Would anyone be interested in an Exante support thread?

[Gemi33]

Hi everyone

Following on from the thread about the programme about 'crash diets'. I am intending to use Exante to kick start my weight loss, initially for two weeks but possibly longer if it goes well. I will probably be starting in a week or so (I have been unwell and currently getting over that before trying to lose weight).

Would anyone who is thinking of doing this or already following the plan be interested in a support thread?

xx

[Gemi33]

Thanks - I have tried blending with ice and varying the amount of water but still can't stomach them :( I have tried the coconut, chocolate and caramel frappe and don't like any of those. I don't usually like banana flavoured things but I do have some so I could try those - I think I've just been put off so much now! Someone else mentioned that they prefer the smoothies so I could try those although I didn't order many of those, only one or two so if I do like those better that will be a bit frustrating!

xx

[MagentaRocks]

I have realised I read the approved foods list wrong and have been having too many carbs so I am going to rectify that from now on.

Sorry you are struggling Gemi. Have you tried any of the bars? Some are really sweet and I am not keen but some are ok. I like the chocolate caramel crunch best.

[moomin11]

I'm on day 4 of exante and finding it tough but I have lost 7lbs already so will stick with it. Am hoping threads like this will help keep me going! Have found a lot of the food to be pretty grim but don't mind the shakes and have had a soup and a bar which were ok.

[MagentaRocks]

Well done moomin. I'm 2 weeks in and lost 9.8lb. I wanted to lose 4.5lb a week so have exceeded that. The first few days were tough but now I feel great. I don't feel hungry often and when I do I just feel a bit peckish. I am sleeping better and I just feel different. My clothes are getting looser.

I have an event next week that means I will be eating carbs and having a couple of drinks so I expect to gain but I will get right back on it the next day so it shouldn't hurt too much- I hope.

I am aiming for 3 stone by the end of the first week in September and am on track for that.

@Gemi33 how are you?

[moomin11]

That's amazing well done. I am fully expecting the weight loss to slow down but my goal is to lose a stone in a month which would give me a huge boost. I do miss real food though!

[moomin11]

I read somewhere that drinking alcohol on the diet can make you ill unless you have some cards the day before, does anyone know if that's true? Have an event next week and was planning to have a shake for breakfast and then a low carb lunch, will also have a couple of drinks in the evening.

[MagentaRocks]

I will have carbs several hours before drinking. So it should be fine. I am tempted to not drink though and stick to it as much as possible. I will see how I feel.

I have a spinach omelette some days made with 2 medium eggs and 10g spinach. I also have 250g of cucumber most days too.

[Gemi33]

Well done, you all sound like you're doing really well! I am contemplating starting again tomorrow and really want to give it ago but still thinking I'm going to struggle as I can't stand the products!!

xx

[MagentaRocks]

If you don't like the products you won't be able to stick to it. Have you thought about doing a normal low carb diet. There's usually a thread going over on weight loss about it.

[moomin11]

That's what I've struggled with a bit too, my willpower is ok in terms of resisting other foods but it's really disheartening when you can't eat the products. I have heard that Cambridge and lighter life products are nicer, more expensive though too, would it be worth trying one of those for a similar result?

We could do with a swap shop for all the stuff we ordered but now won't use!

[Gemi33]

Hi everyone

Hope you're all getting on ok? I'm still struggling and not really getting off the ground. I bought some frozen smoothie packs when I went shopping that you just make up with water or coconut water and this morning I had a 'breakfast smoothie' which was berries, banana and a few oat. I blitzed it up with lots of ice and coconut water and it was really lovely, a bit like a fruity slush puppy. The calories are pretty much the same as exante so do you think it would work having this sort of thing instead?

xx

[MagentaRocks]

If it works for you then no harm in giving it a try. As long as it fills you up and has enough nutrients and protein.

I’m still doing it, nearly 3 weeks now but have an event on Thursday that will involve proper food and alcohol. Going to weigh myself Thursday morning then again Friday and see if I put much back in after one day. I figure going out etc is a part of normal life so I have to not avoid things like that.

Have a training session tomorrow, last week was fine and I had more energy so it should be fine.

Bought a pair of jeans a size smaller today so am happy with that. I feel different. One of my staff told me I am walking taller, and I do feel that I am as I feel more confident as my clothes get looser.

