[Karen31]

Hello, I'm new to this site and I'm still not sure how to post messages or really just about anything. But decided to jump in and just get my feet wet! I'm wanting to lose about 60 pounds to get to my goal weight of 125 pounds. I have got into a decent exercise routine now and I'm really trying to use the Slimfast plan. Has anyone tried that and have any advice for me? Thanks.

[LondonJulz]

Karen!

You'll love this forum! I have been an "active" member for a couple of weeks now and it's amazing how you start to feel close to people you've never met before. Good for you for just jumping in and getting your feet wet, that's the way to do it!
While I've never tried the Slim Fast diet in the way that it's intended, my mom used to do and and she'd give me sips of her shakes (this was about 14 years ago) - and I LOVED them!!!!

[melekalikimaka]

Hi Karen, welcome to 3FC. I think you will love this place, it's so full of information and friendly people. Are those your furry little babies you're holding in your picture? They are so adorable.

I've done the SlimFast plan in the past and lost around 25 lbs with it. I really felt like I was hungry a lot of the time, plus I had to use the soy formula because I'm one of the lucky ones who are lactose intolerant. It does work because it is basically restricts your calories and is portion controlled. I just could not do the two shakes a day and a sensible meal in the evening, because by the time evening rolled around I was famished. I have since learned how to eat real food for the same calorie value as a SF shake and it holds me over a lot better than the shake did. I have been yo-yoing with my weight for the past several years but as I grow older I think I'm getting my head wrapped around the notion that I need to make a "lifestyle" change rather than just stick to a "diet". I'm doing WW currently since i know it works for me. My husband on the other hand, swears by the Slim Fast plan and he can drop weight with it like nobody's business.

As for Fitday, you can customize the nutrition information for your own use, especially if you eat some ethnic foods that the site doesn't list. You just have to play around with the features and see.

I'd like to invite you over to the Weighty Issues thread on the Support Group Forums and see if you like to join us. We are a group of friendly ladies from across the US and we are all animal lovers. Most of us have a dog or two or three... and I think 3 of us have cats, or two or three... you get the picture. We'd love to have you join us if you'd like. The thread ebbs and flows but we've got a great group of ladies. Check us out: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100998

[cantforgetthis]

From one Karen to another!

I'm sure you'll be welcomed anywhere you decide to post, but of course there are a number of specialized threads catering to certain personal preferences such as ages, weight ranges, diet plans, health challenges, and so on.

I found a lot of discrepancies with Fitday. According to a couple of articles that I read in the past, I understand that there are supposedly different ways that some manufacturers measure the nutirents in their products. Maybe someone else could remember more on that topic, but you are probably not doing anything wrong. If there are big differences, i'll Google the food and see what an average might be. Their sodium counters also assume that we always cook with salt when I don't, so I had to go in and edit their foods to delete the salt. That had a HUGE impact.

Have fun and keep posting!

[Karen31]

Hi Thanks for the invite and I will go over and check that out... SOunds like a lot of fun! Yes, those are my girls!! They are Ginger, the red pom and Sissy the Sable. I really enjoy them so much and would be lost without them. Thanks again and I'll see you there!! Karen

[Karen31]

Hi Karen, Thanks for that info. on the Fitday. For now I guess I will just use the Slimfast diary since I'm realyl working with the slimfast program right now. It just seemed like the Fitday was going to be more of a pain to use for me. Slimfast's food diary seems to be pretty accurate. I look forward to hearing from you. Karen

[snm409]

Karen31,

I tried SlimFast shakes as a supplement to my diet once (to get extra protein). I found that they are just way too high in sugar/carbs.

I lost weight with my first child (8 years ago) following Body for Life. The basic idea is to eat six small meals a day with a good balance between protein, healthy veggies/fruits, and good carbs/starches (brown rice, oatmeal).

I still enjoy protein shakes as part of my daily routine. I have come across a few brands that taste good, with lots of protein and low/no sugar. Pure Protein (either by Met-Rx or Worldwide Nutrition) or Isopure. EAS has a line called Myoplex and Myoplex Lite which are pretty good, too. If you are adding the protein shakes in place of an actual meal (lunch), then make sure you are getting enough protein. The shakes I like have at least 25-35 grams of protein (which is essentially like eating a chicken breast). We women still need to consume enough protein when dieting, otherwise we will lose muscle.

Good Luck in your weight loss journey! I just started again this week. (With my first child I lost all of the extra 50+ lbs I had gained in about 6-8 months by following BFL; I'm hoping I can be done by August this time around).

[Karen31]

Hi, Thanks for that info. on the Slimfast. I've been using it to replace two meals a day and then I eat a decent meal in the evening with my hubby. I'm really trying to use the treadmill and the ab lounger everyday now. I can't go outside yet since we still have 3 and 4 foot drifts of snow from 6 weeks ago!! But when the weather turns nice again (if ever!) I plan to do a lot more walking outside. It sure is a lot easier to put this weight on than to take it off!!! Been trying a long time but now just have made it my "job" to do. Karen