SlimFast- does it actually work?

peckish_pomegranate
peckish_pomegranate Posts: 242 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So on an impulse, I bought one of those containers of SlimFast powder (they were on sale for New Years dieters I guess.) Has anyone had good results using their 3-2-1 plan? I just tried the stuff, it's...not awful. I could work with this.

On the flip side, has anyone had really bad experiences with it? I'd think you'd get really hungry using it, since it's just milk and powder, which might lead people to over eat later.

*Oh, and a 2nd note, I already know how to eat a balanced, healthy real food diet and that's not at all hard for me to follow- it's more a matter of money and time saved with the powder.
«1

Replies

  • Crystal_Pistol
    Crystal_Pistol Posts: 750 Member
    It's just calorie control. Find out the calorie amount in a serving of powder and milk, find a meal of equivalent caloric value, BOOM- save money, avoid hunger.

    If you're hell bent on shakes, go for a protein shake. It will likely be much more filling.

    I tried Slim Fast once. I was hungry for a few days, and then I puked. Trial over.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Personally I'd rather eat food.
  • peckish_pomegranate
    peckish_pomegranate Posts: 242 Member
    Oh, and a 2nd note, I already know how to eat a balanced, healthy diet- it's more a matter of money and time saved with the powder, which is why I'm hoping it'll work for me.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    SAme with me!! I was starving and it mad me sick..that was years ago, never tried again
  • lacurandera1
    lacurandera1 Posts: 8,083 Member
    Ha!
  • Topher1978
    Topher1978 Posts: 975 Member
    Eating at a calorie deficit will make you lose weight. If this is how you want to cut your calories, sure it'll work.
  • jconnors2012
    jconnors2012 Posts: 22 Member
    its full of sugar!
  • amytag
    amytag Posts: 206 Member
    I used the Slim-Fast shakes for breakfast when I started on my weight loss - I used the pre-mixed protein shakes and they were satisfying and helped me learn to control calories. I've since switched over to more foods than shakes, but they were effective for me when I was new to this.
  • Freidon
    Freidon Posts: 169 Member
    Never tried it myself, but I know two different people who both experienced diarrhea problems with it. I don't think it's a bad idea for every once in a while, but I wouldn't use it several days in a row.
  • daj150
    daj150 Posts: 815 Member
    Slim Fast is really useful if you have major portion control issues. For example, I had been bed-ridden for over 9 months from an accident. During that time I kind of lost of my eating controls and gained a lot of weight. Then I lost some for a trip I went on, only to gain even more afterwards. When I finally decided to get my act together, I went to Slim Fast. I followed their recommended plans (lots to choose from) and it really helped me get back to training my brain on portion control. However, after a couple of months, my brain was trained and I was insanely starving. So, I did what was already mentioned...I found meals with equivalent calories and then I had a healthy, sustainable solution.
  • angiechimpanzee
    angiechimpanzee Posts: 536 Member
    It's a 1,200 calorie diet, achieved through sugary & artificial shakes and snacks. Yeah, it works. But you could easily & more enjoyably make your own customized 1,200 calorie meal plan and stick to that. I guarantee you'd get the same results.
  • Nerdy_Rose
    Nerdy_Rose Posts: 1,277 Member
    I used to eat slim fast when I was too poor to buy food. They had 'em cheap at the gas station. I was really skinny back then, too.
  • denezy
    denezy Posts: 573 Member
    An all-liquid diet makes me hungry
  • jennfranklin
    jennfranklin Posts: 434 Member
    Yes it does work.. But seriously, anything can work as long as there is a calorie defecit! I would rather eat real food, But in a hurry they are not so bad! But a little high in sugar!
  • melduf
    melduf Posts: 468 Member
    Slim-fast contains artificial fructose which can increase your appetite.
  • HeiWol87
    HeiWol87 Posts: 15
    I did it for a while, i had the premixed shakes, they were much nicer. I kidded myself that they were filling etc, however, I would be starving hungry after an hr and all I could think about was food. There are about 230 cals in each. you could have a slice of toast and egg in the morning for 200 cals and a chicken salad wrap for about 250cals for lunch. Much more satisfying and healthier
  • Tat2dDom0105
    Tat2dDom0105 Posts: 661
    "Hey, have ya tried that Slim Fast shake?? It goes great with nachos!" - Comedian John Pinette
  • Cheryl1018
    Cheryl1018 Posts: 59
    I used to once for a quick weight loss. I replaced 2 meals with the shakes. For long term weight loss I think its best to learn proper nutrition and exercise and stick with that. I took a nutrition class and the instructor did not recommend any of the pre-packaged plans because it does not teach you anything about preparing your own nutritious meals.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    I lost 12lbs on it in like a monthish. It was quite horrible though because you don't eat food two meals a day and it's full of sugar so you get hungry. It's no way to live. Maybe if you have it to replace one meal a day it's more sustainable but I can't have it anymore since I finally decided I shouldn't have milk anymore because it makes me sick. I'm also vegan now and slimfast isn't vegan. But like I said...it's in no way healthy, but if if healthy isn't your intention, then yes it works for quick weight loss.
  • souperficial
    souperficial Posts: 122 Member
    Since you said it's a money and time thing, I'd say go for it as a meal every now and then. I wouldn't drink it every day, because that could get really repetitive. My dad's on the road a lot, and he'll mix up one of the shakes on days where he doesn't have time to eat lunch.
  • ErinBeth7
    ErinBeth7 Posts: 1,625 Member
    Yes (but not in a healthy way) and once you stop...the weight comes back as fast as you lost it...or faster. Do you want to be drinking slimfast forever?

