New to Slim Fast - Advice Needed Please!

Hi Everyone,

Today is my first day on SF. I have been calorie counting for 11 months, and I have managed to lose 4 stones.

I still have 3 stones to lose untill I am at goal, but I have not lost anything more for around 4 months now, even though I have been sticking to diet. So I started SF to get rid of the last couple of stone. Oh and hopefully 1/2 a stone or so before xmas!

So yesterday I bought SF from Asda where I got 2 tins for £6. I got Vanilla and Chocolate. I tried a vanilla shake this morning, along with a banana, the shake was ok, but I really struggled with the last 1/2 of it. I had the shake at 10am and I have only started getting hungry just now and its 5.30, so what i'm wondering is....do I have to drink the full amount of the shake? Can I drink 1/2 and have maybe a bit of toast or something to eat at around 100 cals? If I need to then I would be able to get the last 1/2 down but i'd rather not. Also is it ok to only have 1 shake a day rather than 2. As long as my total daily cals are 1,200 will I still have the same effects.

I know that buying the snack bar things will probably be better for me, but I won't be able to buy them untill next week, when I get more money.

Does anyone have any advice for me?

Hi, Im only a new starter myself but as far as I understand it, you have to have the full 2 shakes/bars etc a day to benefit from all the nutrients, vits and minerals. Perhaps if your really struggling you could stop at half a shake twice a day and have more fruit a day and also take a multi vit?

i agree with plum, the shakes are a total meal replacement with vits and nuritents included...
have you tried adding ice? it does help.
and if you really struggle with the powder shakes, get the premade ones (more expensive, but MUCH nicer)
Good luck with it all, and keep us posted on how it is going!!!

hey i agree with kes, ive been on the sf now for about 8 weeks and ive found that you really do need two and the prebought ones are so much better. i love the caffelate one.

also a tip, what i do is at the moment il have a cafe late shake in the morning and then one of the chocolate crunch ones at lunch.. keeps the chocolate faeries at bay anyway!!
also i keep a tin of the strawberry shakes that you make in my press for those days when you cant get to the shop or dont have enough money to go and buy more. kind of like on standby.

make sure u use lowfat milk.

why not try drinking lots of water, or even add water to your shake if u find its a bit much. also drink it as soon as you make it because today i left mine for a while, and i can tell you, you could almost pass it off as ice cream it was so thick.and not in a good way!!!

ive been on lots of diets in the past and ive found that slimfast really is the best. when you get around to hitting the shops try the chocolate snack bars. they are surprisingly just perfect!
dont forget to look out for good deals as well, tesco and boots if you order online will give you great discounts!!

good luck with it! keep us updated!!!
x

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the advice!!

I haven't touched the shakes again since my first day...but thats not because I dislike them, i've been out and unable to buy the ready made ones from a shop. I've only had a banana today and yesterday...day times, but i've been eating a good meal at night and cereal later..mostly to make up calories. I definately plan to go back to it tomorrow.

I've been on a 1000 cal a day diet for 11 months now (been ok'd by doctor) but in the last 3/4 months i've been on 1200 a day and lost nothing in that time. I know SF is around 1200 cals a day, and i'm willing to give it a try to see if I lose any weight compared to counting out 1200 cals a day.

Does anyone have any opinions on this? What difference would SF make compared to just counting out the same number of cals (apart from the added vits and minerals)?

I normally weigh in on a Monday, so since I've not really stuck to it, I wont count this Mon's weigh, and i'll count in next weeks!

Thanks again guys

I have 1 shake a day and do WW for the rest of my points for that day - i find the shakes fill me up but I also love doing ww coz I love food - that works for me.

Ok, so with regards to whether you need the whole shake or not, they are meal replacements which means if you're having a shake, you do need all of it.
As for missing the shakes and making up the calories in the evening, it would be better for you to spread the calories evenly throughout the day as if you leave it too long between eating your metabolism slows down and therefore your weight loss slows down. To keep your metabolism high you need to have little and often - maybe thats why your weight loss slowed down when calorie counting??
Hope you find something that works for you. xx

I've been on a 1000 cal a day diet for 11 months now (been ok'd by doctor) but in the last 3/4 months i've been on 1200 a day and lost nothing in that time. I know SF is around 1200 cals a day, and i'm willing to give it a try to see if I lose any weight compared to counting out 1200 cals a day.

Does anyone have any opinions on this? What difference would SF make compared to just counting out the same number of cals (apart from the added vits and minerals)?

Click to expand...

Calorie counting is all good and well, to a point. The thing is with counting calories is that you're not taking into consideration the fat content. Surprisingly some low cal foods have a high fat content, which obviously isn't going to help with the weight loss. The Slimfast Shakes and Bars are nutritionally balanced which means as well as being low in fat and calories, you're getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function and to break down fat. (sorry i sound like a dietician! lol)
Make sure you're drinking enough water if you're having the bars instead of the shakes because they can cause constipation in some people if you're not drinking enough.

Hi

Thanks for the great advice!

I count fat in as well as calories, but I didn't do that for the first couple of months.

I have got to the stage now that I have lost most of the bulk fat that I had, although i've still got fat in most areas, the majority of it is gone, so although i'm still not able to wear some things, i do look significantly slimmer, which is making me lose motivation. I find it easier to eat healthy when you have lots of visable fat, but I still have 3 stone to lose, I try to visualise myself looking perfect on a night out, as motivation, although with all this cold weather I just wanna sit on the couch and get warm after a long day, rather than exercising.

I know that SF will be good for me, as I don't have to worry about what i'm gonna eat during the day, so i'm really wanting to give it a good shot to lose the last couple of stones.

My original goal when I started my weight loss journey was to lose all my weight by the summer (started w/loss in Jan this yr) then when I didn't make it to that, I planned to lose it all for xmas, and thats clearly not going to happen, so i dunno what my new goal is going to be now...perhaps Easter or summer next yr?

Anyway, sorry for the long post!!

long post away!! we are all here to listen.
maybe next summer might be a good goal to aim for!!
and we are all here for you so if you are ever feeling down or low come on here and get a little pick me up. thats what i do!!!!
hope your getting on ok