The Complete Guide to the Exante Diet

What is the Exante Diet?

The Exante Diet is an ultra-low calorie meal replacement diet that promises rapid weight loss results. Founded in 2003 as "IdealShape," the UK-based company recently rebranded to Exante and expanded their line of products.

The core of the Exante program replaces your daily meals with calorie-controlled shakes, soups, bars and other products. With an average of just 800 calories per day, it qualifies as a very low calorie diet (VLCD) or crash diet.

Exante claims you can lose up to 20 pounds per month following their plans. But is this extreme diet safe and sustainable? This comprehensive guide examines the pros, cons, cost, and health impact of attempting the Exante diet.

How Does the Exante Diet Work?

The Exante diet provides less than 1000 calories per day in the form of meal replacement shakes, soups, nutrition bars and other products. Their meal plans range from 590-800 calories on average.

This extreme calorie deficit puts your body into ketosis, forcing it to burn fat stores for energy. However, restricting intake this low also causes loss of water weight and muscle mass.

Exante does not just rely on calorie restriction alone. Their products also utilize “Slendesta," a hunger-blocking fiber, plus caffeine, green tea and other metabolism-boosting ingredients.

By combining an ultra low calorie intake with appetite suppressants, Exante aims to eliminate hunger, cravings and fatigue typically associated with crash dieting.

Exante Diet Pros and Cons

Potential Benefits

• Rapid initial weight loss in first weeks
• No calorie counting or portion control needed
• Hunger blocking may prevent overeating
• Convenient, grab-and-go meal replacement options
• Specifically targets belly fat and cellulite
• Encourages developing long-term healthy habits

Potential Drawbacks

• Loss of muscle mass and water weight
• Nutritionally inadequate long-term
• Hunger, fatigue, irritability likely
• Weight regain common when stopping diet
• Not safe for anyone with health conditions
• Expensive compared to preparing own meals

Exante Reviews: What Do Customers Say?

Reviews of the Exante diet are generally positive, with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Happy customers report losing anywhere from 5-30 pounds in their first month.

Many reviewers say Exante products taste great and help control hunger better than other diets. Negative reviews cite problems with restrictive menus, high costs, side effects and weight regain later on.

Here‘s what two Exante users had to say:

"I struggled with cravings and hunger the first week. But once I got over that hump, weight seemed to fall off overnight. In 6 weeks I’m down 38 pounds with surprisingly little effort!" [5 Stars]

"I lost a few pounds initially but hit a plateau after 3 weeks with zero progress. And I was starving and irritable constantly despite using their fiber. In the end I only temporarily lost water weight which I immediately regained." [2 Stars]

Cost Analysis: Is Exante Worth the Price?

One of the most common complaints about the Exante Diet is its high cost compared to traditional dieting. Let‘s break down the pricing:

• A 28-serving bag of Exante shakes costs $60. That‘s $2.14 per serving.

• Buying in bulk drops the per-serving cost closer to $1.50.

• Complete month-long diet plans range from $160-$250.

• Subscribing saves 15-20% off regular prices.

Compared to purchasing budget-friendly ingredients like protein powder, oats and frozen fruits to blend your own shakes, Exante‘s pre-made products cost over 10 times more.

However, factoring in convenience and portion control, the added cost may fit some budgets, especially in the short term. Devoted customers also cite Exante‘s effective hunger blocking as worth spending more.

Step-by-Step Guide to Starting the Exante Diet

Here is a beginner’s guide to safely getting started on the Exante diet:

Step 1: Consult Your Doctor

Since Exante provides less than 50% the recommended daily calories, check with your physician before starting. Be sure to discuss any health conditions or medications that could be impacted.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women, adolescents, diabetics and those with a history of eating disorders or malnutrition should not follow Exante without medical supervision.

Step 2: Calculate Your Calorie Needs

Use Exante’s calculator to determine your individual daily calorie target based on age, gender, activity level and weight loss goals. Never consume less than 800 calories daily without a doctor‘s approval.

Step 3: Pick Your Meal Plan

Exante offers over 60 diet plans ranging from 5-day trials to 12-week body transformations. Choose one that fits your calorie needs and preferences. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and soy-free options are available.

Step 4: Order Your Food for the Week

Stock up on the Exante products your meal plan requires before starting so you have everything on hand. Busy schedules make unhealthy convenience foods tempting, so preparation is key!

Step 5: Supplement Accordingly

Since Exante restricts complete food groups, take a high-quality multi-vitamin to fill nutritional gaps. Magnesium and potassium supplements help counter muscle cramps and headaches from low-calorie diets. Consider adding a probiotic to support your microbiome as well.

8 Tips to Stick to the Exante Diet

Triumph over hunger and fatigue as you transition into ketosis. Follow these simple tricks to set yourself up for Exante success:

1. Stay extremely hydrated by drinking a minimum of 64oz water daily.
2. Choose citrus-flavored products to stimulate digestion.
3. Include one source of protein in every mini-meal.
4. Take a brief walk outdoors after eating to energize.
5. Prioritize sleep by establishing a calming nighttime routine.
6. Beat cravings instantly with a hard candy or mint.
7. Prevent boredom by finding a fun, new hobby you enjoy.
8. Plan rewards for milestones like checking measurements or hitting target weights.

Exante Sample Menu

Wondering what an Exante daily meal plan looks like? Here’s a sample menu with a variety of their top products:

Breakfast (240 calories):

• Exante Strawberry Shake
• Water or Black Coffee

Snack (70 calories):

• Exante Raspberry Bar

Lunch (200 calories):

• Exante Pea & Mint Soup
• Water

Snack (110 calories):

• Exante Milk Chocolate Drink

Dinner (240 calories):

• Exante Spicy Tomato Shake
• Water

Treat (100 calories):

• Exante Cookies & Cream Bar

Exante Alternate Day Plan for Sustainable Weight Loss

The extreme calorie deficit of Exante’s daily meal plans causes many dieters to quit from intolerable hunger.

Utilizing an alternate day diet plan allows for more flexibility while still promoting weight loss:

Low Calorie Exante Days:

• 4 Exante products
• 2 Litres of water
• Multivitamin & supplements

Higher Calorie Whole Food Days:

• Lean protein & veggies
• Complex carbs
• Fruit & healthy fats

This schedule provides structure via Exante while preventing metabolic slowdown. By routinely shifting calorie intake from very low to moderately high, you continue losing fat without starvation mode side effects or rebound binging.

Exante Diet: The Bottom Line

The Exante Diet promotes rapid short-term fat loss through meal replacement products proven to suppress hunger. However, extremely low calorie intake causes concerning nutritional gaps and loss of muscle mass likely to result in weight regain.

For some motivated individuals, Exante can effectively jumpstart a weight loss journey or break through challenging plateaus when done safely under medical guidance.

But rather than a long-term solution alone, Exante serves best as a tool to transition towards sustainable, whole food nutrition balanced with exercise and lifestyle changes. Implementing healthier habits with moderation is the most effective way to achieve and maintain your ideal weight.