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

I want to do this. I think I'm going to order the weeks worth of stuff and see how I go. I can't seem to diet and keep losing the same 5lbs and then gaining it. I need to lose about 20lbs but am short so its a lot.
I thought I might do this for about 4 weeks. I'm thinking of doing this 100% during the week and having one cheat meal on the weekend.
Do you think that would work?

I'm not expecting to lose the whole 20lbs but 10lbs would be good and it will give me the kick start I need to carry on eating healthily and lose the rest.

I spent most of the year peeved off that I couldn't get into my summer clothes and I don't want to spend the winter peeved that I can't wear boots and looking lumpy in jumpers!

I have ordered a weeks supply.

Anyone still doing this?

Hi there smuddy and theworld, glad to see you! Yep I'm still doing total solution, going ok and now at 14st 10lbs. Had a bit of a blip at the weekend as we were away and I didn't want to diet whilst we were with friends but back on track now. Still feeling good and tried on a load of work clothes from pre-pregnancy which fit me again - hurrah! back to work in a couple of weeks, so hopefully will be quite a bit slimmer than when I got pregnant by then.

Couple more months and hopefully I'll be close to target! Then I can go shopping.

I defo recommend it and to be honest I think a week on, week off policy might work really well theworld, I've had the odd meal out and it's not affected the weight loss at all for me. smuddy well done, 11lbs is great! V jealous!

Right off I go, DS at nursery needs to be collected!

My stuff has arrived so I'm going to start tomorrow though I have a wedding on Sunday so will avoid the carbs.
If i can stomach the shakes then I'll order a months supply and do it for 90% of the time till I've has a good loss.

I'm so looking forward to wearing jeans with boots and nice knitwear this winter

Sounds great theworld hope your first few days were ok. Hope everyone else is still getting on ok. I have to admit to nibbling a few of DS's leftovers - I'm sure it won't imPact too badly though......

I'm also looking forward to being able to enjoy clothes and shopping for them again, roll on the January sales eh!

Hi,
Just wanted to join in!
My first week's pack came today so I will be trying this from tomorrow!
Hubby is away with work so I have ordered a week to see if I like the taste, and if so, I shall order the big pack - although the mushroom soup will be wasted as I just can't bear mushrooms!

I have 4-5 stones to lose, so it is still not going to be easy but I have tried so many other diets that I figure this might be the best way for me to just have a total break from food!

Will let you know how it goes, if anyone else is starting and fancies being a diet buddy, let me know as I can use all the moral support I can get! :-)

Hello Chihuahua glad to see you. Good luck with the programme, I think it has been a massive help to me as I too aim to lose about 4-5 stone in total. Hope you've liked the products so far, i find them much tastier than i imagined apart from the tomato and basil soup which is heinous, but then I like mushrooms!

I've found it really useful to be able not to think about food for me and just focus on drinking water and getting on with stuff instead of comfort eating. I would not say it is 'easy' as my DH and DS still need to eat so I cannot ignore food/cooking altogether but it's a whole lot easier than doing WW and losing only 1-2 lbs per week. I have lost 23lbs so far since 1 August, weighed in at 14st 6lbs today and I feel really positive about it all.

For me, being able to see rapid weight loss is a massive boost to my previously fairly poor self-discipline and has helped me stick to it in the main. I figure four months of the diet will get me closer to where I want to be, then i can treat myself to a new wardrobe, feel confident again and maybe think about baby number 2.

Saved up some soups and shakes from the days 'off' i had this month and last month so they will go into the office with me when i go back to work next week, and then I'll know i have some supplies for the first few days back so I'm not tempted by the cafeteria or Pret a Manger!

This month on the total solution continues until next Wednesday and then i am on another food break week break so will be back on the total solution from about 4/5 October. But happy to buddy up - that's why i started the thread, thought it would be good for me to get moral support from you ladies and helpful for any of you to know there's someone else out there doing the same things.

Take care and keep us posted on your progress!

I've swiched to ws as I can't do without food!

Its going ok so far but the weight loss is obviously slower. I only started on Wednesday in the end so will wait til then to post my results!

Hi all,

just checking in, had my food week break last week and this morning weighed in at 14 st 9 lbs. Ooops

However i did eat 'properly', including an anniversary dinner with DH at which i indulged myself AND am currently retaining a little water with my period, so might be a slight overestimate (fingers crossed). I seemed to plateau at 14 st 6 lbs last month for about a week and a half and was nibbling a bit on DS's food and had a few lunches with my friends, so actually not too displeased. At least I know that I can eat proper food without going too far back up the scale but also know when I have had enough.

