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I'm doing good thanks. How are you? I got some of the protein bite crisp things to alleviate the snack attacks - I've rationed them to 2 packs a week, taped up the box and got my son to put them in the top of a cupboard I can't reach 😂 not feeling hungry unless I've gone a few hours past shake...

I don't really like the low sugar ones as I find them a bit of a weird texture. Love the regular coconut, banana, choc mint and the new Apple and pear and fruit salad are new favourites! I can't get on with the savoury 'food' packs which is a shame as I do crave savoury things at times, soup...

I've tried all the new sweet shop flavours and love them. Only ordered 2 of the Apple and pear ones as I thought it sounded a bit weird, but they're really nice and fresh tasting! Fruit salad is also yummy. The cherry one and rhubarb and custard are nice but a bit similar to other flavours imo...

Hi there! Not sure if you're still on the forum? I have done both Cambridge and Exante. Currently on Exante and I much prefer it. I find the products (except some of the bars) much tastier, more filling and there's a wider variety. Plus I can get a whole month supply delivered for £70 at the...

I'm lucky that I live with my adult son who is a chef and mostly eats at work so we don't have any food in the house other than fish, chicken and veg 😂 having kid's snacks around must be so difficult! The closest shop is either a drive or 40 minute round trip walk on a steep hill which, in 40...

Hi there 😁 you've done amazing so far Jay! I've done Cambridge inthe past and on Exante now which is really similar. One thing I'd say is try to get straight back on 100% if you've had a little wobble, rather than waiting until Monday. From experience it makes it so much easier that way -...

I sympathise with the salty snack craving! I'm doing Exante which is very similar to Cambridge. The protein snacks they do are a real help when the urge becomes too much. You can get them online without following the whole diet and they don't affect ketosis. Just make sure to hide them away so...

For me it's more about when I feel right but I know I feel best with a waist measurement of 26 to 28 inches. I started off this time with 35 inches and 5 days in it's already down to 33 😁 I didn't weigh or measure when I felt at my heaviest - was very stressed and depressed at the time, on...

Yes, if you're on a supervised programme they will want regular weights. I left my scales behind as I only brought with me what would fit in the car 😂 oddly enough I'm finding it easier to stick to without them. In the past I was obsessed with the scale, weighing multiple times a day and getting...

Hi there! I hope everyone is still getting on okay with it 😁 I lost 4st with CWP followed by Exante a few years back Maintained with lowish carb healthy diet for ages then, like you guys, I hit a tough patch in life which dealt with (or not) by overeating and regained about 3st. Have now de...

Regained around 3st due to emotional eating. Made a total lifestyle change - quit my extremely stressful job and moved to Spain 😎The fat started to disappear slowly but back on Exante to speed things along. I don't have any scales, prefer not to become obsessed with the daily fluctuations and am...

Thank you - not going as planned as I have had a sore throat, very chesty cough and nasty cold and couldn't do the milky thing :( I couldn't even go to the gym today even though my muscles had recovered from last week. I hope it will all be past soon and I can get back on it properly. On the...

Great stuff Ali :)

I hope all works out okay for you. It's good that your consultant is supportive of your vlcd. It was a consultant cardiologist I worked with who suggested CD to me. And it probably would be good to give your insides a rest from regular food - suppose it makes sense that Exante is easier to...

Ooh - I just noticed that you got into the next stone bracket too - that's always a nice WI :) And 21lb in a month is really good going! Have another good TS day tomorrow x

You may get a low week on the scales but the fat will still be disappearing so don't let it distract you if it happens. You have had great losses up to now though :)

I can see how he means well but I'd have thought the shakes would be better for you. When I was in with post op pancreatitis the food I was given when allowed to eat was nothing short of junk :(

Thank you all -I've been very good today. No nibbling and about 4l water down :) I have booked myself in at the gym to move things on a bit quicker too. And have also ordered a month of shakes plus a box of vanilla so definitely on it for another 8 weeks! The metal mouth had gone and is now...

Hi, I don't find it any harder doing vlcd at this weight. Obviously the weight doesn't drop as quickly now but it is just as easy to stick to. I do find it pretty easy to maintain as long as I don't get on the carbs but to lose any weight on it means watching the calories which I find tedious...

Wow Belle! That's fantastic :D And I'm so inspired by what you said about the small victories. It does seem that the tiny morsels would be harmless but as you've shown resisting them has paid off big time for you! I am now determined that the tiny slices of ham etc are no way going in my mouth...

Thank you - it does make it easier to keep going when the tape measure shows what the scales won't! I had a similar thing happen when I did CD and it did catch up in the end so I just need to keep at it. If anything I'm even more determined to be 100% this week as I am sure the scales can't...

so just 1lb off again this week :( But at least it's in the right direction, and I lost another 1 1/2 inches off my waist :) Am going to start back at the gym this week - want to tone up and maybe it will help speed the weight off too. I refuse to give up and have just ordered another 134...

Definitely go and get yourself checked out. You may be scared but the stress will be bubbling away if you put it off which won't do you any good at all. If there's anything wrong best to catch it early and if everything's ok then you will be reassured. x

Well done you :) Keep up the good work x

I certainly hope you feel better soon. Maybe you could get someone to bring in some low carb food for you as well when you start eating. When I was in the hospital I was going between NBM and eating and they only ever seemed to have toast or sandwiches when I could have something. Not exactly a...

