Meal Replacements Soups And Shakes.

[Barsel]

Have you tried them? Would love to hear if you think they work, if you think they are expensive but worth the money, anything you can tell me about them really. I've tried healthy eating and it's made no difference.

[jennyjoan]

well I wouldn't go for them now cos even if you were successful (I take it you are trying to lose weight) - once you start eating normal - you put it back on. Also you get very bored with them.

[ToraToraTora]

yes they are basically a form of starvation and yes they will work in the short term, but as JJ says you cannot keep it going and will pile it back on when you give in and start eating normally.

[david small]

I did the Atkins diet. It worked very well. Then I stopped and the weight came back with friends.

[pastafreak]

No...they don't work, and they aren't really food as we are meant to eat. They are mostly man made with added nutrients.
The nutrients that should occur naturally in what you eat. You need a "diet"* that will become a way of life. Not some sort of quick fix you turn to when you need to lose weight or get healthy.
*diet: a way of eating
What kind of healthy eating did you try? Was it to lose weight? How much?

[ladybirder]

If you go back to eating "normally", which is how you put the weight on in the first place, of course you will go back to how you were before your diet, eventually!
You have to learn to eat a more sensibly.

[ladybirder]

I should have added, it's more easily said than done;-)

[Barsel]

I tried what I thought was a healthy diet. Fruit and yogurt for breakfast, salad with cold meat or fish for lunch and veg with chicken or fish for evening meal. I stopped all the afters, no sweets, chocolate, biscuits, no bread, but I didn't lose any weight. Unfortunately I can't exercise at the moment so I have to rely on diet alone.

[emmie]

how long did you do this for barsel

[Barsel]

About 4/5 weeks emmie.

[emmie]

i confess i wouldn't try shakes or soups to diet, as others have said when you go back to normal eating it goes back on

[windywillow]

Perhaps it's down to portion control?

[emmie]

pehaps its not long enough to make a difference,

[emmie]

i have no answer other than keep on with the diet, shakes and soups are by nature quite boring.

[Jackdaw33]

These are designed for convalescents who have difficulty eating solid food. They are used until the patient regains his appetite.

[Barsel]

windywillow I think you're right, it probably is down to portion control that's why I thought if I go on the replacement meal diet, I would get used to eating less for when I go back to normal meals.

[Barsel]

Jackdaw33 I read that GP's are recommending these for obese people who get diabetes.

[pastafreak]

I agree that it may not have been long enough. Also, if you are near a natural or healthy weight then weight loss slows down. Another thing, you need to eat enough. Don't think that eating less helps you to loose weight...it doesn't. Make sure you eat some healthy fats too. Avocado, some nuts or seeds, use olive oil, oily fish, eat the skin on your chicken.

[lankeela]

Have to say I love the Slimfast strawberry shakes and also their chocolate snack bars! Suits me to have Slimfast for breakfast and snack/meal bars during the day and a 'normal' evening meal. Don't stick rigidly to it unless I find myself putting on too much weight but it suits me as a regular diet. First time I tried it I lost three stones in three months and although I put some back on I find just using it as part of my normal eating I keep my weight at an acceptable level.

[pastafreak]

Barsel...those low calorie diets to control diabetes should only be fine with a doctor's supervision.
More doctors are helping patients with type 2 by advising very low carbohydrate. At least then real food in generous amounts are being eaten.

[pastafreak]

Not "be fine"..."be done".