Exante VLCD

[Lucy2999]

Hi

Just wondering if anyone is doing or has done exante and how much they lost in their first week and how much I should expect to lose after that?

I am currently at my highest weight ever of 14st 7 and was shocked when I stepped on the scale yesterday.. I never usually go over 13st 11 even if I am totally eating what I want.

I have done slimming world before and lost a stone but now have put All back on plus more!

I decided to take the plunge and start exante today as I am going away in March and I absolutely cannot go like this.

I bought the 4 week plan and today had cookies and cream shake for Breakfast- I found this awful and too creamy and made me feel sick. Shepherds pie for lunch- better than the shake but not great. Double chocolate bar around 5 pm I really liked this. And a 200 cal meal from the approved list for dinner.

I know it’s day one and probably Expected but I feel very weak, tired and can’t really concentrate on anything I’ve been drinking shit loads of water but my mouth is bloody dry not to mention I have FOUL wind !!.

Slimming world is quite easy for me to follow but it’s a slow loss and I won’t see the results I want before my holiday. I don’t want to lose more than 3 stone as I would like to keep my curves. I would like to lose 2 of these before I go away on 19th March.. is this possible ?

I have a few birthdays coming up a month so I will have a off plan day for that.

Does this get easier ? As I am struggling right now !

Hi. I restarted Exante today. Had some products left over from last winter and have ordered some more. I am about 7lbs heavier than I've ever been and we didn't indulge too much over Xmas. I'm appealed at myself as I stopped eating healthily after OUR summer holiday and put on the two stone I'd lost early last year over the course of 4 months!

Anyway in answer to your question, yes it does get easier. I find the first few days of putting up with the hunger and the pyschological battle of not eating food the hardest, you'll have to dig deep and just keep drinking water / coke zero. When ketosis kicks in after day 3/4 and you're not hungry it becomes a doddle and you just have your 'meals' as you know you need to, not for hunger.

Like you, I'm doing this to blitz some weight and get back into wardrobe before following something more sensible for more sustainable lifestyle. I lost about 1st per month

Ps do not consider trying the carbonara it's the most hideous packet ever! I mainly stick to shakes and bars

@Katkincake hi coming to the end of day 3 now and it’s got easier already.. my friend at work is also doing it so the days aren’t so bad as we can motivate each other.

I’m quite a Coke Zero addict my friend told me you are only allowed one can a day ? So I’ve been sticking to this. Is that what you have ? Never drank so much water in my life on the toilet constantly!

I have found sleeping a bit hard and read on forums the carb withdrawal can cause insomnia temporarily? But on the other hand some ppl say they have never slept better on the diet.

Funny you should say that about the carbonara I had that today lol it was noway near as bad as the Shepard’s pie.. I had the sweet and sour noodles yesterday I really liked them.

My friend said that the carbonara and noodles are awful but the meals she likes I think are awful lol

She also loves the cookies and cream bars I had that yesterday and it was so dry I had to have it with water. Had the peanut butter bar today wasn’t the best.. double chocolate is the best by far out of what I’ve tried atm

I find the bars don’t fill me up at all but the shakes and meals do.

Are you having the 200cal evening meal too? I don’t think I could do the diet without that.

Is this suitable for vegetarians? Can't find anything on the website to see if you can order meat free products.

I'm starting this too! I'm struggling this week and not doing it properly, just trying to swap all for the shakes then a meal at night. I'm just ravenous by 4pm. I'm not drinking enough though.

There are vegan shakes on the website I think

Carbonara is rancid! Are it yesterday and had to eat cheese to get rid of the taste. Liked the shepherd pie and the daal though. Might just stick with the shakes... I could live if the lemon cheese cake one !

Yey, more of us doing this diet, that's good. Well done on day 3 Lucy, that's fab.

Am about to sit down to a delightful "meal" of a caramel crunch bar - that and the Lemon are the only ones I can stand. Agree cookies are sooooo dry and have a weird bitter taste to them. I did slim and save for a month about 5yrs ago and have to say the meals and bars are tastier on that, but I'm happy to stick to a few cheaper Exante products, it won't be forever!

I'm going hardcore and having 3 products a day. DH is also doing it with me this time, so it's easier. Thankfully DS had tea at his childminders this eve so no food to cook tonight!

I tend to have a couple of cans of Coke Zero, they keep me sane to start with. Never not gone into Ketosis. Thankfully I can work at home most days so looking is nearby for the frequent trips with all the water

@StripyTShirt I think there is some vegan/veggie options on the website that I have seen.

