My Slim Fast diet
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kshama2001 wrote: »FitAgainBy55 wrote: »That 1200 or 1500 calorie number is not absolute -- you can change it.
While you can't control your BMR (driven by your age, height, weight -- for today), you are completely in control of your TDEE each day (based on how much you move.)
I'm short for a guy and older (54). Maintenance for my current stats is 1,911. I'm eating ~2000 calories per day and losing over 1 - 1.5 lbs per week. How am I able to do that ? I'm not sedentary. Want a bigger budget, move more.
Yes, a few years back at Thanksgiving a guest marveled at my skinny 81 year old mother's "metabolism" when she saw how much she was eating. Her size has nothing to do with her metabolism - she is super active, sometimes skips meals, and eats a lot of foods that are low calorie dense / high volume.
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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kshama2001 wrote: »FitAgainBy55 wrote: »That 1200 or 1500 calorie number is not absolute -- you can change it.
While you can't control your BMR (driven by your age, height, weight -- for today), you are completely in control of your TDEE each day (based on how much you move.)
I'm short for a guy and older (54). Maintenance for my current stats is 1,911. I'm eating ~2000 calories per day and losing over 1 - 1.5 lbs per week. How am I able to do that ? I'm not sedentary. Want a bigger budget, move more.
Yes, a few years back at Thanksgiving a guest marveled at my skinny 81 year old mother's "metabolism" when she saw how much she was eating. Her size has nothing to do with her metabolism - she is super active, sometimes skips meals, and eats a lot of foods that are low calorie dense / high volume.
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
And this brings me back to my original comment that it's a marathon, not a sprint...1 -
kshama2001 wrote: »FitAgainBy55 wrote: »That 1200 or 1500 calorie number is not absolute -- you can change it.
While you can't control your BMR (driven by your age, height, weight -- for today), you are completely in control of your TDEE each day (based on how much you move.)
I'm short for a guy and older (54). Maintenance for my current stats is 1,911. I'm eating ~2000 calories per day and losing over 1 - 1.5 lbs per week. How am I able to do that ? I'm not sedentary. Want a bigger budget, move more.
Yes, a few years back at Thanksgiving a guest marveled at my skinny 81 year old mother's "metabolism" when she saw how much she was eating. Her size has nothing to do with her metabolism - she is super active, sometimes skips meals, and eats a lot of foods that are low calorie dense / high volume.
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
And this brings me back to my original comment that it's a marathon, not a sprint...
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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paperpudding 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.
My bold.
But what is the point of doing this??
losing water weight and bloat for a few days does nothing to help you lose fat in the long run
Just for mental motivation. You think "hey I can do this" rather than "I'm never gonna lose so whats the point".
That's how it is for me anyway. Seeing the scale go down a couple of pounds motivates me and reminds me that making better choices will work in the long run, helps me stick to plan, and then the "real weight" loss comes off.
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
For me personally seeing my weight go down regularly on morning weigh ins motivates me to eat better that day. It is easier to commit to continue that trend and not put it back on. So yes - "kick starting" that would be helpful to me.
During times when my weight is increasing I might sometimes get discouraged and adopt the "*kitten* it I'll start tomorrow" mentality. And then tomorrow, and tomorrow, etc and it can become difficult to snap the cycle. Thus my large weight gain during the pandemic stress, and months long illness I just went through. I knew that I shouldn't be eating what I was but I couldn't find the mental motivation to shift my habits.
The mental aspect is big for me. I think it is pretty clear that we all technically know how to lose weight. The mental motivation may be more difficult for some of us, and the tools to work through that might not be the same for everyone.
This exactly what it is for me as well. I have to conquer the mind before I can make a move to do the rest. It seems near impossible when my mindset simply isn't there; it almost feels like a switch in the brain I can't quite reach to flip. It doesn't help when a person is an emotional eater, eating due to worry, stress, depression, what have you. Those emotions have been running rampart for a year, in some of us. So yes, sometimes it is a quick start that needs to happen so we can feel the encouragement that something is working. Then when we feel comfortable, we can fine tune our eating habits with substitutions that are more sustainable, hopefully creating habits that will stick with us.
