My Slim Fast diet
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dragon_girl26 wrote: »I did Slimfast before and I have one word that summed up that experience: Hangry. Lol
I don't know how long you're planning your "jumpstart" for, but in my experience I wasn't able to stick with it more than a couple of weeks because the shakes didn't keep me satisfied very long and all I could think about was how hungry I was. I did lose weight, but it came right back on when I stopped.
This was me, too. Turns out, I never feel full if I don’t chew my food. I could drink an 800 calorie shake/smoothie and still feel hungry.9 -
I was avoiding posting, but I’ll share my input. You will get push back on meal replacement because it’s not sustainable, that’s why most people are discouraging it. People lose on the plan, and regain it because they never trained themselves to maintain their weight with actual food and as creatures of habit we’ll go right back to the habits that put on the weight.
I keep slim fast shakes on hand, but I don’t eat breakfast so when I use them, I typically use them more in the (late) morning if I find myself hungry. Then have a snack or small lunch in the afternoon. This usually results in having a smaller portion at dinner. During warm months, I have some loss of appetite, so I’ll use them as lunch. To me, drinking a meal replacement is better than not eating at all. So I won’t tell you, that you can’t make slim fast work into your “diet” and find some benefit. However, I don’t follow the true slim fast diet, or any diet for that matter, I just calorie count and eat within a range (1200-1800) that keeps me under maintenance. For me, the true slim fast diet (2 shake/bar meal replacements, 3 of their packaged snacks, and 500 calorie dinner [ETA: I guess they now just go with 1 “sensible” meal]) would never work! I feel all of their products are too sweet and I’d get what I like to call “sugar belly.” Too many sweet things and I feel like a kid who went overboard on Halloween. Lol Once “sugar belly” hit, I’d be ready to overload on savory, yummy food and would eat like 3 Thanksgiving meals, which would completely undo the progress made on slim fast.
It sounds like you’re pretty set on your plan to go the slim fast route. I hope your plan works for you! My advice would be to listen to your body and if it isn’t working, don’t give up or binge- adjust your sails and rework your plan. I’d also suggest you start incorporating food, calorie counting, and maintenance habits in from the beginning. If slim fast gives you some easy, “no fuss” go-to options to get started, that’s great. But I wouldn’t rely on the plan completely. I hope you don’t think I’m being discouraging, that’s not my objective. I’ve just been a habitual starter who time and time again used this method (your words): “I have lost weight before following a strict calorie controlled, deeply joyless diet and exercise plan.” I knew this time, if I really wanted to be successful, it couldn’t be like the other 20+ times I quit, which meant it couldn’t be strict or “deeply joyless.”
Wishing you success; whatever route you take!17 -
Heh, yeah, that's something else I should have mentioned, but you said you already bought enough for a couple of weeks...hopefully you had a way to buy a couple of each shake flavor (they used to sell some individually in some places, don't know if they still do.). If you've never had any of the shakes, I discovered that some aren't too bad (mocha) and some were downright nasty! (I avoided vanilla like the plague! Lol)
ETA: nevermind, the Blueberry Vitality mention didn't jump out at me for some reason when I initially read.[/quote]
I have the Blueberry & Raspberry, Mint Chocolate and the Salted Caramel Vitalitys in powder packs - they were on offer. I used to have them as a take to work brekkie as I don't eat until mid morning, enjoyed them :-) I add a banana to my morning shake instead of a snack which filled me up. Hopefully I'll get used to eating less again!2 -
I do partake in Slimfast or protein shakes semi-regularly for a breakfast replacement.
HOWEVER, I want to emphasize that I don't do this to lose weight specifically. It is not part of my weight loss "plan".
But it IS a zero effort weigh for me to get a little protein into my system on busy mornings where work just can't wait, without using up too many calories (I use shake powder with unsweetened almond milk at 30cal per serving), which leaves my shakes around 120-130 calories per serving. I find that liquid breakfasts (and sometimes lunches) can help me stave off hunger when I am too busy to sit down and cook a proper meal.
