Anyone doing Exante at the moment and fancy a buddy or someone to chat to about their progress?

[FrenchLimeBlossom]

Hi all, just wondering whether anyone else was doing Exante Total Solution at the moment so that we could maybe keep each other company?

My story is that I've been on the programme since 1st August - so far lost 16lbs which makes me feel great , am about a quarter of the way along as I have 4 stone to lose to get to where I feel comfortable with myself, at about 1/2 a stone lighter than when i met my DH!!!

I was 16 stone 1lb on 1st August, which at 5' 9" with a sadly sturdy frame made me a rather well padded size 18 - now I am at 14 stone 13lb and my size 18 jeans are much more comfortable, size 16 skirt and tops fit me again and i feel just that bit better. I have rewarded myself today with a little splurge on new makeup and I think i'll try to maintain that approach, reward myself with something lovely when i cross each stone off. Spotted some lovely scent today so that might do for 14 to 13. 13 to 12 will be excellent (new wardrobe time i think!) and if i can get down to 11 something I will be turning cartwheels if I don't faint on the spot.

I've found it actually really easy to stick to so far, I quite like the soups and shakes and the bars aren't bad - i've had a couple of lunches out (healthy choices!) and one lovely dinner and even then I seem to have managed to lose over the wee. Hopefully it'll continue to work that way, I like the idea that I can have a couple of bonus nights off over the month, it makes it feel a bit less restrictive. I've definitely found that my appetite is smaller though and I felt full after much less food than I've been used to, and as I'm a comfort and boredom eater having a proper break from food is really good for me mentally too.

I'm planning a food week break next week and then straight back on the Total solution after that. DH might do it with me next month, think he'd like to lose a stone too - which will make it even easier to stick to if he's not cooking tasty meals while I tuck into a soup.....

Anyway, it'd be great to hear from anyone else doing Exante at the moment or any of you ladies who has done it in the past and got a success story to tell

[canei22]

H i I have ordered a months supply of exante should arrive tomorrow.

I am going to do the working solution where you have a meal each day.
I am doing this as I lost 3 stone with Lighter life a couple of years ago. I did the total where you do not eat any food just the packs. The problem was the hairloss after... really bad.

So I think that having the one meal a day will be better as not so drastic and fingers crossed no hair loss.

This diet is supposed to be even better tasting than LL.

[calaminecovered]

Wow you are doing really well. I too am waiting for my pack to arrive tomorrow! I am going to try and do Total Solution but we shall see...! Keep up the good work :)

[calaminecovered]

I missed my delivery taking dd2 to see her new childminder! Am collecting it tomorrow morning!

[FrenchLimeBlossom]

Ah hello there.

I think the food replacements taste great (considering!) and I think for me the speed of getting results makes it worthwhile going off food for a bit. I certainly feel a bit better about myself now compared to 1st August!

I'm on the food break week this week (which is like the working solution i think) and so far so good, DH and I splurged and had an M&S curry (oops) on Monday but last night just a chicken breast and wilted spinach. Still feeling ok, drinking pots of water and no weight gain so far.....

I'm out for supper with the girls on Friday so will try to be a bit sensible but am allowing myself 2 courses and maybe some nibbles.

calaminecovered good luck with the total solution, my tip is drink about 2 pints of water with every meal and then you'll feel really full, and you'll make sure you get enough water.

canei wow - v impressed with your LL weight loss, must feel good to know for certain that the system will work for you. Good luck with the working solution, I'm looking forward to November/December when hopefully I can move up to that as maintenance. Did you feel that your weight loss slowed down the more you lost or was it pretty consistent?

I managed to lose about 3.5 stone about 6 years ago over 9 months with WeightWatchers and masses of exercise (as a single girl living alone it was v easy to go to the gym loads and restrict my diet at the same time, not so easy with DH and DS!) and i definitely lost more at the start than towards the end. Rather embarrassed that I've gained it all back over the last 6 years, ok so part of that is baby weight, now gone, but rather more was just me being a bit lazy and eating too much. I have decided that the scales are only going down from now on, I refuse to let myself gain it back (except for any more baby weight, that's ok) so am getting rid of my entire wardrobe of fat clothes once I am slim enough and getting everything fitted, no stretchy things any more.

Then my plan is to start eating like a slim woman - you know when you're out and they say "oooh, i could murder a pudding but better not, just a peppermint tea for me", or "oh i'm SO hungry, i'll have the green salad, no dressing please" - well that'll be me from now on during the week - no carbs other than fruit in the week, and no cheese (my big weakness) then at weekends I can eat what i want but not the same size portion as DH any more.

[canei22]

Frenchlimeblossom When I did Lighter life my weight loss was pretty consistant after the initial big loss on the first week.