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm keeping on with it - the scales will drop again soon I'm sure :)

3lb is fantastic! look at 6 packs of lard piled up and think that's what has disappeared from your body :)

Sorry to hear about that. Glad it's been caught before you got really poorly though. I'm sure the 5 days of NBM will be good and you could go for just leaving the carbs when you start eating - they never check too much. But the main thing is that you get better x

Wow - you did so well to lose all that on CD. So you know you can definitely do it this time :) I think the biggest thing is to do a stabilising and come up with a strategy for keeping it off. It seems that people who lose the weight but skip the stabilising bit do tend to pile it back on again...

You are doing so well! Must be fantastic to have dropped that many clothes sizes in such a short time. Good job you found some stuff in the sales or it could get expensive ;) I've not really had cravings while doing this and I could easily have said no to the dessert so not sure why I had it...

Definitely not worth the risk of drinking in ketosis. You may well be fine - I'd done it a couple of times before without any trouble but after that time never again and the docs told me it was really dangerous! If you really want to have a drink then make sure you are out of ketosis. But I'd...

Whatever you do don't drink alcohol whilst in ketosis! It can be dangerous as the alcohol gets metabolised by your liver which can stop glucogenesis while it's dealing with alcohol. That can make your blood sugar level drop dangerously low :( I didn't know this till it happened to me on CD...

I'm glad you've got back with it. I had a lovely evening out with my daughter, tapas (all low carb) then I ended up having hazelnut roulade... and I never eat dessert!! It was lovely though and that was the extent of the naughtiness so it's a day of near zero carbs tomorrow to get me back on the...

Lost a total of 4 1/2 stone so far, 3 with CD a couple of years ago and another 1 1/2 so far since mid Feb on exante. Was happy with my first weight loss for a couple of years but then decided I'd like to get more off so got back on vlcd as it's the easiest way for me. Low carb keeps me from...

Yay, sounds like the keto fairy has arrived for you :) Be really careful now to hang on to ketosis, I've been knocked out by non legit diet drinks before and it really isn't worth the pain. Especially when it's so easy while you're in! Sorry the coffee thing didn't do it for you - guess...

Good luck with the move :) great you've managed to organise yourself dietwise, wouldn't want to run out when you're doing so well. Don't forget to come on and update us all on your progress when you get internet back :) x

Hope today is a better day for you Belle x We all have days when we're almost ready to cave in and eat but look how far you've come. Instead of just heading to food for comfort you realised what was happening and knew it wouldn't help :) Keep going hon and you'll get there soon x

I've got everything crossed for you to get a good loss this week :) The bars make me hungry too, I occasionally have a Cambridge bar with no problem but the Exante and slim and save ones are a no no for me which is a shame as I do like them. Have decided to keep them for stabilisation and...

You can also buy psyllium husk in a big bag or tub. I paid about £5 for a huge bag from ebay and take about a tablespoon in water every morning. It's very gentle and won't make you have a gripey tummy or the runs but you do need to drink plenty of water as it's a bulking agent and absorbs a fair...

Couldn't resist a quick weigh this morning and it was 1lb less than yesterday so hoping for a decent loss next week. Drank about 4 litres yesterday so will try to keep it up for the rest of the week and see if it makes a difference :)

Well done making it to day 3 - should start getting easier in the next few days. There are bound to be a few things that you're not so keen on but after a while pretty much anything starts to be ok when it's all you have. At least you will know what to order next time. I love the vanilla shakes...

Well done on resisting the bread - it is indeed the work of the devil! ;)

Maybe we should all try worm and pond water to kill any food cravings ;) Seems to have worked as a great appetite suppressant ...

Draw a line under the munching, chuck out the rice cakes and mentally wire the jaw ;) You've done brilliantly so far and any fluid weight you'e gained from the extra carbs will shift in a few days hon so don't give up - you can do this :)

That's really made me giggle! I would have thought worms would be allowed though, pretty low carb I should think, though I can't find them on the nutritional charts ;) You'd be unlucky to get ill from it but I bet it did make you feel pretty yuck. Not something I fancy trying ...

Water guzzlers we shall be :)

I think it does take a while to get out of the mindset of having food as a comfort and as a reward and also the habits like munching at the cinema etc. Try to have a few low cost non food rewards lined up. Sometimes you don't even need to buy anything - I often look on ebay for something...

Hi Claire, sorry you had such a bad weekend weight wise :( Sounds like you've given yourself a good pep talk though so just drag yourself back on to the wagon! I'm joining you this week in the crap WI club :( So this week: 100% on plan. If you need a treat get a new nail polish, jewellery etc...

Well done on the loss - week 3 often sees low losses so you've done brilliantly! I reckon you can definitely make it to your first goal by holiday! It is difficult when friends put temptation in your way but as you said you've chosen to shed weight over eating the bad stuff! Would it be too...

Thank you - I can feel the vibes already lol :D I think as our bodies get to a normal healthy weight they do resist our attempts to get to the lower end of a normal range! But if we stick with it our bodies will eventually acknowledge our efforts! I remember it took me longer to go from a 16 to...

