Slim Fast
moonwaif65
Posts: 2 Member
Trying slim fast for a bit. Anyone had success with it?
4
Replies
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Nope, not when I tried it back in the 90's.
Turns out, I have to actually chew food to feel full.12 -
I can name one person who failed at it: me.
The problem is that I was hungry as hell *all* the time.
It simply wasn’t sustainable (and WAY too expensive).
There’s no magic in those shakes. Just eat some actual food that has similar nutrients and calories.
This was around 30 years ago. I don’t know if the plan has changed since then.
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Nobody is going to have long-term success with it for lots of reasons. First of all, most people won't feel full without having something to chew and shakes just aren't going to cut it. Second, those shakes are packed with chemicals. I don't necessarily have a problem with the occasional protein shake, but your body is still not going to get as much from synthetic vitamins as it would from real vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients from real food. Third, you're going to get bored with the shakes eventually and stop using them. Chances are, you won't have learned long-term maintenance weight-loss or maintenance strategies and you'll quit losing or regain weight. Fourth, those things are crazy expensive! There are tons of quick, affordable options that will fuel your body more effectively, cost less, and allow you to maintain a healthy lifestyle for a longer term.5
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I lost weight on Slimfast.
Gained it back with interest.
I also (probably) lost my gallbladder due to the yo-yo cycle of excessive restriction followed by excessive binges caused by exactly that kind of program. I ended up at the nearest gas station shop at 10PM after two weeks on slimfast because I was simply craving real food. Didn't matter what it was. Just food. Something to chew.
I didn't learn diddly squat about how to maintain that loss. I learned nothing about what foods make me feel full. What foods I can't have around myself.2 -
I keep the slim fast protein on hand to throw in smoothies, or for busy days. I did not have success on the actual slim fast diet because I was just always hungry. I think the products can supplement a good weight loss plan but I don't think too many people are successful long-term on their marketed diet.6
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How are you defining success? Lots of people have lost some weight because Slim Fast can be a tool to help people reduce calorie intake.
My Fitness Pal provides a tool also. Measure food you eat (while eating food you actually like) and log it using the database here. Stop eating when you reach your calorie limit. Logging is your accountability.
The beauty of logging "regular food" is you are learning what portion sizes are, you are learning which foods are satiating for you. These are tools for maintenance.
The reason I ask about how you define success.....Slim Fast doesn't give you any maintenance tools. Do you want to repeat the process again at some point in the future. Been there done that.
Losing weight is always, 100% about taking in fewer calories. You can let Slim Fast choose those calories for you, or you can take control.4 -
moonwaif65 wrote: »Trying slim fast for a bit. Anyone had success with it?
I lasted about an hour on it when I tried it. Possibly less.0 -
What about Slim Fast appeals to you? It’s completely unnecessary for weight loss, and I have never met anyone who had long term success with it. Whatever benefits you’re getting from Slim Fast, you can also get in cheaper and probably better tasting ways.2
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quiksylver296 wrote: »Nope, not when I tried it back in the 90's.
Turns out, I have to actually chew food to feel full.
Yep. I can't even do breakfast smoothies alone. They may be packed full of fruits and veggies and protein powder but my stomach will still growl if I don't at least eat some toast with it.2 -
Nobody is going to have long-term success with it for lots of reasons. First of all, most people won't feel full without having something to chew and shakes just aren't going to cut it. Second, those shakes are packed with chemicals. I don't necessarily have a problem with the occasional protein shake, but your body is still not going to get as much from synthetic vitamins as it would from real vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients from real food. Third, you're going to get bored with the shakes eventually and stop using them. Chances are, you won't have learned long-term maintenance weight-loss or maintenance strategies and you'll quit losing or regain weight. Fourth, those things are crazy expensive! There are tons of quick, affordable options that will fuel your body more effectively, cost less, and allow you to maintain a healthy lifestyle for a longer term.
I stopped reading after the bolded because I do know a guy that lost 65 pounds and has been maintaining for 3 or 4 years now using SlimFast. You should not claim to know what most people will do or want.
I like food too much and I go kind of crazy and eat everything for 28 miles if I am on a monotonous diet for too long so it does not work for me but it will work for some.
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I considered it when I was 14 because I saw the commercials, then I saw the bottles sitting in my Aunt's refrigerator and realized how small they were, and learned that that's all you get for certain meals. I noped out of that mindset real quick.3
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There is absolutely nothing appealing about slim fast when you can buy a cheaper, healthier meal replacement protein shake that will do the same thing even better.
All you need to lose weight is to consume less calories and try to eat lean healthier choices.
