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 :)

I agree, I had a consultant when I did Cambridge previously and I actually felt more knowledgeable about what I was doing by researching the diet/ketosis etc myself... I’m using Slim n Save for cost reasons too. Got banana shakes on the go at the moment and they’re actually really tasty!

Hello all - finally back on track after my 3 days off that turned into a week! I ended up ‘gaining’ 5.8 lbs in that week but was back down again after 3 days back on plan (today is day 4) so really pleased today. I was starting to worry I had run out of motivation...just think I was being unrealistic though so lesson learnt again.

I am 158 lbs today (down from 224 lbs at start of VLCD journey). BMI 25.0 is 149 lbs so I’m aiming to be down below that by start of school summer holidays (7 weeks). I don’t think I’ll manage to be sub 149 with water weight back on but one goal at a time!

I'm guessing it's possible to mix and match different brands?

Does anyone know if any of them do ready made shakes? It would be much easier for work...

I think Cambridge do, any others?

As far as I know only Cambridge do the ready made ones.

Well done Hobbz - sounds like you’re fully back on track!

Another 100% day for me. Feeling more thirsty than anything so going to keep chugging water before bed and I need to get another two shakes down too. Distracting myself with Love Island tonight!

How is everyone getting on today?

Hi ladies sounds like you all on it!!
I had 2 slips
Yesterday my son made these cakes at his work experience. I had to try one so I had it instead of dinner.
Today I forgot to take breakfast to work so had a piece of garlic bread at lunch. Have had my breakfast bar just now when I got home from work.
Hope I get through the weekend unscathed.

Best of luck for the weekend Strumpers!

I’m 3.5lbs down since Wednesday, so pretty chuffed with that! Have had my four shakes for the day now so am on the sofa with water and Love Island (again!)

Would love to have lost 5lbs by Sunday. My first weigh-in was having got into ketosis already; kind of wish I’d weighed the day before so I’d have all the water weight included too! But at least I know that what I’m losing now is proper fat

Thank you ThierryEnnui and well done to you too!

Ok day for me diet-wise. It’s been one of those days though where I would’ve reached for the wine and comfort food - which would’ve solved nothing at all! Learning to cope with things in a more emotionally intelligent way is a challenge though.

Sounds like you made some good catches today Strumpers - well done for not letting tow minor things de-rail you!

Don’t know of any ready-mix shakes mojo - sorry! Slim and save advise to have shake within 10 mins of mixing I think. I gave up with shakes at work and now have my bar there. I guess you could mix and match as long as same number of packs per day on both plans? Might be easier to do full days on same plan but swap brands for the next day. Why do you want to mix and match?

Oh for a ready mixed shake! I also sometimes have the soup at work - easy to hide as a cup-a-soup

Hi all!

How is everyone getting on?

Have managed to stick 100% to plan all weekend which I’m delighted about.

Have lost 6lbs since Wednesday which I’m chuffed about. Onwards and downwards

Whoops - double “I’m [x] about” there. Can you tell I’m pleased 😂

Hi, I’ve started exante today. I’m 5ft 1 and 11st 4lbs. Unfortunately for me, all the bloody weight is on my thighs! They are truly, utterly horrific .

I’m planning on having 3 shakes a day, so 600 calories.

So far I have tried lemon cheesecake and banana. Lc was lovely, banana a bit chalky but edible.

Has anyone tried the bars? Can you recommend any that taste nice please? The reviews are a bit hit and miss.

Well done Thierry and welcome Eatcake!

Weekly WI day for me (although only been back on plan 6 days) and I'm very pleased with 7.4 lbs off - I thought it was a long-shot to get the 5.6 lb gain off in a week (I know most of that was water but still) so very happy!

Funny I'm down 7.4 lbs this week as that is exactly how much left I have to lose before I dip under BMI 25...I suspect that is going to take considerably longer than a week (well more than suspect) - I am hoping not more than four though. Only 2.2 lbs to go before I hit 5 st off so that's a nice mini goal in the meantime.

I do Slim and Save Eatcake so don't know about exante.

This is how I feel about their bars at the moment:

Apricot and Almond Cereal Bar - nice, have it for lunch if at work/out
Yogurt covered muesli bar - same as above - pretty equal for me

These I have for supper (4th pack) and like them all:

Orange Truffa Bar (dark chocolate) - probably favourite
Mint Truffa Bar (dark chocolate)
Chocolate Truffa Bar (Dark)
Milk chocolate truffa bar
Crispy Caramel bar

I also like these but not as much as the ones above (at the moment):

Chewy chocolate bar (milk)
Coconut bar (milk chocolate)
Praline bar (milk chocolate)

Dislike compared to the others but still edible:

White chocolate coated lemon bar.