Well this week's weigh in STS :( I feel very bloated so maybe that's the problem... I had the couple of meals but stuck to meat and veg so that shouldn't have been too much of a problem. I will be super strict with water this week as I didn't get as much down this week. I also discovered that...

Hi Ali, I find it really helpful reading through your diary. Can you send me over some of the motivation that's landed with you please? I weighed in this morning and: ta da da.... STS :( I feel bloated and know that's probably the reason but like you it's getting hard as I get closer to target...

Well done on the loss Laura! You're helping keep me motivated when I feel like caving and eating something naughty :) And you too Ali - size 14 is only a couple of weeks away if you stick with it and you know how you'll dance around the fitting room when you get there!! So really go for it! :D

I managed to postpone the tapas till next week which was good as I didn't much fancy it. Feeling a bit bloated this week due to TOM so not very hopeful about weigh in but still sticking with it. Trying to get plenty of water down as that usually helps.

Hi there again. I also find that I don't lose if I don't drink enough. Sitting here with water now as it's weigh in tomorrow. Haven't cheated at all but feel a bit bloated so we'll see in the morning... Hope the weekend is going good, nice to have some sun :) x

Aww, sorry to hear little one isn't well and hope she feels better soon. It usually clears up quickly when you use the chloramphenicol :) You're doing really well - that's a good loss. Maybe a good idea to chew some gum when you're making food for others? I found it helps stop me nibbling...

Hi there, sorry to hear you've both felt ill. I have seen people on atkins saying that they have had similar and taking a mineral supplement and slightly upping the salt intake seems to alleviate the problem (like having bouillon or something). I'm not sure why this would be or if it would work...

Sorry to hear about your mum :( I'm glad she got to enjoy her her lovely holiday though. Take care of yourself hon x

Just need to keep at it and you'll see the results even though it can be a bit disappointing when the scales don't reflect what you've done. Stick with it and they'll catch up :)

You're doing fab Gemma, 13st by June is looking on! Did you try the slim and save samples yet? I ordered the 1 of everything sample pack and some of the stuff is pretty nice. I particularly like the Chocolate Truffle bars but don't know if I could have them around as they'd be very tempting ...

Don't worry about it - loads of people have a low loss on the 3rd or 4th week. In fact most people don't lose consistently - 1lb one week and 5lb the next is not unusual. Apparently it's something to do with the shrinking fat cells retaining water for a bit then letting it go later. If you stick...

Well today I had a dinner booked with my mum to celebrate Mother's day. She wanted to go to Jimmy Spices buffet. I wasn't looking forward to it as I would rather just stick to my shakes but I just had a bit of chicken and salad which was quite tasty. Tomorrow I have a meal out booked as well :(...

If you're diagnosed with diabetes for which you need any kind of medication i.e not diet controlled then you will need medical supervision. It would be very dangerous to take your normal dose of hypoglycaemic drugs with a vlcd as your blood sugar levels could drop drastically. On the other hand...

Well done - water weight does go off pretty quickly :) Do you take a fibre supplement? A good tablespoonful of psyllium husk (you can get it in health food shops or some chemists or online) can help prevent constipation, as can drinking even more water lol. Even so I still have to take a couple...

This is true - I only do a swap if I'm having an AAM day and if not then I will have 1 full sachet of S+S and half a bar. It's not advisable to try substituting all the time but nice to have a change sometimes :)

I agree - people who haven't done a vlcd really don't understand how it works. Come on here if you need advice and you'll get plenty of support and help keep you on track. keep it up and you'll get there for definite x

That's a good start - you will probably lose a fair few pounds doing low carb anyway - if you can manage to get into ketosis before you even start exante it will be much easier over the first few days. Don't try to cut calories or fat while you low carb and you will find you get into the zone...

Yes, you were probably wise to avoid food until you've broken the habits and that was very restrained of you:) I did the same when I first did CD and not a morsel passed my lips other than my shakes for well over a month. It is nice now to be able to have an occasional low carb meal without it...

I do a mixture sometimes. I prefer the Exante mostly but their bars make me hungry so I use the CD ones and I have the S&S meals when I fancy something to 'eat', and S&S choc truffle bar when I really want a treat! As long as you keep the carbs under about 60g a day you should be fine :)

Aah but I'm sure you'll enjoy twirling around in that size 10 skirt a lot more than eating what the dog had ;) x

Congratulations -I'm really happy for you that everything has worked out and Conor finally has the security he deserves :) Well done for sticking with it - you've done brilliantly and I bet you are happy that you haven't let the stress derail you. Big hugs to you and your family x

Hi all. I lost 3st on CD 2 years ago and have kept it off :) I'm just back on vlcd as I decided this year I'd like to get down to about 9st and for me this is the easiest way. Of course anyone who goes back to eating the way they did before will put all the weight back on :( I have had to...

I lost 13lb first week on CD which is similar. This time I lost 6lb first week but that was from starting at a lower weight and I was already eating low carb so didn't have much water weight to lose. Everyone is different but as long as you stick to it you will lose fat every week even if the...

Well done you :) Keep it up and you'll soon be at goal x

So todays WI was 2.8 lbs down. Very happy with that as TOM due in a couple of days and I always bloat for a few days before. Am really happy I just had meat and veg yesterday as I'm still in the zone and feel fine. Think I may start stripping the paper in the hallway today as I've had the paint...

