Anybody else doing Exante or some other VLCD and wants to buddy up?

[ShyOyster]

I started Exante on Monday so on day 4 now. I'm not in ketosis yet though, which I find odd because normally it kicks in roundabout day 3 (I've done plenty of ketogenic diets before).
I don't have anyone in real life who wouldn't totally condemn me for doing a VLCD so looking for someone on here

Excellent work Wally - 8 weeks is so fabulous, I hope I get there!

Properly back in the 9 stone bracket this week :-)

I'm a kg away from being in the 12 stone bracket. That seems amazing. And rather motivating. And 3 stone in 12 weeks looks like it should happen pretty easily. I hit my 50% target yesterday but somehow that wasn't as motivating!

I started CD 7 days ago but the constipation is killing me! I never had constipation like this even when I was on Atkins.
I drank loads of water but I end having cramps instead and I've hardly lost any weight! What am I doing wrong?! I tried Movicol, nothing moved, Senna, 21st century herbal you name it.
I am soooooo frustrated as I just want to lose only a stone!
Somebody help.

I'm not on this yet but I think I need the choice taken away from me as I can't lose weight. Is there diet where the food is delivered, so I don't have the choice of over eating?

I've placed an order with Slim and Save for 7 days worth of food, I'll weigh myself on Monday and come back to post my weight.

Wallis, I mix chilli powder with some of my meals (mostly the curry rice) and that seems to help.

Thanks Flesh, I will try that x

Hello! After lurking on this thread last night I've ordered the Slim and Save taster pack which lasts a week, it should be delivered on Tuesday!!

I've looked at CD and LL but all look a tad too expensive so gonna try this first and see how we get on.

I'm thinking of starting next Monday as I've got a weekend away planned up north with some uni friends I haven't seen for months! Thought it might be better to start on a full, clean week than throw it all away on what will be a weekend of drinking and most likely hangover eating!

I was reading a thread on here from a few years ago about the same thing and they had a spreadsheet going for weight loss - not sure if anyone would be interested in doing them same??

3 week weigh in today and 20lbs down. Pleased with that as I slipped and had a Chinese on Saturday ( woops!) Week 3 really is a loss plateau and the lack of momentum got to me but solidly back on it for the last 3 days so hopefully some more will shift.

Hope everyone is doing well!

I received my Slim & Save pack yesterday, but sent it straight back .. I didn't realise it was all dry packet food and made with soya, which affects my IBS.

It's cheaper for me to buy frozen Weight watchers meals, porridge and Covent garden soups and stick to eating that every day! I take vitamin supplements anyway, so believe I'll get everything I need.

I weighed myself on Monday, as expected 12 stone 8, so I need to lose two stone.

Yesterday I went looking for a new top ... Find the changing room mirrors very depressing!

My weigh in today - I'm 16 days in and have lost 11lb and am in the 9 stone bracket. Pretty pleased with that as I'm short and old, so don't lose quickly.

Thecat - how many calories willl you aim for?

I'm thinking about maintenance, and being much stricter about the smallest gain. I thought if I put a couple of pounds on, I'll do a VLCD Mon to Fri, but probably one of my own devising. But it's hard to make 3 meals for 600 calories!

I'm aiming fairly low - ww means at about 300 kcals, porridge made with half milk half water about 130 kcal, soup half pack Covent garden about 150 kcal. I don't take sugar or milk in my decaf coffee and don't drink much else except water.

Typo! Ww meals

If anyone is still there.... week 4 weigh in today and I'm 27lbs down. Helped by a stomach bug this weekend but still really pleased. Hoping to hit 2 stone in a couple of days :-)

Hope everyone is doing well!

I have lost nearly 2 stone 10lbs in coming up for 11 weeks.

It's definitely doable Coconutty if you stick to plan. I got to 2 stone down yesterday in 4 weeks and 4 days. I am heavy so the first lot of weight does drop off but it is possible.

Best of luck!

Well done Sammy.

Flesh and thecat. VLCDs work by ketosis so work by you having no sugars in your blood at all so your body is having to rely on its fat stores and nothing else. Get it wrong and your body will go into starvation mode and use muscle instead of fat and you might find yourself putting on weight.

I cannot see how you can do Monday to Friday because you'll come out of ketosis and it'll take you the best part of the following Monday to Friday to get back into it.

Sorry if I've misunderstood what you are planning.

My feeling is they do work and with a bit of planning you can have a sort of social life.

But your best option is probably to say for 3 months it's going to be pretty shit food wise. Zero alcohol but I'll be 3 stone thinner at the end of it. Then if necessary or desirable you can decide if you want to do another 3 months.

Thecat surprisingly the Slim and Save meals have pretty much eliminated my IBS. Unexpected since they have lots of stuff I would normally avoid.

Wally, it would just be when I had a couple of pounds to lose. If I were doing it for more than 5 days at a time, I'd stay low carb at the weekend in between, most likely. I'm usually fairly low carb anyway, and in ketosis on the 3rd day.

I've now lost 1st 2lb and I'm well in the normal BMI (fat percent as ever too large and Larry). I've gone up to Cambridge step 2 which is reintroducing 200 calls of food.

Hope everyone else is doing well? Anyone else got maintenance plans?

Lardy, not Larry.