exante?

[WotsitSandwich]

Anyone doing exante? I got my box yesterday and started after a black pudding sandwich so started properly today, just been out for breakfast with DD, DSis and DDad and didn't touch a thing! Feeling really motivated.

Any other exante'ers out there?

I'm still going too. Lost 4.2lbs this week so a total of 13.2lbs in 2 weeks. I am planning to do this for another 9 weeks then switch to 5:2. I tried the Indian curry with rice tonight, I'd definitely recommend it.

13lbs in two weeks- wow!

Week 2 here. First 3 days = hellish but I made it through. Having the 3 packs a day and a small high protein/low carb dinner in the evenings. I'm not weighing myself because I don't want to get fixated on it. Just going by signs of ketosis and loose clothes. I too plan to do this for 12 weeks and then adopt either a 5:2 or Dukan type thing.

Feel like I could run a marathon today though - I have so much energy!

Also - the lemon and yoghurt bars and the maple syrup pancakes are soooooo tasty! Feels good to be in control of my eating habits finally :)

Hi everyone I ordered my packs a couple of weeks ago but started yesterday, I was low-carbing for a week so hope to get into this woe quite quickly. Weekends will probably be the worst though. And Pando I loved the maple syrup pancakes!

Well, tomorrow will mark the end of my first week. My clothes do feel a bit looser. I am absolutely shattered though, been going to bed before 9pm and barely awake now. Have also been quite weepy and emotional all week. And nauseous. It's a bit like early pregnancy! (Definitely not pregnant btw). And I'm worried about the weekend because we have a lot of back and forth travelling to visit close relatives in hospital/recovering from surgery at home so I feel like it's going to be challenging to stick to the plan. I know mil wants to cook lunch for us on Monday and it's quite important to her as she's been really ill. So I just hope it doesn't knock me off or do too much damage.

Hiya. I have just completed day 1. I had a shake 4 brekkie, the curry and rice lunch and the mushroom pasta for dinner. The shake and curry lovely the pasta GROSS. I feel quite hungry and weak 2bh but just using this as a quick fix b4 our hol 4 weeks 2day. Fingers crossed I can stick to it.
Any tips or support would be appreciated x

Have done my first weigh in after Week 1 and have lost 3lbs. Feeling a bit underwhelmed and discouraged as was hoping for a bit more on the first week as I have a lot to lose altogether.

Just sharing my week two result - 3lb off, 8lb in total over two weeks! I'm really pleased with that and it spurs me on to continue for another four weeks! Which seems like a loooong time at the moment

SummersMumma the only advice I would give you is to stick with it! If you are hungry I think the advice is to go for a small protein snack? I've had a couple of slices of chicken or a laughing cow triangle if I'm desperate

Also, if anyone has the raspberry porridge, how does it come out? Mine is either like soup or looks curdled (didn't eat that one)

Hi, can I join?

I was on another thread when I first intended to start back at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb, but was ill thanks to some new medication, so had to stop. I have now had the ok from my doctor to go ahead, so started again last week, but the other thread has gone quiet, as everyone is a lot further on than me now.

I'm planning to do this for 8 weeks, possibly 12 - will take a view on that when I get there and then switch to 5:2 or 4:3 low carbing. I have a music festival to go to in just under 4 weeks and would like to have lost at least a stone, preferably a stone and a half by then.

Today is my first weekly weigh-in and I'm down 8lbs 3 oz. I think it would be more, but I had to take co-codamol over the weekend and that caused me to be dehydrated.

I've also had a couple of cups of bouillon here and there, because I am supposed to sat-load my diet for medical reasons and my consultant said I could only do the diet if I kept up my salt intake. I noticed the days I had bouillon to drink I had smaller losses, which I guess makes sense, as most of the first week's loss is water and the sodium in the bouillon would work against that.

I'm sticking with shakes as much as possible for the first couple of weeks, as they have the lowest carb content. I find they're nicest if you tip a couple of trays of ice cubes into the blender, add the powder, then a little over the 200ml of water they recommend and give them a really good long blast. They come out like thick, icy milkshakes that way and you don't taste the artificial aftertaste you get if you just shake them up.

Favourite shakes so far are the Almond Milk and Vanilla, Creamy Coconut and the Strawberry.