Don't panic! If you stick with it then you can't fail to drop the weight :) a lot of people don't get a huge loss in the 2nd or 3rd week. You will still have lost fat but our bodies try to maintain a certain weight and will retain some water to do that. This is temporary and will even out over...

There are so many variables. If you had already cut down on your carbs before starting then the first week isn't usually so dramatic as you'll already have lost some of the water weight. A lot of people lose massive amounts in the first week but this will be mostly water. Try not to get too...

Hi Kels, you've done it before so at least you know you can do it. The cravings can be bad for a few days but just keep the vision of where you want to be in your mind and they will pass. As for the vending machines - if possible don't take any money with you! If you have to then just have notes...

Hey Dementia, well done on sticking with it for your first week :) I also had a meat and veg meal cooked by my daughter yesterday and enjoyed it but back to my shakes today with no problem. I usually have 1 meal a week and have done that all the time I've been on CD and Exante. As long as it's...

Hi Rebecca, good luck with your getting to target. I think you're probably right to go with ss - I did CD before and found that ss+ made me more likely to cheat! I think it's probably fine for people who start at a higher weight as they will use up the extra carb. I did (and still do have) a...

Hi Kels. Good luck with your first day and the whole of your diet :) Chewing gum is a bit of a grey area. Some people find that chewing gum makes them more hungry whereas many find that the sugar free stuff helps. I personally don't find it a problem and it helps when I cook dinner for the...

I'm over sensitive to caffeine so can only have a small coke occasionally. Maybe a good thing in a way as I don't end up awake from it and it's not a very healthy thing anyway. Makes it difficult though when in the pub as that's the only diet drink they ever have :( I try to remember my...

Are we crazy? I can't believe I've just had half a litre and just got myself another to drink before bed in a few mins but will probably be tripping off to the loo for an hour before I sleep! Good luck for tomorrow :)

Well done on the weigh in Laura :) Hope you managed to stick with keto friendly food when you went out, will be easy just to get back on ts tomorrow if you have :)

Weigh ins all round tomorrow then. Just sitting here trying to get some more water down me in preparation as i haven't had enough today ...

I'm glad you feel a bit better now Ali, and the dinner sounds yummy ;) I had bacon and eggs made for my breakfast and my daughter cooked garlic chicken and broccoli for lunch mmm. It does us good to know that the odd low carb meal will not rock the boat too much, I'm still in ketosis so had my...

As you can't start just yet it would be a good opportunity to cut down on carbs as much as possible as that will make it much easier when you do start. And the advice to drink lots of water is very good too. Lots of people lose nearly a stone in the first week if they have a lot to lose, then...

You'll be fine with a few meals out as long as you stick to it the rest of the time and just have the low carb options. You could sell the bars on ebay if you aren't gonna use them - they do fetch almost as much as you paid for them so it's better than them going to waste :)

Thank you both. I had a bacon and egg breakfast today then a lovely lunch cooked by my daughter, garlic chicken and broccoli, yum :) I didn't have any problem resisting dessert and had my exante shake tonight. Still in ketosis so am happy with that and hope it doesn't affect my WI too much. I...

Hmmm - I ordered a sample pack of S&S which arrived yesterday. Don't think much of the soup and the choc shake which I had for breakfast was too sweet and a bit watery for me and wasn't keen on the soup either, my dinner of cottage pie was okay though - not something I'd normally eat but edible...

I agree - it's best to keep busy :) My daughter is making me dinner for Mothers day but just meat and veg so I'll stay in ketosis and be straight back to shakes Monday :)

My daughter is cooking dinner for me - just protein and veg so all good :) I am also having bacon and eggs for breakfast on Sunday. As I'm on vlcd and not eaten proper food for a month I'm really looking forward to it! Straight back on it Monday though which won't be a problem as I'll still be...

Have a lovely weekend :) It will do you good to have a break if you're struggling. It shouldn't be too hard to get back on if you're careful not to have carbs. I'm not talking skinless chicken and plain veg though ;) Think double cream in coffee - much less carb than milk, buttered veg and meat...

The tummy definitely flattens out the first week - all that water lost with the endless trips to the loo I reckon :) So we all weigh on Monday - like you Belle, I find that knowing I have weigh in Monday stops weekend temptation ;) Look forward to seeing how you both do on Monday ...

Thank you for the encouragement Lara - I'm definitely keeping at it till I get to where I want, either with Exante or CD :) I found it easy to keep the weight off as long as I kept off the carbs :) I haven't had any calorie restriction and ate plenty of protein and fat and a good amount of low...

Hmmm - been sticking with it really well but not seeming to shift the scales much at the moment :( I'm gonna give it another week or so on the exante but may go back to CD if it doesn't pick up soon ....

That's fantastic! Make sure you wear those size 26s to death for the next few weeks cos it sounds like they'll be too big soon! :)

He he - I definitely hide my bars and shakes away as my son likes them too and would have them as snacks if they were just in the kitchen cupboard and they are too expensive for that! He'd prefer a warm vanilla shake to hot chocolate any day but I only let him have a couple a week for breakfast :)

WOOO! Well done on an incredible first week, certainly makes it all worth while doesn't it? x

You will do it :) When's your weigh in? Typical that TOTM has come along to make it less than it would be - but at least you should get a bigger drop than otherwise next week :) x

Good luck with the hair colouring everyone. I've had every colour going in mine but play it safe now after frazzling it so much I had to have it clippered off not once but 3 times!!! So now I stick to naturtint to make sure I don't wreck it again lol :)

The coldness doesn't last too long after the first few days, just comes and goes occasionally. Well done for getting this far. Like you said once you're through the first week it is pretty easy. Just be very careful to never have any carb cheats as that will make you feel hungry. The main thing...