I also am the type of person who fares best when participating in an intermittent fasting type diet. I am absolutely a volume eater - I love to eat a big dinner. Keeping my calories low early in the day allows me to do this, and keeps me happy and encouraged while working on my journey.
If a Slimfast can keep me from downing a bag of chips at my desk, I'm sure there are ways it can help you too. You just want to make certain (as others have mentioned) that you are building towards a sustainable diet that you are going to be able to maintain long term. I may be a minority here, but I do not think Slimfast is evil. It's a tool, but you have to know how to use it in conjunction with the rest of your nutrition.7 -
thehumanpickle wrote: »Can we back up a bit, and let me ask you, when you say you're "going to do Slim-Fast", what does that mean? Are you only having the shakes or are you incorporating them into your diet elsewhere? Forgive me if I am overlooking info already in the thread, I have a massive headache.
I'm putting my two cents in only because this is a recent topic in my household. My husband uses the Slim-Fast powder mixed into milk, and has two shakes for breakfast. He has talked about replacing lunch with them as well. I balked because as expressed above, this isn't a nutritionally sound path to weight loss and isn't sustainable long term. He went ahead with it and found out pretty quickly that he did not enjoy being hungry for the sake of 'easy' meals. He still does them for breakfast -- for now, we are compiling a list of meal prep breakfasts to make on Sundays to have for the week-- but he eats a 'real' lunch now because man cannot live on shakes alone. Or, I should say, they can't THRIVE.
I know you aren't getting the response you hoped for. Most of these people, myself included, have been-there, done-that and are speaking from experience. Or even from the experience of loved ones.
I do think that the super-restrictive-diets-don't-work lesson is one we all have to learn for ourselves. Some of us (meeeee), multiple times. It always winds up to me getting burned out and giving up. I've become a big fan of making small changes progessively because anytime I've gone all in, it has bitten me in the butt. But the good news is, you aren't me.
Whatever you do, be safe and listen to your body. If you're hungry, eat. I understand seeing the scale move being a good motivator, but you deserve to thrive, OP. Take care of yourself.
Hiya, thanks for your helpful comments and experiences. I'm doing the two Vitality shakes a day, plus a couple of 100cal snacks - fruit/veg or slimfast bars, then a balanced meal around 600cals. It should come in at 1200 cals per day which is my default amount to try and lose weight. I'm going to do two weeks to start with. I need to reset my appetite - my partner is living with me during lockdown and he snacks a lot on choccy and biscuits which I don't normally have in the house. Plus I'm at home all day. I'm snacking way too much with the temptation, so bored/hungry = no willpower. I'm presuming your husband is larger than me and needs more calories to function, so a couple of shakes a day aren't enough? Hopefully you'll find a way that works for you both :-)
I'm going the 'strict' route because I know exactly what I can have to 'eat'. I don't have to calorie count every meal and the shakes take seconds to whizz up. Yes it's lazy compared to proper food prepping, I'll probably get hangry to start with but it's the same with any diet I've been on. I'm an all or nothing person and this diet gives me a structure to follow, if that makes sense!7 -
I do partake in Slimfast or protein shakes semi-regularly for a breakfast replacement.
HOWEVER, I want to emphasize that I don't do this to lose weight specifically. It is not part of my weight loss "plan".
But it IS a zero effort weigh for me to get a little protein into my system on busy mornings where work just can't wait, without using up too many calories (I use shake powder with unsweetened almond milk at 30cal per serving), which leaves my shakes around 120-130 calories per serving. I find that liquid breakfasts (and sometimes lunches) can help me stave off hunger when I am too busy to sit down and cook a proper meal.
I also am the type of person who fares best when participating in an intermittent fasting type diet. I am absolutely a volume eater - I love to eat a big dinner. Keeping my calories low early in the day allows me to do this, and keeps me happy and encouraged while working on my journey.
