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!

@YourWurstNightmare that’s brilliant - well done. How really satisfying for you. Hope you are thrilled ...... actually hope that means (for you) that you won’t stay on this thread for much longer !! I look forward to missing you

@YourWurstNightmare ...... oh oh oh and hope you’re feeling better!

Hello everyone, my exante order was delivered today, so I started this morning but had already done a few weeks off and on healthy eating but wasn't really sticking to it well and decided this is the kick up the bum I need. Seriously talking about if this doesn't work for me I've got to start saving for weight loss surgery of some kind as my weight has been going up and up and I've put 11 stone on in 12 years (and I was already over weight before that).
Lost 1 stone already as of this morning on my other healthy eating since Christmas, but time to really sort myself out.
So hello everyone, and hopefully I can let you all know I've lost well next week.
Going to catch up on the thread properly now but have read the first few pages.

I've ordered 4 week Exante today and also few items from Purition.
I need to be on low carb diet to get better sleep. I can see that when my sugars are going down (I am on Metformin for T2) I sleep better and my menopausal hot flushes at night are getting better, I am able to go back to sleep quicker and am not as tired when I am up in the morning.
I brought down my sugar with v low carbs but I feel I can get serious deficiencies unless I go on shakes.
I have 2 stones to lose to be BMI

I'm trying Puritan as well, quite like them with a bit of frozen fruit blended in. I got the trial boxes with a range of flavours. Quite expensive though. Going to try a Pulsin protein shake too...

@YourWurstNightmare well done on your weight loss.

And welcome to other newcomers.

I'm on day 5 of Cambridge today. I feel fine but did lose my shit with a rude teenager this evening so maybe I'm grouchy. Maybe he's just being a shit. Tomorrow will be a challenge, a busy long day at work.

Good luck @TheWitchersWife - am sure you wont need weight loss surgery - that seems a little extreme to me. Hope your first week goes well - lots of others doing the same thing and it works!

Thanks @CJDoxon. I might still pop in to crack the whip on you lot if you slack off.

Welcome new people! Well done for taking the first step. And congrats on the first stone gone @TheWitchersWife! I bet that was a big mental boost.

@GranolaHolmes I think a few 'hangry' moments in the first week are normal. Or at least that's what I told myself when I lost it.

I got my Purition this morning and tried 2 different flavours of porridge - Cocoa - very intense flavour and satisfying too
Chia and coconut - also nice but I accidentally made it with oat milk instead ow water
Orange coconut shake - I need to find different milk than oat I think.
I actually prefer porridge but need to analyse micronutrients, it is slightly more calorific but tbh not that important at this stage when I am getting used to VLCD.
Feel full and quite satisfied!
@Orangeblossom1977 let me know how you like Pulsin. They don't claim their powders are meal replacement I thin more a of a protein topups.

I like Purition, I will see what the Pulsin is like as well, might add it for an extra some days. It's a vanilla shake one I ordered rather than the pure protein powders.

Two weeks in and ive already lost 1/2 a stone!
This past week I've been out walking, trying to do atleast 3 miles a day.

Wahoo! Congrats @LumpSatAlone and keep going!

@LumpSatAlone - way hey - well done. See less of the lump already. Good luck too with the walking - such a relief there is a little sunshine around too. Makes a huge difference. Three cheers for you

Half a stone loss is great going. Well done.

Starting today. I've put on so much in the last year I have no clothes left. Only joggers and things with no waistband.

Welcome @iloveredwine! That was me last year (and I'm sure more than a few of the other posters). Literally nothing fit, even my t-shirts. I'm in week 10 and I've started to fit into some of my bigger clothes. It's 100% worth it. Good luck!

How's everyone doing with their exercise goals?

I have an underlying health condition so it's something I've struggled with, but I noticed in the past week my stamina has improved. Hoping it keeps improving!

