Starting vlcd for christmas weight loss

[Summerbody]

I am starting a vlcd using exante and slim and save. Want to lose 2 stone to be a healthy weight again. Is anyone currently doing a vlcd or planning to start and want to join me? Today is my day 1!!

Mind if I join? I did exante 18 months ago and lost 3.5 stone in 3 months. Joined a gym afterwards and kept it off for a year but over the last few months I have stopped going to the gym and the eating has crept up so I have put a stone back on.
Want to start again to lose that and another stone I didn't get around to losing last time.
When I did it last time it was 3 products at 600 cal but I see they now recommend 800 so will give that a go. Here goes 🤞🏻

Yum, yum! Totally recommend the exante golden syrup porridge! Beautiful & tastes like OatSoSimple with added syrup to me! I just wish it didn't glue to the bowl and spoon like wallpaper paste (no dishwasher here!).

Day 13 and feeling thinner! I am wearing jeggings today and they won't stay up! I think the elastic is shot, but I'm still taking it as a win!

I am off to soft play with my LO today over lunchtime. I don't really want to tell everyone there about my diet, so I will snaffle my bar & water in the car on the way home early afternoon.

I might try the s&s noodles tonight.

One warm shake a day is what get me through! I look forward to it around 9.30pm once the big kids (pre-teens) have gone to bed - loads work as warm shakes - chocolate, chocolate orange, toffee caramel, vanilla, caramel latte frappe, salted caramel, white chocolate & raspberry...I rarely have a cold shake.

Keep going everyone. I feel better than I have done in ages. I'm eating on Christmas Eve (late afternoon) then a day off on Christmas day then back on it 100% on Boxing day so I have set myself a goal of 3st 1lb (from starting weight) by Christmas eve morning. Anyone else want to share their mini goals?

Talking to myself here but struggling a bit this afternoon as didn't have my lunchtime bar until nearly 3pm (planned for 1.30/2pm) and have been hungry hungry ever since. I've just had a small amount of cooked chicken and a cup of tea and will have more water. I just need to power through until my nice tasty warm shake around 8pm!

@feellikezerobucks how’s it going? Are you feeling like you’re through the really tough early days now? I’m coming to the end of week 3 and never feel hungry now, I struggle to get the 800 cals in as nothing really appeals.

@tried20names wow, that’s inspiration to keep going. What a great loss. How are you finding it second time around?

@lilydaisyrose how funny, the golden syrup porridge was the one I really couldn’t stomach. I think I must have odd tastebuds as people rave about the sweet and sour and I hated it. I’m having 19th-26th semi off plan as we’re at a wedding and then it’s parties and Christmas. I’m going to try to be sensible but sticking to plan won’t be realistic for me. My mini goal is 2 stone by Christmas, anything over is a bonus. I had hoped for 3 stone but there’s no way I’ll make that. Did you manage to get through your tough day yesterday ok?

My loss has stalled for a few days, I need to stop weighing daily.

@Milbo tbh I've been having one or two products and a small meal so it's not been too bad...I'm weighing on Friday so will let you know!

I've been doing it since September time, but only focussed for a week or two then totally falling off the wagon but I'm at the same weight as i got to whilst focussed (rather than gaining) which I'm happy about!

I was 12.12.2 on Monday and would like to get to 11.9 by Xmas and then 10 stone something by the end jan as we go to Disney and don't want to be hiding on family pics!!!

What's your aim?

@feellikezerobucks ah that’s good, congrats on getting to that weight. Your goal sounds doable and how fab to have Disney to look forward to. Are you doing to Florida? Not jealous at all

I’m 16.12 now so I’m aiming for 16 by Christmas. I’m hoping I might drop into the 15s. Long term goal is 12-13 as I’m tall and that puts me in healthy BMI but it’s going to take a while!

Hello everyone! Great goals, lets stay motivated! I got through yesterday and woke up today feeling thinner & happier!

Yesterday I had:-
B: g/s porridge
L: double choc bar
T: cooked chicken
S: hot toffee caramel shake

Today I have had:-
B: maple syrup pancakes
L: toffee nut & raisin bar
T: olives
S: hot shake (still to have)

Exante have 100 shakes for £90 until tomorrow morning. I wish I could afford to stock up, its still a week until payday! I have plenty for just now, but hate missing out on an offer! Or will they have a BETTER offer for Black Friday???

