i just bought myself a blender and i am getting ready to try the slim fast diet. have any of you had any success with this? also, if anyone has any good smoothy recipes,i'd appreciate it. thanks!
Bobbie
Hello,
IMO, the Slim Fast diet isn't the best meal replacement. If you do want to try a shake type of diet, you should try Myoplex or another type of shake powder that is more nutritious that Slim Fast. Slim Fast has a lot of vitamins in it, but it composed of mostly sugars-that is why it is so cheap. There are a lot better alternatives out there. One that I think is great is to use the blender to make your own meal replacement out of healthier ingredients that are in about the same calorie range as a Slim-Fast. (220-250 calories) Here are a few easy ones that I use:
All fruit Smoothie
1 banana
1 c. frozen strawberries (the no sugar added kind in bags near the frozen pies and cool whip)
1/2c. apple juice
2 ice cubes
Blend in a smoothie machine or high powered blender until smooth. This tastes great, and is great because there is no added sugar-it is all fruit and you get your daily 3 servings of fruit all at once. It is about 210 calories.
Fruit and Yogurt smoothie
1 pkg. light flavored yogurt-90-100 calories each
1c. frozen strawberries
1 banana
2 ice cubes
Blend like the one above. 250 calories each-2 fruit servings and a dairy!
I totally agree with Aphil. Don't waste your money on SlimFast - it has the highest content of sugar I have seen. Save it for days you exercise more than 2 hours at a time! Then you will need the sugar...
If you find that shakes don't satisfy your craving for solid food, why not try my version of "cheesecake"? Mix together 1/4 cup cottage cheese, lowfat yogurt, a bit of dry protein powder if you like (I used low carb Grow! but I prefer the taste of Myoplex Lite), some strawberries and pour it over a layer of Fiber One or All Bran. Garnish with cinnamon. It's WONDERFULLY thick and creamy. I hated cottage cheese until I tried this with it, and if you're not lactose intolerant, cottage cheese is a superior protein, and you need some protein for breakfast.
It may sound crazy, but Slim Fast makes me hungry. Every time I drink a can, my mouth waters for more sugar. I like to call it "Fat Fast" because for me personally, it is a quick way to pile on pounds. I admire the people who use it and lose, because I am not one of them. I am the before picture. I would love to see a parady commercial of slim fast. Maybe SNL has already done this.
I use Slim Fast as my evening snack when I crave something sweet. Rather than heading for something I know I'll overeat, I crack open an ice cold can of Slim Fast - put half of it in a container in the frig and indulge in the other half. It really hits the spot, makes me feel like I've had a treat, and what else could I eat for only 100 calories that would satisfy my sweet tooth?
I've also taken it along camping or on trips when breakfasts can be challenging. I'll put a can in the ice bucket in my room the night before so it's chilled for morning. It keeps me away from those free continental breakfasts where I know I'll overeat.
Jillzeebean-the reason that Slim-Fast makes you hungry (it does the same to me as well) is because it is basically half skim milk, half water, and a ton of sugar and flavorings added to it. It digests very quickly, and causes a "sugar rush" in your blood levels-since I am borderline diabetic, it actually makes me shaky and nauseous for about 15 minutes if I drink one. It has vitamins added to it, but I say it is much healthier to take a multivitamin and eat healthier choices.
weirdo-there are plenty of ways to satisfy a sweet tooth for 100 calories..I have a sweet tooth as well. You seem to be using it mostly as a snack item-my main concerns with Slim Fast and it's nutritional value are for people using it as a meal replacement-which it is actually terrible for. Some great sweet ideas that are around 100 calories:
4 Hershey's kisses-100 calories (nothing beats REAL chocolate anyway!)
A Sweet Escapes candy bar-they are in the aisle with the larger bags of candy in a green bag. They average between 80-100 calories, depending on the variety you choose.
2 Fig or other fruit Newtons-100 calories
1c. skim milk with 1 tablespoon lite chocolate syrup-105 calories (less sugar, and more calcium than half a Slim-Fast shake)
Quaker peanut butter chocolate chip chewy granola bar-110 calories-these are really good.
1c. of strawberries with a small dollup of lite Cool Whip-I am unsure of the exact calorie count, but it is around 100-I don't have my info here at the computer.
