Exante and other VLCDs support thread

[PaulHollywoodsleftbollockhair]

Hi,

Giving myself a general overhaul at the moment and have some time for myself so I can concentrate on cracking on with a few goals.

I have ordered my Exante pack to start tomorrow - I have done it before and it has proved good for me as I like fast results. Currently peri-menopausal and my weight is creeping up-Ijudge it by clothes size for means at the moment my size 16s are snug. I want to get down to being a comfortable size 12 and feel ok in a swimming costume and figure I am looking at 3 months.

Anyone thinking or currently on this path who would like to natter about their experience ?

One thing I have found tricky previously is doing too much physical activity before being in ketosis - so this time I am going to take it easy until I am over that hurdle :)

Started a low calorie diet (1200) last week and I'm tracking everything via MyFitnessPal. I'm doing ok, not hungry and have halved my alcohol intake (the guilty party!). I'm finding that I crave something a little sweet come an evening so either have a piece of fruit within calories or a couple of Aldi sugar free sweets (17cl for 2) . It seems to do the trick.

I've lost 4lb week one and 3 st to go.

I can do this, we can do this!

@PaulHollywoodsleftbollockhair fancy a buddy? I’m doing slim and save from tomorrow. I’m a massive Heffer and really need to sort myself out.

Yay! Would I ever Alwaysgrey :)

Have you tried Slim and Save before? I am not familiar with that one. How are you feeling about the whole thing?

Hi Dottie - sounds like you are cracking it :)

Had a pack Exante pancakes left over from their bundle when I did this last and feel a bit mixed about them. They are the devil to cook, taste ok but are filling as the packet mix expands when cooking.

This time I have gone for products I know I will enjoy.

How is everyone else today? Starting to drink the epic amounts of water and peeing like a cart house too?

I did slim and save a couple of years back. But I’ve gotten very very heavy so feel I need to be a bit more extreme than just change your eating as I have some moderation, good/bad food issues so a vlcd seems like an okay option.

Day 1 for me and I’m two meals down. Need to up the water but I’ve been in and out all day and didn’t want to be caught short needing the loo.

How’s everyone else doing?

I’m currently on Exante, although have been doing it a bit half arsed tbh. Started last Monday and did fine til a pizza and wine related incident on Sunday and a day off yesterday for my anniversary.

I’m back on it today but have got a few things planned in for the next 10 days so thinking of having a few days on then off for a week, then back in with gusto from next Sunday.

Really want to lose weight before my holiday in mid August but it’s so hard to be 100%.

It’s not easy is it. Plus I’ve found people to be a bit judgey about it. I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been and it’s basically the same as carrying around my 10 year old children all the time so I’d like to shift as much as possible before we go away in August.

I'm back on it.. did it two years ago and lost enough (10kg) to reverse T2 diabetes but it creeps back... im up about 6kg and need to crash down anothe r10 to fettle to diabetes again. Pretty much all the exante stuff wasnt great so I hafe a coconut shake with ice and chia and flax seeds for breakfast, maybe a small omelette or slices of cooked meat from the fridge like a savage for lunch, and a stir fry veg, or hot and sour veg soup for tea. It works, tho slower start this time than last time. I guess this is the pattern of life from now on-screen short term pain, followed by relaxing, then more pain! Perhaps I can use 5:2 to maintain.

Ps using MFP to try and hold around 900 calories per day.

It is tough and it takes planning to get over the first few days until ketosis kicks in. I have made sure that I am at home for most of it so I can crash out when needed and keep hitting the loo re the water uptake.

Am drinking loads today which is helping keep the cravings at bay using their water enhancers for variety.

The products I like are the vanilla, banana and strawberry shakes- cookies and cream bars, caramel bars, double chocolate bars and sweet and sour noodles. I have some soups left over which are a bit minging that I aim to just chuck back.

The ones I HATE are the chocolate orange bars, curry, toffee shake and peanut butter bar.

Anyone get rank farts from some of the products ?

Managed to stick with it today. Am having a bath and an early night as feeling knackered.

What non-food treats do you build in to reward yourself?

Hi everyone

I've been on this journey a while now (with breaks).

I've lost 29.5 kg (65 lbs/4 st 9 lbs), starting out at 101.5 kg (224 lbs/16st/BMI 37.6/size 20). I'm currently 72 kg (159 lbs/11st 5 lbs/BMI 26.7/Size 12-14).