I haven't found it very hard so far, but I often forget to eat during the day, then mess it up by eating chocolate rubbish in the evenings, so it's not unusual for me to go a long time without eating. I'm hoping this might remind my body that it's better to eat at regular mealtimes, instead of bingeing when it suddenly realises it hasn't been fed all day.

Hi. I did exante for about 2 months and lost about 2 stone. I than stopped due to suspected gall bladder or pancreas issues but still managed to not gain any weight. In fact lost a couple more pounds. After a stressful month of tests etc the Gp thinks I had a virus so back on exante for 1 more month and will review after that.Weighed myself yesterday at 11 11.

Welcome back, browneyedgirl, hope you don't have anymore problems.

I lost another 4lbs this week so that makes half a stone in a fortnight, which is good. My energy levels are at zero, though, I feel weak and exhausted and can't exercise. Have had a bad cold all week so that might be why.

I am feeling a bit fed up.

Lost 8lb 3 oz the first week, but since then only around another pound, which keeps going up and down. I'm sticking rigidly with 3 shakes a day and plenty of water, with only two cups of black decaff coffee a day in addition and being generally more active.

I have a lot to lose (4 stone) so it's not because I am close to target or anything and my period isn't due until the end of the month, so that can't be it either. I did feel as if my clothes were looser, but they feel a little tighter again today, so I suppose I must be retaining water for some reason.

I've read that weight-loss seems to stall in the second week for some people, so I'm trying to focus on that and hope for a decent loss next week.

My 'official' weigh in day is Monday, so there's still time for me to drop a bit more I suppose.

AllThings I felt like that last weekend, so exhausted and weak, but it's improved each day and I've felt so much better the last couple of days.

I'm using ketosticks to check my levels. By the end of the first week I had low ketones, suggesting I was in Ketosis, but only just, by now I'm getting darker regions suggesting optimum levels for weightloss. Okay, so why aren't I losing weight then?

Based on that, I reckon what I went through last weekend was Ketosis flu, which could be the same for you. In which case, it should pass soon.

I do find I get cold more easily than usual though and am more than ready for bed by 6.00 pm, despite usually being a bit of a night owl.

i lost just under 8 stone on exante, it took me about a year on a mix of Total Solution /man plan, but i don't lose weight as quickly as most. I had used lipotrim in the past so knew this type of diet worked for me but i couldn't afford it and came across Exante.
I liked a lot of the products (some awful) and it doesn't seem much of a diet hardship having pudding, pancakes and cereal bars. Some things i didn't like the taste of early on but did after a second go. The paste bars like double choc can have a laxative effect so avoid more than 1 of those per day.

The first week or so till get into ketosis is hardest then hunger wasn't an issue for me which is the advantage with this type of diet along with the avoidance of having to think about food & a limited choice. Because i wasn't hungry i didn't feel as tempted when faced with proper food, but you do notice with this new distant relationship how difficult it can be to make good choices with unhealthy options everywhere and socially people want you to indulge to make them feel better about eating.

The constant peeing was mainly when body is shedding water with glycogen as it goes into ketosis (lost 10lb first week) and i didn't find it too much of an issue after that period. I had low energy for first few weeks which seems unusually long and nutritionist advised adding extra veg/protein in for a while and it passed, i suppose it may not have been diet related as I felt fine after when back on TS . I could tell if i had done too much and body was needing extra fuel like a low battery ,so if you have an active job/lifestyle maybe better off doing higher calorie plan, many switch between plans daily to match gym/exercise sessions.

In general while on exante i felt so much better than normal my mood was more stable (i suspect sugar/carbs effects it) and my skin was great, its wasn't just hydration as i drink fair amount normally.

The Beck diet solution was recommended fairly late on for me , but seemed helpful its uses CBT to work on the mental aspect to alter thoughts around food/eating www.beckdietsolution.com/ has a few different versions but can get off amazon etc cheaply.

Vegatable you may find your period comes early (mine did) and may shift around little while on the diet, i think that maybe why some get some hormonal type mood effects. Some that don't have periods due to contraception can start spotting too.

Its frustrating but don't get too hung up on weekly losses as it does vary, i even managed to gain 1lb one week (how?) but overall you will still be losing weight. Take measurements too as that can alter even when the scales show little change and with photo's its nice way to see the progress your making if having a tough day. I wish i'd taken more photo's now & only did inital measurement, but can see my old size 22 jeans look massive.

I have gained about 1st back due to comfort eating lately & too much bread/ other carbs i really wanted to keep out of my new diet so am in need of a restart to break the bad habits.