About 5 weeks ago I said 'this is it.' I weighed myself on a Monday a.m. and realized I had regained 30# over the past year. I committed myself to weighing each Monday a.m. Thankfully every week I've logged in a loss but I know me; I know if the scale wasn't budging I'd be discouraged and fall back into that wth mindset. Might be ridiculous to some but it is who I am. So no judging please or telling me it doesn't work or whatever thoughts are going through because I already understand those things. I'm trying as hard as I'm able, with what I've got(physically and mentally)and where I am in life ATM.
Just wishing everyone good health and great luck in their quest for a healthier life!!8 -
End of week 1. Lost 3lbs. Managed a couple of yoga and cardio workouts as well as a 50min walk most lunchtimes. Weather is improving and evenings are getting lighter so hoping to get out for longer walks after work soon. Spring is on it's way :-)10
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PixieKazza wrote: »End of week 1. Lost 3lbs. Managed a couple of yoga and cardio workouts as well as a 50min walk most lunchtimes. Weather is improving and evenings are getting lighter so hoping to get out for longer walks after work soon. Spring is on it's way :-)
Yay...I think nearly everyone's ready for spring this year...time for some green and warm weather! I'm ready to get out and ride my bicycle!
Congrats on your week 1 loss, OP.3 -
dragon_girl26 wrote: »
Yay...I think nearly everyone's ready for spring this year...time for some green and warm weather! I'm ready to get out and ride my bicycle!
Congrats on your week 1 loss, OP.
Thank you, it's a good start :-) hope you manage to get out on your bike soon!
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How does using shakes eliminate the need to calorie count every meal?
I think logging your food is essential, at least until you have a good rhythm and are getting the results you expect.
A lot of people use protein or other shakes to hit their goals, I would suggest just not to overdo it. I like to keep some protein bars or shakes handy, they prevent me from doing fast food in a pinch when I have nothing else prepared.2 -
How does using shakes eliminate the need to calorie count every meal?
I think logging your food is essential, at least until you have a good rhythm and are getting the results you expect.
A lot of people use protein or other shakes to hit their goals, I would suggest just not to overdo it. I like to keep some protein bars or shakes handy, they prevent me from doing fast food in a pinch when I have nothing else prepared.
To be fair calories count for weight loss but it's not essential for everyone to count calories. I could quite easily lose weight these days without calorie counting but I log to review satiety, macro ratios and to monitor for symptoms of reflux.
OP is not new to calorie counting so probably has a reasonable enough grasp of what her calorie intake by now.4 -
I am using MFP to keep myself within my calorie goal. I'm enjoying the Vitality shakes and meal bars, also eating fruit or veg as my snacks. It saves me measuring out every meal. I'm also trying out some of the Slim Fast main meal recipies which is helping my motivation to cook properly - one of my lockdown ennui downfalls!7
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I have started a Slim Fast diet, and it's working for me so far. I see lots of comments regarding the concerns, which I myself used to have, until I looked into it more. I have my reasons - many of which are personal so I won't share lest my reasons for choosing and not just my choice be criticized. But I do want to share support for the OP and others doing SlimFast and explain my thoughts.
First - the "original" shakes are, in my opinion, pretty terrible. Way too much sugar. And yes, that leaves people hungry. So I don't recommend those at all.
Second - I don't care what the "diet" is, in the end, the point is to improve nutrition and eating habits. So replacing meals completely and never thinking is not a good choice because that doesn't teach good habits, though I have no problem with convenience and reduced decision making.
Third - The benefits of green smoothies and berry smoothies are well known. Dieters and healthy folk use them all the time not just for weight loss, but for concentrated nutrition. As long as they don't have added sugar or excessive hidden calories, they can be a healthy way to incorporate fruits and veggies.
