New Direction Meal Replacement

sarahkerlin

Hey All,

I'm in a medically-supervised weight management program. I've been on a 1000-1200 calorie diet and I exercise 4-5 times a week for at least an hour a day. I've lost 40 lbs and I have 40 more to go.

Problem is some months I plateau or even gain weight (I know some of it is muscle, but it seems like a lot to gain - like 5+ lbs in a week). So, the doctor recommended to try the New Direction program for a month.

Shake for breakfast, small protein snack, shake for lunch, New Direction bar snack, protein & veggies for dinner.

I've been on it for a week and I weighed myself and I seem to have gained weight.

Has anyone on here been on this program? Has anyone had this problem? Does the desire to eat real food for most of the day every go away?

I'm gonna give the program the month but I am not sure what I'm doing wrong. I don't have a thyroid problem/PCOS/etc, but I'm losing my mind!

Thank you so much for reading! I really appreciate it!

queenliz99

Eat in a calorie deficit, that is all you need. Buy a food scale, best money ever spent

Nandini111

Hi SarahKerlin.. I am beginning week three of New Direction meal Replacements and I have lost 7lbs so far. My doctor says it a bit less that some people in their first few weeks however, I have an underactive thyroid. I think each of our bodies reacts differently... you have lost 40lbs already, don't give up... You're on a roll. There could be so many reasons that your weight has gone in the other direction. You stated that you have been working out 4 to 5 times a week and that can help build your muscles. Stay positive and thank you for sharing your story.

misskarne

Sounds like an extra dose of scamwoo with a name cleverly designed to tap into the teenage-and-just-beyond girls obsessed with One Direction.

Just my 2c.

zeusmom15

I am on week two of the New Direction diet plan. I am doing the 800 calorie all meal plan program. I have found it really difficult to give up eating anything outside of the packets/bars. I would love to start our own chat group of people that are doing this also.

zeusmom15

Nandini111 wrote: »

Hi SarahKerlin.. I am beginning week three of New Direction meal Replacements and I have lost 7lbs so far. My doctor says it a bit less that some people in their first few weeks however, I have an underactive thyroid. I think each of our bodies reacts differently... you have lost 40lbs already, don't give up... You're on a roll. There could be so many reasons that your weight has gone in the other direction. You stated that you have been working out 4 to 5 times a week and that can help build your muscles. Stay positive and thank you for sharing your story.

7 lbs is great! Which program are you doing? (800 calorie or cooking also?) Love your positive outlook! I agree Sarah...losing 40 lbs is a goal for most of us I would guess! My dietitian also said there can be gains depending on what exercise you are doing also. Keep it up!

kommodevaran

You must talk to your doctor if you are in a medically-supervised weight management program and your doctor recommended this program. It sounds like what they prescribed doesn't work, and then they should fix it.

If you want to lose weight sustainably, you could use MFP, just an idea, as you've already signed up.

sarahkerlin

zeusmom15 wrote: »

I am on week two of the New Direction diet plan. I am doing the 800 calorie all meal plan program. I have found it really difficult to give up eating anything outside of the packets/bars. I would love to start our own chat group of people that are doing this also.

Hey zeusmom! I would love to be in a group for this! My plan is 2 shakes a day, bar for snack (and 1 more protein snack during the day), and protein & veggie for dinner. I definitely don't think I could do 100% shakes and bars. It's already difficult and the shakes don't really taste good!

sarahkerlin

Nandini111 wrote: »

Hi SarahKerlin.. I am beginning week three of New Direction meal Replacements and I have lost 7lbs so far. My doctor says it a bit less that some people in their first few weeks however, I have an underactive thyroid. I think each of our bodies reacts differently... you have lost 40lbs already, don't give up... You're on a roll. There could be so many reasons that your weight has gone in the other direction. You stated that you have been working out 4 to 5 times a week and that can help build your muscles. Stay positive and thank you for sharing your story.

thank you Nandini! I appreciate the kind words! Best of luck on your weight loss journey and with this program! You got this!