My packs have arrived and I am starting tomorrow.. Although have been preparing for a few days. Cuttng out carbs and sugar. As I think this will help with the inevitable headache.

[calaminecovered]

Mine arrived this afternnon so I too will be starting in the morning!

[FrenchLimeBlossom]

Good luck to you both for today, hope the day goes ok . It's my DS's first full day at nursery today so have booked myself a few beauty treatments as a distraction, hopefully by this afternoon I'll be relaxed and neat ready for tomorrow night out!

Thanks canei, I hope you feel better with Exante than with LL - I didn't get any headaches when i started on the total solution so fingers crossed you don't either.

[calaminecovered]

Well here goes! I weighed myself this morning and am 13st 6lbs! So over the summer holidays I have put on 7lbs, I can definitely feel it in my clothes. So my first goal is to get under 13 and to not have to squeeze into my clothes!

I had a banana shake for breakfast, which I thought I wouldn't like but it was ok, not good but not bad!!

I have also drank loads of water, and havetried the orange water flavour in sparkling water which is lovely :)

Hope the day goes well for everyone else!

[canei22]

Took a deep breath on steped on the scales... 12stone 12lbs. I knew it was going to be bad as my clothes are getting tight and 2 pairs of jeans are just too uncomfortable to wear.

Actually this is good as I wont cheat now I know how much I weigh. Just trying to fins a positive to weighing myself.

I had a strawberry shake for breakfast and it was really nice, much better than lighter life. After that it went a bit wrong forgot to take a bar out with me for lunch....
So skipped lunch and had poached cod and brocolli for dinner.

Think I'll have a shake around 7.30.

Main problem for me is finding loo's...... I think someone should make a map of where they are.....

[calaminecovered]

I have managed to stick with it, my usual bad habit is to pick at food in an evening so am sipping a pint of sparkling water full of ice! Not quite the same but tryng to stick with it!

I tried the choc orange bar for lunch - quite bland but edible! And had a vanilla shake at 6ish with a teaspoon of coffee blended in and I really enjoyed it!!

I did have one cup of tea with the tiniest drop of milk! Am I right in assuming you have no milk allowance? I did lighter life earlier in the year too and have got used to my milk alowance!

Keep telling myself it will be worth it and just keep going for the first few days :)

[canei22]

Today was hard I was hungry but did not give in.

I am going to cyprus in acuple of weeks and need to shift a few lbs so I can breathe in my dresses. This is my motivation.

I must say I am not keen on the bars, but love the shakes.

Calaminecovered as I understand it exante is the same as LL so you are not supposed to have milk. But when I did LL I had a tiny bit of skimmed milk in my tea and it was ok for me.

Frenchlimeblossom hope your dd enjoyed her first day at nursery. Also you enjoyed a little pampering.

Cheers ladies have a glass of water for me.

[calaminecovered]

I did ll lite and you could have 1/2 pint of milk a day. I have been so hot today I haven't wanted any hot drinks!

I am not keen on the bars either, just had a vanilla shake and I really liked it again - I wouldn't normally drink a milkshake so it's going well!

I am really tired tonight but it's been a busy week and now will spend the weekend getting ready for back to school - I am a teacher so it's for me too!

I have had 8 kids playing here this afternoon so really wish I could sample something a little stronger than water tonight!

[canei22]

When I did LL I did the total no food milk or anything. The leader was not keen for anyone to do lite.

I remember that back to school feeling as I used to work as nursery nurse in a school. Am now doing part time nanny job.

I am so hungry when it gets to evening meal, I am not weighing the veg hope that dosen't mess it up. Are you being strict with your weights.

When you did LL lite did you get a book of recipes? As the main downfall of exante is the lack of meal plans. There is some but not many on their website.

I know on LL you could have marigold bullion so I suppose that is still ok. Are you having it ?

I just had a mug of vecon veg stock (no marigold in cupboard) it was heaven.

[FrenchLimeBlossom]

Thanks canei all went ok with DS's first day on Thursday, he had a whale of a time and I came back from spa very relaxed indeed. Then last night I had a night out with some girlfriends, lovely supper although i did weaken and have a couple of glasses of fizz - but it was delicious!

I'll just have some steamed salmon and veg tonight to make up for it.

Glad the first couple of days have been ok so far, I'm also very impressed with (and of) your starting weights, i do feel jolly heavy reading your stats! However it's all about how you feel in yourself isn't it not what other people think.

Hope you both have good weekends and the new school term is not too hectic for you calaminecovered. Just think of all the energy you'll burn off rushing around, it'll really speed up your weight loss.

[calaminecovered]

I am really hungry today could eat anything! Have come up to bed away from temptation with a bottle of water! I agree the evenings are the hardest I need to find something other than food to occupy myself!

