Mark, the good news is I've lost 8kgs since xmas without skim milk. Secret is: a good muesli for brekkie, flatbread and apple for between meals. Tuna salad Sanger for lunch and find 3 dishes of around 400 - 500 calories each that you can rotate for dinner. Don't change food and you won't suffer too much after a few days.
Trouble is I love a few beers and a couple of glasses of wine , and bugger giving that up as I could be dead this time next year.