daskaren

Zeusmom15 and Sarahkerlin, I'd also like to be in a group to discuss this. I'm currently doing 4 weeks on New Direction, 4 weeks on a nutrition plan, and alternating (currently on my second four-week set of ND). I've lost 42 pounds since Christmas on this so far. I haven't stepped off plan ONCE, which was challenging at first, but now is much easier and simpler. I really love this plan.

vivelajackie

I like to eat my calories, which means shakes are a big old nope. Women don't typically gain mass amounts of muscle. Not unintentionally. What I would do is plug your numbers into MFP and get a food scale. And log everything. It works just fine.

its4me232

Hi everyone, I am actually on Day 1 of New Direction- 800 Calories. I am to consume 4 shakes a day. I'm excited but nervous. I don't know how easy it will be staying away from food especially since I cook for my household. I would love to join the group as well. Did anyone get headaches?

kacowgill99

I am just over 100 days on the New Direction program. I have list 58 lbs so far and my bloodwork has went from not so good to excellent. Feel free to add me.

TeaBea

vivelajackie wrote: »

I like to eat my calories, which means shakes are a big old nope. Women don't typically gain mass amounts of muscle. Not unintentionally. What I would do is plug your numbers into MFP and get a food scale. And log everything. It works just fine.

This^

Another great thing about eating actual food......you learn portion control. I agree, almost zero muscle gain on 1200 (gross) calories.

Maybe shakes are part of the maintenance plan (?)......or do you start measuring and logging real food when you get to goal?

MommyL2015

800 calories? Sounds absolutely dreadful. And you don't want to eat a moose or your family's appendages? Weight loss does not have to be miserable or painful.

Gamliela

I tried the shake thing once. I made it for one and one half days. I couldn't hack the liquid diet. I need to be able to use a spoon. Preferably a fork, sometimes a knife. Something about eating. Solely drinking, not ok.

Waver: not meant as scientific evidence and was never meant to be.
Comsult a doctor of you have any symptoms of anything anytime anywhere.

MrsMonster33

in my experience, you may not be giving yourself enough calories? Go configure your calories online and find your TDEE. I was doing 1200 cals a day and wasn't losing. I upped it to 1600 and I am losing fine now. Sometimes we actually need to FEED our body!

ASKyle

So. Much. Woo. In. This. Thread.

betuel75

ASKyle wrote: »

So. Much. Woo. In. This. Thread.

Lol, yup. Like the one above about not losing on 1200 but now is losing on 1600. That one alone goes against science...

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

800 calories? Wow.
Sounds a lot like Dr. Bernstein here in Canada. Medically supervised VLCD. I had two friends on it. It cost them around $750 a month. They both lost a lot - weight, hair and fingernails. They also gained it all back when they could no longer afford it and went off the program, having learned absolutely nothing about how to change their lifestyle to something sustainable.

misskarne

Seems like a good time to repeat what I said earlier in the thread:

Sounds like an extra dose of scamwoo with a name cleverly designed to tap into the teenage-and-just-beyond girls obsessed with One Direction.

ninerbuff

The question EVERYONE should ask themselves is "How is this program teaching me how to eat in correct portions?" If it's not teaching you, the likelyhood of weight regain is quite high because going from liquid diet to solid foods is usually a much higher jump in calories.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Therealobi1

its4me232 wrote: »

Hi everyone, I am actually on Day 1 of New Direction- 800 Calories. I am to consume 4 shakes a day. I'm excited but nervous. I don't know how easy it will be staying away from food especially since I cook for my household. I would love to join the group as well. Did anyone get headaches?

How much did you eat previous to this
How are you prepared for 800 per day

Therealobi1

I don't understand this going from one extreme to the other
Sounds like a recipe for disaster

carrierose2

I am also doing the New Direction products weight loss program. 7 weeks so far and have lost 22lbs. I didn't start recording on here right away. Steadily losing 2-3lbs/week which they say is good but most lose big numbers at first. I never did which was disappointing. 45lbs to go. Seems like forever but at least the scale is going down day by day. So far been pretty easy, no hunger and minimal exercise. Feel free to add me!! Would love to have others on this program to help motivate me.