If a Slimfast can keep me from downing a bag of chips at my desk, I'm sure there are ways it can help you too. You just want to make certain (as others have mentioned) that you are building towards a sustainable diet that you are going to be able to maintain long term. I may be a minority here, but I do not think Slimfast is evil. It's a tool, but you have to know how to use it in conjunction with the rest of your nutrition.
Hi @Emheia, thanks for your response, I used to take a Slimfast into work for brekkie, nice and easy and I like them. My aim is to kickstart my weightloss and 'get fitter' motivation. My usual diet has gone to pot over the last year with working from home and having my partner move in. I've changed my diet to make cooking for both of us easier, he doesn't eat a lot of the healthier curries, chillies and stirfries I enjoy. He's a pie and chips fan! Once I'm starting to get myself out of the rut I'll get back to my 'usual' healthy eating. Then I should feel strong enough to say NO! to snacks. I did try IF but get hungry mid morning, maybe I'll give that a go when I start eating proper food again.
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My personal experience was too long ago to be helpful (and not successful). BUT. I do know a guy who for many years for lunch had a slimfast and walked the outside perimeter of his (huge) aircraft manufacturing facility. He also got off work at 4pm and did an hour++ cardio after work (basically as long as it was light out). Pretty physically active guy on & off the job. He maintained this way, and he didn't put much effort into his diet outside of that. He did slimfast for the ease.
That was more than a decade ago, and I still see him around but really don't know what's going on in his life. He has gained tons of weight. I'm incredibly UNobservant about other people's weight so it has to be a big difference for me to even notice. This takes nothing away from the fact that he DID integrate slimfast into his daily diet, contentedly, to maintain for years before that.
Good luck, OP. Take an attitude of experimentation about the changes you decide on, give the experiment time to yield valid results, and don't hesitate to test something different when what you have tried isn't working well for you.7 -
OP, if you’re going to try Slimfast for a while because of the convenience, you could use the Slimfast time to do some planning. I batch cook stuff and freeze it for lunch, so you could think about some home made soups and stews, (I love a sausage and bean casserole), pasta with tomato sauce etc. That way when you finish the Slimfast, you’ll have a range of meals ready to eat and you’ll know exactly what’s in them (macros). You can do something similar with breakfasts and make them the week ahead. That could help you stick to the calories and eat nutritious food but give you the convenience?10
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PixieKazza wrote: »I'm going to do Slim Fast as a jumpstart to trying to get back to 'normal'.
Sadly there is no such thing as a "jumpstart".
The best approach is the slow and steady approach. Fat loss is a marathon, not a sprint...15 -
So the question is HOW does Slimfast address the problem above? If you are only doing this as a jumpstart (meaning you're likely to stop after a couple of weeks or so), what steps are you taking to actuall learn how to control your own willpower? And partner isn't likely to give up choccy and biscuits, so what then?PixieKazza wrote: »I need to reset my appetite - my partner is living with me during lockdown and he snacks a lot on choccy and biscuits which I don't normally have in the house. Plus I'm at home all day. I'm snacking way too much with the temptation, so bored/hungry = no willpower.
I'm going the 'strict' route because I know exactly what I can have to 'eat'. I don't have to calorie count every meal and the shakes take seconds to whizz up. Yes it's lazy compared to proper food prepping, I'll probably get hangry to start with but it's the same with any diet I've been on. I'm an all or nothing person and this diet gives me a structure to follow, if that makes sense!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I went through Slimfast a long time back and the problem is it has very little protein and high cals for that amount of liquid. If you switch it up to a Premier Protein with your morning coffee at least that can be a start, but if you eat whole foods in proper portions for the rest of the day then your body will get used to eating normal food within your calorie deficit and you'll get to have your protein drink too...but don't depend on just the liquid diet too much for long term results.9
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So the question is HOW does Slimfast address the problem above? If you are only doing this as a jumpstart (meaning you're likely to stop after a couple of weeks or so), what steps are you taking to actuall learn how to control your own willpower? And partner isn't likely to give up choccy and biscuits, so what then?PixieKazza wrote: »I need to reset my appetite - my partner is living with me during lockdown and he snacks a lot on choccy and biscuits which I don't normally have in the house. Plus I'm at home all day. I'm snacking way too much with the temptation, so bored/hungry = no willpower.
