Does Slim Fast really work? Well it has for me..

mgeralt
mgeralt Posts: 51 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have noticed some in here wondering whether Slim Fast's 3-2-1 plan really works or not. I originally tried losing weight with just exercise and healthy eating but I felt I needed something more to really kickstart things because my weight loss was beyond slow. Must be that over 30 slow metabolism..lol Anyway, I have been doing Slim Fast High Protein( 20 grams of protein and 2 net carbs) shakes as part of their 3-2-1 plan and I have lost 30 lbs(with many to go) on it so far in the time I have been on it. The first 6 days on it I lost 11 lbs and yes I know that was probably water weight but I have continued to lose everyday... The first 3-5 days seemed the hardest for me because you will feel hungry, but I stuck it out and my body has adjusted. I don't always use the Slim Fast snack bars for my snacks. I will eat fruit for snacks. Love apples. Veggies with some light ranch dip. I drink only water and green tea. No sugar drinks at all. I eat healthy dinners. The Slim Fast website has some great recipes you can use for your dinner, and the access is free(yeah!).. Most importantly, I exercise everyday.. I mostly do walking with some biking. Bottom line is, it has worked for me. I know that may not be the case for everyone. NO diet is easy and anyone who says otherwise, is either high or mental.. If losing weight were so easy, we would not have the obesity problem we have in the US.. Just remember, if you aren't truly motivated to lose weight, NOTHING is going to work.. Good luck to all in their weight loss journeys!!
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Replies

  • thisismeraw
    thisismeraw Posts: 1,264 Member
    Slim Fast, along with all other shake diets will work.... because they lower calorie intake if you stick to their plan. Normally that plan requires someone to eat far too little calories in a day. The shakes themselves will not cause you to lose weight other than restricting your calories.... which you can do for cheaper and higher quality with real food.

    What will you do when you reach your goal and want to start eating normally again? You haven't learned how to lose weight without the shakes so are you going to continue drinking them forever? Shake diets are temporary weight loss normally as the person doing them has not learned how to manage portions, how to make proper meals (all meals, not just dinner), etc.
  • mgeralt
    mgeralt Posts: 51 Member
    Well thank you for your "overwhelming" words of support.. lol BTW, I don't plan on doing Slim Fast forever.. You shouldn't assume someone who does these shake diets is completely ignorant of the fact that they are not a forever thing.. DUH... Most of us know this already. Sometimes what you may call the "right way" to lose weight doesn't always work for everyone..
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    Congratulations on your weight loss! I'm glad you found something that worked out well for you. But I do have to agree that the Slim Fast diet only works because it forces you to eat at a calorie deficit. There's nothing magical in the shakes or bars that CAUSES weight loss.

    I sometimes have a high protein Slim Fast shake for breakfast... because I'm lazy and I would rather drink my breakfast in the car on the way to work than take extra time in the morning to make some solid food and then sit down and eat it. But the shakes are only 180-190 calories a piece, which is significantly lower than a typical meal. If you have a shake for breakfast AND lunch, you're at less than 400 calories for half of your day. The snacks will bump your calories up a bit more, but you're still eating at a significant deficit.
    There's nothing wrong with using Slim Fast to lose weight if that's what you want to do. But its success is in the deficit, which is how weight loss works no matter which approach you take.
    Your approach has seemed to work well for you, and I see no reason why you can't have lasting success as long as you're mindful of your maintenance calories. :smile:
  • haleymae87
    haleymae87 Posts: 4 Member
    Congrats on your weight loss!!!!!!!!!
  • mgeralt
    mgeralt Posts: 51 Member
    Weight loss is not easy for sure.. I do make sure I get no less than 1200 cal a day on this plan.. The shakes are low cal so I make up for that with my healthy snacks and with dinner to make sure my calories are not below 1200...
  • mgeralt
    mgeralt Posts: 51 Member
    Thank you all for your words of support.. It's really appreciated!
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Ah, how did I know you had also chosen to go the 1200 calorie route as well? I wish you luck in your journey but it will most likely end when you can't stand the sight of another Slim Fast shake or get so hungry you want to chew your leg off. There is no sustainable lifestyle in following 1200 calories and diet shakes.
  • NonnyMary
    NonnyMary Posts: 982 Member
    Hi - I have thought about doing something like that to jump start myself, but after thinking about it, I would only use them as a sometime thing. I'd miss being able to eat real food, shakes would make me feel kinda empty, like I would want more food.

