SlimFast Diet

What is SlimFast Diet?

SlimFast makes losing weight as simple as restricting calories and portion sizes – and allowing for some variety and structured flexibility. You’ll likely drop 1 to 2 pounds per week, research suggests. SlimFast products (shakes, smoothies and meal bars) replace two meals a day, along with snack products, so you get the right amount of the right nutrients. But you also prepare or eat out a 500 to 600 calorie meal each day, which the company calls your sensible meal, so there’s room to enjoy small portions of your favourite foods. SlimFast is best for people who need to lose about 20 pounds, which should take eight to 10 weeks; most people are likely to have trouble sticking to the regimen longer than that. Still, many dieters use SlimFast products as occasional meal replacements even after losing weight to make maintenance easier.

Pros

Convenient – grab and go
No math or guesswork

Cons

The shakes and meal bars could be a turnoff
Potential for monotony

Popularity

SlimFast Diet is Ranked:

How does SlimFast Diet work?

Here’s what you need to do to start following the SlimFast Diet. Stock up on its meal-replacement products, along with additional grocery items as allowed for snacks and your daily sensible meal. Your 1,200 to 1,300 calories a day will come from three snacks (half a banana, a pear, or a SlimFast 100-calorie snack, for example), two SlimFast meal replacements (a smoothie, a meal bar, or a ready-to-drink shake), and one sensible meal you prepare. Men are allotted an additional 400 calories per day that can be consumed by doubling up on shakes or adding 200-calorie mini-meals throughout the day.

SlimFast’s original line of products endures after more than 40 years. Four additional product lines have been introduced over time. The line of products called “Advanced Nutrition” includes specially formulated shakes and smoothies with up to 20 grams of protein and as little as 1 gram of sugar. They are also gluten-free and high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The “Advanced Energy” line includes similar products, but the shakes contain as much caffeine as a cup of coffee.

The newest product lines include “SlimFast Keto,” formulated for a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb ketogenic diet, featuring products including keto-friendly ingredients such as collagen protein and free from artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors. The “Diabetic Weight Loss” line was developed for people who have Type 2 diabetes.

How much does SlimFast Diet cost?

An eight-pack of SlimFast Advanced Nutrition shakes runs about $15, and 14, SlimFast Keto Fat Bomb snacks about $10. A five-pack of SlimFast Keto Meal Bars costs about $10. You can order online at sources like amazon.com and walmart.com, or buy the products at most mass, grocery, and convenience stores. The SlimFast website allows access to hundreds of recipes, plus tools and success stories.

Will SlimFast Diet help you lose weight?

Research suggests that SlimFast is an effective way to lose weight.

A systematic review in the April 2019 issue of Obesity Review, which evaluated 23 studies comparing meal replacements with other weight-loss interventions, found that programs incorporating meal replacements led to greater weight loss at one year and should be considered as a valid option for managing overweight and obesity.
Long-term results are encouraging. In a four-year study published in Obesity Research in 2000, 100 overweight and obese people were split into two groups. One consumed 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day of regular food and the other replaced two meals a day with SlimFast products. Over four years, those who followed the SlimFast diet lost an average of 8.5% of their initial weight compared to 3.3% for the other group. If you’re overweight, losing just 5 to 10% of your current weight can help stave off some diseases.
Researchers spent four years following more than 5,000 people with Type 2 diabetes; one group used meal-replacement products from either SlimFast, Glucerna, OPTIFAST or HMR, and the other group received diabetes support and education. At the end of the study period, those assigned to the meal-replacement group had lost about 8.6% of their starting weight, compared to 0.7% for the other participants, according to findings published in Diabetes Care in 2007.
However, a systematic review of studies evaluating commercial weight-loss programs published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in April 2015 found that results for SlimFast were “mixed,” despite some evidence showing minimal weight loss differences between those on a SlimFast program and others who weren’t. Researchers said, in general, that more study is needed to evaluate the efficacy of SlimFast and internet-based commercial weight-loss programs, which are gaining in popularity.
A study published in BMC Public Health in 2016 looked at seven articles comparing commercial weight-loss programs, including SlimFast and Weight Watchers, and didn’t find that anyone diet was particularly stronger than the other in terms of weight loss, waist circumference or blood pressure. It did find, though, that SlimFast participants, on average, lowered their systolic blood pressure more than Atkins participants in one comparison.

How easy is SlimFast Diet to follow?

The SlimFast Diet is ranked No.8 diet in Easiest Diets to Follow (Tie)

How easy it is to follow SlimFast depends on how long you want to dine on SlimFast shakes and snacks. There’s a wide variety of flavors, but if you don’t like the taste, the diet isn’t for you; you’re allowed only one home-cooked meal a day. It is not recommended to replace all three meals per day with SlimFast products, as the plan encourages the use of real foods to make the diet sustainable.

Meals and snacks on SlimFast are as easy as grabbing a bottle or a bar. SlimFast recommends eliminating alcohol, though having a drink once in a while is OK. Opt for a 6-ounce glass of wine (140 to 160 calories) rather than a margarita (possibly more than 500 calories). Or go for a shot of hard liquor (70 to 90 calories) mixed with a calorie-free beverage, being mindful to account for calories from alcohol in your daily plan.
SlimFast provides hundreds of recipes for sensible meals, snacks, desserts, and more.
Eating out is allowed on SlimFast. SlimFast provides dining-out tips, such as ordering grilled or roasted entrees, with steamed vegetables on the side, and requesting dressing and sauces on the side.
The SlimFast diet itself is a timesaver. Shakes and meal bars are all grab-and-go; you only need to think about preparing one meal a day.
Chat with fellow dieters and get support via the SlimFast Together Facebook community. SlimFast’s Brand Ambassadors, who’ve all lost weight and kept it off with SlimFast, respond to questions, too, and the company interacts with dieters on its Facebook page.
Nutrition experts emphasize the importance of satiety, the satisfied feeling that you’ve had enough. According to the company, the protein and fiber content of a SlimFast meal replacement can quell hunger for up to four hours.
SlimFast’s products come in an array of flavors including creamy chocolate, French vanilla, and strawberries, and cream shakes. Bar and snacks come in a variety of flavors, as well. Consuming up to five SlimFast products a day could get old fast, but the customizable Smoothie mixes may help keep things more interesting. The company also offers smoothie recipes online.

How much should you exercise on SlimFast Diet?

Exercise is strongly encouraged on SlimFast Diet. SlimFast recommends at least 30 minutes of light to moderate physical activity a day most days of the week, but it need not be strenuous – three 10-minute walks will do the job.