Slimfast

I personally don't believe in the slimfast diet. My friend did it and same thing happened to her. She ended up spending so much on the products on top of that. I believe in exercise and eat right rule. Just eat around your BMR and add exercise. If you have a calorie deficit, you will lose weight.

Oh and if you are craving something, take a small bite because if you keep "restricting" yourself, you'll end up mindlessly eating it. I did that before. Now if I want candy for example, I'll eat a fun size kit kat bar or something and keep my mind happy but still stay in the calorie range. I use hot chocolate and vitatop muffins and fiberone brownies to help my chocolate cravings too. I use fruit if I'm just craving something sweet and not chocolate in particular.

I only use the Slimfast shakes for mornings when Im running late and dont have time to make a decent breakfast. Its better than running thru a drive thru on the way to work or school. Your best bet on losing that weight is the use portion control and adding more whole foods to your diet. And exercise.

I have a shake sometimes in the morning with some fruit...but I did the whole diet, lost some weight and gained it back....so now I go by what mfp suggests. I do have the SF snack bars (100 cals) the PB/choc one is yummy.

In 2004 I was a single mom and I lost almost 100 lbs on the slimfast plan. It was different then - "easy options plan" so you ate a lot more real food then the plan I see they advertise now. If I'm understanding the current plan right it's hardly any calories! 1200 and I'd starve! (I am a big lady though). The cost of the shakes was so much cheaper then food - I could get the shakes at around 50 cents between sales and coupons and I just couldn't do a meal at that price (at least without a lot of time and effort which at the time I didn't have)

Here is what I ate at the time:

breakfast: shake and a fruit

snack: any 100-150 calorie snack - normally I'd grab some almonds if they'd been on sale or a light yogurt with a few raisins

lunch: shake and 200 calories of healthy food (I'd make a small salad or 1/2 sandwich - if I had light bread I could do a whole sandwich)

snack: any 100-150 calorie snack - sometimes it'd be their snack bars but that depended on sales and coupons

Dinner: 500 calories - I didn't count them I just used the balanced plate method (1/4 protein, 1/4 complex carbs, 1/2 veggies) then I'd add a glass of skim milk or sometimes a fat free suger free pudding I made with skim milk.

snack: 100 calorie - I always had the bag of popcorn for this.

For me it worked wonderfully - I Lost exactly 100 lbs in 9 months. Kept it off another year - then of course got pregnant - threw all my habits out the window and craved (and ate) fried chicken for 9months. My son is 5 now and I haven't re-lost the weight because I haven't been committed like I need to be.

I also don't believe in the Slimfast diet. Check the ingredients out. They are not designed for long term weight loss. Also, diet is not the goal. It is lifestyle change. READ, READ, READ!!! Cut out processed foods, dairy, anything white. Eat more veggies, less meat, lots of water. Get an accountability partner to help you through the tough times. If you want a meal replacement, find a healthy protein shake that is right for you. I use Shakeology, and Sun Warrior protein. I hope this helps. Good luck.

(edited to remove link)

I started out late last fall on Slim Fast, and I am still using it off and on. I started out at 155 and I'm down to 125, I do think with my diet and working out it was a good fit for me. Instead of two shakes a day I am down to one. But after a workout sometimes I might grab one. I followed it to a T! But the more I worked out I needed to add something more to keep my energy up. I love Slim Fast and would use it again, and again. You can add me as a friend, and see my before and after pics on my profile. I still have some weight to go. But I joined mfp in Jan and have lost another 10 pounds since joining. Now I add in my Slim Fast with my weight watchers, or whatever it is healthy I am eating. Slim Fast keeps me from snacking, I love it! But I get so tired of it at times.

I think the above poster is right (I still don't know how to quote right!) - it comes down to what works for you. I HATE logging food. I'd rather someone just say: eat this and this and do it at this time. I hate numbers, I don't have any way to log food mobil so when I am logging I feel like I'm spending all day rebooting the laptop. I do it because I have to but I try to make it as simple as possible by eating the same foods over and over. I have always had my most success when I've employed meal replacements as I don't have to debate, think, research - just say "okay here is my lunch!". I try to balance it with a home made dinner and snacks but even then I tend to do the same snacks each day just because I don't want to have to log anything new! Never been a number or list person. However if someone says: you must eat this here and here, that I can totally do and easily stick with.

In my opinion, anything that is making you crave other fattening foods is not for you. I agree with other posters who have said - YOU HAVE TO MAKE THIS A LIFESTYLE CHANGE. If you don't you will certainly gain back everything you have lost PLUS more. Also, you have to do what works for you. I have a protein shake (Body by Visalus) for breakfast. It fills me up and there are endless recipes that I can use with just one powder so I will NEVER get bored (if I crave chocolate I add unsweetened chocolate pudding). It is something I can (and intend to) do for the rest of my life. It is delicious and filling and actually takes away the sweet cravings. I also use it as a protein drink after work outs. Will there be mornings when i don't have my shake? Absolutely!! Sometimes I have one for lunch or for supper. But I know that it will be a staple in my diet forever - because I have committed to making a LIFESTYLE change and not just dieting.

Most importantly - Do what work for you and if it doesn't - Change it!!