The Debbil
Full Member
HI!!!
I am going to be starting Exante in a few days (just waiting for payday on the 15th so I can order in a months worth of shakes/soups) and thought I would say hello and introduce myself to everyone here while I wait.
I'm a 45 year old housewife/graphic artist/website designer/mum. I am no stranger to all kinds of diets. I was lucky enough to be fairly slim and fit up until my early 30's as I had a pretty active life living in Edinburgh city centre where I walked everywhere and was out dancing all weekend. I have always been a carb addict, but was active enough to counterbalance my addiction.
Ten years ago I quit smoking and that, combined with a much more sedentary lifestyle and a serious bout of post natal depression, started my weight gain.
I am 5' 8" and at my smallest was about 10 and a half stone which is bang on perfect for my height and frame. I've never been skinny and wouldn't want to be.
Over about 4 years I ballooned up to my largest at about 16 stone though it was a roller coaster ride of highs and lows as I tried and failed at various diets. About 5 years ago I went on the Lipotrim plan and shed a load of weight very quickly, but didn't see it through to my goal. I got down to about 13 and a half stone and managed to maintain there for a good few years. It started creeping back up again 2 years ago but with simple dietary changes and exercise I got back down again.
Just over a year ago, an ongoing pain issue that had been dismissed as "hormonal" by my GP, became chronic. I'd been managing it fairly well for about 3 years without it needing more than a couple of pain killers and a rest when it flared up, but just before Christmas 2010 it hit me really bad and didn't ease off again. I could barely walk and I started eating unhealthily again just because I was miserable (I'm an emotional eater). I eventually changed to a new GP and was diagnosed with kidney stones. I went into surgery during the summer and have felt much better since. I started dieting and exercising again as soon as I recovered but the weight simply will not shift. I am in menopause which I know isn't helping and have been taken off HRT because I have a high risk of a stroke. I'm currently just over 15 stone
I've decided to go back on a VLCD as it is the most successful diet I have ever done and I'm an all or nothing kind of person, when I do regular diets, I gradually sneak back in things I shouldn't have, with total meal replacement it is much easier to stay on track.
I do have a couple of questions before I start.
Gallstones: I have them, I think I got them when I was on Lipotrim, does anyone else have them? How does it affect your diet if you do?
Kidney Stones: Again, this started around the time I was on Lipotrim and I am now considered high risk for repeat kidney stone issues. I think the rapid weight loss is worth the risk does anyone else have thoughts on this?
Anti-depressants: I know you aren't supposed to do Exante Total if you have depression and are on medication, but I really want to do this the whole way. I've not yet spoken to my GP but I'm pretty certain she'd say it was ok, I have excellent blood pressure and despite being unfit, I am very healthy. Is anyone else doing TS whilst on this kind of medication?
Thanks for your time, sorry for the wall of text, any thoughts and feedback before I get started would be very gratefully welcomed.
Debs
I am going to be starting Exante in a few days (just waiting for payday on the 15th so I can order in a months worth of shakes/soups) and thought I would say hello and introduce myself to everyone here while I wait.
I'm a 45 year old housewife/graphic artist/website designer/mum. I am no stranger to all kinds of diets. I was lucky enough to be fairly slim and fit up until my early 30's as I had a pretty active life living in Edinburgh city centre where I walked everywhere and was out dancing all weekend. I have always been a carb addict, but was active enough to counterbalance my addiction.
Ten years ago I quit smoking and that, combined with a much more sedentary lifestyle and a serious bout of post natal depression, started my weight gain.
I am 5' 8" and at my smallest was about 10 and a half stone which is bang on perfect for my height and frame. I've never been skinny and wouldn't want to be.
Over about 4 years I ballooned up to my largest at about 16 stone though it was a roller coaster ride of highs and lows as I tried and failed at various diets. About 5 years ago I went on the Lipotrim plan and shed a load of weight very quickly, but didn't see it through to my goal. I got down to about 13 and a half stone and managed to maintain there for a good few years. It started creeping back up again 2 years ago but with simple dietary changes and exercise I got back down again.
Just over a year ago, an ongoing pain issue that had been dismissed as "hormonal" by my GP, became chronic. I'd been managing it fairly well for about 3 years without it needing more than a couple of pain killers and a rest when it flared up, but just before Christmas 2010 it hit me really bad and didn't ease off again. I could barely walk and I started eating unhealthily again just because I was miserable (I'm an emotional eater). I eventually changed to a new GP and was diagnosed with kidney stones. I went into surgery during the summer and have felt much better since. I started dieting and exercising again as soon as I recovered but the weight simply will not shift. I am in menopause which I know isn't helping and have been taken off HRT because I have a high risk of a stroke. I'm currently just over 15 stone
I've decided to go back on a VLCD as it is the most successful diet I have ever done and I'm an all or nothing kind of person, when I do regular diets, I gradually sneak back in things I shouldn't have, with total meal replacement it is much easier to stay on track.
I do have a couple of questions before I start.
Gallstones: I have them, I think I got them when I was on Lipotrim, does anyone else have them? How does it affect your diet if you do?
Kidney Stones: Again, this started around the time I was on Lipotrim and I am now considered high risk for repeat kidney stone issues. I think the rapid weight loss is worth the risk does anyone else have thoughts on this?
Anti-depressants: I know you aren't supposed to do Exante Total if you have depression and are on medication, but I really want to do this the whole way. I've not yet spoken to my GP but I'm pretty certain she'd say it was ok, I have excellent blood pressure and despite being unfit, I am very healthy. Is anyone else doing TS whilst on this kind of medication?
Thanks for your time, sorry for the wall of text, any thoughts and feedback before I get started would be very gratefully welcomed.
Debs