Protein Shakes & Salads w/ Chicken

I would say drop this program and try out just a moderate deficit?

It's great that you're losing weight and all but you've got some very valid concerns about putting the weight back on. If you're not learning these new eating patterns as you lose than all the weight lost is pretty pointless unless you plan on eating this way for the rest of you life . . . . .

600-700 calories a day is far from a moderate deficit and I'm sceptical of any program, medically supervised or not, that encourages this type of eating.

This just doesn't sound sustainable to me. If you aren't going to eat this way forever, then results are likely to be temporary. Why is it so challenging just to eat a moderately balanced, calorie-restricted diet?

My mom has done these types in the past and is about to start again. I'm sure you realize that she gained the weight back since she's doing it again. If you see results, I'm sure you will do your best to get motivated to stay healthy. Since you are on a very low caloric intake, I assume you are seeing a doctor, nutritionist and some sort of counseling? I'm sure as long as you continue to make changes gradually realizing what you can eat and what you cannot eat, you shouldn't gain weight back (or not much). Keep with the counseling to stay on track.

I would suggest trying to make your own meals vs buying. You can spend less than an hour a week grilling chicken and using in salads. I pre-pack them to toss on my salad each day. I also mention making your own because there are more nutrients in spinach vs lettuce you get in a drive-thru salad. You can use your own dressing that you like (I make my own with olive oil, vinegar and seasonings) and you don't need the croutons they put on there! Plus, it's cheaper!

You will have to find what works best for you and this is one way to jump start your loss, but obviously you cannot live on 600 calories for very long. I would suggest reading Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes before you start eating real food again.

Take it one day at a time. Logging and reading labels will help you be more aware of what's in your food, especially sugar.

Good Luck!

What is the point of paying for a supervised weight loss program and then doing your own thing? That makes no sense to me.

Your fear of regaining any lost weight is well founded. It will probably happen.

I think that if this is working for you, stick with it.

Sometimes it takes a really massive change to get results (I have done the same thing). Even now, 20lbs away from my GW, if I need to get out of a plateau, I'll have 3 shakes/day for a few days.

What you'll find is that as you lose weight, it'll be easier/more fun to exercise. Then, you add in more exercise to your routine, and you actually need to eat more. Once you are eating well and exercising, you can maintain your new, lower weight. I think the hardest thing to do and the biggest key is to lose the weight initially, and the rest will build on itself.

I had a very restricted program 14 years ago. I lost 30 lbs in 6 months. And I was 10 lbs over my starting weight again 6 months later (and got beautiful stretching marks in the process). And it was still food... you just started with plain yogurt and veggies and added a new food type every week. I can't even imagine with just eating shakes. Sounds like a recipe for failure, IMO.

I'd ask whoever gave you that diet what their plans are to start eating normally again though. Maybe they slowly switch you over to a normal diet again after a while. It just doesn't seem sustainable long term as is.

Question to all of you lovely people. I am on a medically supervised weight loss program. I know people have differences about this, and I'm not asking you not to speak them, just please don't go overboard. They advise you to drink 6 shakes a day; 5 shakes and one protein bar; or 4 shakes, one bar, and one soup. No matter which one you choose, you are also to have 2-3 cups of either fresh/frozen vegetables & a vitamin.

Although I am not sticking to the program exactly as directed I am still getting amazing results. (I've lost 10 pounds since last Tuesday.) To get to my question... IF you've ever done it did/do you have a problem when it comes time to eat 'normal' food again? By saying I have not been following the guidelines strictly, I mean I will skip the 3 cups of veggies and have have only 3 shakes, typically picking up a Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken from McDonalds, only added 1/4 of the dressing (not big on any type of dressing).

When I quit this program I don't want all the weight to come back. I do realize that this is a LIFESTYLE change and I am 100% committed to staying on guard with my logging. Have any of you been through this or currently going through? Would love any inputs whether or not you've done/completed the program or also if you've never done one, but would like to give advice.

Thank you!

The LIFESTYLE change won't come over night. Logging meals & snacks.... helps you learn about the foods you eat. Everyone will make mistakes along the way ..... as long as you learn from your mistakes ..... and not repeat them.... you will make progress.

Dieting for me is getting the "most bang" for my calorie buck (protien, fiber, healthy fats, etc) ...... one choice at a time. I'm not doing any "program" because I need to LEARN how to eat better ....... if I want to keep the weight off.