@straighthairdontcare I couldn’t survive of just the shakes I feel like even though the ‘meals’ aren’t great I at least feel like they are kind of a meal lol more than the shake and bar anyway. I must be the only one who doesn’t mind carbonara lol I do know what you mean aboot the taste though and it smelled awful l I hated shepherds pie reminded me of something you would be fed through a tube.

Drinking water is a must probably why you are hungry. I have the cranberry water enhancer that helps me drink enough. Probably couldn’t do it without that.

@Katkincake Thank you what day are you on ?
I haven’t tried caramel crunch yet it is in my box going to try tomorrow is it nice ? Yes cookies and cream does have a bitter taste I’ve got 3 of em left to get through aswell lol 🙈

Ohh so you aren’t having the 200cal meal in the evening ? I think that is the only thing keeping me sane!

I usually have my coke zero at lunch Times .. makes it more bearable lol.

I went to order some Ketosis strips online but not sure if I got the right ones and ended up not
Getting them. How do you know if your in it?

Also I tend to stay on plan 100 percent more or less for two months but I do have two very close friends 30th birthdays coming up in feb .. meals out etc it’s not an option to not go and I do want to be able to enjoy and celebrate with them as they did me last month.

I’m hoping this won’t effect my losses too much ? Have you had any off plan days ?

@Lucy2999 I can just tell from how I feel when I'm in ketosis. It usually starts with a metallic taste in my mouth which feels like it's full of cotton wool, then I have bags of energy and no hunger. I also get very cold, have to wear loads of layers to start.

Woken up with the worst headache this morning and I'm only on day 2! Luckily DH working at home too today so has taken care of DS and I can stay in bed till the headache goes.

@Katkincake day 4 for me today I work from home Fridays so woke up a bit later and I’ve just had my shake. Vanilla and almond It’s nice actually but I feel quite sick hungry today quite weak like I have no energy.

I’ve been cold since I started the diet freezing in the office. Surprisingly haven’t had a headache which is usually one of the common side effects.

Good luck with today !

@Lucy2999 - how have you got on this weekend?

I was up early decorating then had a kids party this afternoon where normally I'd accept offers of spare pizza and cupcakes but I held firm despite an hour of jumping around a trampoline park with DS! Didn't have my lunch bar till we'd left at 3, so thankfully looks like I'm getting past the ravenously hungry phase.

Pyscological challenge now though as sat nights are usually wine and some nice food with a film - coke zero and a shake instead!!

@Katkincake not bad I woke up later then usual today so less time to eat lol

I have bought a blender to have my shakes in and blend them with ice so much better and makes it
More of a milkshake consistency. Had strawberry and banana this morning and was actually really nice.

Had the Indian curry for lunch OMG disgusting and so spicy but I just held my nose.

That’s good you managed to avoid the food well
Done !

I usually have wine at the weekends too.
But pushing through. I tnink I’m in the Ketosis stage as I’m Honestly not even hungry at all.

That's good on being in Ketosis. I use a blender too, keep forgetting to out ice in though. Just had a salted caramel shake, was quite nice. I've got two curry sachets I've never tried, I don't think I'll bother if it's good your nose territory

Realised I never answered your question on going off plan for the birthdays. I did it after about 1.5months of sticking to plan for my bro-in-laws 40th. I stuck to meat, didn't have carbs but had fizz and some birthday cake. Went straight back on plan next day easily and still lost that week so it's do-able.

Yeah I’ve heard the salted caramel ones are nice.. I had a mint choc one for dinner as I couldn’t be bothered with making a 200cal meal it was really nice way better than choc orange shake.

I’ve got 3 of them left I’ll have to eat at some point think the curry was worse Than the shep pie and carbonara.

Ohh okay that is good to know .. The first one isn’t till 8th feb so that will have been a month on plan.. I also plan to get back on it the next day

Right starting properly today. Played with it last week but on it today. Had a honeycomb shake for breakfast and drinking more too. Do you know why there is the limit on Coke Zero? I would have thought it was unlimited. I lost 5 stone 7 years ago and the only way I got through was Coke Zero!!!! Going to have the daal for lunch I think!!

@straighthairdontcare I’m not sure why there’s a limit and I’m not sure everyone sticks to the limit either so it’s up to you really. I’m a bit of an addict so I wanted to cut down anyway but it does make it more bearable being able to drink it.

Good luck ! It’s my first weigh in tommorow

@lucy2999 - yes me too. It would be nice to just drink water and be satisfied but I think I need a little treat - might stop me reaching for the biscuits :)

Good luck tomorrow - I weigh every day to start with as I know it keeps me motivated. At 800 calories it normally moves quickly - I did the bsd last year but struggle with food at work. The shakes take this out of the equation.