Sounds like the skinny you is coming to get ya! :) Well done for getting on it so wholeheartedly - it will see you through to success x

Glad to hear you're feeling better - I'm sure you'll be back to normal tomorrow. Reading your sorry tale has made me extra vigilant with the fibre, don't want to end up in that predicament again :( Well done with getting straight back on it though - hopefully you won't suffer any more if you...

Isn't it so much easier now the sun has come out? :) For the weekend why don't you consider just having 1 meal on Mother's day - no carbs? I know it's tempting to have a couple of drinks and the carbs but from experience I know it just makes it hard to get back on it... You'll feel so much...

Tis true - I've been 100% and after the first week lose sometimes 2lb and sometimes 5lb per week but it does even out to about a stone a month which I'm happy with. Just need to keep going with it and it does work :)

Well done Mamaden - you've coped really well on your first day. The first few days can be challenging but it does get easier. You've done great with the water too, it really does make a massive difference to how you feel. I've not drank enough a couple of days and felt a bit iffy but fine when I...

Well done Focus! And Bub 71 - don't worry, if you stick with it the weight will come off quickly! Most people have a good loss in the first week but for others it's a smaller amount. That's mostly cos the most of the initial loss is water (how much do we pee that first week???) ;) You'll all get...

Well I'm glad you've made it out of the loo. I've taken senna and dulcolax together before with pretty dramatic effects. Didn't add prune juice into my mix tho ;) You poor thing! On the plus side you've had a good clear out and you should recover quickly now it's out of your system the meds...

I bought the 1 month pick your own pack so have tried all the products now and really like most of them, even the soups which I hated on CD, so that's good. Only had 1 each of the soups as I wasn't sure I'd like them, now trying to decide on my next order. It's well worth sticking with as the...

Good luck Weelanie. First few days are hardest but once those are over it does get much easier :) I also add stuff to the shakes - coffee in the choc shake, and extra vanilla to the vanilla shake. Both are lovely hot or cold... Coke zero is apparently better than the others as it has no citric...

I found it started to get hard to shift after about 3 months when I did CD a couple of years ago. I did the maintenance and then ate low carb (Atkins style but with more veg and a little fruit) and maintained for over a year. I started Exante a month ago and the weight has been shifting at about...

Hello Girlychick :) I wish you all the best on your road to slimness. At least you know the ropes having done LL before. I too find vlcd the easiest way to shift the lbs - trying to just eat healthily doesn't really help, if you're like me you just end up eating loads of good stuff and not...

Hope you're feeling better now Claire :( Read over your posts and looks like you seriously overdosed on the remedies... dulcolax and senna are very effective but take about 8 to 10 hours to work. Having both then milk of magnesia and prune juice on top must have made you feel really bad! If you...

Not had any bars for a few days now and the hunger has disappeared thank goodness. Slightly disappointed on the scales at WI this morning -2.2lbs. My clothes are looser though so I'll try not to become too focused on the weight. I was very good all weekend - had a 1 hour walk to a nice pub then...

I read that post too and loved it. There's always some occasion coming up where it would be a bit odd not to eat so if we wait for them all to pass we will wait forever to start the diet. If we pass up every social invitation we'll get miserable and dipping in and out of ketosis makes it so...

Yes, really important not to drink alcohol whilst in ketosis. I had the common misconception that it was about the calories and sugar in the drink. So while I was on CD ss I had 1 shake all day and, as I wasn't hungry thought that it would be okay to have a couple of whiskeys.... they weren't...

Funny how it gets you isn't it :D I'm the same - when I hear people talking about how they're being so good, counting calories and eating stuff they don't even like much to lose weight so slowly I just want to convert them to vlcd. It's maybe not the easiest for a few days but after that it's...

Don't worry about putting it all back on, and it really doesn't depend on how fast you lose the weight. Obviously if you come off any diet and start eating the way you did before then you will gain. If you do the stabilisation plan from the exante site and you retrain yourself to eat...

I also have milk in my tea. Have cut down and just have 1 or 2 cups a day and I use full fat milk so I use less of it so less carbs. I did this all the way through CD and am continuing it on Exante without it seeming to affect ketosis or losses. A nice warm cup of tea fills me up :)

I actually quite liked that one as is, just put some black pepper in mine. How about some chilli? Or maybe a bit of rosemary? Hope you manage to find a way to make it enjoyable.

Thank you, can't wait to get there :D Hope you're having a good day x

Good luck KKat :) The main reason people lose more in ketosis is that it makes it easier to stick to. I don't think many people could stick with it for very long if it wasn't for the hunger suppression that comes with ketosis. That's why it's important to stick to it properly - it doesn't take...

I know it's what everyone says and you may not want to hear it again but: drink lots of water ;) It may not stop the hunger at this early stage but it will help with any yukky feelings. And you're almost through day 1 - distract yourself whatever it takes. Find a film to watch, have a bath, go...