[ShastaBeast]

I’ve just ordered two weeks worth and started with save and slim on Saturday, I plan to make it last a bit longer by having a low carb meal once a day. I’ve been low carb anyway but need a push after stalling and slowly gaining - my husband has no willpower so buys crap and then I give in and join him. I have a stone, maybe a bit more, to lose, ideally within a month but I wonder if this is unrealistic.

Does anyone exercise on this type of diet? I’m hoping to run tomorrow. It was day three and I’m trying to sleep but am so hungry. I have porridge and a bar to have before running, then a low carb lunch. I’ve averaged 800 calories. It’s going to be tough but hoping it gets easier after a day or two now.

[MagentaRocks]

I exercise but I couldn’t have done it within the first five days or so as I hadn’t adjusted. I saw my personal trainer last week and did over an hour and she said I was more energetic than normal. I felt fine although they don’t recommend a lot of exercise.

[moomin11]

That's great MagentaRocks. I'm looking forward to getting back into some of my smaller clothes. Am wondering how long I'll be able to stick to just the three products a day and the best way to introduce food at some point, couldn't find any advice on the website about this?

[MagentaRocks]

I’m doing the man plan so three products and then up to 200 calories from the approved list but can only have 10g of carbs overall from the approved list. I started out having the 200 calories but now I don’t all the time. I will if I feel hungry and I did today as I did a big gym session but sometimes I don’t feel hungry. You shouldn’t have just the three products for too long. That is total solution and they recommend every fourth week you have a food week and have a certain amount of calories.

It is really working for me and I just have to stick to it. Thursday I will be eating normal food and drinking alcohol but that is a normal part of life and after the initial panic about putting weight on I have realised that I just have to carry in with normal life. It won’t make a massive difference and I will enjoy the day.

[moomin11]

Absolutely, it is good to be able to have a treat and just enjoy it guilt free without it 'ruining' your whole diet and going off the rails. That's where I used to go wrong whereas now I will hopefully just get back to the diet the following day.

Not sure I would make it to 3 weeks on total solutions anyway and will need to introduce food so that is good to know.

[MagentaRocks]

The how it works ebook should tell you what you need to know and the approved food list is on the website when you look at the man plan diet.

[moomin11]

Ok thanks

[Gemi33]

Hi

How is everyone getting on? I'm really struggling, no motivation at all and just feel really down about how huge I am. I know this should motivate me to do something about it but I just feel so fed up and disappointed in myself rather than positive that I can do anything about it.

xx

[ShastaBeast]

My box arrived Friday and I’ve already used a few bars instead of using up the old soups and milkshakes from the Save and Slim pack. I figure we should order what we actually enjoy eating as they are all similar calories & nutrients anyway, and we’re more likely to continue by eating the things we enjoy. I’m doing three packs and one meal per day with tea/coffee which probably helps manage things.

What probably also helps is knowing I’m only going to do it for a numbers of weeks - it’s a kick start rather than a long term plan.

4lb down in a week. And I’m managing exercise even if it’s harder due to lack of energy at times. I’ll exercise less over the summer hols though :(

[MagentaRocks]

Sorry you are struggling Gemi. Hopefully will power and motivation will kick in soon. I know it is hard.

I've had a few days off. Went out Thursday drinking and took a couple of days to get back into it.

Shasta exercise gets easier the longer you do it.

[Pinkgeorge]

Silly question but do you think it would work doing this 5 days a week and having two “sensible” days eg going for dinner etc!? I have events most weekends but would love to try. Can’t take shakes to weddings etc

[MagentaRocks]

I don’t know @Pinkgeorge I had a couple of days off this week as I had an event or two and I didn’t lose this week but I didn’t put on. Have a look on the website, there are some higher calorie plans that you could probably do even with an event.

How’s everyone else doing?

[ChoccyJules]

Hi all, I’ve been reading up on a few similar diet plans and lots of people mentioned Exante so am considering it.
Couple of things which scare me though, sounds daft but all the talk of ketosis makes me worry I’d be doing something hardcore to my body and make myself ill.
Second thing is I did MFP for a while and lost about a stone but found 1200 calories so hard to stick to, so 600 just doesn’t seem realistic for me. I have wondered about the man plan, ie 800 cals but even that sounds brutal. To be honest I wondered about having 4 replacements and 400cal food a day and trying to do 1200 that way!
Lastly I am on a couple of meds and am worried that this could alter what my dose should be, though I assume I would just check that out with my doctors when I reach a good weight.
Anyway, just wanted a few tips I guess. I am keen to try this as it seems easy and a good way to get weight loss going for a hungry lump like me. I have about 2.5 stone to lose.