I chose the SlimFast Advanced Nutrition Smoothie mix. They use splenda and have very low sugar. They have a lot of protein and a fairly high amount of fiber. They are filled with added vitamins. For a lunch I might use the mix along with a cup of berries and skim milk and sometimes with some greens or low fat unsweetened greek yogurt snuck into it. And then I'll eat a big salad with light dressing and a handful of blueberries. Or I make a coffee smoothie and add a tablespoon of peanut butter for a breakfast. I don't eat snacks - I basically take my snack calories and add them to my slimfast breakfast/lunch smoothies, because I don't want to eat all day long. And I'm rarely hungry. If I'm still hungry before dinner I'll have some string cheese, or an apple, or some other real, low calorie, healthy food, but usually I make it to dinner just fine.
And YES - I count the calories. If you don't count calories on Slimfast you can either WAY over eat dinner and learn nothing - or you can under eat and be nutritionally deprived. Their math is wrong... A smoothie with skim milk and nothing added is 190 calories. Their "snacks" are 80 to 90 calories. If you have three of their snacks plus two smoothies without added stuff and then have a 500 calorie dinner, you'll be at less than 1200 calories, and that's not healthy.
Also, replacing real snacks like grapes and cheese with a "diet" peanut butter cup is generally not a good idea (talk about teaching bad habits), so I while I keep the "fat bombs" on hand for when I'm on the run and cannot pack perishables, or when I really crave junk food but want to avoid candy bars, I rarely use them. I'd rather have real food.
In the end, I'm basically using SlimFast smoothie mix as a protein and vitamin supplement in my morning and lunch smoothies which I try to pack with nutritional, low calorie food. And I eat salads and count calories.
It works for me because the convenience matters a lot. And I'm not hungry all the time at all. I'm less hungry than ever because I'm eating more berries and salads than ever and because I'm getting more protein than before.
I think SlimFast is a viable option, presuming it is used the right way, without treating it like a crash diet or magic pill. Count calories, choose the low sugar options, and use it as a tool to eat healthy, and it can be good. I have every intention of using Slimfast for one smoothie a day after I lose all the weight, because I have always enjoyed fruit and coffee smoothies. But it's also not necessary. That habit of counting calories is the important one for maintenance.
If you read their "success" stories you'll found that must of those who lost lots of weight (I have about 100 pounds to go) did something similar. SlimFast wasn't a shortcut - it was a tool.
So despite the naysayers - I encourage the OP and others - if you like SlimFast, if it works, then why not? I'm with you. I just urge you to learn all the important food habits while you do it.7 -
I have no interest in trying Slimfast.
Or diet peanut butter cups.
But why would it be a bad habit to have a diet peanut butter cup rather than grapes and cheese if that is what you want and it fits into your plan?
10 -
BreadLady41 wrote: »I have started a Slim Fast diet, and it's working for me so far. I see lots of comments regarding the concerns, which I myself used to have, until I looked into it more. I have my reasons - many of which are personal so I won't share lest my reasons for choosing and not just my choice be criticized. But I do want to share support for the OP and others doing SlimFast and explain my thoughts.
First - the "original" shakes are, in my opinion, pretty terrible. Way too much sugar. And yes, that leaves people hungry. So I don't recommend those at all.
Second - I don't care what the "diet" is, in the end, the point is to improve nutrition and eating habits. So replacing meals completely and never thinking is not a good choice because that doesn't teach good habits, though I have no problem with convenience and reduced decision making.
Third - The benefits of green smoothies and berry smoothies are well known. Dieters and healthy folk use them all the time not just for weight loss, but for concentrated nutrition. As long as they don't have added sugar or excessive hidden calories, they can be a healthy way to incorporate fruits and veggies.