@straighthairdontcare I got two water enhancers cranberry flavour with my box which really has helped me drink enough but I’ve ran out of one already and nearly done with the second.. it’s just like Robinson’s squash so wondering if I could use that instead as it is sugar free.

I did have a couple of looks through the week 🙈 and had lost 6lbs.. which would take me at least two weeks on slimming world maybe more. My friends weigh day is Wednesday so I’m going to change mine to then as well so won’t be weighing tmrow now

Hi can I join? I am day 2 today and am definitely feeling better than yesterday.
Yesterday I had vanilla shake for lunch and the cheese and bacon meal pack for dinner and the fruit and nut bar in the evening. Loads of water and two cups of tea.
Today had porridge for breakfast, coconut shake for lunch and cheese and ham pack for dinner. Plenty of water and about 3 cups of tea.

Am trying to have just 3 packs as want to go into ketosis, as its much easier that way. Have ordered some keto urine strips from ebay. So hopefully by the time they arrive I will be in ketosis.
I did lighter life a few years ago and it worked well for me.... hope this will be the same. In my book it says you can have one can of Dr Pepper, is it the same as diet coke?

@catmadcaz - hi! I am impressed with your will power! 3 packs only - that's 600 cal isn't it? I'd be starving!!

@Lucy2999 - 6lbs is ace I'd be happy with that!

I don't feel that hungry tonight surprisingly. Hopefully I can stick to it this time :)

@catmadcaz I couldn’t do the 3 Packs only a day you must have really good willpower! I was going to get them strips but tnink I ordered the wrong ones.. I feel like I am in Ketosis now I don’t feel that hungry. I think it’s the same as Coke Zero/Diet Coke yeah I was told we can’t have anything with citric acid in.

@straighthairdontcare thanks I’m hoping by Wednesday to maybe have another 1lb down or 2.

I’m kind of missing food at the moment 🙈🙈

Hi everyone I'd like to join.... I'm struggling with exante...I start off in the morning following plan but by evening (or even lunchtime!) I'm craving a proper meal and I've given in

Worst time for me is when I am cooking tea, nibble of this and a nibble of that.

@Lucy2999 I am hungry but have done this kind of diet before with Lighter life. So know that after@ 4 days your body should go into ketosis and the hunger pangs go away. And it gets much easier after that in fact last time I got to the stage when I was forgetting or not bothering with the 3rd pack each day.
Hopefully that is going to happen with Exante. If this dosen't happen I don't think I will be able to sustain it.
Just tried some fizzy water with a little squirt of the Exante water enhancer it was ok. Along with the maple syrup pancakes which were really good. Today I worked out how to make them into little pancakes with a bit of extra water a few squirts of frylight and a really tiny frying pan that makes one fried egg. All previous attempts in a big pan were disastrous.
I also took some horrific fat pics of myself on my phone so if I want to cheat I will just have a look at those. Hopefully that will keep me in check.
Keep going everyone (smile)

@RME578 I struggle in the evening mostly aswell I feel like after 4pm is when I start becoming hungry.. day 7 for me today weighing in tommorow. Good luck with your journey.

@catmadcaz when I am at work I literally count down the time to eat .. breakfast at 11 lunch at 2 and my bar at 5 then 200 cal dinner around 8.. defo am not forgetting to have my packs lol. The day go quicker at work than weekends but weekends I wake up later so less time to wait till I eat.

I was going to dry fizzy water with the enhancer although I’ve ran out already after a week 🙈 struggling to drink plain water.. I’ve read Robinson’s is a no no as it contains citric acid.

I have 4 packs of the lemon pancakes that i
Going to dry but needs to be on a weekend as won’t have time in week.

Taking pics is a idea.. how much are you looking to lose ? Sorry for the TMI but I am very constipated I guess from lack of fibre? I’m worried it will effect my weigh in tomorrow .

@Lucy2999 I want to lose about 3 stones but 2 stones to be realistic.How much are you trying to lose?
I started this diet on Sunday as I am on Leave until Friday. So I have time to get into it and hopefully ketosis before I go back.
As there is always food in the staff room although most of the women are trying to diet.
I hope I can stick to it and am planning to eat very low carb when I go back to eating food.

@catmadcaz I'm thinking about doing 5:2 when I reach target. Just doing 2 days on shakes and then 5 normal eating, although I like having the shakes at work as it makes life simpler so I may keep on doing it and just eat more in the evenings. I want to lose 3 stone in an ideal world too but I would be happy with anything over 2.

I was 11 stone a few years ago and that's about as low as I can go without looking ill. I'm quite tall and that made me a size 10. Now I'd take anything under 12 😀