    Like someone else has said, slimfast is only calorie restriction so just work on eating healthier foods and meeting a calorie goal.
  • dimoul
    dimoul Posts: 137 Member
    Way way back, once upon at time, before MFP, I tried Slimfast.

    It totally sucks. No variety. Tastes bad. Doesn't satisfy hunger. Deprive yourself so much, you go overboard and lose any gains you make.

    Not for me. Eat real food. Is there an acronym for that already? If not, then I'm claiming it. E.R.F.!
  • umachanxo
    umachanxo Posts: 926 Member
    Isn't slim fast loaded with sugar?

    I'm also on a tight budget, but found that when my husband and I started eating completely clean, we get a lot more in groceries than if we were going in those middle aisles.
  • dfborders
    dfborders Posts: 474 Member
    I had a lot of luck with it when I was younger (mid-20s or so) and single and only had to worry about food, snacks and dinner for me. Tried it again but with a family and family schedules found it was easier and less time consuming to learn portion control (especially since they hated the dinners I prepared on SlimFast). Still learning but don't think I could go back to Slim Fast - don't get me wrong, I like to keep their premade shakes around for emergencies but just can't handle doing it regularly anymore.

    Also, when I did SlimFast I kept that original weight off for years (and haven't put it all back on). Like some other posters said it was great for me to learn self control and I used it to lose about 30 pounds and then started portion control. Unfortunately, portion control and self-control are still major issues for me - I haven't gained back that original 30 pounds but I have gained more than I would like to admit to :tongue:
  • senami632
    senami632 Posts: 134 Member
    I tried it for some days but I stopped because not only did it not fill me up, I discovered it was filled with so much carbs and sugar. If you want a meal replacement shake, try a health store and ask for something which is low in carbs/sugar...if not, the purpose is defeated. I used the cambridge diet shakes and the UNC whey protein shakes and they worked for me. Good luck, hun! xx
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    *Oh, and a 2nd note, I already know how to eat a balanced, healthy real food diet and that's not at all hard for me to follow- it's more a matter of money and time saved with the powder.

    If this is true ^^, then yes it should work. The biggest problem with systems like this is that people don't know how to eat when they stop using the program. But if that's not a problem, I don't see why it shouldn't work for you. My sister works in a busy doctor's office and often only gets a few minutes for lunch and she recently started using shakes (not Slim Fast) for lunch. She's slim and not trying to lose weight. She just likes the convenience.
  • TattedXMomXStace
    TattedXMomXStace Posts: 79
    It's just calorie control. Find out the calorie amount in a serving of powder and milk, find a meal of equivalent caloric value, BOOM- save money, avoid hunger.

    If you're hell bent on shakes, go for a protein shake. It will likely be much more filling.

    I tried Slim Fast once. I was hungry for a few days, and then I puked. Trial over.

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ same thing happened to me
  • Bobby__Clerici
    Bobby__Clerici Posts: 741 Member
    Slim Fast is a mere tool.
    I use this product sometimes. When I am rushed or need to make a fast smoothie, slim fast works on a dime.
    And sometimes, before going to a party or out to lunch, I'll slam one down just to give me a discipline push to keep from ordering the onion rings, cheese fries and 2 deserts.
    I see value in it that way.
    To each his own....
  • fougamou
    fougamou Posts: 200 Member
    I did it successfully 7 or 8 years ago (and kept off the weight for about three years).

    The main thing it did from me was to break the patterns of eating that I had and force me into a limited calorie diet. When I went off it, I replaced the meals and snacks with real food with similar calorie counts.

    It was also useful for carrying around in my purse, so I could get the kids something to eat when we were out and not worry about what I would eat.

    Even though I was successful on it, I probably could not do it again,
  • MsDover
    MsDover Posts: 395 Member
    Never tried it myself, but I know two different people who both experienced diarrhea problems with it. I don't think it's a bad idea for every once in a while, but I wouldn't use it several days in a row.

    This.
    Tried it years ago, but only lasted 3 days on it. It's ok to give yourself a kickstart... maybe.... but more than that and it's pretty horrible.

Categories