French I was over 15 stone this time last year, keep doing the odd month or two of shake diets and its slowly coming down! I wish I could stick to it long enough to do it all in one go but after about six weeks I am so bored of it and need a break! At least my weight is on a downward trend overall!

I haven't had any buillion, just water and I got and orange flavour that I put in sparkling water which is lovely!

Right going to try and distract my mind with a film! And hope this hunger eases tomorrow!

[FrenchLimeBlossom]

Good for you calaminecovered, onwards and downwards is the best motto, I think you've got the right idea to take your time and keep it off on the way. I shall hopefully follow your example and be able to say 'this time last year I was 15 stone' and be much much lighter than that......

I find evenings a bit tough too actually, when i've 'eaten' and drunk as much water as I can take and i might previously have had something to nibble now i have to find ways to distract myself - i.e. MN, or skyping with family or an early night with a good book. Hope the movie works for you.

I got the orange flavour too and I agree it does liven up water a bit!

[BarbieLovesKen]

Hi guys! Can I join? I'm on day 6 of total solution. Is anyone doing it 100% and not having anything other than packs? I'm part of a weight loss forum that's really excellent but I find the majority are doing working solution and adding a meal or certain foods a couple of days a week - would love to find someone else doing TS.

Quick summary on my story- I PILED on the weight after having my first dd (combination of pregnancy, quitting smoking and eating tons of complete crap in the months after she was born). I lost 7 stone in 10 months on weight watchers and landed myself at a comfortable size 10 for our wedding (11stone - am 5foot 8).

Kept it off too - until I became pregnant again - had a miscarriage unfortunately and didn't have time to get rid of those few pounds gained when 2 months later I felt pregnant with my now ds. Same story during pregnancy - gained massively and when he was 2 weeks old found myself at 15 stone 9 got straight back on to ww and when he was 7 months, I was about 12.7, got pregnant at that time with my now (11week old) dd and 2 weeks after her birth was a shocking 16 stone 10 - I've lost a bit over the past few weeks on ww but it's too slow for me (I weighed in last Tuesday at 15.5 ) and my weight is making me so miserable that I don't want to go out or see people as I know they'll be thinking "she's gained it all again". I'm not at all worried or concerned about maintenance as it's genuinely pregnancy that does this to me and I know what to do to maintain a sensible weight - it's just fecking getting there fast enough for me..

So here I am, as I said I started exante last Tuesday - hard at times obviously particularly to break habits but I'm very determined and motivated and haven't faltered at all. My plan is to stick to TS until I get to 12.7 stone, (I'll be going back to work in November) and then to loose the remaining 1.5 - 2 stone through ww and exercise.

I've a whole wardrobe full of size 10 and 12 clothes that I just need to get back into. I'm currently wearing my damn maternity clothes as I refuse to but anything in my size - (18-20?)

Really hoping we can all shrink together. Who's due a weigh in next?

[calaminecovered]

Hi Barbie! Welcome!

My weight gain has been over my three pregnancies too, although my youngest will be three in December so it took me longer than you to get on the weight loss wagon! I am trying to do total solution but am finding it really hard. Yesterday I was ravenous all day!!!

Today is going much better so far, although it's the evenings that are the worst for me! My DH and kids all had McD's for lunch and I sat with a bottle of water! My next weigh in is Wednesday although I'm tempted to have a peek!

I feel much better for at least trying to get the weight off!

Hope everyone else has had a good day!

[BarbieLovesKen]

Thanks calamine wow! Well done to you for resisting the mc ds! Can't have being easy!! Try and stick it out- I know the hunger can be unbearable but once you're well into ketosis it'll be much easier! I'm not hungry at all now - it's more wanting food but just because I want it, not because I'm hungry - which probably is what's gotten me here in the first place

Am so delighted to finally find someone else doing TS!!

Have you not peeked at all yet?? I'm trying not too but it's sooo tempting...

Dh has just made Sunday dinner. Damn spell is wafting through the whole house...

[canei22]

Hi Barbie nice to have someone else to join us!

I have also had a much better day today woke up without a headache and not hungry!!!

Ketosois must have kicked in as feel busy and clear headed and no hunger all day. I remember this from before when I did LL total.

Hope everyone is getting on ok.

[FrenchLimeBlossom]

Hi Barbie, nice to see you. Glad it is going well for you as well as the rest of us! I am doing TS too, back on the programme after a food break week so I will be going back through it at the same time.