Btw my ex father in law’s ex wife was in a print ad for slim fast after losing 30 lbs on it. She has gained it all back. I’ve lost more than 20 lbs just by eating clean, cutting calories and excercising.4 -
I do slimfast for my lunch on a regular basis, i like the taste as far as a protein powder goes and right now I’m doing a moderate low carb diet and it fits my macros nicely when mixed with almond milk. I also like the new Keto peanut butter cups. I eat the products because I like them. I lose weight when I consume fewer calories then I burn. These products help me with staying in my calorie count, and having something quick and easy when I’m busy with meetings at work all day. If you like it and it works for you go for it.8
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I also have powder on hand that I will use on occasion when I’m busy and need something quick for breakfast usually. I was trying it as a meal replacement for breakfast every morning but simply got bored with it and still wanted food after. I also agree that it isn’t sustainable and eventually you will have to learn how to curb your calorie intake with food if you want to loose or maintain your weight. I feel like it still could have a place within a balanced diet though if you use it once and a while as something easy.1
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It wouldn't work for me.
I like food too much.1 -
I love the taste of it but I couldn't survive on just that
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I have used it in the past to maintain weight. I liked it okay, but it was expensive and has a lot of sugar. Today, it has no place in my current diet but I'm not going to throw any shade at the line of products because I have used it.1
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There is absolutely nothing appealing about slim fast when you can buy a cheaper, healthier meal replacement protein shake that will do the same thing even better.
All you need to lose weight is to consume less calories and try to eat lean healthier choices.
Btw my ex father in law’s ex wife was in a print ad for slim fast after losing 30 lbs on it. She has gained it all back. I’ve lost more than 20 lbs just by eating clean, cutting calories and excercising.
First I will say that I don't use slimfast nor any meal replacement not even a protein shake...they just don't fill me up. I have tried a few different brands and none of them worked for me.
Will some people regain weight after using meal replacements...yes but so will many people that use calorie counting. Every day on this site you will see..."I am back", "Trying again" etc etc.
Calorie counting does not work for everyone...nor do points, portion control etc etc. No one diet plan will work for the masses.5 -
There is absolutely nothing appealing about slim fast when you can buy a cheaper, healthier meal replacement protein shake that will do the same thing even better.
All you need to lose weight is to consume less calories and try to eat lean healthier choices.
Btw my ex father in law’s ex wife was in a print ad for slim fast after losing 30 lbs on it. She has gained it all back. I’ve lost more than 20 lbs just by eating clean, cutting calories and excercising.
First I will say that I don't use slimfast nor any meal replacement not even a protein shake...they just don't fill me up. I have tried a few different brands and none of them worked for me.
Will some people regain weight after using meal replacements...yes but so will many people that use calorie counting. Every day on this site you will see..."I am back", "Trying again" etc etc.
Calorie counting does not work for everyone...nor do points, portion control etc etc. No one diet plan will work for the masses.
Other than the fact I don't like getting so much of my nutrition from a single source I kind of envy my friend who lost and maintains on SF. It is super simple deal if you can handle it mentally. He weighs monthly and if it is higher than he wants he spends the next month doing SF again and repeats as needed.
I don't know if he has ever considered another brand or making his own and I don't ask because it is none of my business, he seems content, and his doctor is happy.0 -
There is absolutely nothing appealing about slim fast when you can buy a cheaper, healthier meal replacement protein shake that will do the same thing even better.
All you need to lose weight is to consume less calories and try to eat lean healthier choices.
Btw my ex father in law’s ex wife was in a print ad for slim fast after losing 30 lbs on it. She has gained it all back. I’ve lost more than 20 lbs just by eating clean, cutting calories and excercising.
First I will say that I don't use slimfast nor any meal replacement not even a protein shake...they just don't fill me up. I have tried a few different brands and none of them worked for me.
Will some people regain weight after using meal replacements...yes but so will many people that use calorie counting. Every day on this site you will see..."I am back", "Trying again" etc etc.
Calorie counting does not work for everyone...nor do points, portion control etc etc. No one diet plan will work for the masses.
People who regain after using meal replacements do so because they learned nothing about proper portions, calories or maintenance.
People who regain after calorie counting do so because they got complacent, lazy or life happened.
People who regain after fad diets do so for the same reason as people who use meal replacements.