Hi everyone! Also starting today using tesco ultra slim for breakfast an lunch then low Calorie evening meal , have a shop booked tonight with snacks under 100cals if I feel I need one iv been pigging out so fully expecting to feel abit iffy first few days.
I won't be weighing though but if I had to guess would put myself 17+ stone, a loss of even 3lb doesn't motivate me because I expect massive losses so end up throwing in the towel so think this no weigh in approach will work best for me.
Excited to get started 😌

For anyone wanting to try Exante there are lots of them selling on local FB pages. Some well priced others less so.
I paid £68 and got 84 portions + 2 freebies (water enhancers type of product) + their shaker but you don't need it.
Some flavours are not what the package says but I am determined not to be put off and am seeing that even after 2 days (I was already on a v.low calories diet) weight already dropped by nearly 2 pounds. So they work despite quite high carbs per portion (20 g), no constipation and me being T2 diabetic.
I am doing it mainly to lose weight to see if that is going to help me to get into remission. I think my glucose level which I am monitoring 3xday is also coming down! But I can say that with some certainty in a week time when my body will be used to this amount of carbs.

Btw I ordered my Exante parcel off their website with a "special offer" price tag. So no choice of content but I guess most if not all flavours included. I didn't check that.

@iloveredwine welcome to you - am sure you will do fine - you just have to get your head in the right place (and be prepared to be a bit hungry every now and again ...I cannot lie:-) )
@beckett12 good luck to you too - if you can bear it am sure it will help you to weigh yourself - even if you lose a little over a period of weeks (see @YourWurstNightmare and her achievements) it still works to keep you in the right direction. It is worth it - not that I am so marvellous but it might help to know I have lost about 2 stone since I started on the cambridge diet at the begining of Jan. I have another stone or so to go before I am BMI "normal" which gives you some indication of where I was. I honestly didnt dare stand on the scales at the beginning and had to look at the number through half closed eyes etc etc. I still cant quite believe how heavy I still am BUT at least I know and therefore can control it. Am rattling on....

on teh exercise thing - off for a 10 k dog walk today - spent all weekend having to work and now its dull and cloudy have the day off.. TYPICAL! Onwards all

I'm trying exante and trying to reset my brain around food. I cant seem to pass the fridge without looking inside and grabbing some cheese or something from the snack cupboard. I think I have at least 5 stone to lose and not going to weigh myself till the end of March. I'm going to see how my clothes feel. I've tried exante before and was doing ok until I had a night out then gave up. I do remember I found it quite easy when I wasn't allowed anything else bar the products. Fingers crossed its the same this time.

Reporting back on the Pulsin shake- it was good but bright green!

Hi Everyone!

I am starting today. I am doing two Slimfast shakes and then having a dinner. I love the Caffe Latte and the banana flavours, just reminds me of frozen coffee and banana milkshake! It doesn't help that I work on reception in a hospital and the patients get food deliveries throughout the day! Luckily I hate the taste of the pizza that gets regularly delivered!

It will be a complete shock to the system as I normally stock up on crisps and chocolate and have chips for lunch. I am determined to do it this time. One of the tins of slimfast is a whopping huge one!

This will be a real project - I have between 5-6 stones to lose! I have high blood pressure, diabetes type 2, high cholesterol and aches and pains in my knees and ankles. It can only benefit me! I have been eating so much crap. I usually feel grotty after eating oily food so no more fry ups!!!

10 days in to my 45 day challenge.

9lbs gone.

The hunger has definitely passed and I'm settled into Cambridge ways again and combining it with intermittent fasting of between 16 to 18 hours.

Just got to keep going now and not get distracted or derailed.

Hi all,

I've just read the whole thread and would dearly love to join you.

I've been feeling so lost just lately and my weight has crept steadily up and up and this morning I weighed in at my heaviest ever. I'm not sure how much I want to lose, but I'd estimate around 6 stones. I feel like I don't know who I am anymore, and I desperately want to feel better than I do now.

I'm starting Cambridge tomorrow - I've done it before and it really works, but the first time, I lost almost 2st in 6 weeks, felt better and then went rogue! So, I'm determined to start and stick with it, and hopefully start to feel better as I know I can't continue feeling this wretched.

So many of you have done so brilliantly, I'm hoping your determination and will power will rub off on me as this will bee 473rd time of re-starting Cambridge, but I feel determined to commit properly.