Cambridge/Exante/Slimfast 2021

[YourWurstNightmare]

New thread combining all the VLC shake diets: Cambridge, Exante, Lighterlife, Slimfast, etc. Everyone is welcome.

If you have any underlying health conditions, please check with your GP first (as I did).

I'm doing Slimfast (two shakes and one healthy meal a day). I use the premade shakes, because I actually like them! They are currently on sale here: www.amazon.co.uk/SlimFast-Replacement-Shake-Chunky-Chocolate/dp/B010PM6XO4/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I noticed Amazon is selling Lighterlife products now, too, if that helps anyone: www.amazon.co.uk/stores/page/DCB0D716-63B4-4265-8862-CF4AEEE9FEF9?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

My goals:

• Get two stone off quickly, then swap to less restrictive healthy/calorie controlled eating.
• Do 30 minutes of exercise (walking, jogging, lifting weights, whatever) a day.

Would love to share tips and motivate each other as we go!

@Shwighty1 glad you are healing, how frustrating to have something like that happen just as you try to embark on a health kick!! Weigh day for me tomorrow, not expecting a big loss but will be annoyed if I haven't lost anything. I feel like the initial bloating I experienced has settled so hopefully things will start to move in the right direction now.

In other news I have become totally obsessed with Cheesies popped cheese as a snack. The perfect savoury snack to balance out the sweetness of the shakes (I'm not on commission, I promise 🤣)

I'm down another 2 lb. So, 18 lbs down, 10 lbs to go.

Really pleased that I've been able to up my exercise. I have an underlying health condition and I'd been struggling to get back into any exercise for more than a year. The weight loss has definitely helped with that.

Sending good vibes for weigh-ins today!

Wow @YourWurstNightmare that is amazing so far. You must notice a massive difference having lost so much. When did you start? I have lost 1lb. Not a lot for what I would consider to be a fairly extreme diet, but it'll do for now!

@sg622 One pound closer!

I started on Dec 26th. First week was my only 'big loss' (-5 lbs) and since then it's been consistent smaller losses. Outside of my shakes and 1 x healthy meal I don't snack on anything except fruit. For me, little treats are like gateway drugs.

Another 2 lbs off, which puts me at just over 4 stone off in total . BMI now 28.1 (down from 37.4 in Oct 19), and i feel so much better for it (obviously!)

Am totally loving my rowing machine - I'm rowing 5km a day, and consistently keeping my rate per minute over 20 (and yesterday was mainly around 24) which is pretty gobsmacking, seeing as how on day 1, I managed 30 strokes in total . But the bingo wings are going (gradually), and I realised yesterday that my technique was better cos my belly was no longer getting in the way .

Congrats @MyVisionsComeFromSoup!

4 STONE!

And you did it pound by pound. Persistence pays off!

And good to hear you're progressing on the rower. If I ever get back to the gym you've inspired me to give it a go.

Another 1lb down 10st 6 started at 10st 10 2.5 weeks ago got stuck at same weight for a week then last two days went up to 10st 7lbs
Hopefully out of the plateau
Went for a long walk

@MyVisionsComeFromSoup 4 stone is incredible!! No wonder people are telling you to turn your zoom camera off 🤣!

@lockdownrainbow fingers crossed things are starting to move in the right direction for us!

First day of the Cambridge diet today, am doing step 2. Want to lose 2 stone - weighed in at 11stone and really should be 9stone
Has anybody else recently joined?

Hey, @ThunderR0ad78, I started On Cambridge on Jan 2nd. I was on step 1b for 2 weeks and then moved to step 2 which I find much more bearable. I have lost 17 pounds so far, but almost half of it was in the first week and since then I am losing really slowly- 1-2 lbs per week which is very frustrating. And do not think that moving forward I will be able to lose a stone per month which they say is the average. With the current rate, I will need 1.5 - 2 months to lose a stone which is quite frustrating given how restrictive the plan is. Good luck to you! And it seems that for most people on the plan weight loss is faster, I am just being ‘lucky’ I guess.

Yeah I have done the diet before - about 3/4 years ago. Definitely didn't lose a stone a month - don't even think I managed to lose 1lb a week some weeks, often stayed the same which can be very frustrating!

