Does Slim Fast really work? Well it has for me..
Replies
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She isn't done yet, though. So she doesn't know if it worked for her, only that it is currently helping her lose weight. She may or may not have long-term success. The problem with Slim Fast is you really don't learn portion control, which is the key to keeping the weight off. It's the same reason people who opt for WL surgery usually regain the weight once they're able to eat more again.
As for the 1,200 calories thing, it does work and is sustainable for some people. I remember constantly being told a specific poster on here did so well eating far more than 1,200 and look how good she looks, so everyone should follow her lead! Well, yee, this particular MFP member looks fantastic and has made great progress eating more than 1,200 calories. She also is 5'10". I am 5'3". Don't tell me that I need and can eat the same calories as someone 7 inches taller than I am and get the same results.
And some people might be able to, but the simple fact is that while burning more than you consume to lose weight is a universal truth, people vary in their metabolic rates and not everyone can follow the exact same plan and get the same results.
I'm perfectly satisfied most days on 1,200 calories or fewer, even when I exercise. I don't even deliberatelt eat that little. I just eat high volumes of low-calorie foods (fruits and veggies) and I'm not hungry enough to eat more.
And, yes, I used to eat more than that, thus weight gain. But I was eating higher-calorie foods, so it added up in smaller quantities.0 -
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.
It is really discouraging to busy your *kitten* trying to lose weight by denying real nutritious and healthy, filling food in favor of a meal replacement only to have the weight come back on when you discontinue the SlimFast diet. I think people are trying to save OP a little heartache.0 -
I wasn't talking about the OP....I clearly stated it those on here pooh poohing her diet :happy:0 -
Everyone is not on this site for the same reasons. And a "study" done on one individual cannot be generalized for the entire public.
Exactly, one person's failure or success can NOT mean everyone will succeed or fail so glad you got my point:laugh:0 -
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..0
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That's all I am using it for too.. Not gonna do it forever.. My weight loss was stalled and I wanted to kickstart things and that is what Slim Fast has done for me...0 -
I'm a little disturbed by how vicious some of these replies are. Aren't we all supposed to be adults, here?
I know, right? I've only been here about a week and already I'm tempted to write off the forums for so much negativity.
As to the OP, I don't drink Slim Fast but that's more of a financial reason. I have had some of them before and did enjoy them, but I'd only drink half of it because it made me feel so full. Now I'm more of a Carnation Breakfast drink mix when I can buy it on sale. I've also enjoyed Special K cereals which my grandmother swore by. Now if only the generic brands would do more than the strawberry one....
From what I've read from your later comments, you do know that it's mostly a lower caloric intake with the shake and you make up with it with other foods to reach at least 1200. And still you're losing weight. Greatness! It also seems like you understand that you'll eventually slack off on the Slim Fast and replace with real food. All I gotta say is to keep up with the caloric intake and keep doing what you're doing.0 -
If you don't recognize an ingredient, your body won't either...
Not touting the Slimfast, but misinformation should be corrected.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Personally, I don't promote quick fixes like this product, HOWEVER, scare-mongering is a truly ugly technique that sends people to another completely different extreme that could lead to orthorexia.
Did you actually read the ingredient list?
Above are just the ingredients used to make it a shake. There is really nothing scary here. Most of it is sweeteners and protein. You might have a problem if you are trying to "eat clean" but obviously that isn't the OP's goal.
And this part of the ingredients are the vitamins and minerals. I took the liberty of bolding the header for you since you apparently missed it. There is nothing here that wouldn't be found in a multi-vitamin.
Honestly, there is nothing here that OP can't find in whole foods. Slim-Fast is just convenient. Just because you don't know the chemical compounds that comprise your whole foods does NOT mean that the food is scary or dangerous. It just means you need to educate yourself about nutrition a little better.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Not sure in what world you think things synthetically made are good for you...
Carrageenan is actually bad for you, especially if you have IBS.
Dextrose is usually synthetically made.
Aspartame isn't natural either...
So yes, those are just a couple of things in the ingredient list that do scare me. I wasn't trying to "scare-monger" anyone. I was stating in my opinion the ingredients scare ME. Maybe you missed the word ME in it....
The OP obviously doesn't have IBS since she pointed out that it hasn't caused her any constipation. Dextrose is a modified sugar, and the research on aspartame does NOT indicate any harmful effects for one's health.
Like I said, if you are a "clean-eater" then you obviously wouldn't want to use this product, but if the OP were a "clean-eater," she obviously wouldn't be substituting her nutrition with meal replacements.0 -
She stated herself Slim Fast is not permenant. So if she wanted to use it to begin her diet and has lost weight and can now start working out her own plan then it has worked for her.
