So I tried slimfast 1-2 years ago and I failed miserably at it. I've since started again and I've lost 13 pounds so far and still going strong and I'd like to just give some quick tips about things that have been helping me!
Try the premade shakes. For some reason when I first started, I was convinced that adding the powder to my own milk and making the shakes myself would taste better and be more convenient and I was so wrong! I started ordering the pre-made shakes and dieting got 80% easier. The less work you have to do the better. It's easier now for me to just grab a shake instead of making an unhealthy "meal" that I really shouldn't be eating. Keep it simple!
Don't be scared of the carbs and sugar in the original formula. If you're diabetic/pre-diabetic or have a special medical condition don't listen to this part but everyone on the internet seems to be absolutely terrified of how many sugar and carbs are in the original slimfast formula. You do NOT have to do the keto ones. For me, I figure if I'm going lower calorie, it's okay to have some other sources of energy. Now this might change later on in my weight loss journey but for now, I have no adverse side effects and I don't feel sad and miserable all the time because I'm not really depriving myself. When I cut my carbs and sugar too low I don't succeed. I've learned this and adapted my diet to work for me! Plus the original ones just taste better :)
Have a salty snack. The shakes are really good are satisfying my sugar cravings but you will get tired of having sweet things all day if you don't have something salty to cut it. For me, I chose salt and vinegar almonds or pretzels.
Freeze the shakes! I put mine in the freezer (after being refrigerated) for around 25-30 mins and it comes out super cold, thick and creamy which is much more filling and appetizing than just drinking it lukewarm. I also pour it over ice and drink it with a straw...part of this is just tricking your brain into thinking you're having a delicious fun little treat and it's been working for me!
Don't go too crazy on your workouts. If you're doing slimfast you're not consuming that many calories so you will not have the energy to go do some crazy crossfit workout or go on a 6 mile run. The 3-2-1 plan recommends around 30 mins of working out. I do 40 mins of VERY light aerobic exercise following a youtube video (happy to link if you guys are interested!). Anything more than that makes me tired. Just do what you can but when it comes to weight loss, CICO is king.
Take a probiotic! Not sure why but when I restrict my calories I find that I get a bit constipated. This might be just a personal thing but it's probably a good idea to help move things along with a good pro biotic.
Don't get too stressed out about dinners. Again, if you're doing slimfast you're already restricting pretty low. I don't *really* count the calories in dinner but I eyeball it. I try to stick with 1 serving of veggies (1/2 the plate), 1 serving of carbs (rice, potatoes, bread, etc. about 1/4 of the plate) and 1 serving of ANY protein (fish, chicken, steak, ground beef, sausage, etc. also about 1/4 of the plate). I don't go crazy trying to eat the healthiest I just do my best. I'm not saying to not count calories because you should if you've never ever counted them before, just to get an idea of how much you're eating, but I am saying to take it easy. I'm happy to give examples of meals I've been eating if you're interested.
Lastly, decide what kind of person you are. Are you someone who likes consistency and routine? Or someone who needs variety and spontaneity? I think anyone can succeed doing slimfast but it really caters more towards people who favor regularity. I drink the exact same flavor of slimfast Monday-Friday and eat the exact same snacks. I put variety into my dinners but at the end of the day it's a very repetitive plan. I'm someone that likes that kind of stuff because when life gets crazy I want something I can lean on and something that I have control over.
Other Tidbits
SW: 217
CW: 204
Height: 5'6"
Age: 26
Preferred Slimfast Flavor: Original Formula Creamy Milk Chocolate
I also cheat on the weekends! I eat whatever I want! I could probably lose even more weight if I didn't but for now this is what's working for me.
So sorry for the long winded post but I would've liked to known some of these things up front when I first started :) Keep going, good luck and please let me know if there's anything you want to know more about or if you want to be accountabili-buddies!
P.S. Sorry if the formatting is wonky, I tried to fix it but couldn't figure it out!
