Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Brand new shiny VLCD thread...LighterLife, Cambridge etc

773 replies

Cheesyslice · 24/01/2014 13:24

New thread as the old one is now bursting at the seams.

Thanks
OP posts:
LokiPokey · 17/04/2015 15:17

Newbie I found my Cambridge consultant very helpful with medical issues me and DH have.
If you're thinking about a VLCD, I would suggest finding your nearest consultant through the Cambridge website and drop them an email asking about your situation. As PP said they have some lactose free products and a database for medicines and how the effect your ability to do it. Or see your GP for advice. Good luck to you [sm

Newbiecrafter · 17/04/2015 19:25

Thank your both.

How did you chose a consultant? I just searched and there are 4 pages worth. Is it possible to get a map view?

Also, to lose 51lbs roughly how long would I have to be on the plan? Just trying to work out how much it will cost me, to decide whether or not I can afford it.

Also, thow does it work once you've met the consultant? Do they give you the shakes to get started or do I then order those separately?

Thanks so much for your help. Thanks

By the way Loki, how did your first weigh in go? Are you pleased? Has the pain been worth the gain, or rather loss, iykwim? I'm thinking of that teacher in fame hitting the ground with her stick as she says something like that.
Xxx

thereinmadnesslies · 17/04/2015 20:37

Newbie - I have hashimotos and I'm doing exante. I didn't check with a Dr because mine GP surgery is generally clueless about hashimotos. So obviously this message isn't medical advice, just my experience. I lost 13lbs in 4 weeks. I've taken a break from it because I'm on holiday, but I'm planning to go back to it next week. I feel better for it, and I think some of the hashimotos side effects are less as a result.

Newbiecrafter · 17/04/2015 21:24

Thanks Therein. That's good to hear. I looked at exante but it said on the website that I can't do it with a lactose Intolerance which is a shame. Thanks for your reply, it's good to know that you've had good results with it, I am convinced sometimes that my lack of success with weightloss is to do with Having the condition. I gave up gluten about 14 months ago and my stomach has been more settled but it hasn't made a difference to my weight although that wasn't the main reason for stopping eating it,

Thanks again and congrats on the weightloss. Xxx

HubrisNemesis · 18/04/2015 19:55

You may need to be signed off by your GP before you start the plan, OP. My consultant went through a detailed health questionnaire the first time we met, and certain health conditions required a GP letter.

As regards finding a consultant, I wanted a woman roughly my age, and someone who would come to my house, so looked only at female mobile consultants who covered my postcode. Then I read their webpages in detail, weeded out the illiterate slogan-y ones and made a shortlist of three. One had no free slots at all, and I went with the one I liked best on the phone of the other two. She's been great.

I told mine over the phone that I was vegetarian, and she brought a week's worth of different products to the first consultation, so I could get a sense of what I liked. After that, I ordered every week on Tuesday and she brought the products on Wednesday.

It really isn't possible to say how long it would take you to lose 51 pounds - they say roughly a stone a month, but I had initial drastic losses which then tailed off. I probably lost four stone in just over five months on 'Sole Source' - three products a day..

It's expensive, yes, but remember too that you are only eating Cambridge products on the first two 'steps', so no other food bills at all.

mrbob · 23/04/2015 02:26

Not sure if everyone else has already discovered it but psyllium husks are fab! I add a teaspoon to my porridge and it means you can loads of extra water to it so it bulks up massively. Slightly gloomy but still yum. And I have my milkshakes as a kind of mousse consistency paste so again can add a bit and bulk them up :)
Am loving this diet. So much I am getting more and more nervous about when it is time to eat again…

Chocchip88 · 23/04/2015 19:41

Just a quick update to say I am now at my wedding weight 5 1/2 years ago! I started to regain the weight pretty much from the wedding breakfast so every pound I lose from now on will be a weight I haven't seen for almost 10 years : )

OneTwoOrThree · 27/04/2015 18:03

Hi... Back after I disappeared for a fortnight.

Quick update:

Week 1 - my adapted Exante diet, which generally consisted of 2 Exante products and 2 boiled eggs. I just couldn't face a third Exante product most days :(. Total loss 6.5lb

Week 2 - Abandoned the diet, and went back to my old eating ways. Combination of a holiday, and various pre-planned nights out etc. Total gain 2lb. In hindsight, starting the plan when I did wasn't the best idea.

Week 3 - Continued on the 'diet abandonment' - holiday, eating out (making my usual choices, not healthy ones), drinking etc. Surprising loss of 0.5lb.

Week 4, day one - back on my adapted Exante diet. Feeling motivated!!

I've also been doing a bit of reading about low carb-ing, as well as the Whole30 plan. Think I will continue with my adapted Exante plan til my products run out, then shift to low carb or whole30.

