feedings?

8

Been working out–some. In my backyard. I have a couple of 50 lb dbs and just thought I’d start grooving some of the moves one after noon. Just some deads, squats, RDLs, military press, rows.

Oh, the pain. Its amazing how far you fall when you do fall off the wagon.

So now, I’m doing “yard” work until I can get functional. Hopefully won’t take long

9

At two weeks into it, I was down 6 lbs. I’ll take it. It’s been a learning experience to try and get the food worked out as far as making sure I had food at work. But it has been working. I do get hungry some, but not starving. Before this diet, I would hardly never be hungry, or if I was, it felt more like I had what I call acid-gut–more of a fake feeling of hunger. Now, when I’m hungry, I’m hungry–not sure that makes any sense, but…

10

[quote]Stonewall wrote:
Two questions:

  1. Is fruit a no-no on V-Diet Lite, or should they be restricted after the 2nd or 3rd feeding? I notice lots more carbs, but maybe they’re the good kind?

  2. Are sweet potatoes a valid food for this diet to have along with one of the middle feedings?[/quote]

Sorry, I just noticed these questions.

  1. Some fruit is fine on the Lite version. (Fruit juice should be considered junk cola though.) Like all such carbs, I’d limit fruit to earlier in the day only (when the main goal is fat loss.)

I’m not anti-fruit, but I do generally suggest eating a lot more vegetables than fruits.

  1. I wouldn’t say sweet potatoes are off limits, but they need to be kept in check for rapid fat loss. Main problem with them is the toppings though. Have them dry, no toppings, except for cinnamon if you like them that way.
11

Thanks Chris for responding. I have been keeping the fruit in low quantities, at least for the duration of the diet, and by the mid-day feeding. Sweet potatoes have been only occasionally and with no topping, but I might try the cinnamon when I do have another. My wife has been very helpful and trying to diet herself, as my food changes have naturally influenced her.

12

Just some of my experiences and observations at half way through…

My hardest time in dealing with the diet is when I get home from work. Doesn’t seem to matter if I had a 3 o’clock meal or not. I come home, and I am HUNGRY. Feel this is somewhat psychological as that’s the normal time I would either eat the big supper, or hit the chips and nuts and more chips waiting for the big supper.

I usually try to eat a light salad with tuna or chicken, because I normally have more of a supper with something like chicken breast and veggies in the evening. Then I have my final shake about an hour before bed. Does make me wonder if I am getting too much food from about 5 o’clock on.

Now I am glad to have lost 6 lbs in the first 2 weeks but of course, wish it were more. I know that I haven’t been working out like I need to. But I also know the loss has to be due to diet changes, which is good, because it is much harder for me to change what I eat than it is to workout.

I will say that I have made one unexpected tactial error. I read that dang “Cheat to Lose” interview. Now, don’t get me wrong, I read all the articles posted here and I have nothing against the article, or writer. But, the dude mentions having a CHEAT DAY, an entire freakin’ CHEAT DAY. “Eat what you want, whatever you want!” The way I see it, that diet is basically doing what I am doing, maybe without the shakes, for 6 days, the “EAT WHAT YOU WANT” on day 7.

Dang. I wish I hadn’t read that…yet. It was a real tempation, to jump ship and try something else. To take a day, and EAT WHAT YOU WANT.

I didn’t. I was really really tempted by that taunt,(at least it was a taunt to me–) especially being on this diet. But, I still feel a main point of this diet is not only to train myself to find different things to eat that are much better for me, but to break the emotional and psychologial attachments to food that I have.

And I’m not done with that yet and have a way to go, so I’m sticking and making it work and going to find ways to make it better.

Again, none of these comments is meant to compare the diets at all. Its just that I knew that since that idea appealed to me so much that I still have work to do.

And I have family members watching me now, seeing how I do. They should have started when I did.

13

Stonewall - Yes, the “eat at 5” signal can be pure habit – eating by the clock when not even truly hungry. (Makes you feel like a trained dog, huh? Pavlov would love it!) Emotional eating, stress eating, procrastination eating, eating by the clock… all must be taken into account for lifelong change to occur. Glad you’re self-aware enough to notice these things. Most people aren’t. Nice work there!

As for the Cheat to Lose plan, remember, it only works for those training hard with weights. “Eat all you want on Saturday” basically kept me at “chubby” for years, even when I was lifting weights all week. It was a rationalization. It wasn’t until I dropped the cheat day habit that I hit single digit body fat and stayed there. Now, I still have an occasional cheat day, but they’re rare. Maybe once a month or once every six weeks.

Not saying the diet is bad, just saying that you better be training hard and you better get the book and do the diet to a T, not just pig out on the weekend. There’s more to it than that.

I’d rather see you kick all bad food habits rather than make them “special” and having a whole day devoted to them. In a way, that makes the bad foods even more powerful. You’re putting them up on a pedestal rather than kicking them to the curb forever. That’s the advantage of the full V-Diet: long term changes in tastes and cravings.

Sounds like you’re making great progress though. Interesting thread.