Yay! Weigh day tomorrow! I'm a strict weekly weigher as my scales are crap and old and mechanical and subject to random fluctuations (and related heartache!).

This thread has reminded me of my purchase of Exante a few months ago and I have not tried one yet.
Will follow this thread for ideas.

18st 6lbs today - 4lbs loss this week, yay!

SW: 19st 8lbs
Wk 1: 18st 10lbs
Wk 2: 18st 6lbs

Total loss in 14 days = 1st 2lbs/16lbs

Any scales recommendations please? I need to replace my old crappy mechanical scales.

Well done @lilydaisyrose great losses! I’ve just put in my second order on the 50 for £50 offer plus a few extras. Our scales are Weight Watchers ones we got from Argos and they are really good. The weight and body fat analysis is the same as the mega expensive machine they have at my gym.

What did you order from exante @Milbo, what are your favourites?

I had a good day yesterday, but I'm struggling with the monotony, a bit. I'm trying to keep it interesting and just to power through! Yesterday I had:-

B: original porridge
L: peanut butter bar
T: prawns
S: white choc & raspberry shake
W: 2.25l + various cups of tea

Today, I'm in the office all day and will be trying to ignore most of the rest of the staff having Friday treats such as a Chinese or some tasty biscuits.

Thanks for the scales recommendations, I will maybe invest after Christmas!

@lilydaisyrose I’m finding it much harder too and really only like a few products so it is getting a bit dull. I’ve ordered mostly mint choc shake, banana shake, lemon pancakes, spag bol, orange choc bar and a few of the other bars that were out of stock last time I ordered so I haven’t tried them yet. I found some black hairs in a shake powder this morning, thankfully before I made it or drank it but it’s put me off a bit.

We can do this, not long until Christmas!

Hello @Milbo. Yuck to the black hairs!!! I hope you get a money off voucher! I will be checking the contents of my shakes carefully from now on! That sounds really tough if you don't like lots of the shakes etc on offer, have you tried them and don't like them or just don't fancy them? When I did Cambridge a few years ago, my consultant survived on 3 x chocolate mint shakes a day, everyday! I am lucky that I like a wide variety and still lots more to try. I might try a few of their festive favourites in my next order!

Yesterday:-
B: porridge oats (original)
L: strawberry jam & yoghurt bar (yum!)
T: salmon
S: hot chocolate shake
W: 2.25l & a couple of cups of tea

So we have family visiting today (in laws) who I don't want to have the diet chat with (at all). They are here over lunchtime and teatime so very tricky!

Good luck everyone!

Just had cheese & bacon breakfast eggs, yummy and so nice to eat something with a knife & fork! Just like a big omelette but more flavoursome! Like the pancakes, its a bit of a faff to make, but great for a wknd morning!

@lilydaisyrose I’m usually not fussy at all with food but there’s an underlying taste in lots of the Exante products that I find really hard to stomach. Some mask it better than others but I’d love to know what it is. I can taste it and smell it on the products- it’s really strong in the cookies and funnily enough they bacon and cheese eggs. My DH thinks it’s hilarious as I am normally not fussy at all. I’ve now bought one of everything between the last three orders and have probably tried about 70%. I cracked yesterday and had some chips and today the scales show 2lb gain- I know it’s water weight as you can’t gain 2lbs in a day on 800 cals (I did stay under 800 despite the chips) but it was the kick up the backside I needed. Back on it today with a salted caramel shake for breakfast.

Ah no Milbo! Straight back on it and don't let this become a downward spiral. Poor you.

I know what you mean about the underlying taste, I can ignore it but I do understand. Its the horrible smell that gets me. I actually wish they made some plain pancakes as the synthetic chemically smell of the maple syrup pancakes makes me want to boke. If I put a (tiny) spread of real butter on them, I can't taste it though.

My family (inc. in-laws) are all having their lunch now :-(. I hate the social aspect of food and eating and sharing that I'm missing out on but I know its just for a few months.

My DH asked me when I was prancing about in a vest top where my tummy had gone this morning! I definitely still have a big tummy but I have lost a lot of the bulk from my front. One of the things I'm looking forward to is being able to get up from the sofa easily, witbout having to bum shuffle to the edge first, being able to bend more easily.

