TotalFast FAQs

Why do you say to have only one meal replacement Foodpack a day on TotalFast?

Our TotalFast plan is designed to be low enough in carbs to switch your body into burning fat for the bulk of your energy – a natural metabolic state called ketosis. Our meal replacements are higher in carbs than our VLCD products, so having more than one a day on TotalFast could tip you out of ketosis if you are particularly carb-sensitive.

Is being in ketosis safe?

Absolutely – ketosis is a healthy, natural, protective process that uses stored fat for energy when food is scarce. This myth has arisen because of a similar sounding condition called ketoacidosis, which occurs in uncontrolled type 1 diabetes, and results from a lack of insulin. Rest assured, on TotalFast you’re safely in a mild dietary ketosis!

Does losing weight fast muck up your metabolism?

“Metabolism” refers to the chemical processes in your body keeping you alive, and the heavier you are, the higher your metabolic rate (just as a large car needs more fuel than a small one). On any diet, there’s a small, temporary reduction in your metabolic rate. When you increase your food intake after you reach your weight-loss goal, your metabolic rate resets at a higher rate again. However, it won’t be quite as high as it was, because you’ve lost weight, and a lighter body needs less energy to function than a heavier one. So, if you go back to eating the amount of food you used to have when you were bigger, you’ll regain the weight. In our Management plan, a carefully structured reintroduction to a full range of food will help you match your intake to your lighter body’s reduced energy needs.

If you lose weight quickly, won’t you only end up putting it all back on quickly, too?

This is a common misbelief; in reality, there’s no evidence to suggest that regaining the weight is more common after fast weight loss on a VLCD than after any other type of diet. The rate at which people put weight back on has nothing to do with the type of diet they’ve followed – it simply relates to the amount of food they eat after weight loss. Our Management plan is all about developing a sustainable lifestyle and new ways of dealing with life’s challenges without using food, and we offer you support after weight loss for as long as you need it.

Does fast weight loss on a VLCD result in excess muscle loss?

No, it’s a big fat myth. Weight gain is roughly 75% fat to 24% lean body mass such as muscle, and weight is lost in the same ratio, whichever way you lose weight. There is nothing unsafe about it; in fact, it’s physiologically appropriate and perfectly safe.

Does being on a VLCD make your hair fall out?

This occurs very occasionally, and it’s strictly temporary. Hair follicles grow in three phases: active (anagen), resting (catagen), and shedding (telogen). At any one time, most follicles are in the active phase, 3% in the resting phase, and 11-15% in the shedding phase. Since hair growth requires lots of energy, when energy intake is reduced on a VLCD, the body shuts down hair growth to conserve energy, and more follicles go from growing into resting – around 20%. When energy intake eventually increases, hair growth resumes and pushes out the “resting” hair. In a small percentage of people, the proportion of hair that’s being shed like this exceeds 30% and this is when hair loss becomes noticeable. It’s similar to the hair shedding that often occurs after pregnancy or the flu. Not everyone will experience it, and for those who do it’s a temporary condition – rest assured that healthy hair will regrow.

You can find all of our FAQ’s here.

And finally…

Remember that our TotalFast plan is far more than a “diet”. Alongside our delicious range of Foodpack bars, shakes, soups, pots and meals for fast, effective weight loss, it’s a golden opportunity to change your relationship with food and develop the skills to keep your weight off in the long term.

If you have any questions about our TotalFast plan or need any advice, please get in touch by emailing the team at enquiries@lighterlife.com