What she said was that it has worked for her. It's the title of the thread. It IS WORKING for her at the moment. If she comes back in two years and has kept the weight off (or most of it), then she can say it worked for her.
If she develops and continues lifestyle changes due to the Slim Fast, then she can say it worked for her.
She hasn't reached that point yet.
I can tout the breakup diet if it's only about losing weight. I dropped 25 pounds in a matter of weeks by ingesting nothing but apple cider out of depression. I kept that weight off for years, too. Do I recommend the mehod? Nope. But it worked for me. :-)
Slim Fast is a better method, sure. But it hasn't "worked" yet.0 -
It worked for me to but I substituted Ice cream for the slim fast because it's healthier0
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congratulations you paid slim fast to do something that MFP will do for free, create a calorie deficit...0
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What she said was that it has worked for her. It's the title of the thread. It IS WORKING for her at the moment. If she comes back in two years and has kept the weight off (or most of it), then she can say it worked for her.
If she develops and continues lifestyle changes due to the Slim Fast, then she can say it worked for her.
She hasn't reached that point yet.
I can tout the breakup diet if it's only about losing weight. I dropped 25 pounds in a matter of weeks by ingesting nothing but apple cider out of depression. I kept that weight off for years, too. Do I recommend the mehod? Nope. But it worked for me. :-)
Slim Fast is a better method, sure. But it hasn't "worked" yet.
You missed the point it HAS worked for her, it's doing exactly what she wanted it to do. It's kickstarted her weight loss and when she feels she's had enough then she'll go to adding food in. No where has she said she's going to use slimfast thru out her entire journey. So in fact even if she stops drinking it today it did do exactly what she wanted it to do.0 -
You missed the point it HAS worked for her, it's doing exactly what she wanted it to do. It's kickstarted her weight loss and when she feels she's had enough then she'll go to adding food in. No where has she said she's going to use slimfast thru out her entire journey. So in fact even if she stops drinking it today it did do exactly what she wanted it to do.
OMFG. THANK YOU!0 -
congratulations you paid slim fast to do something that MFP will do for free, create a calorie deficit...
Just like you buying chicken or hummus or whatever it is you eat, she paid for food.0 -
Luckily, my digestive system is on auto-pilot.My body digests food even if I have no clue what it is. :laugh:
:laugh: That sounds like me..lol0 -
WOW.. I did not realize talking about what has worked for me would turn on the mean like it has.. Geez... I appreciate the constructive criticizm to a certain degree because it can only make us stronger and better, but not the mean...0
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Honestly, people, drinking Slim Fast is no different then drinking Ensure or those kid's nutritional supplement shakes. It's just that Slim Fast is branded for weight loss rather than for old people and children. Sure, it's a gimmick. Believe me, I hate the diet-merchandising industry as much as the next person, but I don't see how what the OP is doing is any different than using whey protein powder and a multivitamin.0
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The site is free. You know what she paid for? Food.
Just like you buying chicken or hummus or whatever it is you eat, she paid for food.
right, but I always pay for food...
I do not pay extra for shakes, bars, cleanses, etc...
slight difference...0 -
You missed the point it HAS worked for her, it's doing exactly what she wanted it to do. It's kickstarted her weight loss and when she feels she's had enough then she'll go to adding food in. No where has she said she's going to use slimfast thru out her entire journey. So in fact even if she stops drinking it today it did do exactly what she wanted it to do.
I didn't miss the point. She hasn't reached the point yet. She very well may. She hasn't yet.
No one has ever said Slim Fast will not help someone lose weight. Ever. Never. Not ever. So her claim that is has worked for her -- in such an argumentative manner as the OP states it -- is untrue. IT IS WORKING AT THE MOMENT. There isn't enough evidence to show that this path will work for her long-term. I hope for her sake it does.
There is an important distinction in the terms that YOU are missing.0 -
Let's see... the first 3 ingredients are sugar, modified sugar, and oil. Than fillers, stabilizers and a multivitamin (with questionable absorption properties).0
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right, but I always pay for food...
I do not pay extra for shakes, bars, cleanses, etc...
slight difference...
She isn't buying EXTRA food. She's buying different food. Btw, no cleanses in slimfast
She bought the meal replacement shake for breakfast instead of your box of cereal... Fruits and veggies for snacks like you would... Meal replacement bar for lunch instead of rice and chicken and what you would buy for dinner.
It's not EXTRA. It's DIFFERENT. How about you learn what the diet is before you start talking.0 -
She isn't buying EXTRA food. She's buying different food. Btw, no cleanses in slimfast
She bought the meal replacement shake for breakfast instead of your box of cereal... Fruits and veggies for snacks like you would... Meal replacement bar for lunch instead of rice and chicken and what you would buy for dinner.
