Special K Diet?

Has anyone had any experience with a highly influenced Special K diet. If so what were your results? Any recommendations? Thanks.

Replies

  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    I prefer eating regular food (you eat way more food and loads more variety) vs teensie weensie overpriced snack and "meal" bars with bowls of cereal. I did have a narcotic-like addiction to special k snack bars (mmm-chocolate pretzel), but breaking that was the best thing I did for my weight loss and my wallet.
  • stephdeeable
    stephdeeable Posts: 1,407 Member
    The thing that makes this diet work is the caloric deficit. You can achieve this on any diet, eating any type of food. If you really enjoy the taste the Special K products then you'll be fine. I find the cereal okay tasting, but their snack bars taste way too fake-sweet for me.
  • annie7hudds
    annie7hudds Posts: 199 Member
    Never tried it.

    Special K is not the healthiest cereal you couldchoose. Also al the people I know who have done this diet have been knawing their arms off by mid afternoon.
  • tndejong
    tndejong Posts: 463
    i like the special k protein shakes for breakfast when im on the go. im not into the whole hype about replacing meals with cereals and such. and the bars are ok. but not my favorites. i only buy the cereal if im in the mood for it. the chocolate one is not too bad for a sweet tooth fix.
  • deladypilot
    deladypilot Posts: 618 Member
    I believe it doing something that you can stick with for the rest of your life. Losing weight and keeping it off is a lifestyle change. It something we are all having to learn. While I do not think a Special K bar now and then is a bad thing, I do not think I could stick with it very long.

    No matter what you choose remember that everyone here is here to support you
  • mogletdeluxe
    mogletdeluxe Posts: 623 Member
    Tried it in my ill-informed dieting days. I was absolutely murderous, grumpy, hungry, and constantly sugar-crashing. I sometimes think you might as well have bowl of Frosties twice a day; seem to have as much nutritional worth.

    It puts you in a deficit, but there's more to weight loss than that. Special K isn't going to nourish your body; rather give you blood sugar spikes and make you feel very deprived.

    Call me a cynic on this gloomy Monday morning, but it feels like a big marketing ploy to me appealing to new year resolutions and post-Christmas lose-weight-quick sorts.
  • chocl8girl
    chocl8girl Posts: 1,968 Member
    _nope.gif

    I'm sure if would be fine for a while for a caloric deficit, but really, it's not sustainable for life, there aren't enough nutrients, it's all highly processed, there isn't enough FOOD, and why would you even do that to yourself when you can eat plenty of real food and still get results?
  • Destinee704
    Destinee704 Posts: 69 Member
    I've tried the shakes as well. I normally do drink one for breakfast snack in between, eat a healthy lunch, snack in between and drink one close to dinner time. It helps when it comes to the hunger a lot. I also like the slim fast shakes. Rich Chocolate Royale, Cappuccino Delight, and French Vanilla are really good
  • prium01
    prium01 Posts: 306 Member
    I was too hungry to continue.I craved more food.I switched to normal food...
  • ashlinmarie
    ashlinmarie Posts: 1,263 Member
    I did it and lost 10 lbs in one week.

    The next week, I was starving, and eventually gained it all back.

    If you have an event and want to lose a few pounds quick, have at it, but slow and steady is much better and more effective for keeping the weight off.
  • phreekles
    phreekles Posts: 216 Member
    i tried it for about two weeks and nearly had a nervous break down towards the end. it was like i was PMTing the whole time but purely because of lack of food. realistically you're not going to be on the special k diet for the rest of your life so after you finish it, like myself and others have experienced, you'll put all the lost weight back on.