:whoopass: To all you naughty scale fiends!!! Don't worry - it will go down pretty quickly if you stick with it! ;)

I'm glad you've already got something nice picked out ;) It does help if you can have something to look forward to doesn't it? And all your lovely clothes you'll be able to get back into! I'm not at goal yet - reached my first goal with CD a couple of years back and at the time felt skinny at...

You could also go on ebay and find something nice that you'll be able to wear in a couple of weeks. Won't cost you a fortune as you'll be out of that even in a few weeks :D

Well done Annie, I know it can get a bit boring sticking to it but just look at what you've achieved so far :) That really has to be such an incentive to carry on. And while you are trying to figure out why you 'mucked up' you should also realise that you haven't really!! You've got back on it...

I also lost 15lb the first week I did vlcd. Certainly makes you feel it's worth sticking with :)

Try not to add salt as this can make you retain water - chilli, herbs etc can liven the soups up. I find the shakes a bit bland but it's ok to add a few drops of flavouring like extra vanilla, coffee etc. The vanilla and choc shakes are nice hot too. Lots of people do get dehydrated the first...

I've never found just that 1 cuppa makes any difference :) No sugar though lol x Don't put it off - the first few days are hard but then it's pretty easy as long as you stick with it 100% And the weight does just melt away. If you feel tempted 'window' shop online for some new clothes that...

Water balance can make a difference of a few lbs. If you are sticking to the diet you will be losing fat - doesn't really matter if there's an extra lb of water there :) The numbers on the scales are just a general indication and not an exact measure of what's going on. Even the weekly numbers...

You will feel better soon as long as you don't give in to the cravings. Almost everyone finds that ketosis really takes the hunger away. The metallic taste is a bit weird but retardex spray does help with that as does drinking plenty of water, which will also make you feel better. You don't have...

Lovelyjoolz, I agree - feeling bad about yourself is much worse than giving up the things that put you in that position. Doing vlcd and giving up carbs has brought me so much freedom that I never had before :D Life is so much more comfortable now I am a normal weight and that's worth so much...

Hey Jim, what a difference in your pics! You must be chuffed :)

Wow Catscratch - you're doing so well! Not far to go now :)

Yeah, I started out having my first shake early but then I'd have had them all by 6pm and was wanting something in the evening. Starting later does seem to work. Plus when you are in ketosis you don't really feel hungry - just the having something at night is nice :)

Haha - I've told waiters I'm diabetic before and can't eat carbs so they're fine about giving you a salad or veg instead of the carb part of the meal. Once you've said it you've also put yourself in the position of not being able to order dessert even if you're tempted ;) Any kind of fish (not...

I managed to stay 100% despite feeling hungry today. I'm going back to only having bars a couple of times a week and then just at night as I really felt hungry for the first time in ages from about 2 hours after I had it :( Hope I wake up without a rumbly tumbly...

Well its good they won't go to waste, and you'll know what to order next time :)

I've not tried the Exante one. I had the CD one before and it tasted fine but since I got used to drinking water when I did CD I now prefer it to anything else. If you're struggling to get the water down it may help but you should try to drink most of it as plain old water. You'll get used to it ;)

Well done you :) I bet you felt so much better after that meeting and all evening having resisted. It does help loads if you plan ahead so that you can sort of do it on auto pilot - if you decide beforehand then you won't even have to study the menu next week so that's a great idea.

Hi Joolz and welcome :) I wish you success in achieving your goal weight. I'm sure you can do it - you did really well before so you know it will work. I too lost a fair bit on CD a couple of years ago. I managed to maintain for the past 2 years by going low carb. At first it was strange to...

The water can take some getting used to, as can the loo trips for the first week ;) But it does get better and is worth getting it down as it does make all the difference to how you feel and to your results. Once you get past the first few days you will start to find it much easier and it is so...

Now tried the veg and thai chicken soups and they were tasty once I pimped them up with pepper, chilli and ginger etc. That's pretty good going as I really hated the CD ones. So I still like Exante better and glad I made the swap. Favourites are still vanilla shake and porridge so I will...

Good luck with the diet- and yes, the first 3 days or so are the hardest. Once you get those out of the way it's much easier. Rather than feeling deprived when you have to say no to food just remember that this is your choice and you've decided you'd rather be slim. I found that rehearsing some...

Best to wait a couple of weeks before you start any new exercise regime as you body needs to get used to running on ketones. Till then walking, gentle swimming etc is fine. After the first few days you should feel much more energetic so don't worry about feeling a bit lacklustre at the...

Oh yeah, and water, water, water as is the mantra we all love so much lol ;)

Have you tried taking psyllium husk? If you buy a big pack of it it's really cheap (I paid about £5 for 500g on ebay). You can get it in Holland and Barrett too. I also don't 'go' much on any vlcd which is pretty normal I think but a good rounded tablespoon in half a glass of water mid morning...

Can't remember - something like really or viva I think. Saw it listed again on tv guide yesterday so I'm sure you'll find it over the next couple of weeks. Was quite good to see how different they looked but there weren't any details of how they did it x

Wow, you're doing so well! I know this TFR business gets pretty boring but we can always amuse ourselves with trying on those clothes and that certainly is better than we'd feel if we fell off the wagon :) x

Hmmm - only just worked out this would be the best place to put my diary. Duh About 2 years ago I did CD and went from 15st 5 to 12st 7 in 3 months. I've kept it off with low carb diet then decided this new year to get another 3st or so so went back on CD. Started 6th Feb at 12st 6 and lost...