Wetcoaster

misskarne wrote: »

Seems like a good time to repeat what I said earlier in the thread:

Sounds like an extra dose of scamwoo with a name cleverly designed to tap into the teenage-and-just-beyond girls obsessed with One Direction.

aerrianna

sarahkerlin wrote: »

zeusmom15 wrote: »

I am on week two of the New Direction diet plan. I am doing the 800 calorie all meal plan program. I have found it really difficult to give up eating anything outside of the packets/bars. I would love to start our own chat group of people that are doing this also.

Hey zeusmom! I would love to be in a group for this! My plan is 2 shakes a day, bar for snack (and 1 more protein snack during the day), and protein & veggie for dinner. I definitely don't think I could do 100% shakes and bars. It's already difficult and the shakes don't really taste good!

If they don't taste good why bother? Eat a calorie deficit and learn how you can eat whatever you want.

okeefe01

sarahkerlin wrote: »

Hey zeusmom! I would love to be in a group for this! My plan is 2 shakes a day, bar for snack (and 1 more protein snack during the day), and protein & veggie for dinner. I definitely don't think I could do 100% shakes and bars. It's already difficult and the shakes don't really taste good!

Sarah, check out the group "The Drinkers" on here. Not much activity there, but there is some help and encouragement.

I am on my 7th week, and I am down 35lbs. I have 65 more to go.

To the people who have asked how this program will teach you how to eat and how to watch portions; the whole diet isn't just shakes. At week 4, I got to add green veggies in for lunch and dinner. If I hot my marks, at week 8, I should get to add lean meat (4oz to 6oz). They basically build up your eating one food group at a time, and they do it slowly so that you can learn what each portion size looks and feels like. After a month of measuring out lean meat to get 4-6oz, I will now what the correct portion looks like.

It sounds crazy, but I am 49 years old, and I am paying someone to teach me how and what to eat. Left to my own, I fail because I really didn't know what I should and shouldn't be eating. No carbs, low fat, no sugar, high fiber, no gluten, no red meat, no oils except good ones, low sodium, etc. etc. It all mad my head spin, so I would punt and eat a burrito. LOL

Good luck everyone, with whatever tool you use to .

ninerbuff

okeefe01 wrote: »

sarahkerlin wrote: »

Hey zeusmom! I would love to be in a group for this! My plan is 2 shakes a day, bar for snack (and 1 more protein snack during the day), and protein & veggie for dinner. I definitely don't think I could do 100% shakes and bars. It's already difficult and the shakes don't really taste good!

Sarah, check out the group "The Drinkers" on here. Not much activity there, but there is some help and encouragement.

I am on my 7th week, and I am down 35lbs. I have 65 more to go.

To the people who have asked how this program will teach you how to eat and how to watch portions; the whole diet isn't just shakes. At week 4, I got to add green veggies in for lunch and dinner. If I hot my marks, at week 8, I should get to add lean meat (4oz to 6oz). They basically build up your eating one food group at a time, and they do it slowly so that you can learn what each portion size looks and feels like. After a month of measuring out lean meat to get 4-6oz, I will now what the correct portion looks like.

It sounds crazy, but I am 49 years old, and I am paying someone to teach me how and what to eat. Left to my own, I fail because I really didn't know what I should and shouldn't be eating. No carbs, low fat, no sugar, high fiber, no gluten, no red meat, no oils except good ones, low sodium, etc. etc. It all mad my head spin, so I would punt and eat a burrito. LOL

Good luck everyone, with whatever tool you use to .

So understand here, that IF you eat higher carbs (more than you do now), some more sugar (including more fruit) red meat, and higher sodium choices, your weight is going to increase. Then what? Jump back on the shake wagon again? Because that's what the SELLERS want you to do. Diet programs like this have high return rates because it worked while they were on the program, but weight regain happens when they are off.
As an experienced professional that's seen just about every type of diet program out there, liquid diets seem to have the HIGHEST weight regain due to the fact that it's basically unsustainable once someone reaches goal. Really think about that.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition