Total Solution Target = thin at thirty

BlueGem

Full Member
So, here I am.

Today is day 2. So far I didn't like the chocolate shake (but managed to finish it), hated the thai chicken soup (didn't finish it) and hated the shepherds pie (managed even less of this than I did of the soup!). Today is going better so far - just a strawberry milkshake but that wasn't so bad at all.

But I know what to expect. In January 2012 I started the Cambridge Diet. I loved it and it was very successful - I dropped almost 3 stone and I looked fantastic as a bridesmaid at my brother's wedding in Jamaica in April. But I piled all the weight back on plus more (I was 15st9 when I started the Cambridge diet, but was 16st2lbs as of yesterday morning when I started Exante). As with everyone, there are a number of 'excuses' for this:

  • I met my boyfriend (food replacement diets and dating don't work particularly well together)
  • I got poorly and and had to have loads of tests and was finally diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I came off the diet when the tests were going on, and also during the period after diagnosis when I had to bring my digestive system back under control.
  • I had a lot of stress at work.
  • I moved home twice, including buying a place.

But now, after having taken lots of time to persuade the other half (and promising him that I will stop/reduce the number of packets and introduce food if I get poorly again), I'm here on Exante. It's taken a while as I wanted to be sure that I had the support of my boyfriend, as without that I'm not sure I could do it.

As I said above, I'm not loving the taste of the 'food' so far - much prefer Cambridge (but then maybe that's my mind playing tricks on me). Am sure that after a few more days I'll be loving the taste of the packets, it takes a while to get used to them afterall.

The main reason for starting on Exante as opposed to Cambridge is time - it's too difficult to commit to seeing a consultant once a week (as useful as I think the one-on-one experience is). Added bonus is that Exante is cheaper. I'm just hoping it works as well for me as Cambridge did.

The main reason for dieting at all is my ultimate goal - to be 'thin' at thirty. I'm 5ft 7.5inches and just over 16 stone. I want to drop to 11.5 stone and to be maintaining that weight by the time I'm 30 (just over 11 months away). I have some beautiful clothes from my time on the Cambridge Diet that no longer fit me - these fit me only a year ago and I need to get back into these and feel as gorgeous as I did back then. Besides, I threw away most of my larger clothes once I'd lost the weight before and was keeping it reasonably steady before life and overeating got the better of me.

This time is to be the last time though - and this is the start of the long road to a thinner, healthier me for life.

My plan to achieve this?

  • stick to Total Solution for the first 3 weeks
  • have a week where I have 2 packets plus a small healthy meal (sometimes 3 packets instead)
  • week 4 - on holiday at an all inclusive (uh-oh) for a week
  • week 5 onwards will be time to get back into the swing of things and to get down to 12-12.5 stone or thereabouts for Christmas (which gives me 11.5 weeks from my return from holiday), and a total weight loss at that stage of 3.5-4 stone.
  • 2014 will involve knocking off the last few pounds to target and then starting to eat 'normally' (as in normal-normal, not what was my previous 'normal'!)
  • We plan a trip somewhere exotic (potentially Thailand) in March/April of 2014 and I want to look and feel my best for that. Definitely something nice to look forward to and to aim for.

Here goes - onwards and downwards!
 
Just having my lunch - vegetable soup. Much prefer it to the thai chicken and haven't even needed to add any tabasco (although it is staring at me from the side of my computer, just in case).
 
Just having my lunch - vegetable soup. Much prefer it to the thai chicken and haven't even needed to add any tabasco (although it is staring at me from the side of my computer, just in case).

Wishing you all the best. Just keep to it and don't get discouraged. I try to vary the taste of the soups by adding herbs and when I get munchies have boiled eggs, slices of lowcal ham etc. So far have not fallen by the wayside but have caught myself looking longingly at my hubby's sliced white bread(I think of it as plastic) that he uses for his egg on toast longingly. Good luck for the future.
 
Thanks Ros.