It's not EXTRA. It's DIFFERENT. How about you learn what the diet is before you start talking.
Ah... but my question is this... is that meal replacement bar truly a nutritional equivalent to chicken and rice?
That I doubt very much.0 -
I would have to agree that these forums can be a real shark tank!!!! Gotta take it with a grain of salt. Everyone has their own opinions, and the key word is respect.
With that being said, I have tried Slim Fast and Atkins shakes before, especially since I don't do breakfast much, but what I found that for ME, I would drink a shake and be hungry after an hour!!!! I was never really satisified on those shakes!!! I love, love, love, love, LOVE to eat, and I had to find out what works best for me to do so!!!!
I do still "drink" my breakfast; however, instead of using a Slim Fast shake, I nutriblast. All natural ingredients, and I find that THIS does make me full for a couple hours. It does take me some time to drink it all too lol
Best of luck to you, and like every one else has stated (nicely and not so nicely) that is is definitely a life style change. If this is something that you can sustain for a long time, more power to you!!!!0 -
I'm someone who needs to see result quick at first so i usually do a week of original Atkins
'I usually do...'
I think this is the case in point - this implies that you have to start new 'diets' again and again - something I have done way too often in the past.
I don't think anyone here is being horrible, like someone else has said it is GUTTING to lose lots of weight really quickly only to pile it on plus some after you go back to 'eating normally'. If only I had come on here years ago and read all of the brilliant advice about eating sensibly and losing weight slowly with a sustainable, life long diet. I'd be in a position where I only had about 10-15lbs to lose rather that about 40 or so!0 -
The site is free. You know what she paid for? Food.
Just like you buying chicken or hummus or whatever it is you eat, she paid for food.
^ THIS
seriously0 -
Here is what ticks me off more than anything else on here. Those of you who are pooh poohing the slim fast and 1200 calorie diet don't have a clue. You haven't factored in her determination. EVERYONE is different and she sounds like she knows what she has to do once she goes back to eating, but really it doesn't matter when she goes back to eating 3 meals a day because as long as she stays within her calorie goals then she's good. What ALL those other people who failed didn't do correctly was know and understand that no matter what you do to lose the weight you can NEVER EVER go back to eating the way you used to eat. All of us, doing this new life style change, can fail at anytime. We can decide to go back to our previous lifestyle because reality is the need for those Burger King whoppers with bacon and cheese will fill our heads and take over our tastebuds once again. But we hope to have determination and the will power to stay away from those daily trips to the pizza shops and fast food places. HOPE being the keyword. Each and everyone of us here are here for the same thing.....A HEALTHY ME. Just because someone else failed on the slim fast diet or the 1200 calorie diet or the 1800 calorie diet does not mean she will fail. It does not mean I will fail, it does not mean you will fail. I've seen a couple of you on here posting and you never ever EVER have anything nice to say to someone who isn't eating to "your" standards. Your not telling them the truth or being honest with them, your issue is they aren't eating the way "you" think they should be eating therefore they will fail in their attempt to be a healthier human being therefore they will fail. A study was done on a gentleman who needed to lose a lot of weight. So under doctor supervision he lived on vitamins and supplements for a year...that's right people no food. And guess what they kept track of him for 10 years and he kept it off when he went back to eating food. I saved the study but can't find it but I will continue to look for it, but the point is the odds were against him to, but he prevailed. His determination to get to a healthy weight and stay there won out over the need to feed on all the unhealthy stuff when he went back to eating. His hair did not fall out and he did not lose as much muscle mass as people would have you believe. Yes this is one man out of who knows how many others. So instead of ramming YOUR thoughts of failure down her throat why don't you congratulate her on her loss so far and tell her you hope that she can keep it up and keep it off, wish her luck and go on your unhappy way. Always remember, your diet your way, her diet her way. She's doing what works for her and so far it's working. I for one think it's awesome she's found something that works for her and that she's smart enough to understand that at some point she'll be replacing food for those shakes and she'll have to be ready for that change, but really what's the difference in 1200 calories with shakes and food or 1200 calories in food, either way she's within her calorie goals and that's what matters.
What you said was exactly right..Not everyone is the same.. Thank you for your supportive words..0 -
Ah... but my question is this... is that meal replacement bar truly a nutritional equivalent to chicken and rice?
That I doubt very much.
It doesn't matter, this is what she chooses to do. Again her diet her way, your diet your way.0 -
It doesn't matter, this is what she chooses to do. Again her diet her way, your diet your way.
Well if you hadn't noticed... I was actually defending her choice. But that doesn't mean I can't decry the product for its nutritional value. OP would be much better off with the chicken and veggies. But if all she wants is a crummy bar for lunch, she should feel absolutely free to do so.0
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