I’m like many of you—over the years I’ve subscribed to many, many, many weight loss plans. The problem is, many of these so-called “plans” are maddening. Either you have to eliminate one food group or another, or worse, you pretty much have to give up eating all together!
Have you tried a liquid diet lately? Some readers have been doing a fasting diet recently, which requires them to drink rather than eat. I have heard both good and bad things regarding fasts, but know that personally, if I fasted for just one day I’d be a bear to live with.
Still, I find myself going back to Slim Fast time and time again. They’ve got their new Optima plan, which is said to fill you up longer than their original shakes and bars. I have to admit, the bars are yummy. And the shakes, well, they’re not a milkshake by any stretch but they certainly do satisfy my cravings for something sweet.
Here’s how the Slim Fast plan is supposed to work:
Depending on your weight, there are directions on the back of the bars or the shakes to tell you how much you need to eat each day to get enough calories but to lose weight.
For instance, say you weigh 175 pounds. According to the package directions, each day you are supposed to eat 1 Slim Fast Meal-On-The-Go (this can include a shake or a bar), 1 Slim Fast Meal Combination (should include a shake or a bar plus another option including yogurt and fruit, a cup of soup or ½ a sandwich), 1 sensible meal (1/2 plate of veggies, ¼ of a plate of lean protein, ¼ of a plate of whole grain starches), 4 fruits or vegetables, and 3 snacks (like a Slim Fast Snack Bar).
When you read these guidelines, the diet makes sense. I’ll give it to Slim Fast. They have come up with a healthy way to reduce your calories and lose weight. The problem is, it’s too easy to sabotage yourself on this diet. After all, would you call it a “meal” if you had a glass of chocolate milk? Likely not. Dieters (including myself) usually end up using the meal replacements as snacks and then eating on top of that! The result? Weight gain not loss. Or, just as bad, dieters can become “afraid” of eating too much and may only nourish themselves with the shakes. This can cause malnourishment and health problems.
My advice to anyone considering a liquid diet is this: either be willing and focused on following the plan as it is directed, or don’t do it. And if you have a significant amount of weight to lose, make sure you consult your doctor before beginning any diet plan, liquid or otherwise.
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