I chose the SlimFast Advanced Nutrition Smoothie mix. They use splenda and have very low sugar. They have a lot of protein and a fairly high amount of fiber. They are filled with added vitamins. For a lunch I might use the mix along with a cup of berries and skim milk and sometimes with some greens or low fat unsweetened greek yogurt snuck into it. And then I'll eat a big salad with light dressing and a handful of blueberries. Or I make a coffee smoothie and add a tablespoon of peanut butter for a breakfast. I don't eat snacks - I basically take my snack calories and add them to my slimfast breakfast/lunch smoothies, because I don't want to eat all day long. And I'm rarely hungry. If I'm still hungry before dinner I'll have some string cheese, or an apple, or some other real, low calorie, healthy food, but usually I make it to dinner just fine.
And YES - I count the calories. If you don't count calories on Slimfast you can either WAY over eat dinner and learn nothing - or you can under eat and be nutritionally deprived. Their math is wrong... A smoothie with skim milk and nothing added is 190 calories. Their "snacks" are 80 to 90 calories. If you have three of their snacks plus two smoothies without added stuff and then have a 500 calorie dinner, you'll be at less than 1200 calories, and that's not healthy.
Also, replacing real snacks like grapes and cheese with a "diet" peanut butter cup is generally not a good idea (talk about teaching bad habits), so I while I keep the "fat bombs" on hand for when I'm on the run and cannot pack perishables, or when I really crave junk food but want to avoid candy bars, I rarely use them. I'd rather have real food.
In the end, I'm basically using SlimFast smoothie mix as a protein and vitamin supplement in my morning and lunch smoothies which I try to pack with nutritional, low calorie food. And I eat salads and count calories.
It works for me because the convenience matters a lot. And I'm not hungry all the time at all. I'm less hungry than ever because I'm eating more berries and salads than ever and because I'm getting more protein than before.
I think SlimFast is a viable option, presuming it is used the right way, without treating it like a crash diet or magic pill. Count calories, choose the low sugar options, and use it as a tool to eat healthy, and it can be good. I have every intention of using Slimfast for one smoothie a day after I lose all the weight, because I have always enjoyed fruit and coffee smoothies. But it's also not necessary. That habit of counting calories is the important one for maintenance.
If you read their "success" stories you'll found that must of those who lost lots of weight (I have about 100 pounds to go) did something similar. SlimFast wasn't a shortcut - it was a tool.
So despite the naysayers - I encourage the OP and others - if you like SlimFast, if it works, then why not? I'm with you. I just urge you to learn all the important food habits while you do it.
You said it yourself--you can make a Slimfast like smoothie, or protein shake at home for a fraction of the cost. I make my own stuff.10 -
I tried Slimfast once...OMG! I was so miserable after a couple of days.... needless to say once I started eating again, put it all back on and hadn’t learnt anything about food or my deteriorating relationship with food. But that was just me!
Good luck6 -
paperpudding wrote: »I have no interest in trying Slimfast.
Or diet peanut butter cups.
But why would it be a bad habit to have a diet peanut butter cup rather than grapes and cheese if that is what you want and it fits into your plan?
More nutritional value in the grapes and chees perhaps?1 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »I have no interest in trying Slimfast.
Or diet peanut butter cups.
But why would it be a bad habit to have a diet peanut butter cup rather than grapes and cheese if that is what you want and it fits into your plan?
More nutritional value in the grapes and chees perhaps?
well, sure, I guess there is - I'm not quite sure what is in diet peanut butter cups or their nutritional value.
But I dont see it as a bad habit to have a very low in nutrition snack, say a small cake or chocolate bar, if it is what you want and it fits your goals either.
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paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »I have no interest in trying Slimfast.
Or diet peanut butter cups.
But why would it be a bad habit to have a diet peanut butter cup rather than grapes and cheese if that is what you want and it fits into your plan?
More nutritional value in the grapes and chees perhaps?
well, sure, I guess there is - I'm not quite sure what is in diet peanut butter cups or their nutritional value.
But I dont see it as a bad habit to have a very low in nutrition snack, say a small cake or chocolate bar, if it is what you want and it fits your goals either.
For someone on a fairly low calorie diet the cake or chocolate bar, due to the poor nutritional value, is a very "occasional" snack. The cheese and grapes would be something that could be enjoyed more frequently.2
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