I’m back on it today. That one day break probably saved my sanity and gave me a new motivation so it’s not the end of the world. I have a toddler and pre-schooler with flu today but still not tempted off the wagon.

That’s great that DH noticed the losses! I had the same with a friend and it was so nice to hear, I’ve also noticed some clothes are getting much looser. Still a long road ahead but well on the way.

Hows everyone doing today? Were the scales kind this morning Milbo?

I've been super busy today and last night getting a project ready to go to the printer first thing tomorrow - up 'til 2am last night then up before 8am and straight back on the laptop so my eating has been all over the place and I've definitely not had enough water or indeed much to drink at all. I had a cookie (double chocolate - not recommended! I could stomach it but it wasn't very nice) about 1.30pm but skipped my exante breakfast. I had a wee break late afternoon and took the kids to a local Christmas market then came home at 4.30pm very light headed and shaky so I've just wolfed down some cottage cheese - my own stupid fault. I don't really feel hungry just now so its sometimes hard to remember to have/make a product. Lesson hopefully learnt!

Back to the grindstone now in between supervising homework, reading, music practice, making of packed lunches and showers! I need to fit in another 2 shakes before bed or maybe I'll try another soup or the noodles.

Scales stayed the same today but I’m not too surprised. I’m hoping for 4lbs by Friday but that may be a bit optimistic!

I had the Choc Delight tonight and it tasted quite salty, very odd. I think shakes are probably the way forward for me.

We’ve all got stinking colds and both the toddler and pre-schooler are up a gazillion times a night so this is normally when I would comfort eat. I’m not hungry at all though too, I realised at 9pm I’d only had 400cals all day. I think I’m going to need to do some sort of schedule to remind me to eat. That’s very odd for me as I usually spend a fair amount of time thinking about food!

Yes, snap Milbo! Its like a switch has been switched off! I did have a wobble last night at the Christmas market when I walked past the pub's stall, who were selling homemade cullen skink, which I LOVE and it smelt immense, but I resisted! I also resisted fresh croissants this morning AND walked past the freezer with halloumi fries in it in Aldi! I am on fire!

I am trucking on, getting a bit fed up of the synthetic sweetness of my shakes and bars so I think I might have a few slices of roast beef then a soup later. My teeth feel squeaky this afternoon after a golden syrup porridge and a chocolate caramel bar! I am busy tonight on rosta duty as parent helper at a kid's activity so I'll need to think how I fit it all in.

My next order arrived today so I’m hoping sticking to the stuff I like might work out better, if a bit dull.

Well done on the resisting, some things are very testing. I got to 6pm without eating a thing and genuinely didn’t even notice. I really need to get on top of this as I doubt I can survive on air, even with a good amount of blubber to help me along.

Hi, hope you don't mind me interrupting but I'd love to join in too if that's ok? I'm planning a vlcd (have the Tesco diet shakes but sometimes they just make me hungrier!) I'm at the heaviest I've ever been and I'm hosting Christmas in my own house for the first time ever so would love to get a chunk off before then..

Hello!

Welcome to the party @TimedOut! I'm not sure if Tesco shakes put you into ketosis so you might be better off on a proper VLCD with plenty of water etc. What's your plan going forward?

Make sure you have your shakes @Milbo! You don't want to be starving yourself. I try and have a 'breakfast' around 9am, a bar 'lunch' around 2pm, some meat/olives/cottage cheese around 7pm and a hot shake around 9/10pm.

Yesterday I had THE most disgusting soup ever. I REALLY don't like the exante soups! It was butternut squash and something. I took hot water in a flask to my kids' activity and added in the powder. The powder smelt very strongly of what I would imagine embalming fluid to smell of. I had to choke it down. I felt like I was on I'm a Celebrity!

My LO and I are baking for a bake sale today. I LOVE home baking! Arrrggghhhh! I'm planning maple syrup pancakes for breakfast, a bar for lunch then some chicken (making family a roast chicken dinner) and a hot shake later.

Well I thought I would just concentrate on staying at 800cals or less as I can't wrap my head around the carbs being in things that aren't obviously carby...it confuses me!