With shakes I just order chocolate now to avoid too much choice! I have a shake when at home (I can often pop home from work so only have a bar at lunch max 2x/week usually). I know I like that one. Others I tried are all fine (especially latte) but think I prefer chocolate and not bored of it yet!

Sorry forgot to add - I usually just have one shake a day (lunch). Breakfast is porridge pack, dinner is meal pack + veg.

Hi all, I'm back after a week's holiday and quite pleased to have only put on 2.5lbs! Back on Cambridge diet from tomorrow 💪💪💪

Thank you Hobbz. I’ve just had a quick look at slim and save. They currently have an offer for a mix of bars, I’ll probably order those tomorrow.

I’ve only managed two shakes today. I feel so sick, possibly due to my meds but not sure I can manage 3 shakes a day!

How’s everyone getting on?

Still on plan, and down 8lbs in the week.

Hi all, well, I'm on day 14 and still on plan. Had a few days where I've wavered and eaten the odd Hula Hoop or grape without realising - old habits and all that, but I've been 99% on plan. Clothes are feeling a little looser, and I ordered a Hush dress and a pair of trousers and they're snug - so that's a great test to see how the weight comes off.

I'm weighing in tomorrow but I had a cheeky weigh in earlier in the week and it showed virtually no change, so I'm not holding out much hope for anything massive. In this weather, it's impossible for me to drink much water so I need to up that.

Do any of you have particular goals? I"m due to move house 2.5 weeks, and I'd love to have lost another half stone by then. I have a festival at the end of Aug, and I'd love to have lost 2-3st by then.

Day 3 for me. 600 calories. Have lost a grand total of 1lbs. I’m actually gutted, was hoping for so much more!

I leave for my holiday in 16 days. This is my first holiday in over 17 years. I so wanted to be somewhat skinny(ish) by the time I leave.

I know 1lb is still something but I’m still upset! I’ve been eyeing up the chocolates on my sons desk

LeopardPrintKnickers, I read somewhere that if your weight loss stalls it’s a good idea to up your calorie intake for a few days. I think by around 100-200. I’m sure there’s something similar written on the exante website.

Hi, can I join? I felt inspired reading. I'm on day 5 of 800 calories, including home-made low carb smoothies and low carb small portion meals. Basically the Michael Mosely Fast800, but as I did well on LCHF 2 years ago, I gravitatw to some of those meals.
I weighed yesterday and was down 3lb. Have been good today, but more sedentary, stuck to my desk.
My goal is ambitious and I'm the most determined I have ever been. I plan to stay on this for 60 days (54 to go) in order to lose 2.5 stone. I want to be able to run and do yoga better. My knees and heels feel the weight too much at the moment. My arms stuggle to hold my weight in yoga. Downward dog is a nightmare 😅
Hoping everyone had a successful day.

@Eatcake - I would stick with it for longer if I were you. Three days isn't long at all and some people don't see it on the scales, but see it on the body first. Fingers crossed you may get a whoosh later in the week. You'll go to your holiday happier knowing that you've eaten clean and gave weighloss your beat shot.
You could go a dress size smaller if you stick with it.

2nd weigh in yesterday.
Disappointed with 4lb
But dh handed me a 4kg bag of rice and pointed out I had lost more than that weight overall. It was amazing to feel it on my hands.
Hope everyone is doing well. X

I weighed this morning and am 4lb down after 5 days, so I think I'm on track for 6-7lbs off in week 1. I'll be happy with that. I'm not hungry and finding it easy. Will miss wine when socialising soon though. Planning to fit in lots of walking and exercise today.
Seeing an improvement already in my face and waist.
Onwards and upwards everyone! How are others doing?

I hope so DianaT1969**. I’ve managed to resist the chocolates
Weighed myself again today. 11st 4 1/2lbs, which means I’ve actually gained 1/2 lb!

I’m eating nothing but 3 exante shakes a day with around 1.5 ltrs of water and a couple of plain black coffees. I just want to cry, thankfully my anti depressants mean I’ve lost that particular ability!

Eatcake - with only 3 shakes a day it will be impossible for you not to lose weight. Stick with it. If it was totm and water retention, then it would make sense. You are sure your scales are reliable and not weighing on carpet? I look forward to hearing that you've had a woosh and lost lots.