So am back 'on the wagon' again from today, so far so good, drinking lots of water with the drink mix in it, and hopefully will cross another stone boundary soon: have my eye on a lovely handbag and some nice scent either of which will do as a treat once I am 13st something (or as an advance treat, not to be used until I am.....!

Plus I keep seeing lovely clothes and thinking "couple more months...." so I am making a list and we shall see!

Hope you are all doing ok and feeling motivated.

Hi there,

hope all is still going well for you ladies (if you're still reading - if not then this is just a bit of a log for me) and you're feeling ok with the weight loss.

I'm going ok, this morning was at 14 st 5 lb so getting closer to that next treat! Seems to be slower than at first, but I suppose I'm not being as rigid as at the start. I want to stick to the diet a bit better this week though to try to get to 13 st something, we are seeing friends and family again in about 3 weeks and I'd like to be as slim as poss when we do - make me look/feel all the better by contrast from the last time we saw each other!

Now I am (just) closer to the weight I was when I met DH than the weight I was when I started my diet! Hoorah!

Hi again,

this seems to be turning into a monologue! Hope all are doing ok if anyone is reading! But even if no-one else is reading it's actually quite cathartic for me to write down where I am and how it's going........ [mad old bat billy-no-mates emoticon]

Weighed in at 14st 2 lb yesterday which I am delighted about, now I am under the magical 200lbs which feels good. Only 2 st to go.

I fitted into a Hobbs size 14 dress yesterday for work which I've not worn for about 2 years and it was looser than the last time I wore it (I needed Spanx underneath before but not now!). Annoyingly though my super sexy Hobbs suit in size 16 does not yet fit - grrrrr - i mean it does up but you can make out the pattern on my bra IYSWIM so another 1/2 stone i think before I can wear that Ashamed to admit I bought it 5 years ago and until I had it dry cleaned last month I had never even taken the tags off so NEED to get some wear out of it. Vanity sizing is starting to piss me right off - it's like the shops colluded with me in convincing myself that I wasn't really THAT fat.

I'm really fixated on the next stone boundary now, bought myself a nice handbag as an advance treat but am not allowed to carry it until I'm 13st something. It's a great incentive! Hopefully will make it this week although have already had two lunches with work (tried to steer clear of carbs) and just eaten supper with DH for the first time in ages. But it was delicious! Will have to be good for the rest of the week and do some serious exercise at the weekend.

Hope to hear some other successes soon!

Wow well done all of you - I'm not on exante but doing my own version (ish) with Atkins shakes and bars and once I start eating I can't seem to stop picking, so hoping taking food out of the equation will help.

Really admire your determination and willpower, will keep reading this for inspiration

I'm ordering exante tonight....

Done it.................

I need to lose weight fast......

have done LL before and managed 5 stone.. It was a while ago though..
Have put most back on...
So here starts aother journey...

Hi patty and oinker hope all is going well for you. Just checking in to say hello before I head to bed, v stressful day as DS not well at all but have not "turned to food" to comfort me.

He's fine now but blimey it's scary when your PFB is out of sorts.

Since August I've lost just over 2 stone, am feeling good and positive so I am a big exante believer ( and if I'd been as strict for the last month as I was for the first I am sure it'd be more too!). Good luck with it oinker!

Just updating as today is my weigh in - this morning was 13 st 13 lb! Hurrah, have crossed another boundary and am carrying my lovely new handbag to work today in celebration. I know, what a square.

Will have a tricky week food wise as we have friends for the weekend and a party on Saturday but will try to be sensible and see where I get to. If I can stay the same that'll be ok, maybe I'll think of the weekend as a test of my new 'thin person' eating habits.....

I'm now getting really excited, I feel motivated again by the psychological boundary of another stone, and incentivised by the new scent I want and the new wardrobe I will need (!) in a couple more months.

Anyway, hope it's all going ok for anyone still reading this stream-of-consciousness rambling and if you are reading keep me posted on your success too! You can do it if I can!

Hiya...

I'm still waiting for my delivery...

Fab news on milestone weight loss... [henvy]

IT'S HEREeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Good for you oinker today is the first day of your new life without food being in charge!