Bottom line it's not that these methods don't work, it's that people don't transition to long-term maintenance or stop their maintenance to stay where they got to.0 -
I'm on week 2, day 1. I buy the SlimFast Advanced Nutrition Powder, which is like $10 on Amazon. I don't think that is very expensive for 6 days worth of breakfasts and lunches. So, I don't really get the "it's expensive" argument. I would spend way more than that on groceries at the store unless I was eating oatmeal for breakfast and ramen for lunch every day. Secondly, I have not been hungry on the diet. I know lots of people do go hungry on SlimFast, but this has been my experience. I follow the 100 calorie snack guidelines and eat a sensible dinner under 500 calories. On Sunday, (since the powder mix only has 6 days worth in the container) I do not do slimfast, but I stay under 1,200 calories. I call it my "practice day" since I will transition back to eating meals for breakfast and lunch after 4 months.
PROS: A lot less meal planning, shopping, and prepping, and WAY less cleanup. I just have to wash my shaker bottle. I don't have as many dishes to deal with. Advanced Nutrition does not have a lot of sugar, and there is a energy version which has the caffeine equivalent of a cup of coffee. It travels well. I plan on bringing the bars with me next week when I go on an airplane. I can spend my time thinking about and doing things besides planning what I am going to eat. I REALLY look forward to dinner, even though it is only 500 calories. You can have anything you want as long as you stay under the calorie allotment. That includes pizza, mac n' cheese, whatever. Just have a normal portion and make a nice salad on the side to fill you up, along with some water or herbal tea. I say again, I have not been hungry. Some days I didn't even want the last 100 calorie snack and had some herbal tea instead.
CONS: None for me, so far!6 -
dragonssister wrote: »I'm on week 2, day 1. I buy the SlimFast Advanced Nutrition Powder, which is like $10 on Amazon. I don't think that is very expensive for 6 days worth of breakfasts and lunches. So, I don't really get the "it's expensive" argument. I would spend way more than that on groceries at the store unless I was eating oatmeal for breakfast and ramen for lunch every day. Secondly, I have not been hungry on the diet. I know lots of people do go hungry on SlimFast, but this has been my experience. I follow the 100 calorie snack guidelines and eat a sensible dinner under 500 calories. On Sunday, (since the powder mix only has 6 days worth in the container) I do not do slimfast, but I stay under 1,200 calories. I call it my "practice day" since I will transition back to eating meals for breakfast and lunch after 4 months.
PROS: A lot less meal planning, shopping, and prepping, and WAY less cleanup. I just have to wash my shaker bottle. I don't have as many dishes to deal with. Advanced Nutrition does not have a lot of sugar, and there is a energy version which has the caffeine equivalent of a cup of coffee. It travels well. I plan on bringing the bars with me next week when I go on an airplane. I can spend my time thinking about and doing things besides planning what I am going to eat. I REALLY look forward to dinner, even though it is only 500 calories. You can have anything you want as long as you stay under the calorie allotment. That includes pizza, mac n' cheese, whatever. Just have a normal portion and make a nice salad on the side to fill you up, along with some water or herbal tea. I say again, I have not been hungry. Some days I didn't even want the last 100 calorie snack and had some herbal tea instead.
CONS: None for me, so far!
Hopefully you will continue to be successful. When I tried it in the past I usually made it to 5 or 6 weeks before I started going a little nuts. It was never the hunger. It was always the monotony and wanting food to chew. I only mention this so you can keep an eye on yourself. When hunger is being controlled losing weight becomes more about mental management which is something that took me way too long to learn.3 -
I am using Slimfast with my calorie counting. I want to lose about 15 pounds, and I wasn't having much luck with just calorie counting as I kept going over. Slimfast so far has made it easy and I don't have to think much about it. I am also making a plan for when I am at or close to my goal. I am making lists of healthy breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack ideas for maintenance. I also have some equal calorie foods that I can sub for my Slimfast shakes and snack if I need a break from the Slimfast. I am also increasing my exercise by walking and bike riding.1
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moonwaif65 wrote: »Trying slim fast for a bit. Anyone had success with it?
Zero success. Any diet that is not sustainable hasn't worked for me. At some point, you'll want to eat actual food.0 -
I'm doing slimfast and calorie counting to lose weight and it's working so well. For the first 2 days I was so hungry because I wasnt used to eating/drinking 6 times in small portions but once I got used to it I have found it easy and have even found the 3rd snack I dont have anymore. It's especially easy as I have a busy job so often dont have time for breakfast or lunch so a shake is so easy. The powders are really cheap and I also have a stash of the ready to drink ones incase I'm running late and dont have time.
I do however give myself 1 day a week to eat drink whatever I want as a cheat day. Mostly because I love pizza and I love a pint and neither are remotely good for you in a diet but without the small pleasures in life what is the point!0
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