special k diet, does it work?

thomasmom35019
thomasmom35019 Posts: 10
in Health and Weight Loss
I was just wondering if anyone has done the special k diet. I thought about doing it, but i wanted to know if it really works.

Replies

  • ChanniVincent
    ChanniVincent Posts: 188
    Its too expensive I find. I eat special K fat free cereal every morning topped with fruit. I sometimes buy special K snacks if there on sale, but just by eating the cereal, eating healthy and exercise I lost about 25 pounds in 3 months.
  • skinnylion
    skinnylion Posts: 213
    It doesn't work.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I was just wondering if anyone has done the special k diet. I thought about doing it, but i wanted to know if it really works.

    Does it involve eggs, bacon, seafood, a shedload of meat and veggies?

    If so, I'm in ;)
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    Check the box carefully, you'll see the serving size is miniscule. I don't know about you, but trying to last for hours on a couple of spoonfuls of milk and a sprinkle of cereal isn't going to work for me.
  • lmelangley
    lmelangley Posts: 1,039 Member
    I don't find anything about Special K satisfying/filling. Instead of this kind of diet, I recommend just modifying what you're eating now. Portion control and healthy alternatives really work. May take more time, but they're easier to sustain going forward.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    It "works" like any meal replacement diet - by creating a calorie deficit without you really having to think about what you can/should/want to eat. You can create a calorie deficit on your own, eating whatever foods you like. Chances are if you are replacing two meals with two bowls of Special K, you won't be getting enough calories overall - unless you make up for it with other meals. The deficit might be bigger than ideal. Also, you may not be getting a very good balance of macro-nutrients. Finally, I'm not a big fan of these kinds of diets because they don't really teach you anything about making better food choices. You don't have to make any decisions for those two meals a day - just have the bowl of cereal. So, you're not really getting into good habits.

    It's not the worst diet you could go on, but I don't see it as something that's very healthy long-term, or sustainable. It's also a marketing gimmick to make you buy more Special K. :smile:
  • Bobbi_N
    Bobbi_N Posts: 49 Member
    I don't follow the diet. But my favorite snack is chips, so I use the Special K cracker chips as a replacement and I eat the cereal occasionally for breakfast. Next time I need to buy cereal though, I'm going to see if there are lower sodium options available.
  • volatileskin
    volatileskin Posts: 20 Member
    no. unless you really love special k .. or actually still no, 'cause you barely get to eat any.

    it's just another fad, and not something you can sustain in the long run.
  • TubbsMcGee
    TubbsMcGee Posts: 1,058 Member
    No.

    You're essentially only eating 900 calories or something like that a day, and the "food" isn't all that real. Not a balanced diet, so you end up lacking essential nutrients. And of course after you go back to eating regular foods, you just end up gaining all the weight back because you were really just starving yourself.

    Yes, I tried it years ago.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    It's a marketing scheme, not a diet.

    Look at the ingredients, that should be enough o make you want to hurl, much less eat two bowls of it a day.

    Replace those calories WITH ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE SAME CALORIES. HMMMM. I wonder if that would work the same? It boggles the mind.
  • kaydensmom12
    kaydensmom12 Posts: 338
    It would work just the same as eating what you want in moderation. Why limit yourself to mainly special K products when you could eat a variety of food, just in moderation?
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    It "works" like any meal replacement diet - by creating a calorie deficit without you really having to think about what you can/should/want to eat. You can create a calorie deficit on your own, eating whatever foods you like. Chances are if you are replacing two meals with two bowls of Special K, you won't be getting enough calories overall - unless you make up for it with other meals. The deficit might be bigger than ideal. Also, you may not be getting a very good balance of macro-nutrients. Finally, I'm not a big fan of these kinds of diets because they don't really teach you anything about making better food choices. You don't have to make any decisions for those two meals a day - just have the bowl of cereal. So, you're not really getting into good habits.

    It's not the worst diet you could go on, but I don't see it as something that's very healthy long-term, or sustainable. It's also a marketing gimmick to make you buy more Special K. :smile:

    Yeh, you might create a calorie deficit which may, or may not, work for you to shed weight ... Depending on your metabolic state, activity level and genetics.

    But Christ, I agree with you, make cereal the centerpiece of daily nutrition? You are better off starving.

    In fact, you are better off in a coma being fed by tubes, and you'd probably learn more about decent nutrition in this state too ...
  • ChanniVincent
    ChanniVincent Posts: 188
    Check the box carefully, you'll see the serving size is miniscule. I don't know about you, but trying to last for hours on a couple of spoonfuls of milk and a sprinkle of cereal isn't going to work for me.

    1 Cup of cereal with fruit on top & something on the side holds me over great, thanks.
  • InnerFatGirl
    InnerFatGirl Posts: 2,687 Member
    I've lost 28lbs without modifying my diet too drastically. Knowledge of calories, MFP and a food scale have been my biggest tools.