I'm going the 'strict' route because I know exactly what I can have to 'eat'. I don't have to calorie count every meal and the shakes take seconds to whizz up. Yes it's lazy compared to proper food prepping, I'll probably get hangry to start with but it's the same with any diet I've been on. I'm an all or nothing person and this diet gives me a structure to follow, if that makes sense!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Because I know what works for me and I need to get into the 'eating less' mindset. Once I'm there, I can resist the nice stuff. I have done before, I managed most of last year until winter and some personal issues cropped up. I normally meal prep and plan, batch cook low calorie casseroles, curries and chilli, earn extra calories through exercise if I want a treat etc. and that's just my maintanence diet. The Slimfast doesn't need to address the above. What it needs to do is kickstart weightloss, which it will do, and put me in 'being good' mode. The Vitality range has a good range of nutrients in it, tastes nice and isn't any different from a pimped up protein shake. It's quick to make. This is my choice - I have a small, for some, amount of weight to lose. If I lose 4lbs over two weeks, reduce my appetite and inspire me to get back into healthy eating mode that would be a great achievement for me. I understand what you are saying, however right now I feel this is the right option for me.7 -
Losing the excuses will help you lose the weight.PixieKazza wrote: »I really want to lose the 1/2 stone I've put on over lockdown, plus the 1/2 stone I was trying to lose before. 1st altogether to get back to a sensible weight for my height, plus fit into my nice clothes again!
I have lost weight before following a strict calorie controlled, deeply joyless diet and exercise plan. I am short so anything over 1500cal per day if I'm not moving much will put weight on me. I am also getting older so it's harder to lose now :-(.
As the days are getting warmer and lighter, I'm hoping to get out more for exercise and start yoga and youtube fitness sessions again. I'm really struggling to be motivated, as I think a lot of people at the mo! When I worked from the office I'd walk round much more in the day, plus a lunchtime walk and an evening walk if the weather was ok. Working from home, I don't move so much, plus we manage a short walk at lunch. Nowhere near as much as before! My partner doesn't help as he snacks a lot and isn't bothered about his perfectly fine weight. He's got no motivation to do longer walks more regularly. I need to sort myself out and get some will power to resist chocolate and booze!
So the point of the ramble is background really. I'm going to do Slim Fast as a jumpstart to trying to get back to 'normal'. The structure will hopefully keep me on track, I won't have to calorie count every meal and the shakes are nice and quick to make. I do understand healthy eating, I'm just going to try a different approach to losing the lockdown lard. I don't think it'll be an easy option, but hopefully the weight will start to shift and I'll get some motivation and focus back :-)
Would love to hear from anyone else doing Slim Fast to find out how you're finding it :-)
Responses to the bolded:- Age in and of itself has minimal impact on weight gain/loss
- If you partner snacks and is a fine weight he should not have to change his habits for you
- Same as with the snacking. YOU need the motivation to move more, not him
Best of luck.
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tinkerbellang83 wrote: »sunnysidefarmsus wrote: »Pixie, do what works for you. You are taking steps that you feel will help with your current state. I wish people would be more supportive and helpful rather than so opinionated and bashing. It sounds like you know yourself well and don’t have the energy to get started so I agree with you 100%. I believe this can give you a few days of less food, curving your appetite and Lose a few pounds of bloat and water weight. This will make you feel better and encourage you to keep going with a healthy and active lifestyle. Wishing you success and joy in all areas of your life.
Being supportive doesn't always equate to telling someone what they want to hear.
To be honest, I'd say much of the time it doesn't.13 -
Sometimes losing a few pounds (even water weight) quickly does boost motivation - it does for me anyway.
There are loads of people who come on MFP doing calorie counting and also gain back the weight, so jumping all over the OP because she has done it a "few" times is a bit much. That happens with every diet plan.
