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!

Oh no, sorry to hear it's not working out for you guys. Have you tried the other shakes? I only really like the chocolate pre-made ones. You could also try out a different brand's shakes?

Another option could be to swap to something like Fast800. It's the same-ish amount of calories but using real food. I've done it before and had similar weight loss results.

No shame in trying out different diets until you find the one that works for you. I did WW for a month once with a flatmate. Ate perfectly to plan and gained 2 lbs! I was so mad!!

It is really hard. All I think is food even if I am actually not hungry... I have lost 9lbs on CW in the first week. So I will continue with one more week on Sole Source and I am then planning to move to Step 2 where I will be able to have one meal per day up to 200 cal...But it is difficult. I do not have most of the side effects, but honestly I am super tired and low in energy, it is a struggle to get up in the morning.

Hi ladies, hope I can join you

I’m on day four of Cambridge 1:1 step 2 (3 products, 1 200 cal meal) have 6 stone to lose. So far my consultant has been amazing, I’m desperate for meal inspiration though, has anyone got any tips?

Welcome and congrats on getting to Day 4!

200 cals is tough, but there are definitely options:

• Egg whites are very low in calories, high in protein. Half a container is 125 cals and that's a LOT of egg. You'll probably only eat a third of a container. They taste 'plain' but very filling and you can jazz them up with cheese, salsa, vegetables.
• Stir fries
• Soup
• Big tray of roasted veg (just watch the oil).
• Sandwich thins are 100-calories each.
• You can buy smaller sized tins of heinz beans, hoops, and spaghetti for around 100 cals each.
• Tin of veggie chilli
• Aloo Saag
• Porridge
• Greek yogurt and fruit
• M&S has a lot of side salads that come in around 200 calories.
• Cottage cheese on salad or stir fry is very filling.
• I've never dabbled in courgetti/cauliflower rice but it's an option.

Maybe check out the Fast800 forum for ideas, too? Let us know how it goes!

Thanks YourWurstNightmare!

Meals are strictly no carbs no diary (except eggs and cottage cheese) Literally meat, fish in various weights and 80g veg. Cauliflower rice and I are besties now. Will check out the fast800 forum perhaps I can adjust it. Thanks

You can also check the 1:1 Diet website. There are some recipes there

@sauvignonblack Oh my gosh, good luck!

@457mm Belated congrats on the 9 lb loss! After an initial surge of energy I've also found myself really tired this week. I've struggled even with my daily walks. Hoping it will pass...

Popped out to the shops today. All dead quiet and well-stocked. Picked up some more fresh fruit, salads and soups to keep me going. Lots of new vegan stuff for 'Veganuary'. I bought a 365-cal Buddha Bowl from M&S to try for lunch one day this week.

Keep going, whatever way works for you.

How's everyone doing?

It's 9C in London at the moment, so I've thrown all the windows open to air the place out and to keep myself moving. Does anyone have a pedometer/fitbit thingie? Worth it to motivate moving around more?

Hello @YourWurstNightmare! Same in Kent, miserable weather. Bad night's sleep, feel very tired!

BUT, I had a 9lb loss this week! Chuffed and really want to reward myself with food but I suppose that's the habit I'm trying to kick?! I am supposed to do this for a month but I am thinking about doing for another week, getting a healthy weight then switching to Slimming World which is more sustainable for me. But then with these losses I wonder if I can stick it out for a month and really make a huge difference, though I expect it to slow.

@MrsCremuel 9 lbs is amazing! Agree it isn't sustainable for most of us. You know what's best for you. Have you done SW before?

My plan is to try and stick it out until Easter and then switch to something more long term after that. Famous last words...

2.5 lbs off this week, wish it was more but Rome wasn't built in a day

@Pearlessence Well done! It really does add up. If you keep up that pace it's 10 lbs a month.

Hello, can I join in please? 👋

I have about 5 stone to lose . My plan is to do a month on lighter life and then to switch to the 5:2 (or possibly 4:3). I started on Saturday this week, so day 4 today.

Look forward to chatting with you all!

Hi. I am really interested in the slim fast 321 diet. What is the best website for information on this? Thanks.

@YeahBabyYeahYeah Welcome and well done on making it to day 4/5! Hopefully you aren't suffering first week side effects too badly!

@Sandrajackson Welcome! I'd say the Slimfast site has the most info: www.slimfast.co.uk/how-it-works I usually just have fruit as a snack as tiny portions of crisps or junk just makes me want more! Amazon has a good selection of the products but most supermarkets and chemists will also carry. Hope to have you join us!

Mid-week weigh-in: I've lost another 2 lbs since last Wednesday. So, 8lbs down, 20 to go. I've never been a big loser, so I'm happy with that.

Morning, I’m joining too, I’m trying shakes and 1 meal, I’m super busy with working from home and broke my toe Xmas so exercise is near zero. The biggest I’ve ever been, even when pregnant, have 30kg to lose to get into the middle of healthy ranges. I will be very pleased to lose 20kg then lose any more than that in a slower fashion.

Are we doing another weigh in? This week have lost just under 2 kilos .....20 more to go

Glad to have you, @Shwighty1! Sorry to hear about your toe. This is a good diet for maximum weight loss without exercise, especially at the start when you're adjusting. I'm mostly just walking right now to keep myself from getting too creaky.

@CJDoxon Nicely done!

only one pound this week, but Ive been farting about eating chocolate as TOTM is due, so it's my own fault!

However, the rowing machine is finally arriving today allegedly, so maybe my next week I'll have burnt off some additional calories .

Well done to everyone, big loss or not, it's a case of just getting back on with it, and the weight will come off. I need to start thinking about my food issues, as I'm more than half way through my planned loss, and Christmas and this past week have proved I'm not really in control of what I put in my mouth.

My Wednesday Weigh in is a bit of a day one, as I only started y.day, but 1.5kg down on the scales!! So I’ll take that

Have not lost anything this week (after losing 9lbs the 1st week). I still have some hopes I can lose 1-2 lbs by by Sat which is my official weigh in day. But I am really sad as I did not expect to see a plateau at that early stage of what is very severe and low calories diet (Cambridge). I really do not know why this is happening and I have not cheated, have been drinking my water, etc. Has anyone else experienced anything similar on CW before?

@457mm Don't panic! My friend was part of an 800-calorie diet study for a university and they actually pre-warned her that either the 2nd or 3rd week she might not lose weight. She stayed the same weight the 3rd week. There were all sorts of reasons, from 'your body is in shock', to fat cells refilling with water, to being bunged up, to hormones.

The important thing is to keep going. She lost nearly 3 stone by the end of the 12 weeks so it really didn't matter in the long run.

@457mm definitely dont worry - am doing the same diet and fully expect same to happen to me in the next week or so. You might find your clothes are looser tho.... keep going @YourWurstNightmare is completely right. Worth sticking at it for a while longer - very very unlikely your body will defy the scientists :-)

@457mm just to echo the above. I did lighter life a few years ago, and there were some weeks where people didn’t lose anything, but those who didn’t get disheartened were usually rewarded the following week. You need to look at what you’ve lost overall, which is amazing.

One thing to look at is whether you are adding salt to any of the packs, as this can cause water retention? I only use black pepper and Tabasco to season mine after finding that salt made me retain water.

@YourWurstNightmare thank you for the welcome