Is anyone using New Direction products for weight loss?

Aren't they a boy band from England?

I've been on the program since late November and I'm only averaging 1 to 1.5 lbs of weightloss per week. Its very hard to drink only liquids (800 calorie diet) and I occassionally cheat and eat solid food but I choose healthy foods when cheating. I'm disappointed in the cost of this program and wonder if other diet meal replacements would do the same thing for me at a much lower cost. I have 70 lbs to lose so I know it will be worth it in the long term, I just don't know if I can continue with the high cost and the deprivation of normal food (salads, proteins would be wonderful to eat again)!

i wish that people didn't feel the need to go to these extremes. Many people lose at that rate eating normal food, and a lot more calories. you don't have to feel deprived, you don't have to spend tons of money.

I disagree. That is not true for everyone.

I'm guessing that you're new around here.

It IS true for everyone.
NO ONE needs to go to extremes to lose weight.

It's as simple as:
Log carefully.
Eat at a caloric deficit, but it doesn't have to be an extreme one.
Be patient.


Doing so through MFP costs nothing.

I don't even understand why someone who would opt for this "system" would be on MFP.
It's a calorie/macros/micros logging site.


Tl;dr - no. No no no I am not spending any money on that program and I hope that someone will see this and decide to abandon that program and save money for smaller clothes by using MFP.

that sounds like a church you go to when you screwed up your life so bad regular church won't allow you in. also like a boy band my niece wants birthday parties made out of.

Is this that program were you listen to bad boy band music until you throw up what you ate? Oh wait, that would be One Direction. Never mind...

Wow...this is a very old topic with so much potential for drama.

Im in.

I just started the program and i am on day 6. 6lbs gone. BUT, i just found out that many of the products (meal replacements) have the ingredient Aspartame in them. A new study just came out about the dangers of this. Causing many kinds of cancer and could cause brain damage by drinking anything with the Aspartame in it. Very disturbing.

This is my 4th day on New Directions products. Anyone have any encouragement about when it gets easier, hints to make the products more tastier, etc.?

Since every program using New Direction is a little different it can be hard to say when it will get easier. Are you on all shakes or food + shakes? I like the simplicity of the program and access to the behaviorists and exercise physiologist at my doctor so I haven't struggled too much. It works with my busy schedule. It can definitely be hard to be on all shakes but I try to focus on the positive (easy, convenient, fast) aspects and not the negatives. Since it's cooler now I am not mixing most of mine with ice. I really love the chocolate pudding mixed with 12oz of hot water and a little cinnamon, blend in blender. I also like the vanilla pudding mixed with 12oz of hot water and pumpkin pie spice. They remind me of coffee drinks. I think the chocolate and vanilla puddings mixed with more water are better than the chocolate and vanilla shakes, they are also thicker so they are more filling. Lemon pudding mixed with lemon flavored water is really good too, I blend that one with ice.

Hang in there it does get easier and just starts to become your norm. Focus on what your dietitian and behaviorist are teaching you, start working on your exercise and building that habit, everything else will follow.

I just started a weight loss program called New Direction. It is mostly liquids with constant tracking by a physician, dietitian, behaviorist, exercise specialist and nurses. I am pleased with the program so far but I would like to know if anyone else is doing this and how successful they might be.

Well, there seems to be a lot of benefit to this plan - for your physician, dietitian, behaviorist, exercise specialist, and nurse.

Lol! I read it as One Direction.

I've had to change my relationship with food, too, so I know the place you're coming from. But I've changed it by confronting my food choices every day, logging what I eat, and being mindful. Learning how to eat to nourish my body and still enjoy things I like has been hard work, and there's more work ahead of me, but it's been very rewarding.

Just using the free tools mfp provides, and the info you can glean from the boards, you can change your relationship to food and make your life better, without sacrificing muscle you need to a liquid diet, and thousands of dollars to people who aren't going to be with you forever.

Hi there.. I'm just starting the New Direction tomorrow (Feb.19,2014) I have been doing the MFP but get some mad and down on myself cuz I can never get the counts right. I have been seeing a Dr for the last 5 months and keep going up and down on my weight. 182-171-166 back up to 172 in just three days!!! I so do hope this works for me.. Getting married in June and want a nice wedding dress, but not ready to try one on.. Wish me luck..
PS Can I drink Ice tea or hot tea in-between my shakes?

Yes, you can drink the tea but make sure that there are no calories in it and do not use it as a substitute for the water you need to drink.

Good luck!

I've had to change my relationship with food, too, so I know the place you're coming from. But I've changed it by confronting my food choices every day, logging what I eat, and being mindful. Learning how to eat to nourish my body and still enjoy things I like has been hard work, and there's more work ahead of me, but it's been very rewarding.

Just using the free tools mfp provides, and the info you can glean from the boards, you can change your relationship to food and make your life better, without sacrificing muscle you need to a liquid diet, and thousands of dollars to people who aren't going to be with you forever.

That's great that just tracking through MFP and working on your relationship with food has worked for YOU. That's not the case for everyone. I've struggled my entire life with eating disorders and have serious food issues that I cannot fix on my own, I need the behavioral support and therapy of a program like this to work through my issues with food. Not everyone is the same and what works for you may not work for everyone. I doubt many people turn to a program like this lightly, I know I didn't. My primary, all my specialists and I discussed all my options at length after years of trying to overcome my food issues on my own. We all felt this was the best option for me and that's what's important, the opinions of my highly trained and specialized medical professionals.

My entire program is covered by insurance, I pay $10 a week, not thousands of dollars. Contrary to your post this doctor is actually going to be with me forever. He and his staff will remain a part of my long term care just as any other specialist does for as long as I choose to maintain the medical relationship. My program is a minimum commitment of 2 yrs of therapy which is free, not even a copay. I know not all programs using new direction are the same, but that's the requirement to see my doctor and receive therapy from them.

So before you pass judgement I think it would be good to know what you're talking about. My doctor is nationally recognized in his field and I don't hesitate to say that he is hands down more qualified than you to set up a medical weight loss plan for me that is safe and healthy.

Good Luck on your weight loss!

I am using them, but mostly when I don't have time to do a meal or I use for a meal at work. They taste good. They also have bars and soup and puddings.

Wait a minute here. If this is something that your health care provider is recommending then I would suggest that you delve in head first. In a legitimate medically supervised environment this program is designed to address specific morbidities that the individual presents in order to reduce chronic health risks associated with the patient’s current condition. So, people who are critical or question motivations please understand that there is, more often than not, a specific clinical outcome that he Dr. and patient are working toward achieving that is in the best interest of the patient with programs such as these. Traditional methods often lead to chronic conditions that require substantial medical care or may even cause death. I know that most of you are not doctors and are in no position to criticize or discourage a person form embracing a program that will likely, perhaps only temporarily, reduce morbidities.

Forgive my error. Traditional methods often lead to chronic conditions that require substantial medical care or may even cause death should have been preceded by " The failure of..."

Can anyone give me an idea how much this program cost.