Slim Fast to start?

TX_Rhon

Ok so a lot of you think that 1260 is low and some think I put in the wrong information. So here is my info and my goal date is May 15 2015

Current weight 199
Goal weight 130
Height 5'6
I am a female
I am lightly active
I workout 4 times a week (I work out an hour or two each time)
My goal is 2 pounds a week (If I knock it down 1\2 a pound I get only 10 extra calories)

Edited because I just noticed year - sorry.

Eat food, not shakes. Pre-plan, pre-cook. It can work with a busy schedule and kids. Good luck.

trogalicious

Following is a quote from @ Trogalicious. He has lost 153 pounds. Please read and do this….

1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

pretty much that.

...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.

Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

and make sure to read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

this... plus:

slimfast?

ChrysalisCove

I did it for about a month for the same reasons... plus I'm a super busy toddler mom & nanny, so it was easy! Worked for me & I had no trouble transitioning to "real" food

knra_grl

Do you eat back any of your exercise calories? If not, that could be why you are stalling - your body needs fuel - feed it 1260 cals isn't that much.

FatMomma89

Do you eat back any of your exercise calories? If not, that could be why you are stalling - your body needs fuel - feed it 1260 cals isn't that much.

Sometimes

143tobe

Sexycna2011, I LOVE your c-section scar ticker. Just shows how awesome you are. I used a slim fast type drink as a jump start when I couldn't gain control of my eating habits. It worked for me, I think I used it for about two weeks. It was enough for me to break the cycle of my endless snacking, and it allowed me to have one real 'meal' a day (always a salad). I had also started doing just 30 minutes of cardio a day (alternated 30 minute dvds), 5 days a week. For me personally, I needed this start. I had tried and tried for the past 4 years to change my diet, but I just couldn't. I was totally out of control.I went on to eat much better and continued my 30 minutes a day until I was fit enough for longer workouts. I think our situations are different though. I was in a bad bad place. REALLY out of shape. You have already been able to restrict your food, and are already working out. Sorry, I don't have the answer that will work for you in your situation. You really are getting a lot of great information and advice in here, but I'm going to go against the grain and say, maybe you need a mental break from your diet and calorie counting? If you were to limit your slim fast use to 1, or 2 weeks, maybe that could just be the break you need. Dieting is stressful. Especially when you are not getting the results you hoped for. Whatever you do, I wish you the best of luck towards your goals!

Cyclingbonnie

Why not just eat real food at a deficit? Why do people make things more complicated than they need to be?

I do agree. I've been asked so often what my secret is. People always act disappointed when I tell them I count calories.

redraidergirl2009

It worked but there are better meal replacements out there. You can also try lean cuisines, things like that are preportioned

RToland45

I have been drinking slimfast for breakfast and lunch. Lost 4 pounds in two weeks. I am going to start exercising at least three times a week. It helps me and keeps my calories for the day at my goal of 1200 calories. In addition, I splurge on Saturday so I don't feel deprived all the time. I eat a healthy dinner of no more than 300 - 350 calories.

lighteningjeanne855

Before I launched my Paleo lifestyle,
for a SINGLE week,
I drank two shakes made with a high-quality whey protein powder
and ate normal food twice per day.
That daily routine stopped my food orgies.
I used that week to get my pantry cleared out, and
brought in the proper foods.

Best Wishes!

glowgirl14

You didn't answer the question about your calories - because I believe you mentioned that you had a 600 calorie deficit from 1260.

Please stop doing this!!! You're going to harm your body. You will stop losing weight. I did this to myself because I did not know what I was doing.

Started at around 200lbs...started at 1200 calories a day. It worked for a while. When it stopped, I would go to 800/day for a week, and then back to 1200. I stopped losing weight after about 60lbs. dropped my calories further and further and further...to 300/day. Looking back, I'm so incredibly amazed and thankful that I didn't hurt myself in a more permanent manner. "Shrink my stomach"? I had no appetite for the 300 calories I was eating. The tiny bag of almonds I was eating for 90 cals were nauseating. Mental focus was shot. No energy. It took MONTHS to get myself back to some semblance of normal.

Finally got on MFP and argued the merits of slimfast or low calorie plans. Thought I was "different" from everyone else because I "couldn't" lose weight. FINALLY listened to everyone here and found out what I should be eating by using the calculators at IIFYM.com...

Got a fitbit so I knew how many calories I was actually burning. (Thought I was lightly active too. Nope. Working out a few times a week put me into the active category.)

It took a couple of weeks for the results to show, but wonder of wonders...what all these people told me worked.

Please...read some of these posts...really listen to what they are telling you. Don't just skim through them if you're not inclined to agree and move on to one that says it's ok...whatever you choose to do is your decision, but at least make it an informed one!

: )