    it isn't a diet, its a way for kellogs to make more money from you!
  • nau05242
    nau05242 Posts: 21 Member
    living on sugar filled carbs is my idea of hell!! I guess for people who don't know or want to eat well then it might work to shed some weight but I doubt it's a healthy lifestyle choice. Try opting for more wholefoods and lean proteins to fill your tummy up with healthy goodness.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Whats a "highly influenced" special K diet?
  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Posts: 923 Member
    Have not tried that particular diet but tons of others, the only thing that has a lasting effect is lean meat, fruits, vegetables and grains with as little processed food as possible. At least that has been the case for me.
  • shirleygirl910
    shirleygirl910 Posts: 503 Member
    I tried using some of thier products for snacks, but all they did was make me want to snack more. I have found processed foods do that to me. The more the processed the more I crave sweets. If I eat more natural I don't eat as much and I don't crave snacks.
  • LoriIone
    LoriIone Posts: 88 Member
    I enjoy the special K chocolate protein shakes. They make a nice snack on the go! Taste great too, but that's all I use from special K.
  • melbogg
    melbogg Posts: 135 Member
    I tried using some of thier products for snacks, but all they did was make me want to snack more. I have found processed foods do that to me. The more the processed the more I crave sweets. If I eat more natural I don't eat as much and I don't crave snacks.

    Same here, best for me to avoid processed foods
  • MacSkillz
    MacSkillz Posts: 417 Member
    I tried it for a week when I first started trying to lose weight. It made me angry and I was STARVING. On that "diet" you are not eating enough calories. I only lasted a week on it and I actually gained 2 lbs, even though I stuck to my meal plan religiously.
  • I did the special K diet and lost 20 lbs. It came back on very quickly when I resumed normal eating. I use the products for snacks or such but dont follow the plan. Instead log everything that goes in your mouth and bust your butt at a gym and youll be a lot more successful than "diet". remember you need to make this something you can do everyday for life. do you really want to eat nothing but special k daily?
  • pawnstarNate
    pawnstarNate Posts: 1,728 Member
    I'll eat a special k bar for a snack. But, I do like their cereals a lot....but, I don't think for a full diet it would be very beneficial for me. but, everyone is different.
  • I like the special K cereals but I don't follow their diet. I have 2c of cereal in the morning with 1c of almond milk and thats about it.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    The thing that makes this diet work is the caloric deficit. You can achieve this on any diet, eating any type of food. If you really enjoy the taste the Special K products then you'll be fine. I find the cereal okay tasting, but their snack bars taste way too fake-sweet for me.

    well said. the whole 'whole grain oats' fad is really just an advertizing campagn started by general mills.

    there is almost no difference in the calories or glycemic index between white bread and whole wheat bread and the same thing goes for pretty much all whole wheat products vs thier 'more processed' counter parts.
  • I tried it back when I was in graduate school. The funny thing is that it taught me a lot about myself because I used to just eat a "bowl of cereal" and not pay attention to serving sizes. I learned that the serving is 3/4 cup or 1 cup for Special K and other cereals. That's not very much food at all. The Special K diet sounded appealing until I realized I was only going to be eating 3/4 cup of cereal a few times per day. I tried it and was starving and dived head first into a pizza by the 3rd day.

    You can eat so much more food if you just eat healthy, clean foods and you will still lose weight! :)
  • Brianna716
    Brianna716 Posts: 303 Member
    I did it a few years ago and it worked while I was on it, didn't take long to regain it once I stopped though.
  • corneredbycorn
    corneredbycorn Posts: 267 Member
    If you can't stay on it for the rest of your life, don't even give it any time now.
  • rosettafaery
    rosettafaery Posts: 102 Member
    I received an email about the Special K diet this morning... I was tempted but after reading this thread I think I will just stick to my normal, varied but healthy diet!
    Perhaps it can be good as a kick start to a healthier regime but if you are putting on weight again afterwards it isn't worth the trouble. :smile:
  • stuffinmuffin
    stuffinmuffin Posts: 985 Member
    Yeah, my friend worked for the Stroke Association and one of the first things they advise their patients is not to eat Special K because it has terrible salt content and is generally just not that good for you. Have wholemeal toast instead.

    Also, why go on a diet that you will lose weight to start with but wont be able to maintain unless you eat Special K for 2 meals every day for the long run?

    Everything in moderation is my motto. :flowerforyou:
  • swebb1103
    swebb1103 Posts: 200 Member
    I tried it and starved. Couldn't do it. I do have a Special K shake for breakfast or lunch on the occasions when I am too rushed/busy/lazy to make something else!
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,333 Member
    I appreciate special K products..just because they're making low calorie good fun tasting stuff. I'd never just eat their food. for my total diet. But to purchase the products as part of my fun food..sure. .I do like those new potato chips they have out. 30 pieces for 110 calories. Really gives me a chip fix..