VLCD/Meal Replacement on 1st Jan

[DelightfulCunt]

Hi everyone!

I’m starting a VLCD (Slim and Save) on 1st Jan and wondering is anyone starting too? Or Cambridge, Exabte etc and maybe we could keep each other motivated?

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I dunno, won't load it. Don't care though

BBA that’s amazing, well done- it’s so helpful to have someone a few weeks further along as motivation!

EL2019 you’ve definitely been missing out by not using a blender and ice before- that’s the only way I can make shakes work for me and not guzzle them in 2 seconds and feel like I’ve not had anything- I know it’s just frozen water but the ice really seems to add substance!

I messed up yesterday and today but I’m not going to dwell on it- just pick myself up for tomorrow.

So glad I found this thread, hope it's ok to join!
Just started Exante yesterday, no idea what I weigh because the battery is flat on my scales but I'm fairly sure I'm at least 15 stone which is shameful.

BishopBrennansArse I love your name so much!

Ok ya know what, I’m jumping in!

Day 1- keep me company!

Morning all, haven't posted in a while, but still plodding on. Had a few days off as on holiday but didn't gain hugely. Still losing very slowly but feel slimmer for it. Am now completely used to the plan and drinking the right amount of water which I had found difficult. Main problem I have is not being able to drink wine at the weekend.
Welcome to everyone who has joined since I last posted.
Bishop-you look fabulous!!!

Rookie mistake - never, ever look at a thread about favourite "disgusting" things to eat!

So I did not get back on it and stay positive. Of course I didn’t.

After feeling so motivated by the previous posts and having plenty of choice in my stash I still failed.

What is wrong with me 😩

I need to change my mindset and do what others have done and just view it as a kind of medicine for 6 months I think- not food, just a way to get healthier again.

I want to end up being the inspirational one

@DrBuckles I don't even see the stuff as food, it's fuel, a means to an end to get me through. Any time I feel hungry I have a big gulp of water and if that doesn't help I resort to a hot oxo drink. If those two fail o go to a single boiled egg, at 76 cals and no carbs it won't hurt your losses.

I'm opting out of eating, really. It's made me realise a lot about my relationship with food and how dysfunctional it had become.

I've needed to find just a few packs that I actually quite like, so I like the lemon pancakes, mixed with a bit of water and maybe an egg if I'm feeling extravagant and then done in the microwave, tastes a bit like cake mixture. Also the shepherds pie, again mixed with small amount of water and a small tin of tuna in spring water, turned into fish cakes and baked in the oven for 20 minutes, I really like this with iceberg lettuce, balsamic vinegar & mustard. I also love the Dahl pots, sweet and sour noodles with soy sauce and the gooey chocolate pudding. I like the shakes too so actually enough to keep me going without feeling desperate. Agree it's best to see it as medicine or fuel. I've also found I'm now off proper food, have tried to eat a couple of things off plan and I just didn't want to, they tasted rotten. Unfortunately the same has not happened with vino!

Thank you for the replies. I have a couple of questions I just wondered-

Do you actively try and get to ketosis or is the calorie cut enough for you? I’m mainly wondering about a bit of fruit/cereal bar now and then but I don’t know if that’ll mess everything up.

How strict are you about the no citric acid in drinks rule?

How much exercise do you do on the 600kcal a day?

I'm definitely trying to stay in ketosis as if I'm not I'm starving hungry and likely to go off plan. So I not having any carbs (unless I have a glass of wine but that isn't very often!) I am eating some food though, baby bel lights, chicken and tuna and sometimes egg.
I did hardly any exercise when I first started as just had no energy and was freezing cold, I literally wanted to hibernate. Last week or so I've been doing more, gym/swim but I am doing man plan so getting more like 800 calories each day at least.

I really hope that I go into ketosis soon, been on plan since Sunday and I'm still soooo hungry! Determined though to keep at it so fingers crossed, it will happen soon.

Food week - was out with the family and they went to McDonalds. I ordered a grilled chicken and bacon salad as it came in on plan but they gave me fried. Praying the breadcrumbs haven't knocked me out of ketosis as I can't stand the idea of keto flu again.

I'm sure you will soon leeloo, probably by / tomorrow or Saturday I would have thought. It's amazing when it happens. Bishop, even if the breadcrumbs have knocked you out I've found that even when I do go off plan ( have had some wine at the weekends and have had small amounts of carb to kick me out of ketosis before having a glass) it's never been as bad going back into it. Hardly noticeable in comparison to the first time.

Hello. How’s everyone doing?

I’m back from 5 days all inclusive holiday and the food was delicious! Pleased to say I came back only half a pound heavier than my weight the day I left. I did over eat a little at mealtimes. But I didnt snack between them. I also ate less and made lighter, healthier choices as the holiday went on. Once I realised that I couldn’t possibly try everything and that there would always be something available, I relaxed and made better choices.

Back on it today. Had 2 shakes and about 350cals of real food. Now in for the long haul.

How’s food week going BIshop? Do you do that aftercare 12 weeks? Are there any guidelines as to what and how much you should be having?

I'm gaining weight on food week. Only 1lb but I'm following what I'm supposed to, apart from the McD's cock up 🤬

Ah well we will see. I will do the 12 week tail out when I get to goal, yes. I'm going to carry on until I get to 12 stone 7.

If you've ever ordered from Exante you'll be able to get the eBook which tells you what you can and can't have in food week.... It's up to an extra 400 cals I think if you're on TS, avoiding carbs, there's a list of foods that are ok.

Well I might be setting myself up for failure but I’m going away for a few days and I’ve packed shakes for breakfast and soups for dinner- hoping I can find something salady for lunch to actually pass the first test of doing this well out of my comfort zone!

It’ll also save me a ton of money hopefully too not paying for a premier inn breakfast (in which I always promise myself I’ll have a bowl of fruit, yogurt and seeds but actually mindlessly -gleefully- load up my plate with sausages and croissants) and a dinner.

Revelation - I actually really like courgetti/zoodles! This is going to make food week more interesting.

I may have said I was back too soon. Had a terrible cold for 6 days so decided to eat at maintenance. That lead into some bad ‘grazing’ behaviours where I never really get full but keep picking at things.

Anyway, this time I really am back on it. So far:
Chicken salad for lunch at 12.00 and double choc bar at 5.00 plus a few cups of tea with milk that I really need to cut down on.

Hello
I'm late to the party as always.starting tomorrow on 3 shakes a day .food is my drug and I need to go cold turkey.im going to read the full thread in bed tonight to get some tips and ideas,and so I don't ask questions already answered..I'm dreading it to be honest..but it's this or I pay £80000 + for a bypass...😨