1 fat free pudding cup-100 calories
I also try to avoid free continental breakfasts-I have found some great hotels on planned trips-one had a free breakfast that was a larger buffet-it had yogurts cups, fresh fruit and such available. I try to check the hotels out online...I am a sucker for ones that have these options, plus a workout room, etc. The last hotel my husband and I stayed at had an attached restaurant that had low fat/reduced calorie options on the menu...it was great. If we are camping I usually pack a yogurt cup or two in the cooler-and healthier snacks such as fresh fruit and Nature Valley crunchy style granola bars.
There are even many restaurant options and fast food places that have plenty of options-I eat out quite a bit, and stay on plan. Go to restaurant websites and check out the nutrition information available. My favorite place to eat out with my husband is Applebee's, because ours has some of the low fat menu items-the nutrition info is here under the fast food part of the site. I also love our local Pizza Hut-because they have a great salad bar, with 3 varieties of fat free low calorie dressings available. I believe that looking up all the info is well worth it, when you can go into about any restaurant, convenience store, or hotel-and be able to find something to eat there and not go off of your plan.
I personally limit any sweet or sugary treats like this to once a day, usually as a "dessert" after dinner. The rest of the day's calories are very well thought out, mostly lean protein, yogurt, fruits and veggies...my refined carbs/sweets are very limited to 100-125 calories a day.
Aphil
I realize there are alot of 100 calorie options to safisfy a sweet tooth. However, I don't put myself in the position of having to limit myself to 4 hersheys kisses or 2 fig newtons with the remainder of the package there to tempt me. I can't imagine hersheys kisses being any better nutritionally that slim fast. I also don't need the temptation of cream cheese croissants and french toast at a morning buffet even if there are healthy options available. It's much easier for me to just avoid those situations that in the past have led to failure and disappointment in my weight reduction goals. We all need to do what works for us as individuals.
Hey Wierdo (mind if I just call you "W" - it just seems, well, WEIRD to be calling someone a "Wierdo" ) I have the same problem you do - I CAN'T keep stuff like cookies, candies, etc. around the house. In fact, except for Sunday (my free day) I avoid stuff with refined sugar in it whenever possible. I know myself well enough to know that once a box of cookies is opened, heck, even if it's IN THE HOUSE, most of it will be in my mouth sooner rather than later! So...I just don't keep that stuff in the house.
In addition, the reason I avoid sugary stuff during the week is that I can't 'just have a little bit'. IMO sugar is truly an addictive substance. It doesn't quell your hunger - it just makes me want to eat more. I find that the longer I stay away from it, the less I crave it.
That being said...here's some stuff I do...
* I don't know if you have a See's Candies store in your area - but did you know you can buy pieces individually? Sometimes on Sunday (again, that's my free day), hubby and I will go to the local See's and each buy two pieces of our favorite selections (they also give you a free sample, Jim generally gets that ). That way I'm not stuck with a box of Nuts & Chews calling my name in the freezer...if you're not fortunate enough to have a See's in your town, I believe Godiva also sells candies a piece at a time. (See's is way better IMO!)
* Another favorite treat for me and hubby is a frozen yogurt cone - our local frozen yogurt store has Carbolite brand yogurt in six ever-changing flavors. We make a mini-date of it - since the yogurt store is on the other side of town, we drive or ride our bikes there...order a cone apiece...and sit down and enjoy it together. And voila - no leftovers! (if you don't have a frozen yogurt store, McDonald's vanilla cone will do fine).
Okay, so you're asking me now - what about during the week when I want a sweet satisfying treat? With emphasis on the "Satisfying" part of course...I gotta tell ya, the best thing you can eat to satisfy cravings is PROTEIN and (healthy) FAT (I'm not asking you to melt a stick of butter and eat it though). Unfortunately the "Soy Protein" SlimFast has some pretty low-quality protein in it - and if you drink the canned stuff, it has been heated so what protein is in it has been 'denatured' or broken down. Some evening when you want a sweet treat, try this...
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese (I like Knudsen brand in the pink container)
2 tablespoons dry sugarfree Jello instant pudding mix (vanilla or chocolate)
Splenda or Equal and Vanilla extract to taste.
Optional additions:
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter (either chunky or smooth - whatever one you like - this is optional BTW).
1/4 cup dry oatmeal
Blend all the above together in a blender or use a hand blender until smooth. Yummy! Even if you LOATHE cottage cheese you will probably love this.
Adding the peanut butter and oats gives it a kind of 'cookie-dough' feel. Give it a try sometime!
