Crash diet programme/meal replacements

[Gemi33]

Hi

Did anyone see the programme about crash diets last week? I am thinking of trying meal replacements as a kickstart as I think I need to take food out of the equation completely for a bit. Has anyone else done this? How did you get on? What are the best meal replacements to use? I don't have much money so wondering if it's affordable,

thanks

xx

I've done it twice. Lost 1.5 stone both times. Gained it all back and more both times.

I did slim and save, which is one of the cheapest. The flavours were fine and after the first 4/5 days it's easy. But you can't drink alcohol on them or have one meal off plan.

I lost 7lbs first week, then 2lbs a week after that.

It’s worth looking at groupin deals etc for shake packs

the Purition shake was the most disgusting thing I've ever drunk

I've just ordered the 2 week starter pack from Exante based on this thread. I do have a meeting with a Cambridge diet consultant booked for mid Jul after I get back from holiday but this is so much cheaper, I thought I'd see what it is like.

Let us know if they taste ok?

I went to Boots and bought a couple of Slimfast for now. Ideally I'd like something as natural as possible but it has to taste nice.

The hardest thing about VLCD is that you lose loads the first few weeks and then it can slow right down. I personally find it so disheartening to deny myself and feel so hungry for 7 days for 2 pound loss. In fact one week I lost nothing despite following the plan to the letter! Then just as I'm about to give up I'll have a random 8 pound week. When all was said and done, I was on my VLCD for 8 weeks and lost 24 pounds- so 3 a week. Worth it.

Londonista which shakes did you have?

Well after seeing this thread and needing to start, I have ordered the Exante 2 week trial pack, I like the idea of starting with the meal replacements and then gradually retraining myself using it as the 5:2 program afterwards to maintain.

I am desperate to lose 2 stone, initially and then working slowly towards the third stone as I re-educate my thinking on food.

How is everyone else doing that has started this type of program?

My friend did it twice. Gained it back and more. Also got into a bad habit of chewing her gums because she was not eating. she can't stop it. She now has binge eating disorder because of the guilt about eating. It's all or nothing.

I do see the other point of view if needing to go into food rehab so to speak and do something drastic. What I suggest is a normal breakfast of porridge or even low cal portion of bacon and eggs and do the shakes for lunch and dinner. Especially in the evening it can be good in retraining yourself to not sit and snack.

Hi

I have been unwell and will undergo a medical procedure this week but still think Exante as a kickstart once I'm better might be a good idea. For those who have already started - how is it going? Are the shakes genuinely nice? Are some flavours better than others? Has anyone tried any of the other products like the soups etc? Also does anyone take the shakes to work? If you make them up in the morning are they still ok later in the day?

xx

Answers to some questions.
Some companies can supply tetrapaks of made up shakes which can be had at any time. Most companies supply powdered shake which you make up in water and have to drink within 10 minutes to get all your vitamins . It doesn't matter if you have shakes,soups, or meals ( the plans have been devised so they all basically supply the same for calorie content/ nutrients) A lot of plans also have bars but may restrict to one a day.
It is important to drink a fair amount of water ( each plan will suggest amount )
No alcohol ( very dangerous on some plans )
With some plans you can swop a shake for a suggested meal ) That will only be protein and certain vegetables ( definitely no potatoes,pasta,rice,bread)
Most diets want you to go no caffeine, no citric acid, ( so some coke/pepsi drinks are a no go ) Again most diets do not include any fruit.
With some diets after a set amount of weeks on it - they require a weeks break where you are allowed extra carbs / fruit etc
High intensity exercise is not encouraged.
Some medical reasons may prohibit you being on it. Likewise medication. Doing it whilst breastfeeding is again a no no ( and obviously pregnancy )

Happy to answer questions ( if I know the answer but not medically trained)

I buy the v lo cal protein powder off Amazon and blend it with ice and water. I drink it slower that way. It's 100 cals a shake. Then I have one 400 cal low carb meal, and some peanut butter in celery later on, and that's my day.
I do vary it slightly but most days are a version of that!