I've got at another 4.5 - 15.5 kg (10 - 35 lbs) to go depending on where I call goal.

I'm doing slim and save with a few of my own tweaks (some would call it cheats but it keeps me on it longer term).

This last bit is bizarrely daunting me more now I get closer to where I want to me! I'm trying not to over-think it but...can't stop myself sometimes. So fed up of yo-yo dieting - I absolutely must get to goal this time and put an end to it.

Wow Hobbz - amazing progress.

I have had a wobble when I have got down to a size 12-14 before. It is weird- even though I could still do with losing some more the change in myself and my image is confronting and I just sort of stall. Anyone else had this?

I am a short arse apple so really need to lose at least four dress sizes in order to reduce my middle to a healthy range. However I explore why I stop at bit more I think and set smaller goals.

Getting through this week and staying on track is the first target.

I am also growing in my natural grey hair at the moment and want to be slim when it has some length so I don't feel frumpy.

Currently in the cocoon and looking to transform in four months- which frankly is nothing time wise is it?

Thank you PaulHollywoodsleftbollockhair

I’ve got down to the weight I am now twice (2008 and 2013) and must’ve had some kind of mental stall - I was feeling so much better, feeling ‘normal’ but still definitely wanted to lose more. Clearly not enough to stop slipping into the old bad habits, gaining again and creeping up and up to even higher weights.

This time feels very different. I changed a lot of my eating habits prior to starting this diet by cutting out animal products. I did that slowly over 18 months and I have no interest in going back (it all started with the forks over knives documentary). Excessive wine consumption was still an issue though...

I’m very aware that being at this weight (159 lbs - I got down to 161 and 158 lbs in 2013 and 2008 respectively) is a danger zone for me. I’m trying to view this next phase as the ‘real start’. I was 137 lbs (BMI 22.5 - I was an inch taller!) in my late twenties and a very comfortable/small size 12. Felt great but still wanted to lose another 7-10 lbs.

I don’t tell people I’m doing this - only people who know are my husband, 2 close friends (one of which did LL years ago and has not only kept it off but is now even lighter) and my hairdresser.

Exercise wise I do Pilates (mainly on reformer - love it!) and some swimming - nothing too taxing.

4 months is nothing time wise - it will be here before you know it and you’ll be so happy you started!

Thanks Hobbz -feeling very positive today and coping with the hunger just fine - onwards and upwards :)

Went to bed with a headache despite drinking my water. Woke up feeling wobbly on my legs. Surely I CANT BE IN KETOSIS ALREADY?

Hope everyone else has a good day :)

You could be, or at least getting there. Varies with individual. It doesn’t take very long.

Are you used to having caffeine but dropped that too yesterday?

Having bad breath is my main sign (mercifully only DH seems to notice - you have to be standing very close I think. I know what distance I need to be away!)

Well done for getting through the first day - hope you symptoms ease soon.

Dear heavens, the new low sugar coconut shake!! I’m used to the creamy coconut which is actually nice- tho they’re the ones left over from two years ago. The new smoothie is just a saccharine hit with a sour back taste. I just bought 42 of the bloody things on 42 for £35. I’ll have to return them..

I’m on my second week of Cambridge diet and found it easier than I expected. My tip for the first few days would be to keep busy rather than to rest. 6 lbs off in the first week but I have a long way to go. If I can manage the stone per month loss that is apparently the average I’ll be really happy with that.

I have no idea how to tell if you’re in Ketosis, wouldn’t it be when you start feeling better rather than worse?

Nearly through the second day- have kept busy and keeping up with water too. Enjoyed my packs but not ravenously hungry- I think the water is helping :)

Feel a bit tired tonight but no headache. Another positive day.

How is today going?

I’m off work next week - we were going camping but weather not looking great so scrapped that. I was going to come off plan for 3 days. Relieved that I won’t be now tbh. Going to have to keep busy without the distraction of work though!

Hi there started Cambridge diet yesterday
Can I join you?
I have 4 stone to loose
Had 2.5 ltr water
Tried porridge this morning hated it so had lemon yoghurt bar for breakfast
Soup for lunch
The Thai noodles for dinner. V delicious
Feeling tired after long exhausting week at work so going to bed and going to watch a movie.