Thank you Scatty that's really helpful.

I have now gained 2lbs. I suspect it's down to the codeine I'm having to take for a broken tooth though. I have a dentist's appointment tomorrow to get it sorted though, so hopefully I'll be back on track by tomorrow night.

I would actually love my period to come early, as I'm off to a festival at the end of the month and could do without the period and portaloo combination, but I'm not thinking it will, as I have clear ovulation signs this weekend, which is bang on time for me.

I was hoping to lose a stone and half before I go. Thinking I could accept that the 'half' would most likely go back on over the weekend, but at least I'd still have a decent chunk of weightloss to motivate me to get straight back on it when we get back.

Not sure how I'm going to handle eating at the festival though. It's my one chance each year to cut loose and enjoy myself and isn't cheap, so I don't want to ruin it by being diet obsessed and stressing about food. I think I have three options.

1. Take a shaker and some shakes with me and go for 2 shakes a day, plus an evening meal, perhaps having the bbq sausage/burger without the bun, for example.

1. Not bother with the shakes at all (I really can't stand them unless done in a blender with tonnes of ice) and try to stick to low carb options all weekend - not easy at a festival.

1. Not worry about it, just enjoy myself, write off the inevitable weight gain and get straight back onto TS the morning I get back.

To be honest, I favour option three, as it really is such a rare break for dh and I, but I'd be interested to know what everyone else thinks.

Your weight gain is probably just water

If your planning on some alcohol while at the festival its advised to come out of ketosis and increase the carbs or it can make you very ill.

I mainly had the cereal bars so was easy while out for the day and the dahl pot & porridge can also just add hot water to make. I always thought exante would be quite useful while camping, but if you don't like the shakes then you'll probably end up straying off plan anyway so its better to decide to eat normally & just not go too crazy which is probably easier with food being expensive.

Official weigh in today and I'm up another .8 of a lb this morning.

Could really have done with something to cheer me up before I have to face the dentist this afternoon.

I don't drink, so no, I won't be indulging at the festival.

Think my plan is to stay on shakes only until the week of the festival - we go on a Thursday evening - and then do my extra 200 kcals from the Monday, so my body has acclimatised to eating a bit of food before I go. Will take enough bars to have at least one a day. Are the pots available on TS? I thought they were WS only? Might still be a better option than 3 meals a day though. Will have another look at the Exante site.

Its frustrating when the scales aren't showing the results after staying on plan all week, but its not a real gain in terms of fat so at the end of the month you'll see it was worthwhile. Some people choose not to weigh in to avoid these disappointments but i couldn't manage not knowing.

Sounds like a good plan, its these that are made like pot noodles & can have on TS, I didn't like the black bean version but the Daal's nice and only mildly spiced
www.exantediet.com/diet-products/deliciously-different-indian-daal-pot-meal/11032528.html

even if you have 1 or 2 products instead of meals then your still cutting down on calorie intake & not much that's as filling for 200 cals. As you don't drink then your at least avoiding all those empty calories & the potential for hangover from hell.

Well, something finally shifted and I've lost 3lbs across today and yesterday. Am also an inch down on my waist and hips and half and inch on my chest.

Such a relief.

I've ordered some Dhal pots and some double chocolate bars. I figure they'll be the easiest to manage over the festival weekend.

Going to add in my 200 kcals of low carb food as of the Monday, stick with the diet the day we go (Thurs) and then relax a little for the three full days w'e're there.

I've asked dh to hide the scales before we go and not let me have them back for a fortnight after we get back. So I'll get straight back on the diet first day back and not weigh in for two weeks, to stop me stressing about it.

Vegetable, I've been up and down too this week. It's frustrating. Overall, have lost almost 2lbs this week meaning nearly 9lbs total in three weeks. It's not awful, but I had hoped for a bit more! Am getting very bored of the diet for what doesn't feel like a great payoff. Am sticking with it though because it is working and I know losing weight is a long, slow, hard process. I'm also looking at taking some sort of break this weekend for a one-day festival, but similarly to you plan to stick to low carb and not go crazy. Will probably stall me again though!

I've lost another 2lbs since I posted on Wednesday, making it 5lb this week (official weigh in day is Monday). So just 2lbs to go until I hit 1 stone, which will be a massive motivator. Of course I still have another 3 stone to go ...