Lots of people have a shake/smoothie for breakfast - I'm not familiar with Slim fast but I'm trying to figure out how that would be so different?12 -
I have no weight to lose.
I have no script to read.
I have no sheep to follow.
I have nothing to prove to you.
I have no superiority complex (those are really inferiority complexes masked) to shove down your throat.
But what I do have is support to offer you... I could add that my mother was a very tiny person her entire life, still is, and she did drink Slim Fast. You do have my support! I wish you the very best!!!13 -
Op. I’m almost afraid to say anything. Don’t want to jump right into the middle of a dog fight. But I wanted to tell you my experience. Years ago, I had a friend who was a successful weight loser—in her own way. She lost over 150 pounds over several years. She would follow a particular strict diet—I’ve forgotten the name of it— for a few months, lose a lot of weight, get diet burnout, go off it. She learned how to eat at maintenance. Then after a few months, she’d start the diet again. After several restarts, she would just go on the strict diet for 3 days, then eat a reasonable diet with reasonably lower calories than maintenance, It worked very well for her. She’s still maintaining for the most part. Occasionally has to reset for three days.
She recommended the book to me. I went to the library to get it. Holy cow! It was considered weight lifting just to carry that thing home, much less read the whole thing. I opted for the weekend Slim Fast box. FOR ME ONLY. It brought my attention to how much I was overeating. If I bought it during the week and started on the weekend, it forced me to START NOW. No more saying “tomorrow”, then “tomorrow”, and “tomorrow”. It really helped me to focus, START, think about what I was doing and why, realize that I could improve my eating habits with no pain. (For me, shopping for and preparing vegetables and salad. Not hard at all, I like vegetables, love salad, just something I need to be more aware of).
It sounds to me like you plan to use it much the same way I did. I say if it helps, GO FOR IT!11 -
Sometimes losing a few pounds (even water weight) quickly does boost motivation - it does for me anyway.
There are loads of people who come on MFP doing calorie counting and also gain back the weight, so jumping all over the OP because she has done it a "few" times is a bit much. That happens with every diet plan.
Lots of people have a shake/smoothie for breakfast - I'm not familiar with Slim fast but I'm trying to figure out how that would be so different?
Just gonna point out the quote about doing something a few times is neither in response to the OP or quoting the OP. That was someone discussing another diet that they do.5 -
corinasue1143 wrote: »Op. I’m almost afraid to say anything. Don’t want to jump right into the middle of a dog fight. But I wanted to tell you my experience. Years ago, I had a friend who was a successful weight loser—in her own way. She lost over 150 pounds over several years. She would follow a particular strict diet—I’ve forgotten the name of it— for a few months, lose a lot of weight, get diet burnout, go off it. She learned how to eat at maintenance. Then after a few months, she’d start the diet again. After several restarts, she would just go on the strict diet for 3 days, then eat a reasonable diet with reasonably lower calories than maintenance, It worked very well for her. She’s still maintaining for the most part. Occasionally has to reset for three days.
She recommended the book to me. I went to the library to get it. Holy cow! It was considered weight lifting just to carry that thing home, much less read the whole thing. I opted for the weekend Slim Fast box. FOR ME ONLY. It brought my attention to how much I was overeating. If I bought it during the week and started on the weekend, it forced me to START NOW. No more saying “tomorrow”, then “tomorrow”, and “tomorrow”. It really helped me to focus, START, think about what I was doing and why, realize that I could improve my eating habits with no pain. (For me, shopping for and preparing vegetables and salad. Not hard at all, I like vegetables, love salad, just something I need to be more aware of).
It sounds to me like you plan to use it much the same way I did. I say if it helps, GO FOR IT!
Thank you @corinasue1143, that's exactly what I want to use it for, a 'reset'. Then go back on bloody 1200 cals 'normal' eating, but that's such hard work and boring when everything is so dull right now. It's actually the same sort of calorie count, just less food prep 🤷♀️ I certainly didn't expect the response I've had. Sounds like your friend has found balance and what an amazing achievement! I need that 'reset' now and want to try something new.
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