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!

Wow 9 pounds - that’s amazing - well done @GranolaHolmes - that’s hugely satisfying..... meantime I managed to put on a kilo and half between getting up and taking a shower (how does that happen???) will weigh my self on weds properly and hopefully all will be well 🤞🤞🤞

@Deathraystare - hope day one has gone well - day 2 easier I hope ...

Welcome newbies, so nice to see so many people working to get healthy!

Resetting the brain is the hardest part. My physical cravings have definitely gone down, but I still have the idea that stuffing myself with junk will be comforting (when we all know it will just make us miserable!!).

That's incredible @GranolaHolmes! Great start and a huge motivation to continue.

I found giving myself mini goals has really helped keep me going. The first stone will go quickly. After that, I set 7 lb goals. An Easter goal. A non-scale goal (fit into certain clothes). Celebrating those mini wins can be a great distraction.

@LeopardPrintKnickers - take a deep breath and put your head down and know that it will take a bit of time but @YourWurstNightmare is right (sorry by the way wurst for keeping referencing you!) its little by little and then you will see small differences appear. People will start saying things like "youre looking well" etc etc. long before they say you've lost weight. Hang on in there and keep going. The laws of science are on your side even if your head is telling you that chocolate and crisps (or whatever) are a better option. Lots of people on this thread to give you encouragement - can do a weigh in on wednesday if you like. It does help to keep you focussed. Good luck

PS Sorry feel like am becoming some sort of hybrid mix of mother hen/bossy schoolteacher/and cod philosopher do tell me to shut up

CJ thank you so much - not mother hen/bossy schoolteacher at all - it was exactly what I needed to read. I'm on track today, but I know I waver because it feels daunting and too ambitious and I start the 'what's the point?' internal dialogue which then results in me skipping food but grazing on rubbish. Your words of advice, and those of WurstNightmare are perfect, thank you.

Hello!

Hoping I'm not too late to join - started the Cambridge yesterday on TDR - got about 3 stone to lose!

@littlemissminor of course it’s not to late - a whole load of new people have just joined as you can see from the threads ... I am about half way through a my three stone journey so know how you feel! Good luck

Thanks @CJDoxon, how are you finding it? How long have you been doing it?

Hello - have been doing it since the beginning of Jan .... can’t say I’ve been perfect but pretty good - so broadly speaking have lost 2 kilos a week.

Just weighed myself today - am just under 1.9 kilos down from the last weigh in (10 days ago) which can be explained by a family dinner we had which included a lot of alcohol - cheese, crumble, custard and chocolates so you will do much better than that in the first few weeks...

Good Luck

Ps oh and today I also measure my waist - 2 inches bigger than last week . But my jeans are definitely much looser. Work that out.

Welcome @littlemissminor!

To all the newbies, we weigh in on Wednesdays but don't feel obligated until you're ready.

I'm 2 lbs down this week, which means 26 lbs down and 2 lbs to go. I still have more to lose but I plan on switching over to calorie-controlled eating to lose the remainder after I hit my initial 2 stone target. I've already done a few test days and I seem able to control myself.

@CJDoxon Great loss! Re: the bloating, jeans don't lie. Go with them.

I dropped off the thread but have continued with the CD and am super happy with the results, 3 stone loss in 6 weeks so I am now the weight I was pre DD2 which was my first goal. I still have another 3 stone to go until I reach my final goal weight so I want to continue but I now need some advice, my period is now 2 weeks late and I've had horrible stomach cramps for days now that are keeping me awake at night. There is no chance that I'm pregnant and I don't usually suffer from period pain so I'm just wondering if anyone who has been doing this longer has had similar with messed up cycles?

@ItWasTheBestOfTimes That's a lot to lose in such a short period of time, even on a shake diet! Weight loss can definitely mess with your hormones but if you're having stomach pains, I'd call your GP to check in. It could be gallstones (which often happens when losing weight quickly) or it could be something else. Hope you feel better soon. xx

Yeah I agree it's a lot to lose but I had a lot to lose. Consultant said my weight loss is quicker than usual but not unheard of when someone has lots of lose and I am in my late 20's which helps. I actually lost 2.5 stone in first 4 weeks (1 x 14Lbs, 3 x 7lbs) but these past 2 weeks I have lost more 'normal' amounts of 3lb and 4lb so she isn't overly concerned. This time last year I was 19st and lost 2st on CD but I was nowhere near as strict as I have been this time. I haven't cheated once and make sure I drink 3L a day.I maintained that 2 stone loss so started again on 18th Jan at 17st, am now 14 st but need to be 11st to have a healthy bmi.

Goodness me @ItWasTheBestOfTimes - on one level congratulations on the weight loss - but on the other do have a care. It does seem a lot to lose quite so quickly. If you are having cramps and things defin have a chat to a dr just in case.

Am off to drink a litre of water. Maybe two!

I am currently BMI 29.5 and am hoping that in the next 11 weeks can get to below 25. I have to lose nearly 12 kg (26 lb) to achieve it.
Hunger stabilised. I am hoping that my sleep will also be improving.
It's much better than in January but still waking up briefly couple times a night. With hot flashes but nowhere as bad as early this year.
Losing weight and improving my sleep are 2 goals I have this year.

@Fere I hit 26 lbs at 10 weeks doing 2 shakes, 1 meal, no snacks other than fruit, so it's doable, or close to it, if you're strict.

Have a great weekend all!

Thank you @YourWurstNightmare I think what you did sounds very sustainable. I am on 3 meal replacements + a light snack, I think at some point I will do what you did because 400 cal low carb meal is quite substantial and enjoyable.

My dd already counts calories and she is v slowly stabilising her weight, she aims at similar calories meal for her evening meals.

I am mixing Exante, Purition and Pulsin. All Exante's packs I have are 20 g carbs, Pulsin and Puriton are v.low carb but less yummy, Savoury ones from Exante set are not the taste you expect (i.e. not that nice at all but warm and filling, the shakes and puddings are very nice.

I sometimes add a banana or a bit of frozen smoothie mix to the Pulsin or Puritan shakes to make them a bit nicer.

Frozen banana works well. I'm mixing them up as well with some of the Slimfast vitality shakes.

Purition not Puritan

Any tips for avoiding gallstones? Googled and it said about not going too low calorie..

I don't have any personal experience with gallstones, but I've read that eating less than 800 calories a day can put you at higher risk. It's a good reminder to make sure you're eating enough.

Struggling with slimfast shakes have been on them for 5 weeks have a chocolate shake for breakfast and lunch
300 calories in snacks during the day and a 600 calorie tea
Initially list 4lbs in the first week went from a starting weight of 10st 10 lbs to 10st 6 lbs now been stuck at that weight for a week

@lockdownrainbow Maybe cut your snacks by 100 - 150 cals to see if that will jumpstart things?

@lockdownrainbow. .... also sometimes it does take a week or so for weight to go but you might find inches going (or cms?) I certainly find that one week it’s the weight and another it’s the waist and the two seldom happen together.... good luck

Thanks i am having just one shake for breakfast then a proper lunch and tea