General FAQ’s

A. Simplicity offers a no food (TFR) approach you will only need 4 packs per day to meet the requirements of the plan. You do have the option of vegetables and milk if desired. Many people find Simplicity helps them stick to the diet easier without the temptation of going off plan by eating conventional foods.

For those who prefer to enjoy a meal with family each evening you are best with the Lifestyle Plan, 3 packs per day plus a low carb meal. This offers more choice and variety with the plan as you will not be restricted to simply the packs. If you find you start to cheat and struggle as soon as you start eating ‘conventional food’ then you would be better abstaining from food and sticking to 4 packs per day Simplicity Plan.

Both plans will invoke ketosis and be based around 650 calories, staying under 75g carbs and consuming around 50g protein per day. You will be able to achieve exactly the same weight loss results on either plan ensuring you are sticking to the guidelines 100%.

A. Regardless if you chose to follow the Simplicity or Lifestyle plan the weight loss will be pretty much the same providing you stick to either plan 100%. If you are following the Lifestyle plan it is essential to use the Meal Planner to ensure you stay within the daily allowances of carbs/calories/protein to stay in ketosis.

A. Absolutely, you can fit both plans around your particular lifestyle. Some people like the strict regime of Simplicity during the week and choose to do Lifestyle on a weekend when they have more time to spend at home cooking and preparing meals. Some people enjoy Lifestyle all week then require the discipline of Simplicity to keep them on track at the weekends. Or, if you have an engagement to attend during the week you could add in a Lifestyle day to accommodate a low carb meal. You can swap and change to suit your needs, the only rule being to make sure you use the meal planner on Lifestyle days to ensure you are within all your daily allowances.

A. Ketosis occurs when your body does not have sufficient carbohydrates to burn for energy, usually less than 70g of carbohydrates per day. Once ketosis occurs your body will burn fat as energy. Fat from your body and fat from the food you eat. This is far more beneficial to anyone who is trying to lose weight, as many diets sacrifice muscle for energy rather than fat which in turn lowers your metabolism. There are so many diets out there that create a low calorie environment, but not low enough carbohydrate to induce ketosis. Ketosis is a great way to lose weight as it will enable the protection of muscle tissue (which in turn helps to maintain your metabolism) as well as helps to control your hunger.

For a more in depth look at ketosis see the following page “What is Ketosis“.

A. You have to ensure you have all your packs every day, even if you are not hungry. If you fail to do so it could cause your weight loss to stall by your body going into starvation mode and you would start to lose lean muscle mass rather than fat, and it can lead to further health contraindications. The packs are made up of 25% RDA, and it’s essential you have your 4 portions each day on either plan so you are reaching your daily allowance of vitamins, minerals and micro and macronutrients for your general health and well being.

A. If you are sticking to the plan 100% you can expect to lose around a stone per month as an average. Everyone is different and factors including age, gender, start weight, etc all come into consideration, but most people can comfortably expect to lose a stone month. It is not unusual for people in the first week to experience a big weight loss due to water and glycogen lost, and optimal fat burning starts once you get into ketosis. During weeks 2 and 3 results may seem less in comparison, but by week four your overall results should equate to the stone per month average. It is always overall weight loss by the length of time on the plan that counts.

A. We do not have Consultants, but we do offer help and advice for free via many different methods such as email, phone support, live chat, forums and our closed Facebook Group. You can access help and support here.

A. Any diet that invokes ketosis will see some weight gain once carbohydrates are re-introduced. We recommend that you choose a goal weight of 4lb less than you want to be, to allow for the small increase you can expect after you have completed re-feed and introduced carbohydrates. Please read the re-feed information on page 17 of our brochure to fully understand this process.

A. No, if you are Lactose Intolerant or have allergens to Soya then our products would not be suitable for you. If you are Coeliac then you would need to ensure that you choose from our products which are gluten free and can be found Here.

A. Yes, everything we sell excluding the Mousse Mix, and High Protein Wafers are suitable for vegetarians.

A. No, although these products do not have added sugars they still have natural sugars which would increase your carbohydrate levels and could bring you out of ketosis.

A. It is essential that you intake 2 to 3 litres of water per day, this includes the water you use to make up your packs. It is important to spread your water intake over the day so your body is constantly hydrated. You can have still or sparkling water, and add our water flavourings. Always check soda or tonic water as some brands contain citric acid. Caffeine in tea and coffee will not count towards your daily water intake. If you have been exercising or losing fluid through heat then increase fluid intake to compensate.

A. This is very dangerous and you should not drink any alcohol whilst on our programme, you should be completely out of ketosis before any alcohol is consumed.

A. Yes, but not freely, they do contain carbohydrates so should be logged through the meal planner to ensure you do not come out of ketosis.

A. You can have Oxo, Knorr stock cubes, Bouillon as to make gravy/stock or to add flavour to your cooked food. You can add soy sauce or any of the Frylight products to cook with or as salad dressings. If you prefer a more creamy dressing or sauce for your salads or chicken or fish you can make your own recipe using cottage cheese or Quark mixed with herbs and spices.

A. No fruit is permitted whilst on plan. Fruit is high in natural sugars and will take you out of ketosis. This includes tomatoes, which contain citric acid and as such not allowed whilst on plan.

A. No, unfortunately we are not able to take returns of unwanted shakes/meals/soups/bars. We are unable to use/resell any returned food products due the risk of tampering and therefore are unable to accept returns. Excluding complete first orders with security seal intact within 14 days of receipt.

A. As time goes by and the longer you are in ketosis it is not uncommon for your taste buds to change and what was once your favourite shake or meal starts to taste a little different!

A. Yes, you can buy a taster pack of 28 different flavours from our range. It is not possible to choose which flavours you will receive. If the taster pack is your first order you will also receive a free brochure as well as a tape measure to measure your inch loss.

A. You can use tablet form sweeteners in moderation but not powder/crystals.

A. No, these still contain carbohydrates and calories that will interfere with the programme.

A. Yes, you may chew up to 2 pieces of sugar free chewing gum per day for 60 seconds each, then dispose of the gum.

A. Citric acid is found naturally in many fruits, particularly lemon and limes It is a natural food preservative added to many food drinks, particularly fizzy drinks. Its harmless and a common ingredient in lots of everyday foodstuffs. Studies have reported it is known to inhibit some people getting into ketosis or take you out of ketosis, and increase appetite for many people whilst on a VLCD. This is not a one rule fits all, some people can tolerate citric acid and it will not affect ketosis at all, and in small amounts will have no bearing. This is the reason we advise to avoid it where possible whilst on plan.

A. We do not want to promote an eating plan that consists of living off chocolate bars. We want you to experience a balance in meal choices as this will lead to better choices when it comes to maintenance.