So far so good-3 days at 100%. Not even a passing glance at some carbs. I did however need a coke zero yesterday afternoon to get me through a long day with a headache in the office. I'm a diet coke girl (but only go to it when work is particularly tough/long) and not a lover of coke zero but hey, if that's all we can have then so be it.

Off to the in laws this weekend and not looking forward to it. They have a habit of force feeding (with every meal and inbetween meals) and struggle to take no for an answer. Better make sure the OH has a word with them before we get there otherwise it will be "a little bit won't do any harm..." ARGH!!!

Current mini-target is to be 100% for the week (I will weigh in Tues morning). I have no intention of failing.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
 
I'm Day 1 today :-(

Hope u survive the in-laws. It's awful when they say 'aww it won't hurt'

Yes, it bloody well will! Badly!!!! Wish people could respect ur decision.

Good luck anyway :) x


Restarted CD 31 Aug
5ft 1" 13st 2 BMI 37.2
 
Well the in-laws was difficult. They had such amazing food, including a mixed fish salad (fresh from the fishmongers) and a lovely smelling BBQ plus desserts both days. Very very difficult, so bad at one point that I felt like crying.

BUT I DID IT! :-D!! Even with the "are you sure you don't want anything? Nothing at all?" Etc questions constantly!

I even distracted myself while they were eating by logging on to Exante and buying some more products!!! Including some bars, which will be handy in the office.

Today is day 8, weighed in this morning and have lost just over 9lbs (but am only counting the full pounds) - very chuffed with that!
 
PS thanks Tenney and Forever. Hope you both had good weekends too! x
 
Cheers Forever!

Tried to make biscuits out of the porridge this morning-didn't quite work for me. The baking paper stuck to the bottom of them and everything.

Have had a lazy weekend which makes it hard too-want to munch on crisps while I sit and watch a boxset!!

OH helping though-he's eating but healthily so not too many snacks in the house. Proud of him too!
 
Sounds like you and OH are both doing great well done :)
 
Arggghhhh!

I've been very naughty - have had two Exante meals today (banana milkshake plus a choc/orange bar) but someone from work has just got back from South Africa and brought some biltong in. It's hard to explain why (and is odd to many people) but I love proper biltong. So I've had some. Quite a bit. Trying to persuade myself it's just protein so not a big deal but it was quite greasy too.

What do I do? Do I eat my third Exante meal for the day or do I skip it? FIRST time in 2 weeks I've eaten a non-Exante product so am happy in that respect, but still.... hoping it's not a massive setback.
 
You're meant to have the 3 packs to get all your vitamins and minerals for the day.....but when I've been out for lunch with the girls or OH, I do tend to miss a meal out but its not recommended!! Its your diet in the end, do as you see fit! But if you do miss it, have a multi vitamin perhaps? xx
 
Weigh in at the end of week 2 shows another 4lb loss, so 13lbs in total. Happy enough with that!

Now for a 100% TS week before moving on to a mix of TS/WS before the inevitable weight gain on holiday.

Onwards and downwards ladies and gents!
 
PS thanks crazy. I was naughty and skipped the third packet. Feeling ok this morning but will make sure I have an earlier than usual breakfast just in case.
 
Have been thinking about food quite a bit the past couple of days. Been tempted to persuade the OH to order a curry so I can have some chicken tikka or something, but have managed to continue to stick to it.

In my original plan I was going to start a bit of WS for week 4 (from Tuesday onwards) but think I'm going to stick to TS as much as I can, knowing that I have a very long/hard week at work coming up so being realistic and appreciate that it might not happen. Holiday in 9 days to look forward to and am feeling alright on TS so why not stick to it for the extra week? I may well try to have one or two low/no-carb meals as we near the weekend so that my body gets a bit used to it and I don't feel totally bloated when on holiday, but otherwise I want to continue as I am.

Have not started exercising yet. Am keen to but H (possibly rightly) doesn't think it's a good idea with the hours I'm working at the moment (leave the house at 8 and often not back until 11/12 or sometimes even later). Not sure I'll have any energy left if I do much exercise. Keen to start as soon as work calms down (hopefully when we get back from holiday).

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.
 
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