14

Good point about not making bad food habits into something “special,” or a “reward.” And I am not saying or implying that’s what the Cheat to Lose diet does either. My exercise level is elevated somewhat, but not where it needs to be yet. I have exercised myself down from 220 to 205 before, with little diet change. And experienced over-training and burnout.

After another week, I am down another 7 lbs, for a total of 13 in 3 weeks. I did have a more physical week, somewhat. Now, 7 lbs in a week doesn’t sound right and makes me wonder if I read the scale correctly last week! No matter. Its 13 overall, and more to go. In a way, the weight is secondary.

Chris, you mentioned above some different types of eating; emotional eating, stress eating, procrastination eating…and that these all have to be dealt with to make a life long change. In my mind, I know that is true and with this diet, I am gaining more direct experience. Read about some study last night that only about 2% of people who lose weight actually keep it off long term. Wow.

It is funny how food can get such a hold and be such a habit. The weird part about my results this week was that I was thinking at times that I am eating too much. The multiple feedings are an interesting experience because once I start to get hungry again, then Hey! its time to eat something. Another 3 weeks of this and I might be ready for the full V-Diet!

Have been reading some of your other threads about what to move to after the V-Diet, as far as more permanent eating changes. Paying close attention to those comments as I know that will be a big part of making this work for the long term.

One more thing, those Metabolic Drive shakes are great! The taste is good, but I feel the quality is the best part. Especially for me, the morning shake really takes me through the morning and I am a little surprised by that. I attribute it to the quality of what’s in it and it makes me know that the shakes will work long term as part of my plan to get lean and stay lean. And I got some bars and like those too.

15

It will be interesting to see how this week goes, weight-loss speaking. Its my anniversary so I had a couple of “meals” that I wouldn’t have had, mostly breakfast. Scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, turkey sausage patties, too much coffee, and just a little bit of grits. Well, we’ll see. Trying to up the exercise a bit. Then again, I’m not that worried about the weekly fluctuation possible here because I am still working on long-term change.

Watching college football, by the way, sure makes you wanna eat! Its amazing how strong these habits and visual cues impact your appetite.

16

By the way, tomorrow will my 28th day, but today, I just got me another shipment of Metabolic Drive Complete. Will have enough shakes to run for about 2 more weeks, and that is my current plan. While I’m hoping to continue a good rate of weight loss, overall, I’d like to “end” the V-Diet Lite below 220.

Still, “ending” this experience will hopefully turn into more of a transition to better eating and better habits… Onward…

17

After 30 days, lost 16 lbs. Its been a good learning experience as I have gained some experience on eating different food–which made me find different food and that was something I was unwilling to do before, or just too lazy. And I have realized how much of my eating has been psychological, and that I can change that by discipline and a plan.

That’s not necessarily “new” knowledge, except I was able to see just how strong food habits can be. For me, a key thing is planning, because there are so many choices available, but few of them are what’s best.

Have enough shake to continue for a week or so, although I admit that the protein shakes at night have been giving me some problems from a digestion standpoint. Would really like to end this strict diet phase below 220.

18

Quick update–after 6 weeks, I have lost 20 lbs. I am somewhat tapering off the strict diet form, and consequently, not losing as much weight. However, this is mostly due to the “tapering off” is giving way to bad food decisions, and I know it. It has more to do with volume-of food.

Funny, how you have a day where you eat more and wake up the next morning hungrier. It’s like there is a built in–bad food, or too much of it makes you want to eat more bad food–or at least, eat something. ANYTHING, sooner than you normally would.

19

Get back on the wagon!

While I don’t know much about the velocity lite diet, I’m struggling to keep on my own good eating plan. One thing that helps me through is to allow myself a little “badness” each day. In my case, I have 4 peanut M&Ms. It’s all in my head but makes me feel better.

Keep up the good work. I enjoy reading your posts.

20

To update: I’ve been off of the V-Diet Lite for a couple of weeks or more now. Out of shake (plan on getting more). Been worried, especially with Thanksgiving, that I’d put some weight back on immediately. Had the “big” meal on Thanksgiving, but it was more controlled because of my V-Diet Lite training. And I had my first big burger and fries the day after (hunting ran long and had limited opportunities).

So I figured, I’d be up. Weighed this morning and I was happy to see that I had maintained. Ok, maybe shocked would be a better word for it. I’m beginning to think and really believe that the basic underlying good eating patterns are becoming habits. Granted, they are habits that need maintaining and improving, but they are there nonetheless. When we have meals at home, the food is chosen and prepared differently. The gut bombs (thrice a week quarter pounder with cheese) are gone.

Now, it ain’t gone to my head that I got it licked. I lost 20-21 lbs, want to lose another 15 at least. There’s still diet cleanup to do and, well, the workouts don’t really exist on a consistent basis.

Future plans are that I am considering the Afterburn program because slamming myself with a committed, radical program gets me started. Same thing as to why I did the V-Diet Lite–moderate changes weren’t going to get me going.

Also, may do another round of V-Diet Lite in a month or so. So, still making the patterns into good habits and enjoying wearing some of those fat pants I used to wear before I got fat.