    I do want to kindly make a little correction - to say one thing about me - you say diets are not easy, well, mine is pretty easy. I follow the guidelines here and it is pretty easy,and i do eat real food, and actually food i enjoy.

    if they are working for you, then when you do actually decide to eat real food, try to follow what MFP guideliness are for nutrients.. and you may be able to keep the weight off.

    if you just started your diet, you will lose a lot of water weight in the first 2 weeks. then it starts to even itself off, please let us know how your doing in the following months :)
  • tabinmaine
    tabinmaine Posts: 965 Member
    Ah, how did I know you had also chosen to go the 1200 calorie route as well? I wish you luck in your journey but it will most likely end when you can't stand the sight of another Slim Fast shake or get so hungry you want to chew your leg off. There is no sustainable lifestyle in following 1200 calories and diet shakes.

    This!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Well thank you for your "overwhelming" words of support.. lol BTW, I don't plan on doing Slim Fast forever.. You shouldn't assume someone who does these shake diets is completely ignorant of the fact that they are not a forever thing.. DUH... Most of us know this already. Sometimes what you may call the "right way" to lose weight doesn't always work for everyone..
    My mom had great success with Slim Fast a while back. The she went back to normal eating and gained it all back and then some.

    Ingesting fewer calories than you burn will always work. But if you don't learn to maintain under normal circumstances, you're going to regain. Make sure you learn to reincorporate normal eating in a healthy way that doesn't include going back to the way you used to eat.
  • SoViLicious
    SoViLicious Posts: 2,633 Member
    Well thank you for your "overwhelming" words of support.. lol BTW, I don't plan on doing Slim Fast forever.. You shouldn't assume someone who does these shake diets is completely ignorant of the fact that they are not a forever thing.. DUH... Most of us know this already. Sometimes what you may call the "right way" to lose weight doesn't always work for everyone..


    You're such a peach. :flowerforyou: Enjoy your roller-coaster!
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    Came in to say "yes it works for some who otherwise eat sensibly."

    Left when you got too snarky when someone gave you a valid and reasoned opinion, which you sought out with this post.

    Do what you want, OP.
  • AsrarHussain
    AsrarHussain Posts: 1,424 Member
    The only reason slimfast works is because your calorie intake is low so you lose weight nothing special in the Slim Fast product that will shed Fat.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Well... you realize that Slim Fast is not what has caused you to lose that weight. Eating better and exercise is what has caused your weight loss. Slim Fast is sort of acting like a placebo here. But if it keeps you motivated, more power to you. However, this web community doesn't support any program that requires you to purchase products for weight loss because it is easy (and cheaper) to eat better and exercise.

    If it works for you, then great. But try to avoid pushing it onto others. It's liable to get you some unwanted attention here in the forums.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    You know what else works? Food. :smile:
  • SoViLicious
    SoViLicious Posts: 2,633 Member
    Came in to say "yes it works for some who otherwise eat sensibly."

    Left when you got too snarky when someone gave you a valid and reasoned opinion, which you sought out with this post.

    Do what you want, OP.

    inorite
  • ELVISDEAN
    ELVISDEAN Posts: 77
    My Ice Cream diet kills it I and my people have lost tons of weight and fat eating apint of ice cream a day..I like Steves premium ice cream or Ben and Jerrys a few apples and a salad and always lose up t0 8 pounds a week.....weight train 3 times a week and walk 30 minutes a day

    much healthier then slim fast and gets better results

    Elvis
  • JulesAlloggio
    JulesAlloggio Posts: 480 Member
    I actually used Slim Fast for an afternoon snack while I was pregnant..it worked like a charm. I remember Jessa flipping around like crazy when I drank this. I needed some extra nutrition and this is why I used it =)

    It works!! And the price is fabulous!!
  • So_Much_Fab
    So_Much_Fab Posts: 1,146 Member
    As others have said, it's the calorie restriction that's causing the weight loss - nothing more, nothing less. But if you feel it's working for you, then I'm surely not going to try to convince you otherwise.