Made two cakes this evening and managed to keep the spoon licks to a minimum thank goodness. We shall see if I can manage not too eat too much of the finished product!

Not started yet....

Have to make sure I am prepared....
DS has a nursery leaving party on Friday, so am making lots of cakes etc for him. Then the weekend I have a hens party........... Anyway will be ready for Tuesday, that's when I start. NO excuses... TUESDAY will be the day. Midweek starts are always best anyway... Not sure why?

Ok oinker hope today goes ok for you

I did My weigh in today as last week was a big one and I basically ate whatever I wanted and we did have several birthday cakes, party food, takeaways with guests staying at ours etc so today I weighed 14 st 2lb. Am treating last week as the food break week for sure!

Not fatal but ooops again. Still good to know that it was not too much, and that I can get it back under control pretty easily. Plus I am retaining water at the mo so actually feeling ok about weight.

Also nice to be able to say 'I will indulge for a few days' without being too anal about the diet. I do want to be able to live life and I think the odd weekend of treats followed by some self- denial to balance me out ( the self-denial following a splurge having been what was missing before.....!) will be more compatible with long-term weight loss than pretending I don't want a few little luxuries from time to time. However did have quite a few wines do that's an easy one to cut back on this month!

My clothes are still fitting fine though and that's the other guide for me to be more aware of.

Typical though, all my friends arrived on Saturday saying 'oh you've lost more weight, don't you look great, well done you' etc and MIL then came over to say 'oh you've lost a bit of weight then?' to which I responded with a smile 'yes, a bit, I'm quite pleased'. The usual response to that from friends or family having been well you look good on it, or well done, or good for you etc. And tumbleweed...... Not one more word, and I'd feel like it was reflexive to say good for you or something like that. So does that mean she doesn't think I look well/better? Does she not think I've done well to lose 2 stone plus? I know I was crap to let myself get fat in the first place, and I know I'm still a big burly hippo with a way to go yet and not a slender willow but honestly, isn't there some automatic solidarity amongst women to congratulate one another on weight loss? Feminist or not, don't we all really subscribe a little bit to the theory that slimmer (within healthy boundaries) is better and if someone gets slimmer they've done something good?

I mean I'm not doing this for her praise (or anyone's actually, just my own best interests and those of DS) but really would it have been too much to say well done, or you look great, even if I'm not as slim as her daughters?

I do sound like a bitch don't I? The thing is I like her a lot, she's great and really for a MIL she doesn't interfere. DH gets annoyed with her and I'm always arguing that she's great, she means well etc - but for some reason it just annoyed me a bit.

Mental note - get over yourself French.

French... Well done....
Don't worry about the blip, we all have them..

Day 2 for me... Must admit I gagged a bit yesterday.... Ithen started with the negative thoughts....
I can't do this....
I won't make it thru the week...
Why am i doing this....
But.... Day 2 and i'm still doing it. Have got a months worth and am determined to keep going... I HAVE TO DO IT !!!!
No more gagging today....
Having said that I remember the Lighter life stuff and their shakes were a lot tastier. I could never manage the soups so haven't even bothered getting them with Exante. Am doing shakes and bars only... Orange and chocolate isn't that nice but the raisin and nut is yummy. Will tolerate the orange one just to get me thru the month. I won't order it next time...
Lighter Life also had a porridge which was to DIE for... I survived on it... Yummy....
Anyway, here goes....
POSITIVE thoughts.....

Thanks oinker - I know you will be able to get through these first few days, it will be so worth it. Just imagine yourself in 4 weeks, lighter by a stone, feeling healthier and looking better. You can do it!

Thanks for the support too, I've been pretty good this week although suffering with a dreadful cold right now and desperate to eat and fill up with something other than snot.

Got to say though, I really like the orange chocolate bars, far nicer than the toffee raisin ones! And I prefer the shakes to the soups, although a porridge does sound nice for these cold mornings.......

OMG Weighed myself.... I lost 10lbs in 4 days...
I only weighed myself cos on LL you get a weigh in on day 3 of the first week.
Am totally shocked.... FANTASTIC.... Not felt hungry either...??
Having said all that... My bones are achy and I have a swollen cheek and neck gland Have no idea if it's anything to do with the diet. Any ideas?
Can't wait to do my weekly weigh in? This is great... Am mega positive at the minute.....