It's not great when you end up with stuff you don't like left over :( I think I'll stick to ordering exactly what I want. I rather like the chocolate with coffee in but wouldn't really drink it on it's own so glad I went for mostly vanilla. Maybe you could sell them on ebay if you have loads?

My my, you are the incredible shrinking woman! You have a great hourglass shape developing in the 2nd set of pics :D Well done and keep it up - you can see how worth it it is :happy096:

A couple of drops of oil in the amount of flavouring you need won't do any damage - just the sugar / carbs that get hidden in such things (be especially careful with vanilla extracts) that could take you out of ketosis :S

Fab - just keep trying them on when you need inspiration :) It's funny how our perspective changes when we slim. After being a size 18 to 20 I felt slim at a 14, especially as it was so quick. But I decided this new year that I would like to get more off so am back :)

Yes Starcrossed, you may want to put a new photo each week next to the horrible one to show yourself how much you've changed too, and maybe a picture of something you will be able to wear when you get to your target . At the beginning I weighed over 15st and my motivation was the quite negative...

And you're doing well too kittykazza :) We're all gonna be slim really soon :D

Woohoo 30lbs in 8 weeks :D You must be so excited! And in need of new, smaller clothes!! ;)

Hello both. I have just swapped to Exante from CD (lost 3 1/2 st 2 years ago and maintained, now back to lose some more). I find the porridges lovely - quite like ready brek - I have it quite runny and it's very creamy and filling. I ordered a pick your own bumper pack which was around £130 for...

Hi Starcrossed, welcome to Exanteville ;) The first week can be challenging but if you stick to it things get much easier and the results are fantastic. You'll be slimmed down in no time! If you have the right mental attitude it will be easy and quite enjoyable once the first couple of days are...

Candida is a yeast infection that can grow anywhere in the body. You're correct that it does most often cause vaginal thrush but lots of other stuff too. It is present in all our bodies but just causes a problem when it gets out of control. Antibiotics and too many carbs are the main culprits in...

Well done on your amazing weight loss. I do feel for you and hope you can sort things out with your husband. It must be devastating for you to find out something like that. Just have to say though that to some extent I agree with Chris, he probably feels a bit 2nd place now and was just looking...

I love all those programmes too :D Tonight I've got the timer set for 'most slimmed down celebrity'. Friday night, how rock n roll am I?

Definitely less sweet and more creamy than CD and LL shakes which is why I prefer them, I've not tried the chocolate one yet as I didn't like the CD ones but will give it a go in a few mins ...

Hope you're getting over the nasty bug you'e had now. You've done well with the diet so far so don't beat yourself up about the slight blip while you were ill. Everyone slips up occasionally but as long as you get straight back on it you'll be losing again in a couple of days :D

Good luck to everyone :) I am also new to Exante. Lost 3 1/2 st on CD a couple of years ago, kept it off with low carb and went back in Feb to lose another 3st :D On my 3rd week WI I'd lost 15lb and switched over to Exante this week. None of these diets are ever gonna be a gourmet experience...

I read that on here too so checked out the ready brek box . A 40g portion (less than an Exante pack) has 23g of carbs and that's before you add any milk which would add about 8g. So best to stick with these and know I'm getting all my nutrients I think. I didn't mind the CD one too much but much...

Hi there - if you loved the choc mint you could try adding some mint essence or other flavours to the Exante ones.

I didn't mind the porridge on CD but hated the soups. In my opinion the Exante ones are much nicer - why not just add 1 of each when you reorder? I only got 1 each of the soups as I thought I wouldn't like them and wish now that I ordered more as they are filling and nice when you fancy...

Well done for the quick recovery platinumbabe :D And you still have time nixib - get plenty of water down you lol. I agree about the food break, prefer to wait till I've got to target. I've used the option a couple of times for occasions where eating was unavoidable and just had meat and veg...

A ketogenic diet would surely help massively with candida anyway as it lives on sugar. How did the therapist diagnose the candida? I must say I'd be a little skeptical: as nixib said, did she try to sell any supplements etc? Symptoms usually include cravings for sugary and carby stuff, wine etc...

Don't worry about the cheese hon, it's carbs that will kick you out of ketosis and make you likely to overeat. As long as you stick with it most of the time and don't have carbs you'll be fine. Head over to the Exante forum for more support while you're VLCDing. But when you finish losing your...

Thanks Bren. So far so good with the Exante stuff. I like the porridge, bars and the shakes and 1 soup I've tried was much nicer than CD. Maybe I'm a pigeroo too ....

I agree, it's our duty to the country to spend, spend, spend on clothes ;) Only problem I found with losing weight so quickly though was going down sizes before I'd got much wear out of stuff. In the end I bought some stuff on ebay and was also surprised to find some lovely things in my local...

Hi Ali, did you change for the same reason? I have noticed that Exante is quite a bit cheaper too. I got a pick your own 4 week supply for about £130 so that I could have porridge and try everything I wanted without having loads of soups It's funny how your perspective changes isn't it? When I...