    The only reason why the Special K diet would work is because it creates a calorie deficit, just as a Twinkie diet would :)
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    All processed CRAPPPP!!!!!!

    Use your money on whole fresh Fruits and veggies
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Do you eat less calories than you burn? Then yes, it works. It's it fun, sustainable and healthy? Probably not.
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    I was just wondering if anyone has done the special k diet. I thought about doing it, but i wanted to know if it really works.
    It's an absurd diet dependent on you buying their processed junk.
    No thanks.
    I don't do any kind of diets.
    Eating healthy 90% of the time is actually quite simple. I eat lean meats, low fat dairy, nuts, whole grains, fruits and veggies.
    Simple deal.
    And once the lifestyle becomes habit, it gets easy.
  • emnk5308
    emnk5308 Posts: 736
    I was gonna try it like 2 years ago... It was WAY to expensive.. Special K is yummy, I do like the cereal though. =) The 'Special K' and the 'Yoplait' Swap thing.. they are just ways for them to sell more product.. honestly it is easier to just go buy what ever food you want and eat the calories you have set =)
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    Check the box carefully, you'll see the serving size is miniscule. I don't know about you, but trying to last for hours on a couple of spoonfuls of milk and a sprinkle of cereal isn't going to work for me.

    1 Cup of cereal with fruit on top & something on the side holds me over great, thanks.

    How nice for you.
  • Rilke
    Rilke Posts: 1,201 Member
    For you, no. For Kellogg's, certainly.
  • courtney3988
    courtney3988 Posts: 999 Member
    I have tried it but i had the cereal or the meal bar in the morning i was good till lunch sometimes. instead of having special k i would have a salad for lunch. I wanted to make sure i was still getting enough calorie intake. I find it better to just watch what i am eating rather than having special k or any of those type of supplements.
  • Peaches160
    Peaches160 Posts: 78 Member
    I use the cereals on mornings however...I find its a bit too sweet. Personally a diet like that would cause me to binge eventually plus it doesnot meet my dietary requirements But you need to examining whether it would work for you!
  • cryshelle247
    cryshelle247 Posts: 78 Member
    i tried it and it worked i lost like 8 lbs in a week.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    Check the box carefully, you'll see the serving size is miniscule. I don't know about you, but trying to last for hours on a couple of spoonfuls of milk and a sprinkle of cereal isn't going to work for me.

    1 Cup of cereal with fruit on top & something on the side holds me over great, thanks.

    How nice for you.

    Damn, too late to edit for reading failure. You said something on the side? Haha, yeah, something on the side would help. Like a steak! Sorry, didn't mean to be snippy.
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
    I have tried it in the past, lured in by their promise of losing a dress size...

    It's cardboard. It's bland and unsatisfying. Not to mention loaded with sugars and without much protein.

    I no longer eat it.
  • photojunkie28
    photojunkie28 Posts: 292
    It "works" like any meal replacement diet - by creating a calorie deficit without you really having to think about what you can/should/want to eat. You can create a calorie deficit on your own, eating whatever foods you like. Chances are if you are replacing two meals with two bowls of Special K, you won't be getting enough calories overall - unless you make up for it with other meals. The deficit might be bigger than ideal. Also, you may not be getting a very good balance of macro-nutrients. Finally, I'm not a big fan of these kinds of diets because they don't really teach you anything about making better food choices. You don't have to make any decisions for those two meals a day - just have the bowl of cereal. So, you're not really getting into good habits.

    It's not the worst diet you could go on, but I don't see it as something that's very healthy long-term, or sustainable. It's also a marketing gimmick to make you buy more Special K. :smile:

    I agree with this 110%. Pretty much EVERYTHING works...but is it ideal/healthy/manageable for a lifetime....I don't think so. The degree to which it works is all dependant on way too many factors as well. If you weight 400 lbs and replace 2 meals with a tiny bowl of cereal you will have different results than if you weight more like 150. It's all math and science. Follow your calorie reccomendations, exercise and create balance in your life :)
  • MrsBully4
    MrsBully4 Posts: 304 Member
    It works at getting people to buy lots of their products.
  • graysmom2005
    graysmom2005 Posts: 1,882 Member
    YOU. WILL. GAIN. IT. ALL. BACK.
  • robot_potato
    robot_potato Posts: 1,535 Member
    Nope. Not filling or satisfying, and not the best tasting. Not to mention the lack of many nutrients and the fact that it's cereal. I'd rather eat real food.
  • thomasmom35019
    thomasmom35019 Posts: 10
    Thank u all 4 ur feed back. I was going to try it, but i will stick to what im doing. After all, its workin for me. Ive lost 18 pounds since april.:smile:

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