Barbie i sympathise with you totally, i too have felt so awkward about going out and about and feeling people will judge me for being so overweight. I just feel as though I'm not really me - and I have crept back up to this weight partly through pregnancy, partly eating crap after DS was born and I was so knackered, and partly comfort eating over the last 5 years for various reasons. I need to change my habits and my mentality, as I too know exactly what to do to avoid gaining weight/stay healthy - and in fact we do eat a really healthy and balanced diet as a rule, we always eat fresh and home-made food, just too much of it for me! - but I've just been too slack to listen to my inner voice. Now that inner voice is screaming out "do you really want to be this woman forever? or do you want to be the kind of woman you know you are inside but don't show at the moment?". I want to be slimmer and more healthy and be the mummy DS deserves instead of constantly feeling shame and anxiety about my size.

I've tended to weigh myself every day as it has kept me focused, but maybe I'll try to reduce that to every other day and eventually to once a week. I know it's stupid to do it every day but there we are, I am lacking will power, why I'm doing TS in the first place! But in reality I fix on the Monday as my weigh-in date, so today was 15st exactly (after breakfast - oops) so that's where this month's TS starts from. Hopefully will be 14st 0lb by the end of the month (also my wedding anniversary!).

[BarbieLovesKen]

Hi French! Thank you do much for the welcome

everything you've said rings so true with me and I feel completely the same.

Weigh in for me in the morn - week one over with - woo hoo!! I have to admit that I did have a sneaky peek at the scales this morning but am not counting anything until my "official" weigh in tomorrow. It takes 7 days for the body to regulate and I know my weight could fluctuate or deviate from today's result - it can also be disheartening - I did lipotrim for a planned 2 weeks only last year (was going to a wedding) and after 3 days weighed in and had lost 5lbs. Thought "this is wonderful! Imagine what I'll be on day 7" anyway on day 7 I had lost 7lbs and although that was great I was really disappointed as I had expected more due to my mid week weigh in.

Can I ask have you all told many in rl that you're doing this? I've only told dh and my mum as I know others will be really negative and see it as being drastic - when people haven't researched or gained any knowledge about vlcds/ ketosis etc they find it quite scary (something I have to admit to doing myself in the past ) and I can't be doing with the shocked "stop starving yourself" comments..

Dd is in school and ds is at a play date in his cousins so it's just me and the small girl here today - plan to get my whole house scrubbed as it's in a tip and hoping it'll help with distraction too....

[BarbieLovesKen]

Hi French! Thank you do much for the welcome

everything you've said rings so true with me and I feel completely the same.

Weigh in for me in the morn - week one over with - woo hoo!! I have to admit that I did have a sneaky peek at the scales this morning but am not counting anything until my "official" weigh in tomorrow. It takes 7 days for the body to regulate and I know my weight could fluctuate or deviate from today's result - it can also be disheartening - I did lipotrim for a planned 2 weeks only last year (was going to a wedding) and after 3 days weighed in and had lost 5lbs. Thought "this is wonderful! Imagine what I'll be on day 7" anyway on day 7 I had lost 7lbs and although that was great I was really disappointed as I had expected more due to my mid week weigh in.

Can I ask have you all told many in rl that you're doing this? I've only told dh and my mum as I know others will be really negative and see it as being drastic - when people haven't researched or gained any knowledge about vlcds/ ketosis etc they find it quite scary (something I have to admit to doing myself in the past ) and I can't be doing with the shocked "stop starving yourself" comments..

Dd is in school and ds is at a play date in his cousins so it's just me and the small girl here today - plan to get my whole house scrubbed as it's in a tip and hoping it'll help with distraction too....

[FrenchLimeBlossom]

Hello all, hope it's going well for you.

I'm on day three of my second month of total solution and feeling good so far. Drinking SO much water i seem to need the loo every 10 minutes - much like being pregnant again! - but i do feel my energy levels are up and as I can see the result of one month's efforts I am finding it a bit easier to stick to as I can visualise the results after another month, and another etc.

I've not weighed myself since Monday either! We're away this weekend until Tuesday so that'll be my next weigh-in.

Barbie i've told a few people in RL about Exante - DH, my sister and mother, two close girlfriends and my NCT mum friends (two of whom are also struggling with weight loss), just because it came up as we were meeting over mealtimes. TBH i'm rather embarrassed to admit it to anyone else because I'm ashamed that i've got to such a pass as to need a drastic food replacement diet, and ashamed that i can't "just" exercise better self-control around food like everyone else seems to.

In particular I don't want my in-laws to know - they are all lovely but MIL is teeny no matter what she eats, SIL1 is similarly small and whilst not skinny is slim and eats like a bird and SIL2 is the thinnest person i've ever met and eats practically nothing when she remembers to eat at all, hence I feel and look like a complete heifer around them. I don't know why I'd rather they just think I'm losing weight 'naturally' but there we are.

Anyway hope everyone is getting on ok and hopefully feeling positive about the coming weeks.

[Smuddy81]

I've just completed a week of Exante 100% and lost 11lbs! It's so good! Long may the weight loss continue!