I think the vlc diet is fine for a short kick start (a month at most). It's the motivation some might need to feel the weight loss and inspire them to keep going but to do it long term is silly and unhealthy. My friend and I started dieting 1.5 years ago. I took the low carb / low calories food approach and she did the shakes/packs and bars approach. We are simular night and started off at the same weight. She lost faster and didn't maintain and is now heavier than when we started. I lost slower and have maintained the weight loss.

I can totally see why people do the shake route - it's easy and no planning or thinking involved ... this also appealed to me so I wrote out a healthy (ish) daily diet and stuck to it.

Mine was:
B: 2 boiled eggs
L: Salad and fish
D: Veg and chicken

All snacks were veg sticks.

Well I've been doing Exante since Wednesday and I've found that the shakes are good. They obviously taste like a vitamin shake but fairly pleasant and lots of flavours. However, the Exante "foody" products are pretty grim. The sweet and sour noodles were very weird and the cheese, egg and bacon thing was so horrible I couldn't finish it. The soup and bars are okay and the pancake mix was alright but didn't taste great by any means.

I've lost 4lbs so far which is great before holiday but long term, I think I'd go with just the shakes for 2 days a week on the 5:2 plan. I think that might be the way forward.

Hi guys, I’m not new to meal replacement shakes. I started on Cambridge, awful and then went on to body by Vi and lost around 3 1/2 stone. I started going to the gym and actually enjoyed it. I gradually re introduced food and kept the weight off, until I had to have an operation. It meant that I couldn’t train and I slowly started reverting back to my old eating habits and surprisingly put the weight back on (shocker) but, I’m not one to be defeated. They aren’t for everyone, or the faint hearted. It’s bloody hard and you have to go all in.
I’ve just started Slender Blend.
If I’m honest, I’m my opinion, they are all pretty much the same apart from cost. This was a fraction of the price to Body by Vi. I’ve done it once and I’ll do it again, but I’m taking a new approach this time. You can’t just revert back to your old way. It’s a lifestyle change. Has anyone else tried Slender Blend?

I fried Lighterlife but the shakes were so gash I kept chucking a banana in with them to make palatable. I did lose a stone oi er 2 months which was what I wanted so just took a little longer. I'm watching normally again now and it's not gone back on, just needed to shift the weight I put on last year when I tw@tted my back so badly.

Hi Guys

I've decided to give this a shot when I'm feeling better after the procedure this week so currently in the process of doing my order so that I have everything here ready for when I feel better. Two questions - any particular recommendations for flavours? Obviously we're all different but I'm ordering two weeks worth and thinking I will probably just do shakes not bars or anything else etc and wondering which ones people have found they like the most.

Second question - I work full time. Are the shakes ok to make up in the morning nd take in order should I just make them up there (but I won't have a blender etc available)?

Thanks and well done to you all so far,

xx

Sadly you can't make one up to have later. But it's no hassle to take the shaker and pack separately and just add the water when you need it.

Hey

How is everyone doing? I'm impatient to start but recovering at the moment - how you're all doing ok?

xx

Hello OP,
Just watched the programme and ordered some slimfast from Asda. Going to try shake for breakfast and lunch and then normal tea. I thought the programme was really inspiring. My MIL has so many health problems relating to obesity, it's been a real wake up call. I need to do something now to kickstart it and then I can hopefully reintroduce healthy food back into my diet.

I like shakes. They get a bit of weight off fast and they give my body and mind a rest from constantly battling food. I am not good at sustaining them as “sole source” but can do them two meals a day with a sensible dinner quite happily.

It’s like anything though, isn’t it- it will get the weight off but unless you then transition into a new way of cooking, eating, moving and living, the weight will go back on.

Hi, I started using meal replacements 18 months ago for breakfast. Since then I have lost 2 stone and kept it off for about a year. Some days I have shakes for lunch too for convenience as with 3 young kids time is a struggle and lots of you will appreciate!

Things to consider (in my experience) are protein content as that’s what keep you full and variety of flavours available for more options.

Being totally honest, I was a super sceptic but now am a total convert and have now started a business promoting the products and helping others get the same benefits I did. Average costs are about £2 a day for my breakfast clients. I also believe in giving no obligation free trials to make sure people enjoy the products and feel results before they buy.

NOTE: this isn’t a sales pitch hence not mentioning product names etc, just wanted to share my experiences and be transparent that I now promote.