Good to be back though :)

KaryG · 04/05/2015 13:52

Hi is anyone still doing vlcd? Have you guys moved to any new thread??

I am just looking at the available options. I have almost 5 stones to lose before Christmas. I wish we can do it togetherWink

helenahandbag · 05/05/2015 09:33

I'm still here, I've stopped and started an embarrassing amount though. I've been finding Total Solution too hard to stick to psychologically so I'm now having two packs and a 400kcal low carb meal, sort of like an adapted Man Plan (which should be three packs and a 200kcal meal, but my way keeps the carbs lower. I can't seem to get into ketosis on three packs a day, it's like I'm right on the cusp and anything extra pushes me back out). Upping the calories slightly means that I can continue to exercise too, which I was missing on just shakes alone.

117 days (just short of four months) until my summer holiday and I'm hoping to be three stone lighter - let's see if I can actually stick at it this time!

KaryG · 05/05/2015 18:33

Hi Helen

Thanks for acknowledging your presence. I have finally come to a decision after weeks of surfing. I have chosen exante total solution to be my saviour (let's see if it'd be the case??!!) today is my first day. So far I'm feeling okay as I had a huge dinner with friends yesterday being bank holiday.

I hope I can stay on it for 3 weeks without any extras. As they say that you need to have a small meal for a week on the 4th week.

Wish you a good luck for your plan.

helenahandbag · 06/05/2015 10:21

Good luck Kary, plenty of people are doing just fine on TS! I just found it too much of a slog because I wasn't getting into ketosis and the constant hunger and cravings were too much. I'm really hoping that my new adapted plan is more sustainable for me.

It's my birthday on Tuesday and I really, really wish people would stop suggesting food as a way of celebrating it. I'm already meant to be having two family dinners but now my book group have suggested cake as we're meeting the day after, and my boss wants us all to go out for lunch to celebrate. My colleague's birthday is ten days after mine and there is to be another lunch for that too! Angry

RosieRosie1 · 07/05/2015 12:29

Today I can't stop thining about white bread and butter. Im doing Cambridge x

helenahandbag · 07/05/2015 13:10

Just tell yourself that whatever you're craving isn't as good in reality as it is in your head. I wish I could listen to my own advice - I always fall off the wagon even though I know it won't be as nice as I remember! Blush

OneTwoOrThree · 09/05/2015 08:15

Slinks back in, having been off the wagon for too long. Can't decide if I start afresh today, tomorrow or Monday. Hmmmmmm.

KaryG · 12/05/2015 12:06

Hi guys, I hope you're all doing well on the plan. Just completed first 7 days on TS and weighed my self this morning and lost only 5 lbs. Despite being 100% on the plan with 4 Ltrs water a day, and 20 mins exercise, I'm a little disappointed with the weight loss, and from what I heard form other exanters, that first week they always have a bigger loss.

Any advise if this is normal as it was my TOTM from day 1. Can this be the reason of low numbers on the scale?Confused

KaryG · 12/05/2015 12:09

@Helen Happy birthday to you. I hope you're having a great one!!

helenahandbag · 13/05/2015 10:50

Thanks Kary, it was busy at work but a nice day overall! I've now woken up with excruciating toothache in a tooth that I've been putting off seeing about because I'm lazy so I've had to make an emergency appointment at the dental hospital Sad

I've been on and off the wagon for too long now, it's getting embarrassing! I have three meals out planned between today and Monday so I'm going to try to TS on the days in between but still enjoy myself when I'm out.

The smaller loss than you were expecting could well be to do with TOTM. What exercise have you been doing? Anything more than light exercise and you need more calories otherwise it can affect your losses.

beeslovehoney · 13/05/2015 13:49

Hi all,

I have started Cambridge today..

Does anyone have any tips for what i can use to prevent bad breath?

Been reading this as a side effect and working closely with others i am concerned about it

mrbob · 14/05/2015 13:33

Hi bees I found lots of brushing, mouth wash and drinking loads of water has been enough. Occasionally I had gum but I found that made me more hungry...

annamariabella · 17/05/2015 13:34

Anyone on this thread still after support on a VLCD? I'm starting Exante tomorrow... after a number of false starts...

Parsley1234 · 17/05/2015 14:05

Hello everyone doing lighter life to shift 9 lbs on plus another 7 it is very slow going this time have lost 9 lbs in 4 weeks but my head is better and it is going mainly ts but one meal a day two days a week c25k nd pt 2x week.

LowCarbHeaven · 07/06/2015 19:43

I am starting slim and save tomorrow! Quiet thread though Hmm

New posts on this thread. Refresh page