Also, instead of the peanut butter and oats, try adding some light yogurt...blend blend blend together and then stick it in the fridge for about 1/2 hour or so...you'll get kind of a cheesecake texture.
I am going to have to try thast recipe...I hate cottage cheese, even though I know how great of a protein source it is...so I normally stick with skim milk or yogurt for my dairy...
Our local Baskin-Robbins has a few varieties of sugar free or lite ice creams/frozen yogurts...in a cup is great, but if you get a cone-choose the regular variety (20 calories and less refined carbs) rather than a sugar or waffle cone.
We have a local chocolatier that is similar to See's...usually Fannie May or other mall chocolate shops are the same way-where you can buy only 1-2 pieces at a time. At DeBrand, our local place-you can buy individual truffles and they put them in a gorgeous little clear dome with a gold ribbon...plus the boutique atmosphere-it makes that one little piece of chocolate so much more significant and enjoyable.
I am usually fine with avoiding eating more than one serving of a sugary food-IF I dole out a single serving and put it on a plate, rather than eating from the bag/box. That is where I get in trouble! I try to not eat much as far as cookies, crackers, etc. but when I do, I definitely count them out and put the package away before I eat any. I cannot totally keep these foods out of my cabinets, with my husband and two young kids...
I agree with Mrs. Jim that sugar is addicting...it can set you up for binges, especially if eaten on an empty stomach-so I have found that if I do eat a bit, then it is best immediately after a meal, rather than for a snack. I am much more satisfied with 1 piece than I would be if eating it alone.
Aphil
I guess I must have given the impression that I was looking for an alternative for my evening snack which was not the case. I was only trying to give a tip to others of what works for me hoping that they too might benefit. I was always a post dinner binger and seem to have curtailed it now by using this method. I enjoy my 1/2 can of Slim Fast, it safisfies me, I don't have to prepare it, and it doesn't put me in the spot of needing to use a lot of self control trying to resist something more caloric. It seems like we all need whatever "tricks" we can come up with to get through one day at a time.
Best of luck to you all.
Wierdo (you can call me whatever you want. Wierdo is part of my name and it fits pretty well. God knows I've never been normal!)
I didn't misunderstand ya...you just gave me an opening to go off on one of my famous long-winded wordy tomes!!
Hey, if a half-can of SlimFast helps you overcome cravings, then you're doing pretty darn good IMO.
As far as protein sources are concerned - cottage cheese has FAR more protein than milk and yogurt. Actually milk and yogurt - even skim milk and 'light' yogurt - is mostly carbs, and sugar-based (lactose) carbs at that. Now there are a lot worse things out there than yogurt, but I find that even the 'light' versions tend to spike a sugar craving in me. Also, milk tends to make me congested - pretty common occurence from what I've read...just FYI...
Your tips are well taken. Like I said, anything we can do to help overcome overeating is a big help. My hubby & I also enjoy McDonalds yogurt cones like you mentioned. They really hit the spot, are cheap, and are a lot better for us than those full fat flavors we used to indulge in. I'm afraid to look up the nutritional info on them though! Do you know how they rate?
But ya doesn't have to call me Johnson..............
Well, I just thought of at least 3 things to respond to that last "johnson" sentence of yours, but this is a family site! (I've gotta stop hanging around the mail room so much... )
Actually McD's is pretty good about putting their nutritional info out there for all to see.
Calories - 150
Fat - 4.5g
Sat Fat - 3g
Carbs - 23g
Protein - 4g
Plus like you said it's cheap. I don't go to McD's that often - I like my Yumi Yogurt!!! I'm a gal who likes variety...this Sunday Yumi Yogurt had BUTTERFINGER flavor Carbolite yogurt...drool...
slim fast
) I have the same problem you do - I CAN'T keep stuff like cookies, candies, etc. around the house. In fact, except for Sunday (my free day) I avoid stuff with refined sugar in it whenever possible. I know myself well enough to know that once a box of cookies is opened, heck, even if it's IN THE HOUSE, most of it will be in my mouth sooner rather than later! So...I just don't keep that stuff in the house. 
). That way I'm not stuck with a box of Nuts & Chews calling my name in the freezer...if you're not fortunate enough to have a See's in your town, I believe Godiva also sells candies a piece at a time. (See's is way better IMO!)
Wierdo is part of my name and it fits pretty well. God knows I've never been normal!
