Decisions decisions...

[*lesley*]

Hello everyone
After a bit of advice.
I'm thinking of doing a trial week on Exante as could do with shifting around half a stone to get me back on track. I did Lipotrim last year which is the same as Exante but with less choice so i know how i will feel. The main reason i am only prepared to do it for a week or so is i don't want the side effects again. I had hair loss which has only stopped recently (6 weeks ago) and i also suffered badly with my gut when i started eating again, thought i had gall stones the pain was that bad.
Anyway, if i only do a week or 2 and then start with a low carb diet do you think my hair will start falling out again or would i need to do it longer for all that to start?
I don't want to lose more than a stone as i am genuinely happy being a size 16/18. I am tall so i can carry it okay and i like my curves. I also cannot face buying another wardrobe like before, i can't afford it!
What do you think, would a week or two be worth it? Any other advice would be gratefully received x

 

[Starlight]

Its not even worth considering doing a VLCD for a week or so. Any benefits you get youll lose as soon as you come off it. Youll have a good week one loss but if you come straight off the plan youre going to end up gaining pretty much all of it again.

If you only have a stone to lose then youd be far better opting for WW or SW etc - not a VLCD.

 

[kered]

What about having 2 meal replacement shakes a day with a proper evening meal, that should still see you having good losses, and as long as you have carbs with your meal, you wont go into ketosis, then no worries about the hair loss.

Good luck in losing what you want Lesley.

 

[Starlight]

Skipping a shake isnt something that should be recommended

 

[*lesley*]

Swapping it for a meal would be okay though.
Thanks ladies x

 

[Starlight]

No it wouldn't. If you're having a meal then you're doing WS which is 3 packs PLUS a meal. Skipping a pack means you're missing 1/3 of your nutrients and since you're already worried and have suffered from hairloss you could find you're even more likely to have problems. If side effects are a concern it's even more imperative to stick to the rules

 

[kered]

If I was having two shakes and a meal, I would ensure there were plenty nutrients in the meal. Protein, Veg, Carbs.

 

[Starlight]

Thats fair enough thats your choice but its NOT how Exante should be done and it shouldnt be suggested as a good option. Having carbs in particular is the exact opposite of what Exante recommend. YOU might make sure you have what you think is enough but other people wont necessarily. Tweaks like this shouldnt be advised as a good option on a VLCD. Specially not when someone has already suffered bad side effects.

Things like this cause serious confusion on here. Theres already been discussions this week where people think they can have 400kcals of anything in their meal and it counts as WS.

You have to remember Exante is different to LT etc... we dont have the benefit of councellors etc, people come on here for advice and see things like this suggesting 2 packs plus food is a good idea and take it at face value.

 

[kered]

I wouldnt be suggesting anything like this long term, the original poster states she only wants to do it for a week or so, I am trying to give her another option. Not a long term stint on 2 shakes and 1 meal.

I dont see any harm in doing this for one week.

 

[Starlight]

Again though at nowhere in your post does it say that, it just says why not have 2 packs and a meal. Seriously never underestimate the emphasis people put on advice given on here. Sometimes its like an uphill battle persuading people doing VLCDs their own way (like skipping packs) just isnt a good idea. There was a thread in LT the other day where people were saying having only 1 or 2 packs a day was absolutely fine purely because they do it. A LOT of people do take advice on here at face value whether its good or bad

I dont think a VLCD for a couple of weeks is a good idea personally. If youre going to do a VLCD do it properly or dont do it at all. Especially when someone knows VLCDs give them problems

 

[kered]

She said she wanted to do a trial for a week - I gave her an idea for a week. She said she didnt want to do TFR again because of the hair losses, which is why I recommended eating a meal with carbs in it, to stop her going into ketosis.

 

[lauriel]

Thing is, its not ketosis that causes hair loss...It is the calorie deprivation. Everything in the body slows down including hair and nail growth as the body prioritises what calories need to be used on ie: organ function. This is why we feel cold when in ketosis..The body redirects blood flow to the organs and slightly restricts it to places such as hands and feet. Once normal calorie consumption is restored, hair growth should resume its usual growth rate

 

[*lesley*]

Thanks everyone and sorry for starting a battle! I appreciate all comments.
Have decided to do slim and save I think as it says you have to have at least a stone to lose which I can do.
Thanks again folks x