Oh dear, that's awful! I think I have the ideal arrangement going on with my FMIL: we live in different countries, she doesn't speak english and I don't speak slovak :D She is a lovely lady, always gives me a hug and my Fiance tells me she likes me. But I'm at a safe distance even if that...

Ad you've done brilliantly too Nixib :) seeing all these posts really helps keep me motivated. xxx

Well done Wee_E on making it through your 2nd day :) And Kimmy Moo on your fab result so far, makes it all worth it doesn't it? I had my last CD shake this morning and started Exante this afternoon. I only ordered 1 each of the soups as I couldn't stomach the CD ones, tried the tomato and basil...

So today my Exante goodies arrived and I couldn't wait to try them. A little sad perhaps but I am so looking forward to getting slim for summer. I am going to chart my progress here as I am not going to have my CDC to keep me on track any more. I tried all the usual diet stuff without much...

That is weird ;) And not even that you had a moment of weakness. I've put stuff in my mouth while cooking for family without thinking about it, realised then spit it in the bin. Just goes to show how much stuff we normally consume without it even registering :s You may find it makes you a bit...

Haha, selective reading ;) Yeah, cake tastes good but have really been fine without it. I have had carbs on a few days in the past 2 years and each time felt like crap and bloated to the extent that I can see them as the reason I was fat and no longer want them at all. I craved that stuff for...

It can be frustrating when the scales don't reflect the effort you've put in. You may well lose slower than others due to the meds and inflammation problems but it will still be quicker than trying to just eat less etc. Also if you take any steroidal meds they can really mess up your blood sugar...

Hi - stumbled across this and very interested to see other Atkins lovers doing VLCDs too. I lost a fair amount of weight on CD, moved over to Atkins style moderate protein, high fat, low carb diet 2 years ago. I eat loads, am never hungry, no pms or fatigue, no calorie restriction and haven't...

I may be a bit late with this but only just joined. Yes koodygirl, you're right about the bodybuilders etc. I lost most of my weight 2 years ago with CD and have maintained my loss with a moderate protein, high fat, low carb diet. I haven't counted calories at all, never feel hungry or get...

Hi GSQ, well done on your fantastic loss and maintenance :) I lost most of my weight 2 years ago and have maintained all that loss since. Am back now to lose for vanity's sake rather than my health :) I see some people warning you that it will be more difficult this time but thought I would...

Hi there, I'm a bit late joining this thread but just wanted to say don't give up! Your weight may not be coming off as quickly as you wanted but the measurements show that the fat is melting away :) I am a nurse and would also point out that if you have any kind of inflammatory condition...

Hello - thought I'd chime in: Heaviest ever 215 Tried every diet going with varying success for years but never lasted. 3 years ago I went on CD: Down to 176 I was happy with this for a couple of years and maintained to within 3lb by eating low carb (no calorie restriction). After Christmas I...

I've done both methods - first time I did cold turkey after the blowout couple of days and I was mega hungry for the first 3 days, had headaches, joint aches, dizziness and everything. It did pass once I hit ketosis but was pretty hard for those few days. After I got down to my goal I ate pretty...

I really hope you can get your mum to see sense. As a nurse I read up on VLCDs before deciding to go ahead. If used properly they are formulated to contain not only all the vitamins and minerals needed but also adequate protein. If you don't have your full requirement of protein the body will...

Hi there, I am starting Exante Thursday as my order is arriving tomorrow. I started Cambridge 3 weeks ago so it should be a fairly easy swap. Don't know if you have used a VLCD before but if not I can promise you that after the first few days it really does get easier as long as you avoid...

It looks like all the S&S products would be compatible as it is a ketogenic VLCD (although the bars did have a lot of sugar in them when I looked at ingredients). Also the shakes have aspartame in like most of the other VLCD ranges. Shame as some of the flavours sound yummy.

Hope you enjoy your girlie night :) If it helps I have been doing Cambridge SS (swapping to Exante tomorrow when my parcel arrives). One friend in particular tried to sabotage by buying my favourite treats etc. then waving them under my nose and saying 'poor Angela, you can't have this can...

I've ordered a month's supply which should arrive tomorrow - the pick your own bumper pack which was more than the mixed pack but better than being stuck with soups etc that I don't like... I've ordered just 1 each of the soups so can get more next month if I like them. Am really excited to try...

Thanks both of you - I think I'm going to order a month of the Exante shakes and bars along with 1 each of the soups and some porridges :) I must say that since being in ketosis this has been really easy. The hardest bit has been convincing other people that I'm not hungry!

Thank you for that - I think I will go ahead and order a month's supply of porridge, shakes and bars - not sure about the soups so will maybe try just 1 of each flavour. I am loving this VLCD lark - the weight loss is so motivating and I'm almost never hungry :)

How does Exante compare to Cambridge tastewise? I am thinking about swapping over from Cambridge to Exante as they don't contain aspartame. Has anyone tried both? I like all the Cambridge shakes and porridge, although they are all a bit sweet but find the soups yukky. I'm thinking of ordering a...

I've used Cambridge before but don't like that they have aspartame in so am thinking of switching to Exante. Has anyone else tried both and if so how do they compare? I like most of the Cambridge shakes but they are a bit sweet for me so maybe these will suit better. And is the porridge similar...