Just goes to show how it's important not to obsess over the scales on a daily basis although obviously I still am, I can't help myself.

2lbs is still a good loss AllThingsNautical, better than none, like me last week. I have noticed that I have to really push the water to maintain a good loss. I have a health condition that means I have to drink between 3-4 litres of water a day anyway and I'm definitely having to have even more than that on this diet, but have to be careful to space it sensibly so I don't over-hydrate - it's a tricky balance.

I plan to do 8 weeks then go low carb, 5:2 or some other form of IF. I am going to exclude the week of the festival though, so technically 9 weeks.

I haven't found the diet hard, but did have one day earlier this week when I was a bit under the weather, stressed about a few things and it was chucking it down outside and I found I really wanted to eat something comforting. I didn't, but I was a real grouch all day. Cooking for the family every evening doesn't help either.

I stuck to milkshakes only for the first fortnight and only started adding in the meals this week. I've also bought some different flavour shakes to try. That has helped to stop the boredom, as at least it's not the same flavours/meals all the time. Love the Chai Latte shake, it feels richer and more comforting than most of the others. Tried the dhal pot last night, but wasn't impressed, although I think it needs a touch less water than I used and I will add some of my own spices next time. Have also bought some double choc bars to take with me to the festival.

Did a sneaky extra weigh in this morning and have now officially dropped a BMI point! So that feels like a mini-milestone to tick off!

Chai Latte shake sounds nice. I recommend the cherry and almond bars, they are really tasty.

I'm starting Exante today! I need to lose 4 stone...hoping 2 will have gone by August when I go on holiday. I worry about being hungry and have decided to eat fruit if I'm desperate! I really need to do this, I'm so over SW and WW!

Well done AllThings that's definitely a milestone worth ticking-off! The other day I worked out at what point I will be able to tick off being back in a healthy BMI - then quickly decided not to think about it, as it seems too far off.

I like the cherry and almond bars too, but they do have a bit of an vitaminy aftertaste. From the reviews the double choc ones are supposed to be better. I don't like the cereal type ones at all though, too gritty and sticky.

Hi Mincepies I also started with 4 stone to lose. 3 weeks in and have a pound and half to go to my first stone, so I'm happy - despite my wobble last week.

From what I've read, I believe you are better having something like a boiled egg or something else that's very low carb for a snack, fruit is more likely to be higher carb due to the natural sugars.

I haven't been hungry at all, but am fairly used to going long periods without eating. What I've learned so far is that you really do need to keep on with the water intake. I have to have 3-4l a day anyway due to a medical condition, but have had to take it even higher, if I don't the scales don't move.

I had one of the Exante chocolate puddings for a Friday night treat yesterday and it was lovely, didn't taste like diet food at all and filled me up just as much as the milkshakes and meals. So I now have that in reserve next time I'm feeling down or in need of comfort food. Felt very naughty eating pudding instead of a meal! It was a win for me though, as dh was out and when he's out I usually treat myself with far too much chocolate and end up eating the lot, even though I'm not really enjoying it.

Am hoping the last pound and a half will come off before my official weigh-in on Monday. It would be really motivational to be able to type that into my weightloss chart.

I have been lurking for while whilst debating whether to give Exante a go. Well I bought the mixed bars & drinks and started last week with my first weigh in today.
I am happy to report I have lost 10 lbs!
To put this in perspective, I just came back from a short cruise, so 4-5 lbs of that probably reflected cruise over-eating, but still.
I have about 2-1/2 -3 stone now to lose, so reckoning on doing this til August. I did Lighter Life in 2008 & lost over 4 stone, which I kept off pretty well; usual life traumas meant I took my eye off the ball, & the weight crept back up.
In the last year I have tried various healthy eating regimes & WW to no avail. I think VCLDs work best for me.
I am finding the shakes, particularly the fruit ones, strangely salty. A lot of the bars are a bit "meh" but agree the cherry almond one is v nice & the strawberry jam & yogurt one pretty good. I'll be having the double chocolate today.
I didn't have much in the way of "ketosis flu" and now after first week I am in the groove. I have scheduled a hermit-like existence until second week of July, when I go camping in France, but by then I should be sufficiently established & have lost enough to stick with it, plus the meals should lend themselves to camping.
For cravings, I am using a rubber band on my wrist, which I sap whenever I have unholy thoughts about food.
Good luck all; carry on!