Hello All
For some reason didnt see all the notes about egg whites, zoom calls ( congrats @MyVisionsComeFromSoup) and lovely walks ..... (@YourWurstNightmare and @Shwighty1) everyone sounds like they are doing brilliantly - hurrah.
Am ploughing on a bit this week - only lost one kilo this week but still one kilo better than none AND I have had a couple of whisky's and some sticky toffee pudding with my aunt so probably explains it. Back on the wagon now so hoping for more off next week - 15 kgs to go ..... hope everyone else is on the down (so to speak) :-)

Most of my weight loss has been in runs of 1-2 lbs a week, but for me, I know that's generally because I've had the occasional bar of chocolate/bag of crisps/pizza (although that was over two nights, and it was a thin crust ) AND not drunk enough water. Also hormones and life stage (I'm perimenopausal with erratic periods, and my metabolism is definitely slowing down).

But it is really hard when you see people on the FB groups losing 5-6 lbs a week (or in some cases a stone in week 1 ) and that's just not happening for you. However, when I get down about it, I look at my overall loss, and remember back to my days of WeightWatchers when I would lose 1/4 lb every other week, which was much more depressing.

I'm off to buy some leggings today to wear while rowing - I haven't worn leggings in 30 years (and those were maternity ones) . Gravity is working against my bum atm, but there's definite toning going on, and the only person who'll see me is DD3 and she'd take the piss regardless

@MyVisionsComeFromSoup you are so right, it can be so disheartening seeing other people losing weight very quickly. My friend and I started slimming world together last summer and in the first week I didn't lose anything, and she lost 9lbs! Obviously I was happy for her but just felt like I was doing something wrong. Just have to accept that slow and steady gets there in the end.

@MyVisionsComeFromSoup and @ThunderR0ad78 and @457mm

presumably its better to lose weight consistently rather than quickly? So even if it takes a bit longer to come off its a bit healthier to do it slowly.... otherwise its mainly isnt it?

Am aiming to keep going until lockdown stops (or Easter which ever comes first) so hoping for another stone and half!

Fingers crossed at any rate

Fantastic losses everyone! Well done I’m off work for 10 days now! Its a lovely feeling as I’ve not had a proper break since last summer. I’m upping my mileage on my dog walks and going to try and be strict with food and not slip too deep in to holiday mode!

10st6 here

Hello everyone, I’m starting Exante on Monday. I have loads to lose. I have an underactive thyroid and I’ve piled on tonnes of lockdown weight, to the point that I’m uncomfortable doing my normal daily activity
I have left all the VLCD facebook groups because people are losing at much quicker pace than I know I will be able to and it’s a bit disheartening. I’ll be doing the old style Exante with 3 products a day. I’ve done it before, I know I can do it. No snacking. NO SNACKING

@MerryGoRoundBrain - good luck - it’s a slog but am sure you will feel better at the end of it. If it’s any consolation I was/am in the same position. I started Cambridge just a after Christmas and so far have lost 10 kilos..... BUT just realised that if I want to be a “healthy” weight I need to lose another 20! Not cheering at all as means my Easter target date for stopping is now in fact 2 nd may bank holiday. Ho hum. BUT on a positive note even losing 10 kilos makes a difference (not that anyone has actually noticed yet) as can fit into old clothes etc etc and don’t feel quite so cumbersome. Hope you have support around you - if not do reach out to the guys on this thread - they are all going through the same process and can give you a bit of moral support.

Welcome @ThunderR0ad78 and @MerryGoRoundBrain!

Merry - I think most of us can relate to piling on weight during the past year. As you said though, you've gotten it off before so you can do it again!

Thank you! I was actually fine and getting fitter until August when we were supposed to be going on holidays and of course it got cancelled. Since then, I’ve been eating my sorrows and now my joggers are becoming my leggings, definitely time to do something about it!

Happy Monday all.

my joggers are becoming my leggings

Never thought I'd say this but I'm sick of wearing sweats all the time! Am I the only one?? They've been pretty much the only thing that fits for over a year now. Wearing 'normal' clothes has become one of my biggest motivators.

I don't care if I'm stuck at home, my goal is now to fit into something nice for Easter zooms! (Okay, maybe not QUITE like the image, but you get the idea. )

@YourWurstNightmare good morning to you.... know that feeling :-).
Hope the week goes well

@YourWurstNightmare haha if you're going to do it you may as well do it properly and get something exactly like that. It's not like you have to go out in public!

well, I'm going to have to be really good for the next month, and stick totally to plan, as when I went yesterday to the orthodontist to get my retainers fitted, turns out my teeth have moved "significantly" since the fixed braces came off (patronising git of an orthodontist wouldn't fit fixed retainers the same day he took the braces off), so I have a month of wearing the removeable retainers 24/7, and they're such a faff to take off every time I want to eat (and then clean them and my teeth and put them back on) that I'll be three shakes/one bar a day and that's it . And hopefully the discipline will carry on after a month as well.