    That said... :flowerforyou:

    I was curious about the ingredients of one of the 3-2-1 shake varieties so I chose French Vanilla. Pardon the all caps, it's how it was listed on their (Slim Fast's) website:

    SUGAR, MALTODEXTRIN, HIGH OLEIC SUNFLOWER OIL, GUM ARABIC, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, BUTTERMILK POWDER, CELLULOSE GEL, SOY FIBER, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, XANTHAN GUM, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, DEXTROSE, GUAR GUM, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARRAGEENAN, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (NONNUTRITIVE SWEETENER), ASPARTAME. VITAMINS AND MINERALS: CALCIUM CARBONATE, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, MAGNESIUM OXIDE, SODIUM ASCORBATE, VITAMIN E ACETATE, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE, NIACINAMIDE, ZINC OXIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, COPPER GLUCONATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, CHROMIUM CHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, BIOTIN, FOLIC ACID, SODIUM MOLYBDATE, SODIUM SELENITE, PHYTONADIONE (VITAMIN K1), POTASSIUM IODIDE, CHOLECALCIFEROL (VITAMIN D3), AND CYANOCOBALAMIN (VITAMIN B12). SWEETENED WITH NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS AND A NONNUTRITIVE SWEETENER. MAY CONTAIN WHEAT . PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE.

    Now, you may or may not be the type of person that cares that there's a whole lotta yuck in this particular shake, but I am. Number one ingredient above all others is sugar! And not only that, but there's artificial sweeteners on top of that!

    Just throwing this out there, you could make shakes @ home from fresh ingredients + protein powder that would do the job just as well, might be cheaper, and definitely would be healthier.

    "Food" for thought. :wink:
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    You know what else works? Food. :smile:

    ^^ This


    I will drink a meal-replacement shake in an emergency, like I didn't have time to prepare some food to take to lunch, but even then, I need two of them to make it a meal (and a snack later). Those shakes are less than 200 calories.
  • tammycolbert
    tammycolbert Posts: 236 Member
    I did awesome on Slim Fast, I lost 50lbs, unfortunatly I gained about 75lbs back when I stopped. But best of luck to you and I hope you can keep it off.
  • theepervette
    theepervette Posts: 638 Member
    As others have said, it works? of course, you're limiting your calorie consumption.
    But the shake it self is no magic to it.... i could tell you to take a multivitamin and drink a glass of almond milk in replacement of one meal a day and you'd lose weight that way too..
  • feathernaut
    feathernaut Posts: 66 Member
    I'm a little disturbed by how vicious some of these replies are. Aren't we all supposed to be adults, here?
  • dfaith999
    dfaith999 Posts: 5 Member
    I like meal replacement shakes. If I don't have time to prepare a calorie-controlled meal, they are very convenient. I don't think they are a long-term solution, but an ok way lose the weight while educating oneself about proper nutrition.

    I think discouraging the person who originally posted this is a bit mean. All I would say to that person is, while losing the weight on what is well-known to be a crash diet, try to familiarize yourself with proper long-term nutrition so you can gradually taper off of the liquid diet without gaining back all of your hard work.

    Good luck.
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    I will have a protein shake once in a while for breakfast, but that's usually after my workout..otherwise I prefer real food.
  • mgeralt
    mgeralt Posts: 51 Member
    wow... I think I touched a nerve by talking about what has worked for me.. oh well. to each there own...
  • mgeralt
    mgeralt Posts: 51 Member
    I'm a little disturbed by how vicious some of these replies are. Aren't we all supposed to be adults, here?



    I am too but oh well.. I am doing good and thought I would just share.. Didn't realize I would get so much "Slimfast Backlash" lol
  • freddykid
    freddykid Posts: 265 Member
    Well thank you for your "overwhelming" words of support.. lol BTW, I don't plan on doing Slim Fast forever.. You shouldn't assume someone who does these shake diets is completely ignorant of the fact that they are not a forever thing.. DUH... Most of us know this already. Sometimes what you may call the "right way" to lose weight doesn't always work for everyone..

    The Right Way is called that because short cuts have difficulties and failure points all around them. To quote the movie road trip "if the shortcut was easy, it would just be called the way." Shakes are a shortcut that will make you lose weight, but without embracing the 'right way' after you will gain it all back. You know it is a short term fix for a long term problem but kudos for losing the weight, now you just have to learn how not to put it back on. Good luck
  • mgeralt
    mgeralt Posts: 51 Member
    Congrats on your weight loss!!!!!!!!!


    Thank you!!
  • mgeralt
    mgeralt Posts: 51 Member
    I like meal replacement shakes. If I don't have time to prepare a calorie-controlled meal, they are very convenient. I don't think they are a long-term solution, but an ok way lose the weight while educating oneself about proper nutrition.

    I think discouraging the person who originally posted this is a bit mean. All I would say to that person is, while losing the weight on what is well-known to be a crash diet, try to familiarize yourself with proper long-term nutrition so you can gradually taper off of the liquid diet without gaining back all of your hard work.

    Good luck.

    Thank you for your kind words..

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